SEEK WISDOM

Eccl. 10:10 Since a dull ax requires great strength, sharpen the blade. That’s the value of seeking wisdom; it helps you succeed.  NLT

      Wisdom helps us to succeed.  In fact, without wisdom we will not succeed.  Wisdom is the ability to take what we know and make good use of it in our lives so that we become better people.  It requires humility and the willingness to make changes in our behavior and thinking when it is necessary.  Wisdom is learning to work on our weaknesses and to shore up our strengths.  It is gained on the foundation of dedicated work.

      Spiritual wisdom doesn’t just happen because we have faith.  It comes to those who are fully surrendered to the Lord.  The Spirit of Christ gives wisdom to those who are serious about their walk with the Lord.  It requires from us a committed and consistent study of God’s Word.  It requires of us a commitment to worshiping the Lord.  It requires of us letting the Lord govern our daily living.   

     Wisdom is the acknowledgement that all that is good comes from God.  It is recognizing the work of God in all of life and in us.  It is not taking for granted the handiwork of God.  It is being grateful for the blessings of God.  It is not blaming God when things don’t go our way.  It is submitting to God’s authority over us with no strings attached.  It is not being satisfied with the status quo but always seeking to grow in grace and knowledge.  Wisdom is stressing those things that help build us up in faith and staying away from those things which tear us down.  Wisdom is resisting Satan whenever he endeavors to entice us away from God and into sin.

      The key to successful living in Christ is to seek wisdom.  We need to have an insatiable desire for the Lord and for understanding on how to live holy lives.  Wisdom is the solid rock upon which faith is built.  Wisdom is found only in Jesus who is our Solid Rock.

DO YOUR BEST

Eccl. 9:10 Whatever you do, do well. For when you go to the grave, there will be no work or planning or knowledge or wisdom.  NLT

      There is no second doing of life. You only get one chance to get it right. You cannot press a reverse button and do it all over again. If you mess up you have to live with the consequences of what you have done. Therefore, strive to get things right the first time. Do your best to live a life of honor before God and man. Do what God has given you to do while you can do it. Don’t mess around and half-heartedly serve the Lord. Give Him your best effort. You will die with the consequences of how you have lived. While you have the time and energy to do something about it, give of your best to the Master. Don’t put off another day what you know God wants you to do. Today is the day of opportunity, tomorrow may never come.

      What are you doing with your life? Are you doing your best to honor Christ with it?  Don’t be like the majority who settle for mediocrity in their lives.  Do your best to be the best you can be for that is what pleases God.  How you live is a reflection of your true feelings about Christ in you.  He deserves nothing but the best of you, not the leftovers.

      Remember, God will reject those who are lukewarm followers of Him. 

A WORLD FULL OF EVIL

Eccl. 8:9  I have thought deeply about all that goes on here in the world, where people have the power to hurt each other.  NLT

      We live in a time in which news about what is going on in the world is everywhere you turn.  It’s on our computers, TVs, radios, newspapers, etc.  We may choose to ignore what is going on and pretend like it doesn’t exist, but it does.  Man’s sinful nature is plastered everywhere.  It is almost inconceivable how evil mankind can be.  If we stop and think about it, it overpowers the soul.

      Where will it all end?  When will it all end?   Is there anything we can do to stop the madness?  How will this madness affect us personally if it continues?  Is there any hope for our children/grandchildren if it continues as it is going?  Is the way things are going in the world a sign that Jesus is coming soon?

      Evil has always plagued the world.  We read history books and we read the Bible and we are made aware of how bad evil is.  No matter how much people say that man is inherently good, we know better.  No matter how much we like to think that life is better today than it has ever been, it isn’t.  No matter how much we try to bury the reality of evil, it is everywhere and will continue to plague man and only get worse.

       The world is the present domain of Satan.  He is vigorously working to destroy Christianity.  He doesn’t like children of God and is determined to silence and destroy us.  God makes it very clear that Satan is going to have his way on earth until God puts an end to it.  Jesus is coming soon to take the Church out of the world so that evil will manifest itself without restraint.  It is going to be a time in which God will rain down judgment on the earth until Satan is finally defeated and cast into hell for all of eternity. 

      Jesus will take the Church out of the world because He loves us and wants to spare us the horrors of unbridled evil in the world.  He loves us and gives us the means to be in the world but not victims of it.  He takes up residence in the heart of all who repent and surrender their lives to Him and protects us from being destroyed by evil.  We may have to live under the consequences of the world’s evil, but we are not victims of it.  In Christ we are the victors, the overcomers.  In Christ, we are guaranteed to live with Him for all of eternity in heaven. 

