No less than nine times in Ecclesiastes (1:14, 17, 2:11, 17, 22, 26, 4:4, 6, 16, 6:9), Solomon laments the fact that much of life is “grasping for the wind” (NKJV). The ESV uses the term “striving for the wind.” The KJV calls it “vexation of spirit.” The idea is that there are things we do that are worthless or a waste of time. Have you ever done anything that was a waste of time? We all have, haven’t we? Solomon says that this description (“grasping for the wind”) applies to various areas of life such as::

• The works under the sun (1:14).
• Wisdom, madness, and folly (1:17).
• Labor (2:11, 17, 22)
• Envying others (4:4).
• Hands full of travail (4:6).
• Wandering of desire (i.e., constantly craving more, 6:9).

                   What a list! It seems that most of what we do (and what is glamorized) on earth is wasteful or trying to grasp wind, according to Solomon! Realizing this truth can be very depressing. What is the purpose of living if so much of what the world calls essential is a waste of time and energy, according to these passages? Is there anything we can do that is not a waste? God gives us the answer. New Testament passages such as I Corinthians 15:58 say that we can do things that are not a waste of time and energy. Paul wrote, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”

                   The words from Ecclesiastes and Corinthians are not contradictory. Rather, these passages emphasize one’s motivation. Why do you do what you do? Is it to achieve some selfish purpose? Is it to satisfy a lust (Jas. 1:14-15)? Working to please self is unprofitable. Conversely, when my focus is on God, and my labor is “in the Lord,” it is not in vain.

                   Solomon and Paul teach us to consider not only what you do, but also why you do it. Let’s be active in working for the Lord rather than working for self (Matt. 6:33).

- Jarrod M. Jacobs

            Something that impresses me when I read II John and III John is that John had not “retired” from being a Christian (II Jn. 12; III Jn. 13-14)! In both letters, John called himself an “elder” (II Jn. 1; III Jn. 1). In this case, he refers to his advanced age, not that he had oversight over a particular congregation. Therefore, we read about a man, an apostle, someone who has seen Jesus, who has performed miracles, who has endured suffering, and someone who has enjoyed many victories and experienced defeats. He had a life similar to Paul’s (II Cor. 11:23-28), and John was not ready to quit yet!

John is an old man, an old Christian, when he writes these letters. Though advanced in years, he is not sitting in an easy chair! He is not grumbling about the young people! Conversely, he is not complaining about his advanced years and saying, “let the young people do it.” He has not stopped serving God. Before this man dies, he will have written five books of the New Testament. In addition this, he was consistently and continually preaching the truth. In two of his letters, he promises to visit the recipients and talk with them “face-to-face.” I do not know the miles between them, but I read of a man who writes in concern for souls and then says, “I am ready to do more. I’ll be there soon.” John did not “retire” from the Lord’s service when he reached a certain age!

            Since our society considers 65 the “retirement age,” I am concerned at how much this mentality has spilled over into the Lord’s body. How much work are we letting slip by because those 65 and above might see themselves as retiring, not only from an occupation but also from our work as Christians? I know there are exceptions to what I just wrote. I am thankful for such people and I wish that there were more like them.

            More often than not, though, I hear older folks say that they think the “younger ones” ought to “step up” and take on more responsibilities. If this is said with the mindset of furthering the Lord’s work, I agree. If this is said because the older ones wish to do less, then I think this is the wrong motivation!

Don’t forget that the older men are here for our instruction, and we need to be influenced by them while they are around (Lev. 19:32; Prov. 16:31; I Tim. 5:1; I Pet. 5:5)! John knew he had work to do to the end of his life. May we remember the same thing! Yes, the work of older people will look different than younger folks’ work, but I beg the older folks to please not deprive us of your wisdom and experience by “retiring” too soon! It has been said, “When an old man dies, a library burns to the ground.” How true! I pray older Christians will give us the benefit of their wisdom and experience while they are still here (Jn. 9:4). All of us need to be faithful to God until we leave this world (I Cor. 15:58)! Then, we can “retire” (Heb. 4:9-11)! I am thankful John didn’t retire too soon, aren’t you?

- Jarrod M. Jacobs

            John told Gaius, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth” (III Jn. 4). This statement, though short, teaches us several things. Let us break this verse down, see what John was saying, and make some applications to our lives.

