The Story:Young people seldom think about dying. They’re too busy having fun. Rehoboam was probably no different. But Solomon had been down the path Rehoboam was chomping to stroll, and he longed to talk a little sense into his silly mind. At the same time – and here I think we can sense the deep love of a father for his son – Solomon seems to be saying, if only to himself, as long as his son is alive, there’s hope that he will find his way to the truth. Death is final; there is no hope beyond it. But while we live, we may hope, the man under the sun that he will find happiness, those who live under the heavens that all will find the Lord. But death is coming, and after all the good times and big fun, the grave awaits. So it’s not true, as the bumper sticker says – and Rehoboam probably thought – “He who has the most toys, wins.” No: He who has the most toys, dies. Period.

The Structure:The mission of the Church in our secular and postmodern times is the same it’s always been: make disciples. Each of us has been assigned a Personal Mission Fieldby the Lord, and there we regularly encounter unbelievers of various sorts. We may think some of them are too far gone ever to believe. Some may even have told us to “bug off” and “let it go” when we’ve tried to share the Gospel. But we must never give up on the lost. As long as they are alive, there’s hope they might come to their senses and, like the prodigal son, make their way home to the Father. Our job is to keep up hope, nurture relationships, look for ways to love, and pray, pray, pray.

How might you begin to improve the relationships you have with unbelievers in your life? Why should you?

Each week’s studies in our Scriptorium column are available in a free PDF form, suitable for personal or group use. For this week’s study, “This Way to Happiness: Ecclesiastes 9,” simply click here.

T. M. Moore

Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.