Gems from Ecclesiastes 7

Verses from Ecclesiastes 7

7 Extortion turns a wise man into a fool, and a bribe corrupts the heart.

Can you say "Politics!" No wonder people are sick of church politics. They have no place in the kingdom of God.

10 Do not say, "Why were the old days better than these?" For it is not wise to ask such questions.

How many times have I heard this in the church, or in general conversation. Now I have a biblical comeback.

12 Wisdom is a shelter as money is a shelter. The advantage of knowledge is this: wisdom preserves the life of its possessor.

Conclusion: money will eventually collapse on its owner--or it will devour him.

14 When times are good, be happy. When times are bad consider this: God has made the one as well as the other. Therefore, a man cannot discover anything about his future.

We cannot know all of God's plans. We can only accept that he is in control in all circumstances. Is this a comfort to you?

18 The man who fears God will avoid all extremes.

Literally, the God-fearing man will hold onto his God and his humanity equally, avoiding the extremes of self-righteousness and wickedness.

21 Do not pay attention to every word that people say, or you may hear your servant cursing you. For you know in your heart that many times you yourself have cursed others.

Ouch! It is true. We need to let others vent without our knowing, and if we heard all things, then we would certainly fall under the weight of the words. However, God hears all things and understands them all. That is too much for me to grasp . . . .


29 This one thing I have found: God made men upright, but men have gone in search of many schemes.

Oh wondering heart. If only I could be satisfied with God's plans and wisdom. But I search for my own plans, with little understanding.

Be Satisfied with good things: Ecclesiastes 6

If a man fathers a hundred children and lives many years, however many they be, but his soul is not satisfied with good things and he does not even have a proper burial, then I say, “Better the miscarriage than he. . . ." Ecclesiastes 6:3

Wow. That's harsh. Solomon is suggesting here that it is better not to be born than to be forgotten and cursed when you are old--or to not enjoy the fruit of your labor.

The phrase the intrigues me here is "good things." Does this mean that the man in question did not enjoy the blessings that God gave him because he overlooked them or was too busy to notice? Or does it mean that the man was not satisfied with all of God's blessings and sought more than what God had provided? And could there be some connection between his neglect of God's blessings and his own neglect at the time of his burial? Overlook God in this life, and he will overlook you in the next?

Even if the other man lives a thousand years twice and does not enjoy good things—do not all go to one place?” Ecclesiastes 6:6

So, even if God blesses you with long life--twice--and you do not 1)recognize God's blessing in it, and 2) you do seek more than what he desires for you, then what kind of blessing is it? Seek God in this life. Give him thanks and praise for his goodness. Acknowledge him in all things.

Meanwhile, Solomon is still struggling with the end of his days and his legacy. "For who knows what is good for a man during his lifetime, during the few years of his futile life? He will spend them like a shadow. For who can tell a man what will be after him under the sun?" Ecclsiastes 6:12 Solomon wants to know what will happen after his days. Yet his own wisdom reminds us all that we must live today in thanksgiving and not worry about our legacy for tomorrow. All of the material things we see will be passed on to others to use as they see fit. What is most important in life is being satisfied with good things--the gifts of God.

What are these good things? God himself, family, friends, needs met, blessings received, honest work, honest rest, peace in the present, and eye on eternity, faith in Christ. What good things are thinking about right now?

Thank you God for your blessings, great and small. Teach me to number my days according to your blessings and goodness. Thank you for eternity through Jesus. Keep my focus on eternal things.