       Do not let the news of the world overwhelm or overpower you.  Live faithfully in Christ and you will live in peace and have joy in your soul, no matter how bad things may get around you.

WONDERFUL WISDOM

Eccl. 8: 1 How wonderful to be wise, to be able to analyze and interpret things. Wisdom lights up a person’s face, softening its hardness.  NLT

      Wisdom does not just happen or come naturally.  It comes to those who live and learn.  It is observing and applying to life what we learn so that we are better people than we were before.  We learn from the mistakes others make and we learn from our own mistakes.  Wisdom is making changes in our thinking and living as we discover newer and better ways to live.  Wisdom comes to those who do not just “go with the flow” in life, but who deliberately strive to do those things which make them a better person.  Wisdom gives a person confidence and a positive approach to living. 

     Wisest are those who are spiritually wise.  It is a wonderful thing when God’s children learn well how to live life in Christ.  Those who are spiritually wise are students of God’s Word.  They do not just read the Word for the sake of reading it, but they read it to learn about God and His ways.  They read it with a desire to learn new things so that they can live more godly lives.

      Those who are spiritually wise do not neglect their prayer time.  They make it a point to spend time alone with God.  They pray not only to be heard, but they pray to worship.  They develop a mindset of praise and thanksgiving as they pray.  They meditate on the awesomeness of God.  They pray often just to have fellowship with God.   They learn to enjoy being in the presence of God.

       The spiritually wise do not neglect Christian fellowship.  They learn to appreciate the faith of others and enjoy the fellowship of other believers.  They learn that other like-minded believers are the best people on earth to know and fellowship with.

      The spiritually wise are actively serving the Lord.  They are those who have learned that it is far better to give than receive. 

They grow to appreciate the opportunities the Lord gives them to do good amongst man.  They seek to serve the Lord because they love Him and desire to honor and glorify Him.  They have learned that there is no greater joy in life than to be ambassadors for Christ in the world.

       Those who are spiritually wise are easily recognizable in the world.  There is joy in their souls and it shows.  They are known for their righteousness and compassion.  They are gracious in how they deal with others.  They are quick to forgive and slow to judge.  They are a people after God’s own heart.

WE ALL SIN

Eccl. 7:20  There is not a single person in all the earth who is always good and never sins.  NLT

       This is a statement that is true for all people for all time.  There is not one person who has ever lived, is now living, or shall ever live, who is so good he never sins.  This includes you and me.  No matter what others may think about you or what you may think about you, you are not as good as you may appear to be.  Everyone sins and that is just a fact of life.  It doesn’t matter who you may be in the eyes of the world or church, you are guilty of sin.  If you say you aren’t, you are calling God a liar because He says you are.

       Because we are guilty of sin, we need help from God if we are going to avoid the consequences of our sin, which is hell.  God knew our plight and did what only He could do; He became human and lived a sinless life.  He then took upon himself all of our sin penalty on the cross of Calvary when He died in our place.  He who knew no sin became sin for us so we could have our sins forgiven by God.  Not only did Jesus make it possible for God to forgive us, He made the way for God to forget we had ever sinned!  When Jesus is our Savior, God does not look beyond the righteousness of Christ in us.  It is as if we had never sinned!

     Yes, we still sin because we are in the flesh and in the world.  We are perfected in Christ but we are not perfect.  Our sinful nature still haunts and harasses us.  We are weak spiritually and will fail to measure up to God’s holy perfection.  But the Good News is that when we admit our sin and confess them to Christ, we are forgiven and our hearts are made whiter than snow before God. 

      In order to not live in sin and end up in hell, we need to stay closely connected with Christ.  We must be washed clean by His righteousness.  We must stay under His righteousness and not wander away from Him.  He will protect us and keep us pure before God as long as we let Him be our Savior and Lord.  No one will ever be good enough to be with God without Him.  No one.

PAY ATTENTION AND LEARN

Eccl. 7:13  Notice the way God does things, then fall into line. Don’t fight the ways of God, for who can straighten out what he has made crooked?  NLT

      There are a couple of things we can do to discover how God does things.  One thing we can do is to consistently spend time in the Word.  There is great value in reading the history of God’s dealings with man.  Don’t neglect the Old Testament record for we discover there much about God’s holiness, mercy and grace.  Before Jesus came God showed us through His dealings with man just how much we need a Savior. 

