today's meditation (Ec.9) Living With Purpose

(Dear Lord Jesus, guide me and give me insight as I read and study Your word, and let it be the meditation of my heart...)

(Ecclesiastes 9:1-18)

For I have taken all this to my heart, even to examine it all, that righteous people, wise people, and their deeds are in the hand of God. People do not know whether it will be love or hatred; anything awaits them.

2 It is the same for all. There is one fate for the righteous and for the wicked; for the good, for the clean and the unclean; for the person who offers a sacrifice and for the one who does not sacrifice. As the good person is, so is the sinner; the one who swears an oath is just as the one who is afraid to swear an oath. 3 This is an evil in everything that is done under the sun, that there is one fate for everyone. Furthermore, the hearts of the sons of mankind are full of evil, and insanity is in their hearts throughout their lives. Afterward they go to the dead. 4 For whoever is joined to all the living, there is hope; for better a live dog, than a dead lion. 5 For the living know that they will die; but the dead do not know anything, nor do they have a reward any longer, for their memory is forgotten. 6 Indeed their love, their hate, and their zeal have already perished, and they will no longer have a share in all that is done under the sun.

7 Go then, eat your bread in happiness, and drink your wine with a cheerful heart; for God has already approved your works. 8 See that your clothes are white all the time, and that there is no lack of oil on your head. 9 Enjoy life with the wife whom you love all the days of your futile life which He has given you under the sun, all the days of your futility; for this is your reward in life and in your work which you have labored under the sun.

10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might; for there is no activity, planning, knowledge, or wisdom in Sheol where you are going.

11 I again saw under the sun that the race is not to the swift and the battle is not to the warriors, and neither is bread to the wise nor wealth to the discerning, nor favor to the skillful; for time and chance overtake them all. 12 For indeed, a person does not know his time: like fish that are caught in a treacherous net and birds caught in a snare, so the sons of mankind are ensnared at an evil time when it suddenly falls on them.

13 This too I saw as wisdom under the sun, and it impressed me: 14 there was a small city with few men in it, and a great king came to it, surrounded it, and constructed large siegeworks against it. 15 But there was found in it a poor wise man, and he saved the city by his wisdom. Yet no one remembered that poor man. 16 So I said, “Wisdom is better than strength.” But the wisdom of the poor man is despised, and his words are ignored. 17 The words of the wise heard in calm are better than the shouting of a ruler among fools. 18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

God's purpose in creating us and the universe was that we would all have a close, personal relationship with Him and others, and live forever with Him.  But mankind chose to disobey, so we live in a fallen, broken, sinful world.  Our only hope is to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, which reconciles our relationship with God for all eternity.  

While here on earth, we all can choose to work hard and enjoy the fruit of our labor, but we all must die, whether we are believers, or nonbelievers, whether good or bad.  The questions are: for whom will we live while here on earth, and where will we go after we die?  Even as believers, if we decide that we only want to work for ourselves here on earth, what we gain can only be enjoyed while we are here on earth.

When we commit our lives and our work to the Lord, everything we do are in His hands.  This involves trusting in Him to do the things that He asks of us, no matter what happens. We could share the gospel with someone, and they could be interested, disinterested or angry.  We have no control over anyone else's reactions, actions or decisions, we can only control our own.  So when our good deeds are done with the right motive, which is with God's love, and done in His wisdom and strength, God will reward us for those things, maybe not right now, but definitely in heaven.  

today's mediation (Pr.28) Being Satisfied and Prosperous

(Dear Lord Jesus, guide me and give me insight as I read and study Your word, and let it be the meditation of my heart...)

(Proverbs 28:1-28) 

1   The wicked flee when no one is pursuing,
     But the righteous are bold as a lion.
2   Due to a wrongdoing of a land its leaders are many,
     But by a person of understanding and knowledge, so it endures.
3   A poor man who oppresses the helpless 
     Is like a driving rain which leaves no food.
4   Those who abandon the Law praise the wicked,
     But those who keep the Law strive against them.
5   Evil people do not understand justice,
     But those who seek the Lord understand everything.
6   Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity,
     Than a person who is crooked, though he is rich.
7   He who keeps the Law is a discerning son,
     But he who is a companion of gluttons humiliates his father.
8   One who increases his wealth by interest of any kind,
     Collects it for one who is gracious to the poor.
9   One who turns his ear away from listening to the Law,
     Even his prayer is an abomination.
10 One who leads the upright astray in an evil way 
     Will himself fall into his own pit,
     But the blameless will inherit good.
11 The rich person is wise in his own eyes,
     But the poor who has understanding sees through him.
12 When the righteous triumph, there is great glory,
     But when the wicked rise, people hide themselves.
13 One who conceals his wrongdoings will not prosper,
     But one who confesses and abandons them will find compassion.
14 How blessed is the person who fears always,
     But one who hardens his heart will fall into disaster.
15 Like a roaring lion and a rushing bear 
     Is a wicked ruler over a poor people.
16 A leader who is a great oppressor lacks understanding,
     But a person who hates unjust gain will prolong his days.
17 A person who is burdened with the guilt of human blood 
     Will be a fugitive until death; no one is to support him!
18 One who walks blamelessly will receive help,
     But one who is crooked will fall all at once.
19 One who works his land will have plenty of food,
     But one who follows empty pursuits will have plenty of poverty.
20 A faithful person will abound with blessings,
     But one who hurries to be rich will not go unpunished.
21 To show partiality is not good,
     Because for a piece of bread a man will do wrong.
22 A person with an evil eye hurries after wealth 
     And does not know that poverty will come upon him.
23 One who rebukes a person will afterward find more favor 
     Than one who flatters with the tongue.
24 He who robs his father or his mother
     And says, “There is no wrong done,”
     Is the companion of a person who destroys.
25 An arrogant person stirs up strife,
     But one who trusts in the Lord will prosper.
26 One who trusts in his own heart is a fool,
     But one who walks wisely will flee to safety.
27 One who gives to the poor will never lack anything,
     But one who shuts his eyes will have many curses.
28 When the wicked rise, people hide themselves;
     But when they perish, the righteous increase.

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

It doesn't matter if you appear to be good or religious, God looks at the heart.  He will only save those who confess their sins.  And as verse 13 points out, after confessing our sins, we should want to abandon our sinful ways.  Wisdom is understanding that sin hurts and destroys us and others; while obeying the Lord, living in His will and trusting Him and what He says - will satisfy and prosper us.