1 Cast your bread upon the waters, For you will find it after many days. 2 Give a serving to seven, and also to eight, For you do not know what evil will be on the earth.
Ecclesiastes 11:1-2
This week we continue looking at wisdom for the day. How can we live among the vagaries and vanities of life? Let’s explore.
The preacher’s teaching instructs us to be wise stewards of our resources. His theme in these verses is investing for the future. We are called to prepare for the future and be wise in how we lay aside present and future provision realizing that God is the source of all that we have been given.
Verse 2 addresses reducing risk through investment diversification. This advice is wise in monetary investing. This principle can also be relevant in relationships and various other aspects of life. Let us invest in a wide variety of people so that we will have the friends we need when we need them.
In Verse 6, Solomon echoes this theme of wise stewardship. The verse reads “In the morning sow your seed, And in the evening do not withhold your hand; For you do not know which will prosper, Either this or that.” Once again, diversity of investments is wise and provides a hedge against failed crops and failed speculations. Investing in relationships, however, brings a far greater reward.
Life is uncertain and life is difficult. Who can we trust in when our needs arise? Who can help us?
We learn very early that life is uncertain. And, each passing year only affirms this truth more and more. Is there any hope?
Yes, His name is Jesus. There is hope in Christ. We can trust Him in all things. Trusting Christ will not make our lives perfect. But, we will never be ashamed when we trust Him.
Consider these thoughts from God’s Word………………..
**We can trust in Christ’s goodness
Psalm 34:8 O taste and see that the LORD is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!
**We can trust in Christ’s presence
Matthew 28:20 And lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
**We can trust in Christ’s peace
John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.
I pray that you will blessed this week as we continue to trust in Jesus!
17 Blessed are you, O land, when your king is the son of nobles, And your princes feast at the proper time– For strength and not for drunkenness! 18 Because of laziness the building decays, And through idleness of hands the house leaks. 19 A feast is made for laughter, And wine makes merry; But money answers everything. 20 Do not curse the king, even in your thought; Do not curse the rich, even in your bedroom; For a bird of the air may carry your voice, And a bird in flight may tell the matter.
Ecclesiastes 10:17-20
Keep something in mind as you read through Ecclesiastes. Life may feel chaotic, but it isn’t truly out of control. God is in control. He is sovereign over all things. He providently works the “counsel of His will” for His glory and for “our good.” (Ephesians 1:11 & Romans 8:28).
Seeing that all this is true, we can trust God. Life possesses inherent meaning, and it is not appropriate to characterize God as inactive. He is working on our behalf and moving history to His desired end.
We cannot trust our feelings and emotions alone. Feelings can fool us. We must trust in the revealed word of God. He will do what He has promised.
**He has promised His presence (Matthew 28:20)
**He has promised His power (Romans 15:30)
**He has promised His peace (John 14:27)
**He has promised us a place in heaven(John 14:1-3)
Trust in God’s promises. They are trustworthy and true.
You are loved! You are loved more than you can ever know.
The Bible tells us how much we are loved. God’s Word has revealed the one, true God who loves us in word and deed.
He loves us unconditionally……
Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
He loves us unwaveringly…….
Romans 8:38-39 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
He loves us sacrificially……
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
We should never frustrate the love of God by living in willful sin. But, we know that He will forgive us when we call on Him in repentance. (1 John 1:9-10)
We know that it may not always feel like God loves us. But, we also know that His love is not based on feelings. God loves us because He chooses to love us.
Always remember the love God has for you. May this simple truth undergird and encourage you this day, and every day!
5 There is an evil I have seen under the sun, As an error proceeding from the ruler: 6 Folly is set in great dignity, While the rich sit in a lowly place. 7 I have seen servants on horses, While princes walk on the ground like servants. 8 He who digs a pit will fall into it, And whoever breaks through a wall will be bitten by a serpent. 9 He who quarries stones may be hurt by them, And he who splits wood may be endangered by it. 10 If the ax is dull, And one does not sharpen the edge, Then he must use more strength; But wisdom brings success. 11 A serpent may bite when it is not charmed; The babbler is no different. 12 The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious, But the lips of a fool shall swallow him up; 13 The words of his mouth begin with foolishness, And the end of his talk is raving madness. 14 A fool also multiplies words. No man knows what is to be; Who can tell him what will be after him? 15 The labor of fools wearies them, For they do not even know how to go to the city! 16 Woe to you, O land, when your king is a child, And your princes feast in the morning! 17 Blessed are you, O land, when your king is the son of nobles, And your princes feast at the proper time– For strength and not for drunkenness! 18 Because of laziness the building decays, And through idleness of hands the house leaks. 19 A feast is made for laughter, And wine makes merry; But money answers everything. 20 Do not curse the king, even in your thought; Do not curse the rich, even in your bedroom; For a bird of the air may carry your voice, And a bird in flight may tell the matter.
Ecclesiastes 10:5-20
The inane madness of this world is seen very readily today just as it was in the days of the King. It is meaningless and insane. Once again, the preacher breaks it down for us to see in plain fashion. Here are some thoughts about the madness of life.
**Solomon begins by telling us that the fool ends up in authority. This is one example of the vanity of life on this earth. Not every leader is a fool. However, some truly are. It’s illogical, yet undeniably true.
**Though work is good and healthy, it can also be harmful in certain cases. Work doesn’t mean that all our wishes and desires will be fulfilled. Working hard does not guarantee material wealth.
