QT 8/30/2024 Eccl 12:8,12-14, Life has a purpose

Ecclesiastes 12:8, 12–14 (ESV) — 8 Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher; all is vanity. … . 12 My son, beware of anything beyond these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh. 13 The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. 14 For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.

 

NOTE: After spending almost 12 chapters describing the futility of life under the sun, the conclusion is twofold:

 

1. Life lived under the sun, a belief that all there is the materialist world, is vanity and futility.
2. Life lived above the sun, i.e., a belief in a creator, is to fear God and to keep his commandments (this is the WHOLE duty of man). God will judge everything someday.

 

If we believe God is the creator (however he chose to create), then we can also assume that he gave a user manual for how to live life to the fullest. The bible is that user manual. And to the extent we follow the user manual, will determine the quality of our life. And to the degree we ignore the user manual, will determine our frustrations and anger toward life.

 

PONDER:

1. What is my belief, materialism or God?
2. Is my life characterized by fulfillment or by frustration?

 

PRAYER: Father, you are the unseen God and yet you appeared in the flesh, in the form of a man, Jesus Christ. We have seen you, your character, your miracles, and your truth. The record was written down during a time when the eyewitnesses still lived. All the gospels and letters were also recorded during a time of eyewitnesses. Jesus' resurrection was witnessed by over 500 persons. The truth is out there, but it isn't aliens, it is you, God, who sought us to save us from our rebellion. Thank you!

QT 8/29/2024 Eccl 11:1-4, Investing in things that matter

Ecclesiastes 11:1–4 (ESV) — 1 Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days. 2 Give a portion to seven, or even to eight, for you know not what disaster may happen on earth. 3 If the clouds are full of rain, they empty themselves on the earth, and if a tree falls to the south or to the north, in the place where the tree falls, there it will lie. 4 He who observes the wind will not sow, and he who regards the clouds will not reap.

 

NOTE: This passage is an argument for diversifying your investments, that is, not putting all your money in one basket. It is wise strategy whether you believe that this life is all that matters or that you believe in a God of the universe who will give life to those who put their faith in Him. We trust God, but we must also be prudent with the use of money. One investment that people tend to forget is charity, and it is probably even more important than any other investments. And even in charity, it is good to have multiple investments (things that you give to). I give to a few missionaries, a homeless shelter, an orphan, a young boy in a poor country, a ministry to Jews, and to my church. Interestingly, my charity potions are given to eight. My financial portions are divided among ten or so funds and I use someone to manage those funds. If disaster happens, I know for sure my charities will have had eternal impacts. As for the finances, well, I can only do so much. I trust God that the money is well invested. It is my life insurance policy for my wife should I die early. The point of the passage is to be prudent in the use of the money God has given to you.

 

PONDER:

1. How have you invested the money God has given to you?
2. Do you consider your charities an investment in eternity?

 

PRAYER: Father, continue to lead and guide in my use of money. I want to do the right thing with the funds you have given. I want to be prudent and faithful to you.

QT 8/28/2024 Eccl 10:19, Materialism is a deceitful philosophy of life

Ecclesiastes 10:19 (ESV) — 19 Bread is made for laughter, and wine gladdens life, and money answers everything.

 

NOTE: This is a good summary verse of 'life lived under the sun.' "Bread made for laughter" represents the lust of the flesh where appetite reigns supreme. "Wine (that) gladdens life" represent the lust of the eyes where we desire the good things of life that will make us happy and fill the emptiness within. Finally, "money answers everything" represents the pride of life where our importance and power is measure in the amount of money we have. As God says to the church at Laodicea, 

 

Revelation 3:17 (ESV) — 17 For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.

 

Most sin falls into these three categories, appetite, desires, and pride -- the only things worth living for if this material world is all that there is to life. Our culture believes in the latter statement. They have been lied to by the prince of this world. And all those lies will come crashing down very soon.

 

1 John 2:15–17 (ESV) — 15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. 17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

 

PONDER:

1. What am I giving myself to in this life?
2. Do I believe in materialism or do I believe in God? How would my neighbor answer that question about me?

 

PRAYER: Father, open our eyes to see the futility of life lived without you. We truly are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. Wake us up before it is too late!

