devotional “ARCHIVE”

With surgical precision Solomon pinpoints what hinders us most from enjoying peace and tranquility this side of heaven, which is our unwillingness to submit to God. Because if we cannot submit to any authority other than our flesh, we will never understand what it means to fear who God is because He is almighty, or obey His Word because He is holy and righteous.

The longer we live, the greater perspective God blesses us with. Experiential knowledge increases over time as we navigate through joys and triumphs, trials and tribulations. With each experience, God teaches us something new. Whether we choose to hold fast to wisdom or foolishness thereafter is another question altogether, but the seed is planted in our hearts and minds for future application.

We tend to forget that due to the daily hustle and bustle of our practical lives and lose focus of how our busyness distracts us from focusing on what is most important. Our attention is diverted toward a myriad of practical functions each day related to our marriages, families, employment, homes and hobbies that often pull us in conflicting directions. In each case, there is a cost associated with our time investment.

Investing wisely means diversifying our portfolio in order to protect the assets entrusted us by God and ensure we are producing the greatest dividends possible by adhering to sound financial principles. Spiritually-speaking, God calls us to weigh our decision-making by seeking first His kingdom and adhering to the truth of His Word.

When we choose our words wisely, we win favor with others because we speak graciously. We implement discretion to filter out fleshly motivations that are inconsistent with God's Word. We carefully consider both the immediate and long-term impact of not only what we say but how we say it, so that we draw others unto Christ rather than drive them away based on our behavior.

Wisdom and folly impact the direction our hearts gravitate toward as well. Because wisdom and foolishness are polar opposites, they force us to make decisions each day which guide and direct our path. We are always presented with forks in the road regardless of our spiritual maturity or length of time as followers of Christ, but we have the choice to determine our final destination (right or left).

There are no guarantees in life! No matter how hard we try to shape the trajectory of our future by the decisions we make in the present, the fact remains that our knowledge is limited. We cannot predict our final hour, the manner in which we will pass from this life, nor the reasons behind God's decision to end our days here on earth.

Assuming we knew what day would be our last, how would we choose to live? Would we take more risks? Would we live with purpose? Who or what would we prioritize with our time? Would our lives be marked by foolishness and irresponsibility or wisdom and diligence?

There is an infatuation within our culture today that manifests itself by the desire to KNOW. Our flesh longs to have answers to all of life's questions and our culture is overwhelmingly flooded with desperate attempts to educate man with scientific and philosophical knowledge, opinions and perspectives, all the while distancing itself from the absolute truth of Scripture. Why?

FEAR! What immediately comes to our minds? Are we afraid of anything in particular? Are we consumed by our fears? Truth be told, fear is a powerful motivator. The real question is whether our fear is healthy or unhealthy.

Solomon sifts through the clutter of our hearts to reveal the greater underlying issue—not whether we agree or disagree with a particular issue, but whether we are willing to submit to the various authorities over us who may indeed be evil, immoral or unjust.

Ecclesiastes 7 is a prime example of how we can begin shaping our thoughts and decision-making by recognizing God's wisdom and man's foolishness. In this particular 15-verse section, we are confronted with specific scenarios Solomon presents to contrast wisdom and folly.

We must understand that our character speaks volumes, just as a good name is far more valuable than precious ointment. It defines who we are as men and women of faith. Even the poorest man can be identified with high character because character is not confined by material wealth or social status.

We can rest confidently in our decision to follow Christ, for true contentment is found in the saving grace God offers to us every day of our lives. The question is: Will we accept His grace and trust His ways, or be led astray by false promises of contentment the world offers to temporarily appease our flesh?

One day we will all give an account. Whether upon our death bed or within the hierarchical constructs of order and justice God allows throughout society, the truth that we must answer for who we are and what we have done is inevitable.

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. 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.

Pain is inevitable, oppression exists, truth is relative, jealousy and envy consume our thoughts, and evil runs rampant through the heart of man. Therefore, what hope do we have to compel us to remain steadfast in the face of trial and persecution?