**The foolish receive recognition and fame. Those who seem to be the least worthy of recognition receive fame and fortune. In our day, we have folks who are famous for nothing. They haven’t achieved anything of significance. But somehow, they end up well-known and even adored.
**At times, rulers are self-seeking and foolish. This thought should not surprise us. Solomon has made this point several times already in the book of Ecclesiastes.
**Laziness can also lead to disaster. Some give in to laziness and fail to take care of God’s blessings. The results of this folly can be devastating not just for the slothful one but also for his/her family. God has blessed us with much and we ought to take care of it.
**Finally, Solomon teaches us that our words can be used against us. I would imagine that has happened to you. To be fair, sometimes we use our words to tear down and destroy and that is wrong. At times, language intended for positive purposes may be misused, resulting in misinformation or misrepresentation.
16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of Godmay be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:16-17
The Bible is the persuasive force for salvation and growth in the life of a Believer. Maturity and growth occur through the study and application of God’s Word. The Scriptures promote maturity, joy, and peace for the Christian.
The Bible isn’t just a moral guidebook; it’s a powerful tool that God uses to draw us to Himself. Through its pages, we discover the grand narrative of creation, fall, and redemption. We learn about our own sinful nature and our desperate need for a Savior. But we also encounter the incredible news of God’s love and grace, manifested in the person of Jesus Christ.
Romans 10:17 reminds us that “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” It’s through Scripture that we’re persuaded of our need for salvation and led to put our trust in Christ. But the Bible’s persuasive power doesn’t stop at salvation – it continues to work in our lives, urging us towards spiritual maturity and deeper devotion to God.
1 Dead flies putrefy the perfumer’s ointment, And cause it to give off a foul odor; So does a little folly to one respected for wisdom and honor. 2 A wise man’s heart is at his right hand, But a fool’s heart at his left. 3 Even when a fool walks along the way, He lacks wisdom, And he shows everyone that he is a fool. 4 If the spirit of the ruler rises against you, Do not leave your post; For conciliation pacifies great offenses.
Ecclesiastes 10:1-4
Solomon concludes the book of Ecclesiastes with application for the hearer. The last three chapters give instructions on how we are to live in the meaninglessness of life. It is advisable to give this matter careful consideration at this stage.
The writer commences with a warning against folly. Folly could be thought of as mindless pursuits that lead to nowhere. Folly doesn’t have to be sinful (though at times it includes sinful acts.) Even good things when done in mindless, non-thoughtful manner can be considered folly.
The preacher is making a point. Life is short and we need to be live carefully and thoughtfully. Recreation and fun have its place in our lives. But, when we are totally given over to these things they become our idols. We can lose God’s blessing and opportunities for growth when our time is occupied with folly. Therefore, we need to avoid folly and use our time wisely.
The Bible speaks often about light. The word light appears over seventy times in the New Testament alone. Today, we will consider a few thoughts about light.
**God created light.
Genesis 1:3 Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light.
**Jesus is the light.
John 8:12 Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”
**We are to shine the light by living in Christ-likeness.
Matthew 5:16 “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
**As Believers, we will bask in the light of Christ forever.
Revelation 21:3 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.
**Let us draw closer to Christ and closer to one another by living in the Light!
1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
14There was a little city with few men in it; and a great king came against it, besieged it, and built great snares around it. 15 Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city. Yet no one remembered that same poor man. 16 Then I said: “Wisdom is better than strength.Nevertheless the poor man’s wisdom is despised,And his words are not heard.17 Words of the wise, spoken quietly, should be heardRather than the shout of a ruler of fools.18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war;But one sinner destroys much good.”
Ecclesiastes 9:14-18
Proper wisdom occupies the last portion of this text. Christian, seek Godly wisdom through His Word, the Holy Spirit, and His people. Wisdom is needed now more than ever.
We can live our lives through the power of God. We don’t have to do this alone. Christ came to this earth to live for us, die for us, and He rose again to verify that all that He said and did was truth. Relationship with Christ is available. “The wages of sin is death, but, the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23) “And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another.” (1st John 3:23)
One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and his disciples began to pick some heads of grain, rub them in their hands and eat the kernels. 2 Some of the Pharisees asked, “Why are you doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?” 3 Jesus answered them, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? 4 He entered the house of God, and taking the consecrated bread, he ate what is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions.” 5 Then Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”
Luke 6:1-5
In our journey through life, we often encounter the profound question: Who is Jesus? This inquiry isn’t just academic; it’s deeply personal and transformative. As we turn to the Gospel of Luke, chapter 6, we find a passage that offers profound insights into the nature and identity of Jesus Christ.
Let’s explore a powerful truth about Jesus that emerges from this scripture:
**Jesus is Lord of All
In a bold declaration that shook the religious establishment of His time, Jesus proclaimed Himself “Lord of the Sabbath.” This wasn’t just a casual statement; it was a thunderclap of divine authority. By asserting His lordship over the Sabbath, Jesus was claiming authority over one of the most sacred institutions in Jewish life.
When questioned about His disciples plucking grain on the Sabbath, Jesus reminded His critics of how David, when hungry, ate the consecrated bread from the temple. In doing so, Jesus wasn’t merely justifying His actions; He was declaring a new order. The old was passing away, and a new covenant was dawning with Jesus at its center.
mrtonyfrench 