QT 8/27/2024 Eccl 9:5-6, Repenting of trying to be our own gods

Ecclesiastes 9:5–6 (ESV) — 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 Their love and their hate and their envy have already perished, and forever they have no more share in all that is done under the sun.

 

NOTE: This is the understanding of the world today. When there is not God, there is nothing. Everything that consumed the dead is gone and most times to be forgotten in the years to come. Of course, one can leave a legacy through his children, but ultimately the days will cover up even a legacy. Whether or not you accept the idea of God, judgment will come upon the earth. At that time, justice will prevail and rewards will be given for what was perceived as foolishness. The world philosophy is empty. It is a culture of death. It a culture of narcissism. It is a culture of evil and rebellion. But it is not too late to repent of the rebellion which started in the garden of Eden, at least until you are dead. God has allowed the world to go on to show us why our desire to be our own gods was a bad idea. It is not because he does not care, does not know, or is not powerful to intervene. God's withdrawal is his mercy toward us to show us our need to repent of the rebellion and return to him as our God.

 

PONDER:

1. Have I repented of my sin and turned to God as my Lord and savior?
2. DO I live for self or for God?

 

PRAYER: Father, I do desire to live for you with all my heart. My sinful nature constantly tries to pull me away. Forgive me and be merciful to me.

QT 8/26/2024 Ecc 8:12-13, Fear God and make a difference

Ecclesiastes 8:12–13 (ESV) — 12 Though a sinner does evil a hundred times and prolongs his life, yet I know that it will be well with those who fear God, because they fear before him. 13 But it will not be well with the wicked, neither will he prolong his days like a shadow, because he does not fear before God.

 

NOTE: Every now and then, Solomon peeks out from under the sun and understands the importance of fearing God, whether the person be wise or not wise. Of course, the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. Life seems unfair and is unfair. But there is a final tally as well to life that comes after the life under the sun. And the life above the sun will be prolonged for him who fears God, but justice will be dealt to the wicked. We don't deserve life, we are all sinners. We do have an opportunity to turn to God in life and experience a better future (and a more purposeful present life). Solomon's depiction of life assumes a life lived without any fear of God. It is depressing and sad and unfair and evil, where any joy experienced is the only reward worth living for. But those of us who have placed our faith in Jesus know that life can have meaning, purpose, and a hope for the future. It is not arbitrary, random, and only for the narcissistic. We need to share the truth we have discovered and always be prepared to present a defense of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

 

PONDER:

1. Is my life a witness of something that is different and looks different from the world?
2. Do I live under the sun or in fear of God?

 

PRAYER: Father, it is hard to read Solomon's wisdom of life lived without any fear of you. Even though life is painful, just as much so for the believer, it does have purpose and meaning, and most importantly, it has hope, an assured hope. Thank you for the wisdom to know that I must live for you.

QT 8/23/2024 Eccl 6:3,6, It is so important to be thankful

Ecclesiastes 6:3, 6 (ESV)

3 If a man fathers a hundred children and lives many years, so that the days of his years are many, but his soul is not satisfied with life’s good things, and he also has no burial, I say that a stillborn child is better off than he. … 6 Even though he should live a thousand years twice over, yet enjoy no good—do not all go to the one place?

 

NOTE: Again, the focus of most of Ecclesiastes is the futility of life lived without acknowledgement of God. Yet, even in that type of life, there is more futility. One of the issues is contentment. It does not matter how long you live or even what you accomplish, if you cannot be satisfied, why bother? Life is good, especially when lived for God, but life has many things to enjoy even for the person who does not recognize God's truths. Relationships are a key to life, as well as the ability to be thankful. Every day can be a day of rejoicing in goodness if we take the time to thank God or at least be thankful and positive. The person who is never content and always complaining (and bitter) lives a very sad life. There is so much to be thankful for if we would only take the time to count those blessings. Life lived in anger and bitterness is a downward spiral that saps life out of the person.

 

PONDER:

1. When was the last time that I expended a good deal of time just being thankful, counting my blessings?
2. Do I focus on the things I don't have or do I enjoy the things and relationships I do have?

