Finding the middle way

It is good to grasp the one and not let go of the other. The man who fears God will avoid all extremes.Ecclesiastes 7:18
Reading Ecclesiastes tends to have the same effect on foolish people that preaching the gospel has on unbelieving people. When unbelievers hear about freedom in Christ and about God's approval coming from faith instead of what they do, they conclude that they don't need to perform any good works. They think they can go on sinning because faith is enough. On the other hand, when we preach that good works are the fruit of faith, they think this is how they are saved. Then they try to earn their salvation by doing these works. So hearing God's Word often leads to either arrogance or despair. It's very difficult to avoid either extreme and find the middle way.

The same thing happens when foolish people hear the teaching of Ecclesiastes on having a calm and quiet heart and leaving everything in God's hands. They infer that they don't have to do any work if everything is in God's hands. Others, who are just as foolish, do the opposite. They are much too worried and always try to control everything in every way.

However, we must find the middle way. We should work diligently, doing whatever we can that doesn't go against God's Word. But we shouldn't evaluate our work on the basis of our own efforts. Rather, we should commit all of our accomplishments, solutions, and successes to God. The author of Ecclesiastes speaks both to those who are lazy in their work and to those who are too worried about it. He tells them to submit themselves fully to God's Word, as well as to work diligently. So the author of Ecclesiastes provides a good warning to those who aren't sticking to the middle way.