A one of the stated wisest men in the world (based on his request to God and God granting it), personally it is very interesting to see Solomon's perspective and thoughts. In today's media, there is no end of opinion and posturing from those that I would consider less than wise (I apologize to those who may be Trump enthusiasts).
There were a few gems that stuck with me from today's reading:
1) Chapter 9 vs 12: Moreover, no one knows when their hour will come: We can plan, work hard and make all sorts of preparation for the future, but no-one knows his appointed time to die. For me, I often need to take a step back and view my thoughts, actions, and ultimately my plans in light of this. Am I prepared? Have I done all I can or should have to further the Lord's kingdom?
2) Chapter 9 vs 17: The quiet words of the wise are more to be heeded than the shouts of a ruler of fools.We often turn our attention to the loudest and most bold of individuals (sorry...again Trump leaps to mind) while wisdom needs to be sought out from those who may be meek, but are able to impart true wisdom.
3) Chapter 10 vs 4: If a ruler’s anger rises against you, do not leave your post;
calmness can lay great offenses to rest. If someone in a position of authority (or anyone for that matter) reacts with strong emotion towards us...it is best to take a breath and be calm in our response as we carry on. It can diffuse many a situation where we have the potential to only escalate the situation if we respond with emotion.
4) Chapter 10 vs 20: Do not revile the king even in your thoughts, or curse the rich in your bedroom, because a bird in the sky may carry your words, and a bird on the wing may report what you say.Whatever our opinion is of those who may be in authority over us (Government Leaders, Pastors, Employers, etc) we should not speak ill of them...even in the privacy of our homes. Somehow in life whenever we speak poorly of someone else...it has a tendency to get back to them. Better to not speak the words at all...than worry about who will repeat what you have said. (Guess I should have paid attention to this before I wrote the comment on Trump:)
5) Chapter 12 vs 1: Remember your Creator in the days of your youth,
before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, “I find no pleasure in them” We need to have a consistent walk with God throughout our lives. When we are younger (I no longer place myself in this category) we might tend to think that we will have plenty of time to work on our relationship with God once we are not so busy. The habits and activities of our youth have a way of causing scars on our lives. Service to God should be a life-long commitment, regardless of age.
4 comments:
Good points Jay. Most of the verses you pointed out jumped out to me too.
For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil. - Ecclesiastes 12:14
Essentially, this last verse sums everything up. Whether we do something in public or try to hide it in private, God sees all and we will be held accountable for our actions and thoughts.
"the habits and activities of our youth have a way of causing scars on our lives"
Great point, and often not thought about enough, both by the youth and the elderly (I also feel like I'm in this category many times!). The decisions we make, both good and bad, have a way of effecting our future. Like the parable of the seeds that are sown.
Most of us feel like we have a good amount of years left, still not to late to invest in making wise choices that will pay off down the road.
"Young people, it's wonderful to be young! Enjoy ed very minute of it. Do everything you want to do; take it all in. But remember that you must give an account to God for everything you do." - Ecclesiastes 11:10
People in the secular world live wildly and freely. People in the Christian world live wildly and freely for Christ.
Ecclesiastes 12 reminds us that our choices matter and can drastically influence our lives, even ones made when very young. Many of our choices are irreversible - at least when it comes to consequences. There is always grace, but there are still consequences. What we do, when we're young and when we're not as young, matters.
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