 

PRAYER: Father, I need to spend some time just thanking you for all the little blessings that I see each day. The big blessings are easy to see (two new grandchildren), but all the little ones are equally joyful.

QT 8/22/2024 Eccl 5, Sincere prayer sounds different

Ecclesiastes 5:1–3 (ESV)

1 Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. To draw near to listen is better than to offer the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they are doing evil. 2 Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth. Therefore let your words be few. 3 For a dream comes with much business, and a fool’s voice with many words.

 

NOTE: Again, the perspective is "under the sun" or without a true love for God. I see this verse regularly repeated and it communicates "religion" every time. A person drones-on in prayer in public. I wonder if they drone-on in private too or even if they pray in private. People show up in prayer meetings and pray aloud too often to be seen, and they seem to think more words will help. I would rather be a person of few words than one who says meaningless things over and over. On the other hand, prayers that start and end as "bless this person, and bless that person" are equally worthless. I prefer we would be specific and to the point. Maybe, I am the real problem, but I think too many prayers are insincere.

 

PONDER:

1. Do I pray publicly to be seen?
2. Do I pray to God or to the audience?

 

PRAYER: Father, change my heart. I know I am cynical to some who may know no better. They've watched others over the years and repeat what they think is the best way to pray. The heart is the most important thing and only you know the heart's true motives.

QT 8/21/2024 Eccl 4:13, How do I take unsolicited advice?

Ecclesiastes 4:13 (ESV)

13 Better was a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who no longer knew how to take advice.

 

NOTE: This is one of those verses you know, you have heard, and you have vowed to never fail when you are old. But when the brash or arrogant questions your wisdom, what happens? All of a sudden, the past words about this proverb are forgotten. You get defensive and you don't listen to the advice. Some of it, is certainly the delivery of the person. But those of us who are aged, aren't we beyond that, i.e., letting someone's own foolishness cause us to act foolishly? I remember when I was young and I interrupted a General officer, my boss, in a staff meeting. He listened patiently. When I stopped, he continued on with his point. It was lesson. He was willing to listen to me without interrupting, but I wasn't willing to listen to him. Noone ever said anything to me, except God. Now I am that older person. I don't need another's behavior define my behavior. I need to listen, no matter where the advice comes from.

 

PONDER:

1. Who do I have difficulty taking advice from? Why?
2. Who is the more mature person, the one giving the advice, or the one listening to the advice?

 

PRAYER: Father, help me to remember these words when someone gives advice or questions my thoughts. Give me a spirit of gentleness and a willingness to listen, no matter who the person is. Let me show Jesus through my life in word and especially in deed.

QT 8/20/2024 Eccl 3:10-13, Ruining life through sin

Ecclesiastes 3:10–13 (ESV)

10 I have seen the business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with. 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. 12 I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live; 13 also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God’s gift to man.

 

NOTE: God has made everything beautiful and his time and man has ruined everything in time. Of course, the architect of this ruin is the evil one. He has taken God's good things -- two sexes, marriage, work, relationships, creation -- and has created new and ugly things out of what was beautiful. We don't know what eternity holds, although we were designed for eternity. God will restore many aspects of the original creation, and then will create something entirely new. And we will have new bodies, free of sin, and not susceptible to the evil one's schemes -- and finally we will have good things again, the way God intended life to be.

 

But for now we suffer. The world blames our pain on our adherence to old fashioned ideas of God, but the pain has only increased as we have removed God more and more from life. Man's solutions will always be ugly. God makes things beautiful, at least until man comes along and takes one of God's things and makes it religious, then it also becomes ugly.

 

PONDER:

1. Am I seeking fulfillment in human effort and ideas?
2. Am I truly seeking God and his will for my life?

 

PRAYER: Father, we do take beautiful things and ideas, and transform them into monsters, and then we rejoice in what we created -- pure ugliness. Open our eyes. Help us to see or moral bankrupt-ness.