      In the New Testament we discover how much God loves us and how He solved our need for a Savior.  Jesus came, lived a sinless life, went to the cross and died for our sins.  In Christ, God showed us His love and holiness blended together into one.  We discover that we don’t have to be prisoners to our sins; Christ sets us free.

       There is much about God that we don’t know, but there is also much about Him we do know.  We need to take note of how He moves amongst men and then fall in line.  We discover quickly that when we get out of line, bad things happen.  We get out of sorts with ourselves and the world around us.  We become very weak and become easy prey to sinful temptations.  We become defensive and often fight against God as He tries to gain control over us.  We stumble around in the darkness and often cause ourselves much pain and suffering that could easily be avoided. 

       It is foolish to not follow the ways of the Lord.  It is self-defeating and self-destructive.  The only thing that is accomplished is making ourselves miserable.  If you have fallen out of step with the Lord, don’t take another step until you fall on bended knee before Him in repentance.  There is great joy and peace in living in the Way.  In Christ alone you will find what you are looking for and think you are finding on your own. 

      Notice how others are following the Lord.  Follow the example of those who are living in Christ.  If they can do it, you can too.  There is a great cloud of witnesses God has provided for you to watch.  Imitate their faith.  And, be careful how you live because there are those who are watching you too.

FINISH WHAT YOU START

Eccl. 7:8  Finishing is better than starting.  Patience is better than pride.  NLT

       How many projects have you started but never finished?  If you are like me, probably more than you care to think about.  We have good intentions but often get distracted or discouraged and do not finish things we start.  We may run out of resources before we finish what we are doing or run out of patience or the knowhow of how to proceed.  Most people understand that failure to finish is a part of life.  I admire those who know how to finish what they start and stick with it until it’s done.  I have to admit that it’s not always the case with me.

      It takes a lot of patience sometimes to finish a project you start.  It’s especially true of a big project.  Sometimes the task is bigger than we can handle alone so we have to solicit the help of others.  Most tasks take time as well as effort to complete. 

      When we start out walking with the Lord, finishing is better than starting.  So many start out well, but never finish.  They may start out like a house on fire, but soon the flames die out and all that is left is ashes.  So many get preoccupied with life and other interests and wander away from God.  So many of us fail to establish spiritual disciplines early in our walk of faith and lose grip on what we had.  We cannot ignore Bible reading, prayer and Christian fellowship and make it with the Lord.  We cannot starve our souls of what they need and expect to keep on living.  Life in Christ is a marathon, not a sprint.  It’s not how we start out that matters, it’s how we finish.

      Jesus told us to carefully count the cost of salvation before we start out because He knows how easy it is for us to get distracted, discouraged and defeated.  Staying connected with the Lord does cost us a lot.  It costs us our life goals and dreams.  It costs us the hold the world has on us.  It costs us giving Him control of everyone and everything in life that we hold dear.  It costs us sometimes great suffering and even sometimes our lives.  It costs us our selfishness and often a good standing with the world.  Salvation requires of us great patience and perseverance as we journey through life.

       Pride is one of our greatest enemies.  It is so hard to not pat ourselves on the back for the things God has done in us and through us.  It is something that we must constantly guard our souls against and whenever it rears its ugly head, we must surrender it to the Lord before it gets a foothold in us.

       Don’t be a quitter.  Finish well what you have started.  Live moment-by-moment in relationship with Christ and you will eternally be found in Him.

FUNERALS OR FESTIVALS?

Eccl. 7:2,4  It is better to spend your time at funerals than at festivals. For you are going to die and you should think about it while there is time. A wise person thinks much about death, while the fool thinks only about having a good time now.  NLT

      At first glance, this verse may not make a lot of sense.  Most of us would choose to go to a party than a funeral.  Funerals are generally not a fun place to be.  It is especially true if it is for someone who is very close to your heart.

       Yet, when we think about it, we would have to admit that the value of a funeral to our souls far outweighs any good times we may have at parties.  At funerals we are faced with the reality of our mortality.  No matter how much we don’t want to think about it, we are all going to die someday.  When we die, there is no coming back and doing life over.  We don’t get a second chance to get it right.  We don’t get another chance to get ready to face God.  We are vividly reminded of the fact that there are no guarantees as to how long we shall live. Death is but a breath away for us.

