Eccl
7:10 (ESV) Say not, "Why were the former days better than these?"
For it
is not from wisdom that you ask this.
NOTE: In retrospect,
everything seems better -- well, most things. Yet, at the time, if a person is
honest, he will admit that he grumbled and wished for change, something
different, back then. This section of scripture falls within Solomon's
"Under the Sun" wisdom. It is generally true, but not necessarily
spiritually true. It must be examined against the context and other passages.
In this case, while the statement is completely true, the answer is not
completely given. It is true that it is not wise to think this way. It is a
distorted view of reality. Wisdom would be to 'ask different questions,' and to
pray in a thankful manner. Our
attitude determines our evaluation of events. So, the questions should
be: what do I like about these days? What can I do that I could not do? What
opportunities do I have now? What is God doing in my life? The prayers are
similar, but rather than just asking "what can I thank God for," they
should include, "what do I need to thank you for that I don't want to be
thankful for?" Those are the prayers that change our attitude and give us
wisdom to see what God is doing today, rather than wishing for days that are
long past.
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