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.
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.
Labels: Ecclesiastes, God's wisdom
posted by Randy Rogers at
9:23 AM
6 Comments:
To label politics as extortion and coercsion seems a bit excessive to me but as such I would have to agree...perhaps a better definition of politics is 'Who gets the cookies?'; then within the church we must remember that our mission is to serve within the arameters of the fruit, thereby avoiding the corruption of greed and jealousies and false pride.
I guess my frustration with our politicial climate in general is that I sense that good people who go into politics find that the money and games being played are so big that they must participate or be rendered powerless. As such, money and political games become the norm, and power is driven by both.
If anyone perceives the same in our churches, then we truly have become a den of thieves.
Solomon's warning is clear: money corrupts both the heart and mind. The day we make decisions based on the Spirit and not on budget or money is the day we truly enter the work of the Kingdom and the Spirit. Yes, money is useful, but it should not rule the work of the Church. When it becomes the primary factor in decisions, then our churches have become foolish and spiritually bankrupt.
Am I too harsh here?
Well, there is the reality of the situation and then there is the way I like to look at things...
but surely we are not alone?
OK Robert. That's funny. Reality versus the way I like to look at things. Could you explain further? :)
My grandfather used to say He would not insist on 'this or that' item of theology though he might believe it with all his heart because he might be wrong for insisting on it for any number of reasons.
Thas the most applicable part. The others are like it but more secular. 'One man's trash is another's treasure' etc.
I used to say something on the order that 'I would rather be poor than sinful', not thinking that I might be both. Now I just try not to justify my current corrutpion with the hope of my future gain.
And of course EVERY ONE admits readily as well as knows what a great wit, academic and intellect I am and how ever increasing is my compassion, generosity and kindness, and even good looks to boot.
Robert
From Rick Davis' blog aintsobad.typepad.com in reference to some of the BGCT initiative for the 'Noon Prayer for the Hungry" and 'Hope 2010'.
Five Professions of Faith Here Yesterday
Five of the eight young people who made decisions this week professed their faith publicly yesterday.
I heard from another church about a salvation of an older person yesterday as well.
I think the praying Texas is doing for lost people at noon each day is resulting in baptisms in our churches.
Imagine.
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