9 Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, And let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth; Walk in the ways of your heart, And in the sight of your eyes; But know that for all these God will bring you into judgment. 10 Therefore remove sorrow from your heart, And put away evil from your flesh, For childhood and youth are vanity.
Ecclesiastes 11:9-10
This section concludes with a final warning. We will all be judged. The New Testament tells us that all will be judged by God. Both believers and non-believers will ultimately appear before Him.
Believers will give an account for how they have spent their lives. Though our salvation is secure, we will appear before Christ to answer for our works. Christian, live in light of this judgement.
Unbelievers will be judged for their rejection of God. All who refuse to believe, will be cast into the lake of fire to remain for all eternity (Revelation 21).
Our task is to share the gospel with lost people so that they may come to the knowledge of truth and be saved. Let us live in a way that honors God and draws persons to the cross. We only have one life to live. We should dedicate our lives to serving the Savior.
For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.
Romans 15:4
In a world full of spiritual dangers, the Bible acts as our shield and armor. Psalm 119:11 declares, “Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.” When we internalize Scripture, it becomes a protective force against temptation and sin.
The Bible provides us with clear guidelines on right and wrong, helping us discern truth from falsehood. It warns us of the deceitfulness of our own hearts and the subtle traps of the enemy. By staying rooted in God’s Word, we arm ourselves against the schemes of the evil one and the allure of worldly temptations.
Given the tremendous impact of God’s Word in our lives, it’s crucial that we make engaging with Scripture a daily priority. Here are a few practical suggestions:
** Set aside a specific time and place for Bible reading and prayer each day.
**Create a reading plan to help you systematically work through the Bible.
**Meditate on what you read, asking God to reveal its application to your life.
**Memorize key verses that speak to your current circumstances or struggles.
**Join a Bible study group to gain insights from others and stay accountable.
Remember, the goal isn’t just to gain information, but to experience transformation. As James 1:22 exhorts us, we must be “doers of the word, and not hearers only.”
Life is short. We have heard that saying before and perhaps we have uttered that statement ourselves. The saying itself is so common as to border on cliché. Yet, we know there is much truth in this statement. Our time on earth is limited and it passes so quickly.
As Christians, perhaps we should take stock of our lives from time to time. What are doing that is going to last? Are we using our time wisely? Or, are we wasting our lives on foolish pursuits that we will never amount to anything?
Paul tells us “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” (Ephesians 5:15-16) It is vital that we make good use of our time. We only have one life to live. May we live it for the glory of God.
How can we accomplish this? One way is to continue in God’s Word. Frequent Bible study will keep us focused on the eternal so we will not get caught up in the temporary.
Another way to redeem the time is through worship. Worship keeps our hearts tuned in to Christ and helps us to remember to live as wise ones instead of fools. Worship helps our thinking to remain strong and centers us upon the things God—the only things that will last.
Sharing our faith will encourage us to make the most of every opportunity. As we share the gospel regularly, we will are reminded that our ultimate home is heaven and not earth. Witnessing will direct us to a greater cause than simply getting through the day. Seeing someone come to know Christ is a great way to “seize the day.”
My prayer, is that we would examine ourselves and that God would reveal areas that need to change. May we live with Godly wisdom as our guide. Let us redeem the time and make good use of the incredible gift of life we have received from God.
1 For I considered all this in my heart, so that I could declare it all: that the righteous and the wise and their works are in the hand of God. People know neither love nor hatred by anything they see before them. 2 All things come alike to all: One event happens to the righteous and the wicked;To the good, the clean, and the unclean;To him who sacrifices and him who does not sacrifice.As is the good, so is the sinner;He who takes an oath as he who fears an oath.3 This is an evil in all that is done under the sun: that one thing happens to all. Truly the hearts of the sons of men are full of evil; madness is in their hearts while they live, and after that they go to the dead. 4 But for him who is joined to all the living there is hope, for a living dog is better than a dead lion. 5 For the living know that they will die;But the dead know nothing,And they have no more reward,For the memory of them is forgotten.6 Also their love, their hatred, and their envy have now perished;Nevermore will they have a shareIn anything done under the sun.
Ecclesiastes 9:1-6
Life “under the sun” seldom makes sense to us. It can be maddening to try and find order and meaning in the randomness of life. Life is full of monotony, but it is also replete with contradictions and paradoxes that boggle the mind.
How can these problems be addressed? Solomon gives us some help. Follow along with this week’s post and let us learn these truths about life on this planet.
The complexities of life are on full display here. The same fate seems await all when life is viewed without God. The categories that the preacher uses are stark and stunning. Consider from an earthly perspective the following……
*The same fate awaits the righteous and the wicked.
*The same fate awaits the clean and the unclean.
*The same fate awaits the religious and the irreligious.