     Wisdom tells us to think about these things.  We still have hope as long as we have breath.  The Lord has given us all the information and time we need to be ready to die.  He waits patiently for us to take advantage of our opportunities, but when it is our time to die, there is no more patience.  The Lord has determined how long we shall live and wise is he who understands this and doesn’t wait until it is too late.

       If you were to die today, would you be ready to face God?

ENJOY WHAT YOU HAVE

Eccl. 6:9 Enjoy what you have rather than desiring what you don’t have. Just dreaming about nice things is meaningless; it is like chasing the wind. NLT

       Life would be so much easier and less complicated if we would learn this important lesson in life.  We can eliminate most of the stress in living if we could learn to enjoy what we have in the moment instead of pining for what we don’t have.  Most people are simply not content with how their life is now and they long for more and better things that they don’t have.  Let’s be honest about it.  Isn’t this why we spend so much of our lives working at jobs we mostly do not enjoy?  We work so that we can get what we don’t have so that we can have better lives than we have now.  The sad thing of it is, usually when we get what we want we discover that it either is not what we really want or it does not give us the pleasure and satisfaction we thought it would.

      The world runs on dreams.  We are constantly bombarded with things we don’t have and think we might want.  We think about those things and begin to develop plans on how to get them.  Many are willing to see their dreams become a reality at any cost.  Many will sell out their souls in order to pursue their dreams.  What one does not have becomes far more important than one’s relationship with God.  Life is wasted away chasing after meaningless things.

       A much better way to live life is to learn how to enjoy what you do have in the moment you are in.  The only way we can do this is to learn to enjoy the presence of God in our lives.  If we are not living in Christ, there is nothing in the world that will ever satisfy the soul.  Life will be nothing but a meaningless chasing after that which will always disappoint us.  Without Christ our dreams will defeat us.  Only Jesus can bring us peace and contentment.  Only Jesus can give life today and always meaning. 

      Don’t put off enjoying life today in the pursuit of something that will not bring you lasting enjoyment once you obtain it.  Live in the presence of Christ and each day will bring you pleasure as His grace unfolds in your life.  Knowing that your soul is right with God alone can hold you steady in life regardless of the circumstances you are in.  Each day, each moment, can be a blessing to be enjoyed when Christ is in it.

        If you must dream, dream about the life Christ is preparing for you in heaven and live in preparation for that life.  Life in Christ is the only life worth living for.  It is the only life you can really find enjoyment in that lasts a lifetime.

WEALTH FROM GOD

Eccl. 5:19  And it is a good thing to receive wealth from God and the good health to enjoy it.  To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life—that is indeed a gift from God.  NLT

     What is wealth from God?  I believe it is far more than material wealth.  It may include that, but not necessarily so.  There are a multitude of believers who have never enjoyed the riches of earth and never will.  Wealth from God is far more precious than the things of earth. 

     Wealth from God begins with a relationship with Him.  It is knowing that our sins are forgiven, forgotten, and forsaken.  It is living in peace with God and man.  It is the wondrous gift of the Holy Spirit who actively works within us to keep us on a holy path to God.  It is a hope that is certain, built on the promises of God himself.  It is access to His Word and the understanding He gives us as we read it.  It is the convicting work of the Holy Spirit when we sin against God.  It is God’s mercy and grace.  It is the fellowship of other believers to encourage us, teach us, and inspire us to a deeper walk with Him.  Wealth from God is everything He provides for us to have eternal life.

     Wealth from God does indeed often include the blessings of life on earth.  We owe to God our resources for living, our health, our work, and our gifts to do the work He gives us to do.  We are so blessed to be who we are and to do what we do.  It should cause all of us to daily be grateful for our lives.  We don’t know how long our health will hold up and we don’t know when changes will come in our lives that will drive us to our knees in despair; so we need to enjoy all that the Lord provides daily with thanksgiving and praise. 

       Most of us will face adversity in life.   Things do not always go the way we want them to or the way they have gone before.  The Lord sometimes withholds His blessings from us so that we will depend on Him and not our blessings.  Sometimes we have to lose what we have in order to appreciate God and what He gives.  We grow the most in faith through adversity, not through affluence.

      Dear friend, no matter what your circumstances may be today, accept it with gratitude before God.  Fix your eyes upon the Lord and praise Him for His blessings.  Learn what He is teaching you in this moment of your life.  If you have much, use what you have to honor the Lord and serve Him.  If you have little, trust Him for all that you need to see you through.  He will supply all your needs as you walk by faith in Him.