QT 8/19/2024 Eccl 2, Finding meaning where we have destroyed meaning

Ecclesiastes 2:13–16 (ESV)

13 Then I saw that there is more gain in wisdom than in folly, as there is more gain in light than in darkness. 14 The wise person has his eyes in his head, but the fool walks in darkness. And yet I perceived that the same event happens to all of them. 15 Then I said in my heart, “What happens to the fool will happen to me also. Why then have I been so very wise?” And I said in my heart that this also is vanity. 16 For of the wise as of the fool there is no enduring remembrance, seeing that in the days to come all will have been long forgotten. How the wise dies just like the fool!

Ecclesiastes 2:24–25 (ESV)

24 There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God, 25 for apart from him who can eat or who can have enjoyment?

 

NOTE: The rich and poor, the wise and fool all face the same event, death. I would add that apart from something 'above the sun,' or beyond 'life,' it is feels meaningless. But there are some pearls here. There is more gain in wisdom than there is in folly. And light has better yields than darkness. As the saying goes, nothing good happens in the middle of the night.

 

I think one of the great catastrophes of science was Darwin. When we started to see life as all there is, and neglected the unseen dimension, we headed down a path that truly is meaningless (because it is 'life under the sun'). We have wasted nearly 200 years trying to prove evolution by random processes. Mathematically, the more we learn about DNA and the workings of the cell, it is statistically impossible for random mutations (and natural selection) to be the mechanism for evolution. We have spent the years looking for randomness (and survival of the fittest) as our meaning to life, and wasted the time that we could have been looking for the beauty, purpose, and intelligence in creation. We are the product of that wasted time.

 

In the midst of this 'meaningless' life under the sun, we do find enjoyment of one's labors as a gift of God. Although, as the teacher hints, apart from God, how can one truly enjoy life?

 

PONDER:

1. Do I see God in life or do I live life without any thought toward God?
2. Do I see God in the everyday aspects of life, or do I practically live without any thought of God except during a religious service? Where is God in my life?

 

PRAYER: Father, You create life with purpose and meaning. You created man to enjoy creation and to experience a relationship with you. But we sinned, and separated ourselves from you. And so what was eternal life on this planet is now less than 120 years and full of pain. You came to the earth to pay our penalty for sin and restore the broken relationship. In time, you will also restore the original creation. You offer real life, not the meaningless life we have created in our foolishness.

QT 8/16/2024 Eccl 1:10-15, Finding life in God not things on earth

Ecclesiastes 1:10–15 (ESV)

10 Is there a thing of which it is said,

“See, this is new”?

It has been already

in the ages before us.

11 There is no remembrance of former things,

nor will there be any remembrance

of later things yet to be

among those who come after.

12 I the Preacher have been king over Israel in Jerusalem. 13 And I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven. It is an unhappy business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with. 14 I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind.

15 What is crooked cannot be made straight,

and what is lacking cannot be counted.

 

NOTE: The key to understanding Ecclesiastes is the phrase "under the sun" which explains the first 11 chapters, and "Remember … your Creator … Fear God" which explains the last chapter, Eccl 12.  Verse 1:11 is telling to me, "no remembrance of former things." As the saying goes, we are cursed to repeat the mistakes of the past because no one learns from the past. In some schools, they've stopped teaching history. We can argue about what has replaced history, but I doubt it is math or science.

 

Garret writes concerning verse 1: "Everything is transitory and therefore of no lasting value. People are caught in the trap of the absurd and pursue empty pleasures. They build their lives on lies."

 

Would it make any difference if we learned from the past? Probably not. Even Solomon felt his research into these things was worthless. Well then, what do we learn from this book? The only conclusion of a very pessimistic book is that God alone provides meaning to life. All else falls short and fails to fulfill. But we don't believe that God can provide what we deeply desire, since I don't think we even understand what we deeply desire. We certainly think we do by our preoccupation with sex, things, status, power, appetite, and 'meaningful' causes. We think that these little doses are enough to make life worthwhile, but since we never truly seek God, we miss out on what is really good.

 

PONDER:

1. Do I know God truly or do I play at it?
2. What do I think makes me really happy and satisfied?

 

PRAYER: Father, I confess that I am not much better than Solomon's audience is pursuing things that don't really satisfy. You have been good to me and have changed my life tremendously, and yet I still doubt that you will meet a certain need. Forgive for my fears. Help me to trust in your promises.

