God Speaks
Wisdom is Better Than Folly
Verse of the Day: Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind. For God will bring every deed to judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil. (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 NIV 2011)
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Watch TBR Day 171
We Respond
Reflection: Consider the following questions regarding Ecclesiastes 7-12:
1. What does this chapter tell me about God?
2. What does this chapter tell me about the human beings He created?
Here is one possible answer to each of these questions. Ask the Holy Spirit if there are any others for you personally to ponder.
Ecclesiastes 7
1. Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God and the Son of Man, is the only one of all human beings who always did good and never sinned.
2. God created people to be virtuous, but they have each turned to follow their own downward path.
Ecclesiastes 8
1. God is far more complex than mere human beings can ascertain.
2. In this life, good people are often treated as though they were wicked, and wicked people are often treated as though they were good.
Ecclesiastes 9
1. God is eternal and outside of time.
2. People, like the Teacher, often view life as futile because they consider only what is happening as long as they are breathing.
Ecclesiastes 10
1. God watches over the activities of both the wise who lean to the right and the foolish who lean to the left.
2. People choose whether they will act wisely or foolishly. They will suffer the consequences of their decisions and actions either in this life or the next.
Ecclesiastes 11
1. God cannot be fully understood any more than the development of a baby in its mother’s womb.
2. People, especially young adults and the elderly, need to enjoy every moment of life but to also remember that we must eventually give an account to God for everything we do in this life.
Ecclesiastes 12
1. God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.
2. People should enjoy life in their youth or as long as they are able, before their physical bodies begin to fail.
Prayer:
3. How might I pray regarding Ecclesiastes 7-12?
Dear All-wise God and Father, thank You for the insights into life and the wisdom You gave Solomon. Thank You also that Jesus did good and never sinned which qualified Him to take my sins on Himself at the cross. You created humans as virtuous, but each of us has willfully gone after our own schemes and passed this trait on to our offspring down through the ages. We humans will spend eternity exploring the complexities of You, our great Creator, and never truly grasp how wonderful You are. For one thing You are eternal and outside of time which we time-bound creatures cannot fathom. We have only limited, earth-bound perspectives even with our technology, powerful telescopes, and space exploration. The ways we treat each other must trouble You, but You promise to use even our violence, chaos, and confusion to further Your purposes and bring You glory, LORD. AMEN
Action: (Ask God, the Holy Spirit, if He wants you to work on one of the suggestions below or something else more personal that He points out.)
4. What action does the LORD want me to take in response to Ecclesiastes 7-12? With the help of God’s Holy Spirit:
- I will ask God the Holy Spirit daily to help me to live according to His laws. Rules, and principles.
- I will do my part to see that, whatever their situation in life, everyone is treated justly and fairly.
- Unlike the Teacher, I will choose to look at life beyond the grave.
- I will make and implement a plan to take better care of this body God has given me.
Share: I plan to share what I’ve learned with __________.