NEVER ENOUGH MONEY

Eccl. 5:10-11  Those who love money will never have enough.  How absurd to think that wealth brings true happiness!  The more you have, the more people come to help you spend it.  So what is the advantage of wealth—except perhaps to watch it run through your fingers!  NLT

       Those who love money have a lot more problems than they ever imagined.  The love of money is insatiable.  There is no end to the want for more.  It drives a person to do things that they otherwise may not do in order to get more.  It breeds selfishness.  It hinders a person from getting close to God.  It keeps people from getting close to other people.  It causes a person to take advantage of others for personal gain.  Money takes on such prominence in one’s life that nothing else really matters.  Those obsessed with money find they can’t really trust anyone like they should and need to.

       In addition to money becoming a driving force in one’s life, it deceives one into thinking that there is a magical amount that once obtained will make a person happy.  It is absurd to think that anything but God can make one happy. 

       Also, the more money a person has, the more people there will be to come alongside of you to help you spend it.  People come out of the woodwork when they discover you have money.  Our world is very adept at promoting ways for us to spend whatever money we have.  People everywhere make all kinds of promises about how they can help make your life better if you give them money.  People take advantage of people with wealth all the time.  The allurement of being able to make more money by giving away money entices many to make foolish decisions.  There are those who lay a guilt trip on people of wealth in order to get money from them. 

       So, what indeed is the value of obtaining much wealth?  It will never satisfy the longing of the soul for peace and contentment.  It will never deliver on its promise to make one happy.  It can never fill the place of God in the heart.  Only those who find their peace, contentment and joy in Christ will find true happiness.  Only in Christ can one find a reason to live.  Only in Christ does one discover how to deal with money in a way that both pleases the Lord and brings a sense of pleasure to the soul. 

       If you are driven by a desire for money, ask the Lord to change your heart’s desire today to a desire for Him.  Ask the Lord to help you put Him above all things.  Ask Him to take His rightful place in your heart.  Delight yourself in the Lord and you will find what you are searching for in life, both now and eternally.

KEEP YOUR PROMISES

 

Eccl. 5:4-6a So when you make a promise to God, don’t delay in following through, for God takes no pleasure in fools.  Keep all the promises you make to him.  It is better to say nothing than to promise something that you don’t follow through on.  In such cases, your mouth is causing you to sin.  NLT

      We need to take what we say to God seriously.  Many make promises to God they never keep.  There may be times of great stress and difficulty and you may promise God that if He would get you out of the mess you are in that you would devote yourself to Him in ways you never have before.  You may promise Him full reign of your heart.  You may promise Him your devoted service.  We make all kind of promises to God, but they are meaningless if we don’t keep them. In fact, they are much more than broken promises; God declares them to be sin.

       What kind of promises have you made to God?  Have you kept them?  Take a moment and ask the Lord to remind you of the promises you have made to Him.  Maybe you have forgotten all about them over time, but if you ask Him to, the Lord will remind you of them.  God commands you to keep your word to Him.  If your situation has changed and it is no longer feasible or possible to keep your promise, ask the Lord to forgive you and help you to not make promises you won’t keep from now on.

      Why would we expect God to keep His promises to us if we don’t keep our promises to Him?  A person who loves someone does not make empty promises.  God commands truthfulness from His children and we are not being truthful if we make empty promises to Him.

       It is far better to keep silent and not say anything at all to the Lord than it is to make promises you don’t keep.  Don’t sin against the Lord by not keeping your word to Him.  If you need to ask the Lord to put a zip on your lip, do it.  Eternity is a long time to think about the empty promises you have made to Him and not kept.

SILENT WORSHIP

Eccl. 5:1-2 As you enter the house of God, keep your ears open and your mouth shut! Don’t be a fool who doesn’t realize that mindless offerings to God are evil. And don’t make rash promises to God, for he is in heaven and you are only here on earth. So, let your words be few.  NLT

      Wow.  How many of us are in churches where silence is a good thing?  It seems like the church today is more about noise and busyness than it is silence and meditation.  We have gotten to the point where we are uncomfortable in the quiet.  We surround ourselves with noise and chatter so much that we just don’t know how to wait patiently before God anymore. Yes, there are churches that practice silence where the soul can reflect on her standing before God.  But, it is not the practice of most churches.

We are reminded in today’s verses that it is better to be quiet and listen than it is to always be talking.  All of us think we have profound things to say, but do we really need to say them?  Why is it that we don’t keep our mouths shut more than we do?  We are not learning anything if we are talking.  We won’t hear what God is saying unless we are listening and not talking.  Sure, there are times in which we add valuable insights to what is being taught, but we benefit more from listening and learning than we do by talking all the time.