QT 8/15/2024 Prov 31:2-9, Abusing riches

Proverbs 31:2–9 (ESV)

2 What are you doing, my son? What are you doing, son of my womb?

What are you doing, son of my vows?

3 Do not give your strength to women,

your ways to those who destroy kings.

4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel,

it is not for kings to drink wine,

or for rulers to take strong drink,

5 lest they drink and forget what has been decreed

and pervert the rights of all the afflicted.

6 Give strong drink to the one who is perishing,

and wine to those in bitter distress;

7 let them drink and forget their poverty

and remember their misery no more.

8 Open your mouth for the mute,

for the rights of all who are destitute.

9 Open your mouth, judge righteously,

defend the rights of the poor and needy.

 

NOTE: Chapter 31 are a collections of wise sayings from the mother of King Lemuel. Not much is known about Lemuel. Some think he was a king of Massa, a north Arabian tribe. Still, the passage is interesting because is a collection of wise sayings from a woman.

 

Monarchies might be considerably different, and still around today in power, if Kings were required to read the proverbs each day of their life. Not only while they were kings but as they were growing up and preparing for rule. Most of the stories of Monarchs reflect on their abuse of power revolving around mistresses and drink. Consequently, they forgot the rights of the destitute, poor, and needy. They focused on making their rich friends richer.

 

While they are few monarchs with actual power today, they are many super rich (and rich-want-to-be's) who could benefit from reading the same words. How do I use my wealth? What actions do I take for the homeless, poor, and needy? And combining with yesterday's passage, when is giving too much? Can you help someone to the point of hurt (where they become conditioned to "leeching")?

 

PONDER:

1. What am I doing to help the poor?
2. How can I fit service to the poor into my schedule on some regular basis?

 

PRAYER: Father, family obligations have eaten up a lot of my free time. The things I planned to do are not as I hoped. Help me to find a balance between service to my family and service to my community. Give me grace and wisdom.

QT 8/14/2024 Prov 30:15-16, Finding the right balance in serving

Proverbs 30:15–16 (ESV)

15 The leech has two daughters:

Give and Give.

Three things are never satisfied;

four never say, “Enough”:

16 Sheol, the barren womb,

the land never satisfied with water,

and the fire that never says, “Enough.”

 

NOTE: Chapter 30 is a collection of the sayings of Agur son of Jakeh. Verses 15 and 16 stood out because he names the leech's two daughters the same name, Give and Give. The two names emphasize the problem of people who become leeches, they get used to others taking care of them and don't learn to be on their own. They don't make the sacrifices required to establish themselves, they continue to want to be leeches. It is a dangerous thing to be too supportive or to get into a habit of bailing your children out of bad financial choices. Even serving or helping out can go on for too long. We need to have balance in how we help. We must be careful that helping does not create dependency.

 

The last of the examples of things that are never satisfied is fire. Once a fire gets going, it does not get full or tire out, it continues until it is stopped or there is nothing left to burn.

 

PONDER:

Helping is a godly quality until it creates dependency. Is there something I do which has moved beyond helping and has created a laziness or dependency in the individual helped?

 

PRAYER: Father, this is a tough passage for a parent or grandparent. It is not a command from scripture since it is a proverb. It represents wise guidance and a basic truism. Where am I failing? Where am I creating dependencies? Give me wisdom in my serving others.

QT 8/13/2024 Prov 29:15, A mother's heart for her children

Proverbs 29:15 (ESV)

15 The rod and reproof give wisdom,

but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother.

 

NOTE: I've been married a long time. I've come to the conclusion that the judgment against the woman in the garden of Eden -- pain in childbirth -- is really a hint at the real judgment, pain in child rearing. Even when your children are grown up and old, you worry and are concerned about the decisions they make. For some reason, men seem to be less affected, but still affected, so it is appropriate the verse mentions the mother. A mother's heart is tied to her children for as long as she or they live. She feels their hurts, their bad decisions, their foolishness. We disciplined our children when they were young. They did go astray in their own ways for a time, but ultimately are now living for God in good marriages. Still, they are sinners, just like me, and they allow the culture to affect them, just like me. And when they do really foolish things, it is the mother who carries most of the pain. While God primarily uses the imagery of a father in his relationship to us, he also uses the imagery of a mother. So when we are foolish, God's heart is wounded by our actions.

