Don't Waste Your Breath: Ecclesiastes and the Joy of a Fleeting Life

Your life is a mere breath. This reality can be difficult for us to live by. The book of Ecclesiastes takes us on a journey to show us that although this life is a vapor, it is still a gift from God meant to be enjoyed. Instead of giving a pessimistic look at life under the sun, Ecclesiastes shows us how to glorify God in this fleeting life by enjoying the ordinary, good gifts God bestows.

Publisher: Free Grace Press
Type: Hardback
ISBN: 9781733851756

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Brian Borgman is the founding pastor of Grace Community Church in Minden, NV, where he has served since 1994. He has degrees from Biola University, Western Seminary, Westminster Seminary in California, and Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary. He is a speaker and the author of several books, including An Exiles Guide to Walking with God: Meditations on Psalm 119 (Free Grace Press) Feelings and Faith: Cultivating Godly Emotions in the Christian Life (Crossway). He has been married to Ariel since 1987, and they have three grown children and several grandchildren.

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‘In an introduction entitled ‘This misty moment,’ the writer sums up Ecclesiastes’ purpose: ‘It is a book about trusting the Giver and enjoying His marvelous gifts in this short and often mysterious life. It is a book that shouts at us, “Do not waste your breath! Enjoy it while you have it.”’ He then expounds the book in twenty riveting chapters, easily accessible to the man in the pew. The first chapter deals with the Hebrew word most versions translate ‘vanity’ or ‘meaningless,’ giving the key to all that follows. It is the ‘lack of permanence, rather than meaninglessness … brevity, not vanity, is this book’s message.’ What follows is a beautifully written, well argued, compelling page-turner. The author deals with various difficulties of the text, sometimes giving other interpretations as well as the one he favours. Judging from the footnotes on most pages, and his bibliography, he has read widely and judiciously. The book is well laid out, with a decent size print. While some readers may disagree on certain points, few, if any, will leave this exposition disappointed or unedified. For myself, it has been the most helpful exposition on Ecclesiastes I have ever read. It seems fitting to let Borgman give us the last word: ‘Do not waste this short, fleeting life. Seize every opportunity to obey God by enjoying this life for His glory, living for the Great Shepherd of the sheep, marveling at His gifts, both the temporary and the eternal ones. This is what God requires of you.’’ Andrew Swanson