      When we are in the presence of God, it is important that we don’t talk too much and make Him promises that we can’t, or won’t keep.  We sometimes say things in the emotions of the moment that we later realize were rash and we live to regret it.  It is foolish to make promises to God that we don’t keep.  God holds us accountable for the things we promise to Him. 

      We wonder why it is that we don’t hear from God like we should.  We wonder why it is that there seems to be little real sense of God’s presence in our worship services.  Could it be that it’s because we have forgotten what it is like to be still and know that the Lord, He is God?  They that wait on the Lord shall be renewed in their souls and receive strength for their journey of life. 

Whether it is in public or private worship, put yourself in a position where you can hear from God and you will.

STRENGTH IN NUMBERS

Eccl. 4:12-13  A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer.  Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.  NLT

      There is strength in numbers.  By ourselves we are too weak to stand for long.  The opposition is too great and strong.  We are easily overwhelmed.  It is true both physically and spiritually.

      No one is so strong spiritually that he can withstand Satan for long on his own.  We need others in our lives who understand what we are going through and who can support us in our struggles.  We need wisdom and guidance beyond ourselves because often we simply do not know what to do.  When someone is standing by our side, we feel stronger and more confident in our struggles.  We do not feel all alone and are not as likely to give up and admit defeat. 

       It is better still when not only are there others standing with us to support us, but we have the Lord on our side.  Quite frankly, unless the Lord is the third strand that binds the cord together, we will not overcome Satan.  Two strands woven together are stronger than one and can withstand a lot, but three strands are much stronger and not easily defeated.  No matter how good our intentions may be, without the Lord, we will not prevail. 

       Satan attacks us on many different fronts.  When we shore up our defenses in one area, he attacks another.  No matter how well protected we may be, we will always be vulnerable outside of the Lord’s protection.  When people are united together by Christ, the gates of hell itself shall not prevail against them.  People may be able to do much good and make a huge difference in the world working together, but without the Lord in it Satan will easily render the good useless. 

        In the church, in marriage, in the workplace, in all we do, we need the Lord to bind us together.  It is impossible to please God without Christ.  All of our labors are in vain without the Lord.  Life lived out without the help and blessings of Christ is futile.  He alone holds us all together.  He is the head of the Church and we are His body.  He is the Lord of life and the sooner we let Him be, the better we will be able to live in victory and not defeat.

TEAMWORK

 

Eccl. 4:9-10  Two people can accomplish more than twice as much as one; they get a better return for their labor.  If one person falls, the other can reach out and help.  But people who are alone when they fall are in real trouble.  NLT

       I worked in a factory for many years where sometimes I worked alone and at other times I had a partner.  I normally was able to get a lot more done working with someone than I did by working alone.  Having a partner enabled me to focus on doing well specific tasks rather than trying to do more tasks and not do them as well.  When two people work together well, much more can be accomplished than one can do by himself. 

     Working together enables each worker to help the other when they need it.  It encourages each worker to know they are not alone, that someone is always there to help get the job done.  The same thing holds true in our spiritual lives.  We need to live in partnership with both the Lord and others.  When we try to do things on our own, there is no one to help us when we run into trouble.

      When we begin to think that we have things under control and start to neglect our relationship with Christ, we soon find ourselves in trouble with God.  We let down our guard and sinful attitudes and behavior soon creep in.  We begin to not read our Bibles and prayer takes a back seat in our lives.  No one can neglect the Lord and make it spiritually.  Our greatest need in life is the Lord.  We are partners with Him in faith.  We will always accomplish more with the Lord in it than we will without Him.

        It is also true regarding other believers.  We need others in our lives who can help us in our walk of faith and the working out of our faith in the world.  Much more will be accomplished for the Lord when we are working in partnership with others.  We feed off of others and grow more when we live in relationship with them.  There simply is no room for loners in our faith walk.

      Don’t get yourself in trouble with the Lord.  Surround yourself with His grace and holiness and the fellowship of others.  We simply cannot do it alone, no matter how gifted we may be or how well equipped we may be. 

ENVYING OTHERS

Eccl. 4:4  Then I observed that most people are motivated to success by their envy of their neighbors.  But this, too, is meaningless, like chasing the wind.