 

PONDER:

1. Does my lifestyle please God?
2. Am I bringing pain to God by the choices I make? He loves me deeply and so much desires I do what is right.

 

PRAYER: Father, I fail you like my children fail me at times. Forgive me. I know the hurt, maybe not as much as my wife does, but I know what it is like to see my children make bad choices. I want to thank you for where they are now. I pray they would be zealous in their relationship with you. I pray you would be first in all that they do.

QT 8/12/2024 Prov 28:4-5, What is important to you?

Proverbs 28:4–5 (ESV)

4 Those who forsake the law praise the wicked,

but those who keep the law strive against them.

5 Evil men do not understand justice,

but those who seek the Lord understand it completely.

 

NOTE: I believe that I live in a time where wickedness is glorified and godliness is mocked. The true law is not kept, but the law is twisted to be used against perceived enemies. By doing so, the wicked and evil identify themselves. I'm sure they don't see themselves that way. They believe in something so much that the end truly justifies the means. There are no morals in society any more. The common good is the only moral, and what is good for the majority is defined very differently depending on your political party. Why is that? Deep down there is a hatred of God and a feeling that a modern society has no place for God. People believe that life is not sacred, that it is not created in the image of God, because they believe we are here as a result of random processes, called evolution. Never mind the fact that random processes could never evolve what we see -- there is not enough time in the universe, galaxies, or planets to rise above an infinitesimally small probability. They believe science and faith are in opposition, which is news to me as a scientist myself.

 

So how do we respond? Paul didn't seem to care that the Roman empire was essentially a godless society and Jesus didn't seem to care about politics either (he paid taxes even though he knew he did not have to). Yes, we should do our civic duty by staying informed and voting and paying our taxes, but a far more important mission is making disciples.

 

Changing the political structure and the governing laws is a short-term answer. Laws do not change people's hearts. Only the Holy Spirit can change people's hearts and only belief in Jesus can change someone's eternal destiny. Politics can make the short term life "better," but it has little consequence on one's true spiritual life.

 

PONDER:

1. Do I let the news bother (agitate) me? Why?
2. Am I more interested in my comfort or the kingdom of God?
3. Where do I put my energies -- changing government or changing hearts?

 

PRAYER: Father, I do care deeply for my country. I served its armed forces, I commanded a unit, I researched policies and weapons for its defense. I hate to see what is happening in the United States. But I am also an adopted son in the kingdom of God -- I have more important tasks and interests. Help me to use my time on the things that are truly important.

QT 8/9/2024 Ps 27:7, Being thankful is good for your soul

Proverbs 27:7 (ESV)

7 One who is full loathes honey,

but to one who is hungry everything bitter is sweet.

 

NOTE: The difference is quite simple and also profound. Perspective changes everything. When we change our perspective we can see the good or the evil, but we have to be able to look at things from different points of view. Hand-in-hand is this idea of thankfulness. There is always something to be thankful about in a given circumstance or situation. But we must be willing to let go of our own pain and view things outside of our self. A person may have done something for you with the best of intentions, but for a variety of reasons, it came out bad and even hurtful. If we stay selfish, we stay mad. But if we try to get beyond our personal hurt, we may find that the other did the best they could, they just didn't think through everything. Their heart was good, maybe not their execution. Pollyanna's approach to life is ridiculed, in fact, it has even become its' own saying, but she is a lot closer to the key to personal and mental health than those who make fun of her philosophy.

 

PONDER:

1. What is my response to lemons in life?
2. Do I try to see the good in things?
3. Do I practice thankfulness?

 

PRAYER: Father, you ultimately are in charge, although in making cases you are making the lemonade out of the lemons, i.e., working out good for those who love you. Help me to keep a positive perspective on the things that happen in life.

QT 8/8/2024 Prov 26:13, Enough of the excuses!

Proverbs 26:13 (ESV)

13 The sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road!

There is a lion in the streets!”

