Remember God While You are Young

Solomon concludes Ecclesiastes with one main thought.  Remember God while you are young because your respect for Him is all that will remain. All the things we do or accomplish, all the efforts we generate to manufacture a certain outcome—all the planning, effort and accumulation will fade as does youth.  In the end, it will all seem meaningless.  Focus upon Him and keep an eternal perspective.  That is what will remain, that is all that is meaningful.

God Bless You

 7 Light is sweet,
and it pleases the eyes to see the sun.
8 However many years anyone may live,
let them enjoy them all.
But let them remember the days of darkness,
for there will be many.
Everything to come is meaningless…

Ecclesiastes 12

Remember your Creator
in the days of your youth,
before the days of trouble come
and the years approach when you will say,
“I find no pleasure in them”—
2 before the sun and the light
and the moon and the stars grow dark,
and the clouds return after the rain;
3 when the keepers of the house tremble,
and the strong men stoop…

13 Now all has been heard;
here is the conclusion of the matter:
Fear God and keep his commandments,
for this is the duty of all mankind.
14 For God will bring every deed into judgment,
including every hidden thing,
whether it is good or evil.

 

The Ultimate Illusion–Ecclesiastes 11 part 1

Control is the evil-magician’s greatest illusion.  Since Adam and Eve, the enemy has spun the idea that we could somehow control our own destiny by reason, effort or creativity.  Throughout the bible and throughout history, man has planted his pennant into the top of a hill and said look at me.  Without fail, life has toppled; plans have failed and the immortal have proven themselves extremely mortal.  In the end, we all realize that the control we thought we had, rests at the bottom of the sea like the unsinkable Titanic. Solomon reminds us to never count on one thing to save us, diversify and rely upon God.  Then God and God alone can and will direct our paths.  Help me Lord, to follow your lead and look to you to control my life.

God Bless You

Ecclesiastes 11

1 Send your grain across the seas,
and in time, profits will flow back to you.[a]
2 But divide your investments among many places,[b]
for you do not know what risks might lie ahead.

3 When clouds are heavy, the rains come down.
Whether a tree falls north or south, it stays where it falls.

4 Farmers who wait for perfect weather never plant.
If they watch every cloud, they never harvest.

5 Just as you cannot understand the path of the wind or the mystery of a tiny baby growing in its mother’s womb,[c] so you cannot understand the activity of God, who does all things.

6 Plant your seed in the morning and keep busy all afternoon, for you don’t know if profit will come from one activity or another—or maybe both.

Living in a Way You Won’t Regret

Because we can never know the future, we have to live in a way that we won’t look back and regret.  I have seen pride destroy so many who thought they had it made and were untouchable—then a circumstance appears that will unravel the very chords of their lives.  Then the harsh words and smug attitudes appear destroying any hope of a soft landing,  If we live humbly in all circumstances, life can attack and expose us, but the only revelation that it brings is our singleness of mind and purpose,  Our very core is reflected and as we follow him we begin to understand the verse we are hidden with Christ in God.  In that we are comforted, inspired and moved to pour our lives out as a living sacrifice.  Help me Lord to reflect you in my walk, my talk and my treatment of others. 

God Bless You

Ecclesiastes 10

14 No one knows what is coming—
who can tell someone else what will happen after them?

15 The toil of fools wearies them;
they do not know the way to town.

16 Woe to the land whose king was a servant[a]
and whose princes feast in the morning.
17 Blessed is the land whose king is of noble birth
and whose princes eat at a proper time—
for strength and not for drunkenness.

18 Through laziness, the rafters sag;
because of idle hands, the house leaks.

19 A feast is made for laughter,
wine makes life merry,
and money is the answer for everything.

20 Do not revile the king even in your thoughts,
or curse the rich in your bedroom,
because a bird in the sky may carry your words,
and a bird on the wing may report what you say.

Walk Forward and Be Gracious (Ecclesiastes 10 part 2)

Much about life, simply is not fair. But, as we continue to walk the journey set before us (Hebrews 12:3) we sharpen our skills, rely upon God’s presence and act in a way that honors God.  As we do that, God blesses us with great friends, daily provision and the occasional miracle to remind us he is God and we are not.  We are fulfilled as we take hold of those things that he provides.  We are able to strengthen our faith when we quit trying to make and control God’s plan.

Thanks Lord for continuing to be our provision.  Thanks Lord for directing our path through those things that are not fair or even explainable..

God Bless You

5 There is an evil I have seen under the sun,
the sort of error that arises from a ruler:
6 Fools are put in many high positions,
while the rich occupy the low ones.
7 I have seen slaves on horseback,
while princes go on foot like slaves.

8 Whoever digs a pit may fall into it;
whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.
9 Whoever quarries stones may be injured by them;
whoever splits logs may be endangered by them.

10 If the ax is dull
and its edge unsharpened,
more strength is needed,
but skill will bring success.

12 Words from the mouth of the wise are gracious,
but fools are consumed by their own lips.
13 At the beginning their words are folly;
at the end they are wicked madness—
14 and fools multiply words.

Ecclesiastes 10 part 1–Dumb and Dumber

 

Dumb and Dumber—We see the movies of that genre with the stars like Will Farrell, Owen Taylor, Steve Corrall etc. and laugh, shake our heads and wonder how that crud gets on the screen.  Clearly not designed to stimulate or minds, but, just to hit the base levels of physical humor.  In life, we see folks that live their lives like that genre—dumb choices, bad attitudes and coarse mouths and manners. We laugh, shake our heads and wonder how they can go through life so misdirected.

Solomon is right. Pitiful behavior taints the best of circumstances. We can spot foolish folks from a mile off.  Knowing that, we need to walk in a way that honors God.  Our hearts and attitudes should reflect God.  Live, Laugh and love—that is great; but, know that as you respond in a way that honors God, people will be drawn to you and you will be perceived as a wise person.

Help me Lord to live wisely and behave in a way that is not Dumb and Dumber!

God Bless You

Ecclesiastes 10
As dead flies give perfume a bad smell,    so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor. 2 The heart of the wise inclines to the right,    but the heart of the fool to the left. 3 Even as fools walk along the road,    they lack sense    and show everyone how stupid they are. 4 If a ruler’s anger rises against you,    do not leave your post;    calmness can lay great offenses to rest.

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