       Do you envy others?  Where is it getting you?  Think about it.  If you are motivated to do whatever you can do to get ahead because others are more successful than you, you are probably a mess.  No matter how hard you try, you will find yourself always falling behind what others are doing.  Comparing yourself to others is always a losing game.  You will not be satisfied because you are not as successful as others, and you will become proud because you are better than others. 

       Success is a relative thing.  We all measure success in different ways.  The only success that will satisfy the soul is living right with God.  It is enough to simply know that God is with us, living in us, working in us, and working through us.  Everything else is meaningless in life.  The sooner we understand this truth, the better chance we have of being successful in life.

      What is it going to really matter when you are dying what you have accomplished in this world?  What will help you to die in peace?  Will you really care then how big your bank account is or how many possessions you own?  Will it really matter how much influence you have on others?  Will your lifework matter to you?  When you know you are breathing your last few breaths of life, nothing will matter to you, except perhaps your thoughts about what is next. 

     What will matter when we are on the threshold of death is where we will spend eternity.  We will want to know that we will be in heaven and not hell.  Very few people will be in total denial that there is an eternity awaiting them.  The sad thing is that most want to wait until they know that they are dying before they take eternity seriously.  They live in denial that death is unpredictable.  No one knows when they will die.  Waiting for that unknown and unpredictable day is foolishness.  Death is but one breath away for all of us.

      Don’t mess around and wait to be ready to die.  Live each moment in Christ and you will not be caught off guard.  Don’t take the opportunity the Lord is giving you to live rightly with Him lightly or for granted.  If you die today without Christ as your Savior, you will spend eternity in hell. 

HAPPY WHILE YOU WORK

 

Eccl. 3:22-23  So I saw that there is nothing better for people than to be happy in their work.  That is why they are here!  No one will bring them back from death to enjoy life in the future.  NLT

      What do you do for work?  Are you happy in it?  Why, or why not?  Most people are not happy with their jobs.  They feel stuck because they would much rather be doing something else with their life.  They may have taken a particular job out of necessity and have just settled into it as a way of earning a living.  We rationalize things and find all kinds of reasons why we should be doing something different.  We may see ourselves as being too good or too qualified for what we do.  We may think we deserve better pay for what we do.  We may not get along well with our co-workers.  On and on our rationalizations go.  But, I believe that for most of us our dissatisfaction with what we do is more of a spiritual issue than it is anything else.

      If you are not happy with yourself or are not right with God, no matter what your work may be, you will struggle and not be happy.  Happiness stems from an attitude of gratitude to God.  It is being God-centered and Christ-focused.  It is knowing that we owe our all to God.  True happiness is understanding that all of life is a gift and a blessing from God.  It is giving to God the credit He deserves for who we are, what we are, and what we do.  True happiness is never found outside of a life that is not Christ-centered.

      When we live life in Christ, we do what we do to honor and glorify Him and not ourselves.  We work at what we do with our best efforts.  We strive to be a pleasing aroma unto God.  We see our work as a part of our witness.  Sure work can be mundane and cumbersome.  We may not particularly like what we do, but, if we approach it as a gift from God and an opportunity to serve Him, work ceases to be burdensome. 

       If you are struggling to find happiness in your work, first seek your happiness in Christ.  Learn to love Him with all your heart, mind and soul.  Learn how to walk with Him wherever you go.  Learn how to let Him be the delight of your heart from morning to night.  Let Him be Lord of your heart and your heart will sing His praises no matter what you may do in life.  Let your life work be a living testimony of your love for the Lord.  When your heart is right with the Lord, you will be able to give Him praise and thanksgiving in and for all things, even in your work.

OUR SIN PROBLEM

OUR SIN PROBLEM

Eccl. 3: 18  Then I realized that God allows people to continue in their sinful ways so he can test them.  That way, they can see for themselves that they are no better than animals.  NLT

       If God wanted to, He could make us do what is right in His eyes.  He could force His ways upon us.  He could take care of sin without any problem at all.  But, He has not chosen to do it.  In a lot of ways, I think it would make living a much easier process.  At least then, we wouldn’t be constantly struggling to not sin.  But then, we would be merely robots in God’s hands and not able to have a love relationship with Him.  We would not be able to know Him in a deep and personal way, as one who helps us in our times of need and struggles.

     God knows that the real test of one’s faith is how we handle sin.  He knows what we should know, that if we are His children we will not continue to sin against Him.  God is holy and there is no sin found in Him.  If He lives in us and controls us, then we should not sin against Him.  It’s as simple and plain as that.  There is no wiggle room when it comes to sin.  It is detestable to God and will be judged by Him.