 

NOTE: This is another one of those principles of life, for the lazy person, there is always another excuse not to do something. Unfortunately, we justify ourselves repeatedly so that we don't even notice what we are doing. We actually create the cry-wolf-syndrome, where an actual emergency is down-played by those who know you because you have cried wolf too many times.

 

I know a few people like this. I tried very hard to believe the situation, because it may be true … this time. My daughter when she was young used to complain about every little thing. One day, she was at the beach and she came out of the water complaining of something burning her -- I don't actually remember what she said -- and I remember passing it off as another of her complaints which were much worse than they appeared. But this time, the whole side of her leg was red, as a jelly fish had rubbed against her leg in the ocean. I felt bad for not believing her, although it would not have changed anything I could do for her. And it reminded me to be careful in my judgments against my complainers, their complaints are true at times.

 

PONDER:

1. Do I always have an excuse why it didn't do something or go to work or finish a task?
2. Do I every take a step back and look my work history? Can people trust me as an employee to show up?

 

PRAYER: Father, even in retirement, I have obligations to people. I still need to make those promises happen. Retirement is not the time to quit, the work focus just changes. Help me to be faithful to those around me.

QT 8/7/2024 Prov 25:16-17, Enough is Enough

Proverbs 25:16–17 (ESV)

16 If you have found honey, eat only enough for you,

lest you have your fill of it and vomit it.

17 Let your foot be seldom in your neighbor’s house,

lest he have his fill of you and hate you.

 

NOTE: This part of Proverbs could easily be called the book of Hezekiah (Prov 25:1) since these were other sayings of Solomon that Hezekiah, a later king of Judah, found useful.

 

In Duane Garret's commentary, he entitles the passage "Enough is Enough." I like that title because it is a principle that I have seen many times, most often on vacations and visits. Vacations are fun and also infrequent, so there is a tendency to do the most you can or stretch out the days as far as you can. At a certain point in a long vacation, you wish you were back home where you can really rest. I recently finished an 18 day vacation driving across the country, 10 days of driving and 9 days of no driving in various locations. It was probably too long, that is, Enough is Enough. At other times in our life we have stayed with family. A week is almost too long. It sounds like a good idea to stay longer, but you can outstay your welcome in many cases.

 

All good things have a limit. It is a good idea to set limits and learn from the less-than-best experiences. More is not always better. Too much of a good thing becomes a bad thing. Ice cream is good until you have eaten more than you needed. Learning self-control in all things makes fun experiences more enjoyable, not less. In that sense, less is better, because it makes it better.

 

PONDER:

1. Do I "overdo" it on things that I enjoy?
2. Can I learn to exercise self-control so that good things remain good things?

 

PRAYER: Father, I feel like I keep relearning this lesson in so many areas, probably because I lack self-control. Help me as I fight the flesh to live in control and not to give in to excess.

QT 8/6/2024 Prov 24:30-34, Work is good, get going …

Proverbs 24:30–34 (ESV) —

30 I passed by the field of a sluggard,

by the vineyard of a man lacking sense,

31 and behold, it was all overgrown with thorns;

the ground was covered with nettles,

and its stone wall was broken down.

32 Then I saw and considered it;

I looked and received instruction.

33 A little sleep, a little slumber,

a little folding of the hands to rest,

34 and poverty will come upon you like a robber,

and want like an armed man.

 

NOTE: I have been  contemplating the reasons for why I have not accomplished as much as I thought I would in my first year of retirement. On one hand, I have done much, they just were not the things I thought I would be doing. They were certainly important, not just urgent things that stole my time. On the other hand, sometimes it is easier to get started by just doing an outside task rather than planning a time for it. I have had much more success by going outside than by figuring out what the project of the day is. This seems in contrast to the skills I developed at work where I focused on the most important task and set myself to it. Why is it different? I think it is because I work for myself and not someone else. Also, I'm not getting paid, so there is no guilt in lack of progress on key tasks. But, when I get moving, by going out where the work is, I make progress as I see things. The sluggard's field is overgrown with thorns because he does not go outside. He comes up with excuses to stay in. Work is good for us, it is good for our soul, it is good for our health, it is good for our home. The key is to just get moving.

 

PONDER:

Where do I spend my time? Away from my projects or in the midst of them?

