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…
Our inherent need fulfilled in the sovereignty of God: Ecclesiastes 1 and 2
Will you share the message of hope in wisdom: Proverbs 13 and 14
“Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but desire fulfilled is a tree of life. The one who despises the word will be in debt to it, but the one who fears the commandments will be rewarded.” Proverbs 13:12,13 What do you hope in? Can any hope, birthed of human desire, lead to fulfillment? We always hope that tomorrow will be a better day than yesterday and today but there is no guarantee within our grasp that will give us any iota of assurance. Our prowess is proven to be inadequate, what do we do, what can we do? Do we finally give up and wallow in misery waiting to meet death upon the road of life?
When faced with such despair an unearthly inspiration and hope enlightens a way made for us that existed long before the feeling of need, want, or inadequacy set in within our souls. “The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, to turn aside from the snares of death.” Proverbs 13:14 The collective failures of people hopelessly treading the path of life, to only fall upon the path to die, find salvation abiding alongside them. There is an amazing transformation that impacts and repurposes the lives of people when Jesus Christ becomes their Lord and Savior. We learn that the journey that God has placed before us is part of a greater purpose and story written by Him. The failures we make today are the foundations of the wisdom we impart to our children’s. Are you imparting wisdom gleaned from failure to the future generations?
Why do we get so consumed with the journey of life and miss the wellspring of life and happiness that flows before us. “There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death. Even in laughter the heart may be in pain, and the end of joy may be grief. The backslider in heart will have is fill of his own ways, but a good man will be satisfied with his. The naive believes everything, but the sensible man considers his steps.” Proverbs 14:12-15 Consider the path that you have chosen for your life. If you choose the path that is not sustained by the love of Jesus Christ you will find no hope or rest. You will only reap despair and uncertainty. ”The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, that one may avoid the snares of death. In a multitude of people is a king’s glory, but in the dearth of people is a prince’s ruin. He who is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who is quick-tempered exalts folly. A tranquil heart is life to the body, but passion is rottenness to the bones.” Proverbs 14:27-30 Do you fear God? Do you feel and inexplicable awe when you ponder the nature of God? Who are you? What defines you?
“Wisdom rests in the heart of one who has understanding, but in the hearts of fools it is made known.” Proverbs 14:33 Does wisdom rest within your heart? Will you abide in Jesus Christ? The life of devotion to God will be a signpost that shines brightly to the world proclaiming that hope exists and it desires to know them. Will you share the message of hope contained in wisdom?
Will the collective resources of the world afford you salvation: Psalm 147
When we become utterly tired and weary from the concerns of life what do we hope in? In the morning and strength of our youth we can overcome every insurmountable obstacle that lays in our path but as time, worry, and fear erode our strength and resolve we face a moment of crisis. Will the collective resources of the world afford us the salvation we desire? Is our strength enough? Is there truly hope? It is easy to believe that money, possessions, and friendship can enable us to overcome any problem but we are sadly deceived. God is the wellspring of fulfillment that we crave but there is absolutely no way that we can achieve His grace and favor through any merit of ourselves. Continue Reading…
Who do you admire, look up to, and strive to imitate: Psalm 146
There are a multitude of people that we can desire to imitate and mimic throughout our society. Who do we desire to be like: Movie stars catch our interest by the roles that they portray in their movies, musicians catch our interest as we marvel at their talent, skill, and sound, the rich and wealthy become icons of power that we fantasize about, and members of our families often turn into the people that we desire to mimic. No matter who we choose to imitate we will never have any more wholeness in our life because humanity is flawed and under the curse of sin. There is no one on earth who can save themselves from the curse of sin. Continue Reading…
Is God worthy of your praise for all eternity: Psalm 145
