The Work of God

15 Then I commended mirth, because a man hath no better thing under the sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry: for that shall abide with him of his labour the days of his life, which God giveth him under the sun. 16 When I applied mine heart to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done upon the earth: (for also there is that neither day nor night seeth sleep with his eyes:) 17 Then I beheld all the work of God, that a man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun: because though a man labour to seek it out, yet he shall not find it; yea further; though a wise man think to know it, yet shall he not be able to find it. Ecclesiastes 8:15-17

Solomon is pondering the questions of life, why, why, why? He is trying to figure out why things are the way they are.  The more he ponders the more he realizes God is in control. No matter how wise one is in this life, he will never be able to discover all the “mysteries of life”.

God gives us our life and the days we have to live it. Life is a gift from God, which we should use for Him. Our finite minds cannot comprehend the vastness and glory of God and all He does.

The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law. Deuteronomy 29:29  

Have a blessed day,
Donna

Unfairness

12 Though a sinner do evil an hundred times, and his days be prolonged, yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, which fear before him: 13 But it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong his days, which are as a shadow; because he feareth not before God. 14 There is a vanity which is done upon the earth; that there be just men, unto whom it happeneth according to the work of the wicked; again, there be wicked men, to whom it happeneth according to the work of the righteous: I said that this also is vanity.  Ecclesiastes 8:12-14

We may think someone is getting away with wrong doing. But “it shall not be well with the wicked.” God is always awake. Nothing passes the Lord unnoticed. In God’s time the wicked will be punished.

As Solomon says, it sometimes appears that righteous men get what the wicked deserve and wicked men get what the righteous deserve. As we read in other areas of the Bible this is not so, Galatians 6:7 tells us, Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

There are many verses that let us know, in God’s time, God will meet out justice.

Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Romans 12:19 

God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day. Psalm 7:11 

It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Hebrews

10:31 

So the next time you think someone is “getting away with it”, think again and thank God for His perfect judgment.

Have a blessed day,
Donna

Punishment fitting the Crime

Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil. Ecclesiastes 8:11 

Years ago when I read this verse all I thought of was “wow”. If we followed the principles in the Bible we would probably have less crime.

The Bible teaches that when a crime (evil work) is committed, a sentence should be given speedily (right away). Don’t wait 2 or 3 years to try a criminal. Try them right away and give punishment right away. When others see people get away with crimes they start to do evil. This is one reason why our society is going downhill; criminals are getting off to easy. Others see that and try the same things and they get off. And so it goes. There has to be an example set. When the punishment fits the crime it deters others who would try to get away with it.

Geneva Bible translation notes says it this way, “Where justice is delayed, there sin reigns.”

Have a blessed day,
Donna

Unjustness

8 There is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither hath he power in the day of death: and there is no discharge in that war; neither shall wickedness deliver those that are given to it. 9 All this have I seen, and applied my heart unto every work that is done under the sun: there is a time wherein one man ruleth over another to his own hurt. 10  And so I saw the wicked buried, who had come and gone from the place of the holy, and they were forgotten in the city where they had so done: this is also vanity. Ecclesiastes 8:8-10

At first look, one might say, the unjust get away with sin. In this life it may seem that way, people call good evil and evil good, but remember that is in this life. The Lord says:

Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Isaiah 5:20 

For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil. Ecclesiastes 12:14 

As Solomon said, someone did “hurt” to someone else but then it is forgotten once he is buried. It may be forgotten here on earth, but if the one who did the wrong did not ask forgiveness of God, it is not forgotten by God. When we do unjustness to others we are indirectly doing it to God.

In this world of” tick for tack” it is hard to turn the other cheek or walk away when someone is being unjust to us, but if you are a Christian, the Bible says this is exactly what we need to do.

See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men. 
1 Thessalonians 5:15 

But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. Matthew 5:39 

The old hymn, "This World is not my Home” by Jim Reeves says,

This world is not my home I'm just a passing through
My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue
The angels beckon me from heaven's open door
And I can't feel at home in this world anymore
Oh Lord you know I have no friend like you
If heaven's not my home then Lord what will I do
The angels beckon me from heaven's open door
And I can't feel at home in this world anymore

When people are unjust, don’t let it get you down, but think about the justness and righteous of Jesus, Who will never let you down.

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Romans 12:2 

Have a blessed day, 

Donna

Authority

1 Who is as the wise man? and who knoweth the interpretation of a thing? a man's wisdom maketh his face to shine, and the boldness of his face shall be changed. 2 I counsel thee to keep the king's commandment, and that in regard of the oath of God. 3 Be not hasty to go out of his sight: stand not in an evil thing; for he doeth whatsoever pleaseth him. 4 Where the word of a king is, there is power: and who may say unto him, What doest thou? 5 Whoso keepeth the commandment shall feel no evil thing: and a wise man's heart discerneth both time and judgment. 6 Because to every purpose there is time and judgment, therefore the misery of man is great upon him. 7 For he knoweth not that which shall be: for who can tell him when it shall be? Ecclesiastes 8:1-7

Authority is a word that most human beings hate to hear, unless of course, they are the ones in authority. Solomon does not waste any time talking about authority and what one’s responsibility is to authority. Here in the US we do not have kings, but we do have leaders that we need to respect and show authority to.

There are bosses, or people in authority, who we may not think deserve our respect. Nowhere in the Bible does it say respect authority if you like them or respect authority if they are nice to you. Hebrew 13:17  Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.

Years ago, I worked for a boss that was not nice nor did this person do things “above the board”. At the very beginning of my work relationship with them I told them I would not lie or do anything dishonest. The reply to me was, “I would never ask you to lie.”

I had a co-worker who disliked the boss and would say unflattering things. One day as she was complaining to me and asked how I could stand working in the same office, I said, “I need to respect the bosses’ position, the one that was over me in the workplace.” I did not agree with most of what the boss did but I still needed to respect the position. It was  a hard thing to do and I did have a few confrontations, behind closed doors, but the Lord did take care of the situation for me. I found another job. It does not always work out that way, we need to ask the Lord for wisdom and guidance with difficult authority.

Solomon then talks about “time and judgment” or discernment. We need discernment when we speak to those in authority. Instead of just “speaking our mind” we need to pray and ask for wisdom to show us when to speak and when to not speak. Ecclesiastes 3:7

There are times when we may need to go against authority. Those times may include disobeying the laws of the land or the laws of God, in that case we need to remember Acts 5:29 “… We ought to obey God rather than men. “

Do you have a difficult boss? Do you dread going to the workplace? Ask God to give you grace to obey the authority He has put over you. Pray and ask for discernment each day to know when to speak or not to speak. God will show you the way. It may be hard, and most days it will be hard, but God is there.

For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. Psalm 84:11

Have a blessed day,
Donna