      No one has to tell you that sin is a problem for you.  We all know that we are not as godly as we would like to be or as others perceive us to be.  Sin is common to all people.  The more sin we see in us, the more we realize that we need the Lord.  We must have the Lord’s help if we are going to have victory over sin, because it is too powerful for us to overcome on our own.

     When we don’t let the Lord help us, we will do as the animals do; we will follow our sinful instincts.  We can’t change our ways on our own.  We are born sinners and will die sinners without the Lord.  Denying that it is so does not change it.  God makes it very clear in His Word.

      You will never know the peace of God while dabbling in sin.  You will know how strong your faith really is by how well you resist sinning.  Your love for God is seen in how you handle sin.  If you find yourself yielding to sin more than you do resisting it, you are not living in fellowship with God.

      Dear friend. Only Jesus can help you with your sin problem.  No one can stop you from sinning, but Christ can help you overcome your desire to sin.  Let Jesus be your Lord and you will discover that you will no longer be a victim to sin; instead, you will be a victor over it.

ENJOYING LIFE

ENJOYING LIFE

Eccl. 3:9-14 What do people really get for all their hard work? I have thought about this in connection with the various kinds of work God has given people to do. God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end. So I concluded that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to enjoy themselves as long as they can. And people should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor; for these are gifts from God. NLT

      In other words, enjoy what you are doing in life. Not every job is enjoyable, but you can find a way to enjoy it. How? Learn first how to enjoy life. If you have a positive outlook on yourself and the life you live, whatever work you have to do will be far less painful and far more enjoyable. Do you enjoy this journey of life? Do you have a sense of your purpose for living? Do you have hope for your future?

       The ability to enjoy living is directly connected to your relationship with Christ. Jesus puts meaning to the bones of life. He not only impacts our future, he impacts our present. He gives us a reason to enjoy life, no matter the circumstances we are in. We find purpose and meaning in Him. He gives us something worthwhile to live for. He gives us hope. And knowing all that He has done, is doing now, and what He is yet going to do for us, enables us to enjoy the process of living. In Christ we know that we are better off than we have ever been and we shall be far better off than we are now.

       Enjoy your life. Enjoy all that the Lord gives you to do. Enjoy the fruits of your labors. Life is a gift from God and is meant to be enjoyed. Jesus came to give us life and not just life, but life more abundantly. The closer you live to Christ, the more enjoyable your life will be.

LIFE MEANING

LIFE MEANING

Eccl. 2:10-11  Anything I wanted, I took.  I did not restrain myself from any joy.  I even found great pleasure in hard work, an additional reward for all my labors.  But as I looked at everything I had worked so hard to accomplish, it was all so meaningless.  It was like chasing the wind.  There was nothing really worthwhile anywhere.  NLT

      What are you living for?  What gives your life meaning?  We spend our entire lives trying to give our lives meaning.  Most will try to do good things.  Many try to carve their niche out in the world.  Many will seek fame, fortune or a following.  Many put all their energy in their families.  Many will rally around a cause they are passionate about.  Many are working hard for the day in which they can retire and coast the rest of the days of their lives.

      No matter what you are working for to give your life meaning, it is all meaningless if what you are living for is rooted in the world.  There is nothing on earth that really give life meaning.  We live and then die.  Whatever we live for dies with us.  We can’t take anything on earth with us when we die.  It is all so meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

      It is only when we find our meaning in relationship with Christ that we find something worth living for.  Nothing on earth can promise us eternal life.  Nothing can do us any good as far as keeping us out of hell.  Our only hope of eternal life is to live life in Christ.  Only Christ can assure us that what we are doing makes any difference at all. 

      Dear friend, take a careful and honest look at your life.  What are you relying on to give your life meaning?  If it is not a relationship with Christ, you are living in vain.  You may be enjoying the fruit of your labors now, but it won’t last.  Your purpose for life will die with you if you do not have Christ.  If you know Christ, live like it.  Put your heart into it.  Make the Lord your number one priority in your life.  It is only in Christ that you will find a hope that will not die.

       If you don’t know that Christ is your Savior, today is the day you must get right with God.  You don’t know if you will see the end of your day.  Your life will take on a whole new meaning if you will let Him into your heart.  You will find that there is indeed something worth living for.  Christ will forgive you of your sins if you turn to Him, confess them, repent, and ask Him for forgiveness.  What are you waiting for?  Do it now.  You will be glad you did.