Why would we want to praise God for all eternity? There are moments when praising God continually seems like it could be a tiring endeavor but in those moments we supersede our will and expectations upon our eternal relationship with God and we easily find our selfish desires fighting aggressively against the authority of God in our lives. “I will extol You, my God, O King, and I will bless Your name forever and ever. Everyday I will bless You, and I will praise your name forever and ever.” Psalm 145:1,2 David is encouraging us in Psalm 145 to desire to praise God above everything else we could and do desire. It is easy enough to talk about praising God forever and ever but we often are left desiring a reason for our desires and actions. Continue Reading…
Beware of the idols that encroach upon your peaceful existence: Psalm 115
Beware of the idols that you have elevated to prominence in your life. What draws your devotion and attention away from God? Do you desire to seek God first and foremost in your life? As we go about life in this sin cursed world we take for ourselves many of the habits of our family, friends and culture. Beware of the habits you have developed. Are you seeking to first seek God and love Him with all of your being? The things of this world that you treasure and delight in easily become idols that you worship as they crowd out our desire for God. Beware of these idols that are shallow, powerless and bring death to your life. “Their idol are silver and gold, the work of man’s hands. They have mouths, but they cannot speak; they have eyes, but they cannot see; they have ears; but they cannot heart; they have noses, but they cannot smell; they have hands, but they cannot feel; they have feet but they cannot walk; they cannot make a sound with their throat. Those who make them will become like them, everyone who trusts i n them.” Psalm 115:4-8 Continue Reading…
Are you identified by God’s desires at work in you: Psalm 99
Do you delight in God? Has your relationship with God deepened as you learned to trust Him every moment of every day. The time that we spend meditating on the truths of Scripture will not return void in our lives. As we see how God worked throughout the Bible we will learn who He is by His actions displayed faithfully throughout time. In Psalm 99 the psalmist celebrates God’s desires justice. “The strength of the King loves justice; You have established equity; You have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob. Exalt the Lord our God and worship at His footstool; Holy is He.” Psalm 99:4,5 As you have grown to love and follow God has your heart become burdened by the things that burden Him? Do you desire justice as He does? As you look throughout scripture it is evident that God desires and loves justice. His disciple will be marked by His desires. Are you identified by His desires at work in you? Do you desire justice? Continue Reading…
A gaze beyond ability to the desires of the heart: Psalm 84
Is the heart truly a window into the soul? What do our yearnings tell us about ourselves? Do we desire financial security for our families, more money for more toys, a healthier lifestyle or just a calm existence? Can anything this world offers give us lasting satisfaction? In Psalm 84 the sons of Korah boldly proclaim, “How lovely are Your dwelling places, O Lord of hosts! My soul longed and even yearned for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God.” Psalm 84:1,2 These men knew that everything this world had to offer them was completely worthless compared to God alone. Do you find joy in knowing God? Continue Reading…
Complete wholeness for our vaporous existence: Psalm 81
Remember! Will you remember? Remember the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob who is eternally faithful. Psalm 81 is a call for the people of Israel to celebrate, remember and worship God. The people of Israel would often forget God and they would be left to follow the wickedness of their hearts. Asaph is calling the people to remember that they are easily unfaithful to God and choose to wholeheartedly turn to God and worship Him alone. The gods of the world that sought to consume the attention of the Israelites were not worthy to compare with the true God. It is just as easy today to run to the idols and gods vying for our attention and worship them thinking that lasting substance can be found in vaporous pleasure. Only God will bring complete wholeness for our vaporous existence. Continue Reading…
Will your legacy be founded upon God and His faithfulness: Psalm 76
Is your family renowned for anything? What is your city known for accomplishing? Is your nation remembered as something great? As we look upon the legacies of our families, cities and nations there are many different desires that fill our hearts. Do you what to come from a rich family who has a long lineage reaching back into the past? Do you want to live in a city that played a crucial role in the development of your country? Do you want to live in a nation that defends the world and seeks to build prosperity and equality throughout for all mankind? It is complete foolishness to seek any of these desire no matter how nobel they may seem. The only renown worthy of acknowledgement is one that speaks to the greatness of the God of heaven and earth. Continue Reading…