“I Have No Greater Joy” - Nothing gave John greater joy than to know that Gaius, Demetrius (v. 12), and other Christians (i.e., “friends,” v. 14) were holding fast to the Lord. He had his joy set on things eternal and not temporal (II Cor. 4:18). In other words, John’s joy didn’t rest in men’s opinion of him or some physical pursuit. John’s joy was in knowing that faithful Christians were doing their duty for the Lord! (See: II John 4)

            Friend, what gives you joy? Is it vacations? Physical pursuits? Work? Children? Cars? Hobbies? These things might bring momentary happiness, but what brings joy? Is our true joy found in spiritual things? If we truly love the brethren as we ought (I Pet. 2:17), we will be able to speak as John concerning the well-doing of brethren all over this country and world!

“Than To Hear” - Though he wasn’t there in body, John was concerned for the brethren. He wanted “to hear” about Gaius, and others and learn about their welfare. I know brethren who look down on such concern for others, but John (and the other apostles) showed us the proper example (I Cor. 4:16, 11:1; Phil. 3:17; Eph. 5:1-2). Please understand, John wasn’t interested in gossip, etc., but genuinely concerned for their souls. This needs to be our attitude as well (Prov. 25:25).

            Other apostles showed concern for the brethren as well. We see Paul’s care for brethren through all of his epistles (II Cor. 11:28; Rom. 16:1-15; I Cor. 1:11; Phil. 4:21; Col. 4:15, 17). The same goes for Peter (I Pet. 1:1, 2:17; II Pet. 1:1).

            How concerned are we for our brethren? Do we show it through prayers? Through financial support or other means? Are we so caught up in ourselves that we don’t have time to “hear” about the welfare of other Christians?

“My Children” - This does not have reference to his physical lineage, but to those he had been instrumental in bringing to the Lord. The apostle Paul used the same language for those he taught (I Cor. 4:15, 17; I Tim. 1:1-2; II Tim. 1:1-2; Titus 1:4).

I think it is interesting to note that we are never told about the apostles’ physical children. (For example, we know the apostle Peter had children, I Pet. 5:1!) I wonder if this was done so we would keep our eyes on the apostles who pointed us to Christ, rather than on their descendants that we might treat as “royalty,” or give them some special position in the church that God never intended?

            Brethren, what is our attitude toward fellow Christians? Do we strive for closeness? Do we treat one another as brethren? Let’s ask this another way: How many can we consider “children” in the sense the John and Paul used the word (II Tim. 2:2)?

“Walk In Truth” - The word “walk” describes one’s manner of life or behavior. This was seen as Gaius showed hospitality toward others, and showed the right example to fellow Christians not traveling (III Jn. 5-8). In other words, Gaius was faithfully following God despite the difficulties that surrounded him. He didn’t merely give lip-service to the truth, but was walking in it! John said those, like Gaius, who were walking in the truth brought him great joy. Why did he have joy? It is because he knew that what they were doing pleased the Father (II Jn 4; III Jn. 4). Let us examine ourselves so that when the Lord returns, He will find us walking in truth.

- Jarrod M. Jacobs

            In the context of II John 11, we learn that whoever teaches false doctrine does not have fellowship with God (II Jn. 9). At the same time, it is not right for those who hear the false doctrine to accept the person and act as if nothing is wrong (II John 10). If someone bids “Godspeed” (KJV) or “Greets” (ASV, Darby, ESV, NET, RV, etc.) the false teacher, this person is just as guilty in the eyes of God. Other Bible versions use the terms, “participates,” or “sharing” for “partaker” in II John 11. I think this helps us understand what John was teaching. Not only is it wrong to teach false doctrine, but it is also wrong for those hearing false doctrine to stand by and allow it to be taught without opposition (II Jn. 10-11)!

            The apostle Paul showed us the right response when he said that when Judaizers came in to “spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus,” they gave place “no, not for an hour” (Gal. 2:4-5)! Later, Paul would withstand Peter “to the face, because he was to be blamed” for the hypocrisy he perpetuated (Gal. 2:11). Paul would also write (by inspiration) a warning similar to John’s to the Romans. After listing the sins the Gentiles had committed through the years, he ends chapter one by saying, “Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them” (Rom. 1:32). In other words, not only did the people committing the sins deserve death (Jas. 1:15), but those who approve of what is done (applaud, ISV; consent, ASV; delight, Darby) deserve the same punishment! This sounds like John’s warning in II John 11.