*The same fate awaits the good and the sinner.
All will die and be forgotten. Their achievements and emotions will perish. Their rewards perish with them and lead to ultimate meaninglessness.
I’m thankful that we have purpose and meaning through Christ. Aren’t you grateful for the fact that we do not have to live this life apart from God? He calls on all to be saved (Romans 10:9-13). And His desire is relationship with you. Trust Him today!
19 My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back,20 remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.
James 5:19-20
The Book of James ends with a simple and timely reminder for the church. Christians should be willing to help other Christians who are falling into sin. This task is not easy and simple, but, it is an important part of fellowship within the Body of Christ.
Every Believer has a tendency to stray from the truth. When that takes place, other Believers ought to stand in the gap and help turn that brother or sister from the error and back to the Word of God. Doing this will save the Christian from a multitude of bad choices, sleepless nights, and awful consequences.
Let us realize that when we confront others a great deal of humility is needed. We are all just and at the same time we are all sinners. Every Child of God is vulnerable to the attacks of the evil one. Every attempt to help a wayward Believer ought to be done out of love and kindness. This task is can be complex and arduous. But, it is worth the cost.
“Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”
Deuteronomy 6:4-9
This portion of Scripture was called the Shema by the Jewish rabbis. It was often quoted by Jewish worshipers in the synagogue meetings. The lessons it teaches are universal and important for Christian believers in our day. What are those lessons?
**There is only one God.
The great truth of this passage tells us that there is only one true, authentic God. In a society that trumpeted a multitude of gods and goddesses, Moses declares that the only true God is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
We would do well to remember this truth in our time. Many idols still vie for our attention. Yet, for the Christian, there is only one God revealed in three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
**We must pass the Christian faith on to the young.
The Hebrew people were commanded to continually teach the precepts and principles of the Law. They were to pass on their faith to the next generation. Failure to transfer these principles from God’s Word resulted in much pain and heartache for the nation of Israel. The people of God were to continue to faithfully teach the Word of God so that future generations would not forget the miracles, blessings, and provisions that God had provided for His people.
This principle still has great import for today’s Christian. If we don’t teach the truths of Scripture through word and deed to our children and young people, who will? The world system is contrary to the truths of the Scriptures. Therefore, we must teach the truth, preach it, and live it so that our children may grow in the faith.
**We must teach the truths of the Bible by utilizing every opportunity.
The Jewish people were commanded to teach the truths of the Law in the morning, throughout the day, and in the evening. The point was this; use every teachable moment to pass along the ways of God, the truth of God, and the greatness of God to the young.
As Christians today, our command and call is exactly the same. We should be taking advantage of every occasion we are given to teach the plain truths of Scripture. Let us point out God’s blessing and goodness. May we remind our children that God is with us at all times. Let us teach them of Christ’s died and rose again for the salvation of souls. Let us not hold onto our faith, let’s pass it on.
12 There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?
James 4:12
Christians are never to judge others in a hypocritical way. We all need to realize that we are sinners with blind spots and we may not have all the information. The Lord will judge and we can trust that God’s judgement will be righteous and holy.
Christians need to be discerning in their lives. God’s people are called to test, try, and obey. Yet, we ought to never judge with harshness and hypocrisy. Let us trust in Lord that He will sort everything out in the end.
11 Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sisteror judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it.
James 4:11
The principle from James 4:11 is simple and to the point—don’t slander fellow believers. We are not to judge the intent of the hearts of others. We should be working to reign in our own hearts and desires.
Obviously, Christians should not slander anyone regardless of whether they are a Christian or not. The precept here is in the context of the teaching of James about how Believers are to interact with one another.
May God help us to love and not slander those in our path.
11 Does a spring send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water?12 Can a fig tree, my brothers and sisters, bear olives, or a vine bear figs? Nor can salt water produce fresh.
James 3:11-12
One of the great temptations that Christians face is that of hypocrisy. Believers, of all people, should strive to make sure that our testimony of Christ’s salvation matches up with our daily living. When the two are misaligned, God’s people are exposed to ridicule and are in danger of being ignored by lost people and the world alike. May God help His people!
While Christians do sin from time to time, it is imperative for all the converted to practice personal holiness and allow their “walk” to line up with their “talk.” Sin should be the exception in the life of a believer and not the rule.
15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?
James 2:15-16
Saving faith will lead to concern for others in the life of the Believer. A faith that saves will prompt the Believer to meet practical needs as much as they can when the situation arises. A fellow Christian who is need of clothes or food should be able to count on other Christians to help them in their time of need.
Simply giving verbal assent to others who are lacking is unprofitable and silly. Believers cannot say “be warmed, be filled” and refuse to help those in desperate circumstances. True saving faith will result in actions, not just words.
mrtonyfrench 