“If the clouds are full of rain, they empty themselves on the earth, and if a tree falls to the south or to the north, in the place where the tree falls, there it will lie. He who observes the wind will not sow, and he who regards the clouds will not reap.” Ecclesiastes 11:3,4 Are you guided by wisdom throughout your day? Has your life been marked by wisdom? Throughout life there are circumstances that cause uncertainty and doubt. Will you find guidance in wisdom? ”Light is sweet, and it is pleasant for the eyes to see the sun. So if a person lives many years, let him rejoice in them all; but let him remember that the days of darkness will be many. All that comes is vanity.” Ecclesiastes 11:7,8 Rejoice and know that wisdom governs all the days of your life. You will find joy in the lighthearted days and guidance in the days of darkness. Continue Reading…
Fear God and keep His commandments: Ecclesiastes 11 and 12
Cease striving and collapse into the loving arms of God: Ecclesiastes 9 and 10
Where are you going? Do you know the way? Why are you not there? Have you been distracted along the way? “The toil of a fool wearies him, for he does not know the way to the city. Woe to you, O land, when your king is a child, and your princes feast in the morning! Happy are you, O land, when your king is the son of the nobility, and your princes feast at the proper time, for strength, and not for drunkenness!” Ecclesiastes 10:15-17 We are all sojourners traveling through this life but there are many who do not know where they have come from or where they are going. Do you know that God loves you? Do you know that Jesus Christ died on the cross for your sins? This world entices us to become satisfied with the wares it offers. Do not be foolish and believe that this world is all that there is. We are all equally in need of God’s saving grace and we all must come to a point where we place our full trust in Jesus Christ alone for salvation. Have you trusted in God’s saving grace. Continue Reading…
In our presalvific state we needed the grace of God: Ecclesiastes 7 and 8
We are apart of a great story that God has been playing out from eternity past. In this moment we are enveloped by God’s overall purpose for creation. We have been greatly blessed by God through the all surpassing grace that was extended to us upon the cross of Calvary. We are transformed when we place our trust and hope in Jesus Christ death on the cross. There will come a day when Jesus Christ will return and all who hold their hope in Him will be completely renewed and restored. “Better is the end of a thing than its beginning, and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.” Ecclesiastes 7:8 We may want to look back upon our lives and think that what we once had was of greater worth than the life of faith in Jesus Christ we live today. When we look back upon our presalvific existence with longing we are believing a lie that God is not sufficient for our present circumstances. ”Say not, ‘Why were the former days better than these?’ For it is not from wisdom that you ask this.” Ecclesiastes 7:10 Continue Reading…
The all surpassing provision of God to save: Ecclesiastes 5 and 6
Do you have a bucket list of things that you aspire to do before you die? What is on that list? Do you want to travel the world, own a specific home, earn a prestigious title, or make an exact sum of money? Do you have any hope of crossing off items on the list? Anything that we strive to accomplish will be a fleeting fulfillment that leaves us bereft and wanting no matter how hard we toiled. “He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity.” Ecclesiastes 5:10 There is nothing that we can acquire with our hands that will lift us out of our depravity into the life of fulfillment and wholeness we crave. Continue Reading…
We live, breathe, and endure because of God’s will: Ecclesiastes 3 and 4
Popular culture reflects upon the word and wonder of God without acknowledging His hand at work in creation. In the song ‘Turn! Turn! Turn!’ by the Byrds they sing “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.” Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 The song by the Byrds is a melodic tune that easily gets caught in our minds but how often do we think about the true meaning to the words? What was Solomon imparting to us with these words in Ecclesiastes? Continue Reading…
Our inherent need fulfilled in the sovereignty of God: Ecclesiastes 1 and 2
Solomon, the son of David, was imparted with great wisdom beyond measure. This king of Jerusalem did not lack anything in his life. This life of Solomon is truly what many people today are striving to obtain. If I could just have more money, family, friends, and fulfillment I would be complete. We desire to surround ourselves with items that promise satisfaction for our every desire. Will you listen to the words of the man who had everything? What did Solomon think of life? ”Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity. What does man gain by all the toil at which he toils under the sun? A generation goes, and a generation comes, but the earth remains forever.” Ecclesiastes 1:2-4 The length and breadth of mans life is but a small ripple in the ocean of eternity. How do we reconcile the futility of our lives with the vastness of creation? What are we living for? Continue Reading…
God’s voice of wisdom calling out to you: Proverbs Summary
Wisdom abounds within the pages of Proverbs; no matter what circumstance you find yourself in you will find hope, direction, and help from the wisdom of Proverbs. Read through Proverbs and you will find that behind all of the experience and wisdom imparted there is a voice that is calling out for you to know it. The voice is that of God who is seeking to save you from your sinful existence. “Do not let kindness and truth leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good repute in the sight of God and man. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and turn away from evil.” Proverbs 3:3-7 Continue Reading…
A virtuous call to love God and those around us: Proverbs 31
What does Proverbs 31 mean to us today? Does the text only apply to women? What if your not married? It is easy and quite common to say that verses 10 through 31 are an exhortation for women depicting how they should live their lives. However, I believe that the scripture is profitable for everyone in every circumstance they find themselves in. Even through proverbs 31 speak of a woman’s conduct I believe that there is a call for everyone to live a virtuous life seeking God within the text. If we all seek to diligently follow God we will exemplify these virtues described in Proverbs 31. Continue Reading…
Seek to live a life that is an abomination to the wicked: Proverbs 29 and 30
“Who has ascended to heaven and come down? Who has gathered the wind in his fists? Who has wrapped up the waters in a garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is his son’s name? Surely you know!” Proverbs 30:4 Will you marvel at that wondrous creation of God? Know today that God is manifested through His handiwork in creating all things. Do not get too consumed with the things of this world because they are all passing away. To Agur son of Jakeh it was totally apparent and simple to know what mattered in life, “Two things I ask of you; deny them not to me before I die: Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me, lest I be full and deny you and say, “Who is the LORD?” or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God.” Proverbs 30:7-9 Do desire that all falsehood and lying be removed from you? Do you desire only what is necessary to sustain you? Be vigilantly on guard and do not become so consumed with the world and its enticements so that you forget God.
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The boastful worldview is the path of foolishness: Proverbs 27 and 28
“All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players; they have their exits and their entrances, and one man in his time plays many parts, his acts being seven ages.” – (As You Like It, William Shakespeare) The prevalent view that is continually expressed by the world is one that exclaims that we are only here for a short time so we must be all that we can be. This worldview is in complete opposition against the ways of God. “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring. Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips. A stone is heavy, and sand is weighty, but a fool’s provocation is heavier than both. Wrath is cruel, anger is overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy? Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy.” Proverbs 27:1-6 Continue Reading…