            The stand taken by Paul and John while they lived, and encouraged in their epistles (Rom. 1:32; II Jn. 9-11), serves at least two purposes. One purpose is obvious, and that is to save those who are affected by false doctrine, including myself! Remember, to bid “Godspeed” means I am also partaking (II Jn. 11)! If I do not take a stand, or if I bid “Godspeed” to a deceiver, then many more will be deceived. The second purpose is closely linked to the first. This is that by standing, we are also trying to win the soul of the false teacher. When we stand opposed to someone because of his false teaching, we need to make sure and check our attitude. Is our response motivated by hatred of the person or the doctrine? There is a difference! If I am trying to win an argument, I very well may lose the soul. If I am trying to win someone’s soul, I will win the argument by default. What John shows me is that I not allow what some call “love” to silence my tongue! I must speak! I must warn!

            Sadly, we live in a time when men are afraid of confrontation. We have a society that recoils at the thought of standing for the truth, but ironically is quick to criticize and belittle anyone who does! We are told that retreat is courageous. This is wrong. Christians in our time who claim to wear the armor of Christ (Eph. 6:11-19), tend to forget about the sword. Yet, the sword is a part of our armor! The sword of the Spirit (Eph. 6:18) is not a defensive but an offensive weapon. With it, we take the fight to the enemy (II Cor. 10:3-5; I Tim. 6:12)! The sword is not for cleaning your fingernails, or picking your teeth! With the sword of the Spirit, we stand against “the wiles of the devil” and do not give submission, “no, not for an hour”!

When we read II John, we learn that we do not give “Godspeed” (greet, participate, or share) with false teachers as if to “go along and get along.” Remember, souls are at stake, and they are too precious to leave to the “wolves” (Matt. 7:15; Acts 20:29-31)! At the same time, standing against the wolves who teach false doctrines may open their eyes to the truth. This is our goal -- to bring lost souls to the Father (Jas. 5:19-20). When we do not partake or share with false teachers, we will cause them to stop and consider what they are doing. No, not everyone repents at this, but folks need to know where we stand. Let them be warned in love and truth (Eph. 4:15, 5:11). Let us stand with a pure conscious, knowing that false teachers will face God in judgment, having at least been warned. Who knows, but you are in the kingdom “for such a time as this,” and your warning might save a soul from death? One thing is certain: silence in the face of false teaching and pretending nothing is wrong will do nothing to remedy the situation, nor will it save a soul. It only makes things worse!

- Jarrod M. Jacobs

                   After warning people about the deceivers and antichrists that were rampant in the first century, John warned that some might lose what they had “wrought” (KJV) or “worked for” (NET, ESV, CEV, ISV, etc.) as Christians. This short verse encapsulates what every Christian needs to do in order to remain faithful and see Heaven one day. II John 8 says, “Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.”

                   “Look to yourselves” in this verse means examine yourselves (II Cor. 13:5). Don’t assume that everything in your life is “fine.” Don’t think there is nothing in your life you need to change or correct. In this context, John tells Christians to look to themselves and make sure they are not deceived (II Jn. 7). In like manner, you need to look into the “perfect law of liberty” (Jas. 1:25) like you would look into a mirror, and make the necessary changes. “Look to yourselves,” and make sure men do not deceive you. “Look to yourselves” and make sure you are growing closer to God daily (Jas. 4:8). “Look to yourselves” and make sure you tell others about the truth of Christ (II Tim. 2:2). “Look to yourselves” and make sure your thoughts, words, and deeds agree with what God says (Phil. 4:8-9). No one can do this for you. It is a responsibility each Christian must accept.

                   Why take the time to examine ourselves? It is so we won’t lose what we have worked for, or “wrought.” In other words, it is possible to lose what we once had! The mental gymnastics some teach when they say, “If you lost it, you never had it, if you have you can’t lose it, if you lose it, it wasn’t yours” has no basis in Scripture at all. It contradicts II John 8, and many other passages.

                   Let us examine ourselves and make sure we do not lose what we have worked for that we might receive that “full reward.” The “full reward” is a home in Heaven! John (the elder, v. 1) wanted his children to remember God’s promise and remain faithful. The apostle Paul had the same concern (II Cor. 11:3).

Satan works overtime to tempt Christians to return to his kingdom. He wants us to be deceived, be frustrated, and be overwhelmed with the affairs in this life so that we quit the Lord. When we yield to those temptations, our sin results in death (Jas. 1:15) and losing the reward we have. Please make sure and beware of Satan’s devices (II Cor. 2:11). His goals are the opposite of God’s!

                   Friend, read II John 8 once more. Decide that you will do God’s word and be faithful to His teaching (I Cor. 15:58). You will never regret making the decision to avoid deceit and follow God’s truth!

- Jarrod M. Jacobs