 

PRAYER: Father, help me to use my days wisely and honor you with my life. Today will be another day I can't get outside because I need to produce a presentation for church. I pray I would work as if I am serving you.

QT 8/5/2024 Prov 23:22-25, Buying wisdom

Proverbs 23:22–25 (ESV) —

22 Listen to your father who gave you life,

and do not despise your mother when she is old.

23 Buy truth, and do not sell it;

buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding.

24 The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice;

he who fathers a wise son will be glad in him.

25 Let your father and mother be glad;

let her who bore you rejoice.

 

NOTE: This is the second chapter in a collection of 30 sayings (1 to 4 verses each in length) that started in Prov 22:20-21 and appears to end at Prov 24:22.

 

The passage above is the sixteenth saying. The verse that stands out to me is verse 23, "… buy wisdom …."  How do you buy wisdom? Well, there are a lot of ways. You can pay to attend a conference or retreat. You can buy a book. You can pay tuition to attend a class, in-person or online. You can pay for an off-the-beaten-path resort where you go and spend a whole day with God reading the word and praying.

 

Those are the most obvious ideas, but a little imagination will turn up other ideas.

 

PONDER:

1. When was the last time I spent money to get wisdom, especially biblical wisdom?
2. Do I really believe that buying wisdom is better than anything else? (Previous verses in Proverbs have suggested it is.)

 

PRAYER: Father, show me things that I can do to get wisdom. I pray I would never be stingy when it comes to buying wisdom.

QT 8/2/2024 Prov 22:2, Seeing people as God sees them

Proverbs 22:2 (ESV) —

2 The rich and the poor meet together;

the Lord is the Maker of them all.

 

NOTE: One of the arguments for why we should treat all people the same is that in the end, what we achieved materially or honorifically makes no difference when we stand before God at the end of life. When we are born, we are also equal in the sense of all persons are made in the image of God, although we are born to very different families. But, in God's eyes, we begin and end with nothing. We are no better or worse for our status and so we should treat everyone with the same degree of courtesy and respect.

 

Having said all that, there are two things that do make a difference at the end of life. One, did we put our faith in Jesus and so secure eternal life and also become a member of God's family through adoption? Second, for those who have been born again, it does matter how we live and what works we did as a believer. There are rewards for service. Salvation is not one of those rewards, it is given freely by faith alone. Rewards are based on how we have lived as a believer. And rewards are future service in the millennial kingdom.

 

PONDER:

1. Do I see all persons as the same?
2. Do I treat all persons equally?
3. Do I show favoritism and why?

 

PRAYER: Father, help me to look upon all people equally, making no difference between the janitor and the CEO, or the poor and the rich, or the  another's clothes or looks. Let me see people as you see people.

QT 8/1/2024 Prov 21:1; 21:31, Trusting God for the results while preparing for the best

Proverbs 21:1 (ESV) —

1 The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord;

he turns it wherever he will.

Proverbs 21:31 (ESV) —

31 The horse is made ready for the day of battle,

but the victory belongs to the Lord.

 

NOTE: Kings and people have free will. Most of the time, as least as I understand Rom 8:28, God works is after the fact, ex post facto. God takes men's actions, and brings good out of the situation for a believer. But sometimes, God intervenes in a way that appears to contradict our free will. Maybe it is persuasion, maybe it is some other means, but God can intervene in very subtle ways. Ultimately, God's will is achieve, although it may not feel that way at the time.

 

So, how are we to react to these verses. First, we should pray for God to turn the heart of the king (ruler, mayor, boss, president, commander, professor, etc.). Second, we need to act prudently. Expecting to go to war without preparing your weapons is foolishness. But believing that you will win because you are so prepared is also foolishness. I've had heard people say that "you work as if everything depended on you, and you pray knowing that everything depends on God." (I may have changed the saying to more accurately fit my view of God's will).

 

What are the battles or events that I am facing? What can I do to prepare? And what am I praying to happen?

 

PONDER:

1. Am I preparing?
2. Am I praying?

 

PRAYER: Father, I have seen this principle many times in my life. And I am constantly reminded to be prudent and to pray. I will seek to do my part and I will seek you for your will.