Advice to live by

Chapter ten is a mini version of the book of Proverbs full of advice, counsel and warnings. Let’s look at what Solomon is teaching:

Ecclesiastes 10:1  Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour.

When flies die and are in a perfume the perfume will stink, if you have a reputation of being wise and honourable you will ruin it with foolishness. Solomon is saying think before you do something, you do not want to ruin your “good name” with a foolish mistake.

A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold. Proverbs 22:1 

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Ecclesiastes 10:2-3  A wise man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left. 3 Yea also, when he that is a fool walketh by the way, his wisdom faileth him, and he saith to every one that he is a fool.

Wise and foolish go in opposite directions. One can tell the difference between the wise and foolish by the way they act and speak.

The words of wise men are heard in quiet more than the cry of him that ruleth among fools. Ecclesiastes 9:17

Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding. Proverbs 17:28 

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Ecclesiastes 10:4  If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences.

Take control of your anger, if someone over  you (i.e. ruler, boss) is angry don’t leave or quit but assess the situation and humble yourself. You need to respect the position of the one over you.

Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: … Hebrews 13:17 

It is not easy to do the right thing, but meditating on the word of God daily will help us to know the right way to go.

Have a blessed day,
Donna

Wisdom is better than …

13 This wisdom have I seen also under the sun, and it seemed great unto me: 14 There was a little city, and few men within it; and there came a great king against it, and besieged it, and built great bulwarks against it: 15 Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet no man remembered that same poor man. 16 Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength: nevertheless the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard. 17 The words of wise men are heard in quiet more than the cry of him that ruleth among fools. 18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war: but one sinner destroyeth much good. Ecclesiastes 9:13-18

The word wisdom is mentioned 25 times in the book of Ecclesiastes. Wisdom was a subject that Solomon knew much about. When Solomon was first king, God put a question to him, “Ask what I shall give you.” (II Chronicles 1:7) Remember this was the God of the universe speaking to a newly appointed king.

Solomon could have asked for anything. God gave him the question and waited for the answer. The answer comes in II Chronicles 1:10 “Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people: for who can judge this thy people, that is so great? “

The answer Solomon gave was in and of itself wisdom. He knew God could and would give him anything he wanted but he asked for wisdom to lead and judge the people.

In this portion of scripture Solomon tells about a poor wise man who delivered a city. No details are mentioned of when and where but Solomon says no one remembered the man. This reminds me of why we do the things we do. Are we doing things in the “name of God” or the “name of wisdom” so others will notice, or do we do things in the name of God in the “quietness of our life” .

Wisdom is the best thing to have. It only takes one person to destroy something. Don’t be that one to destroy. Keep your eyes on Jesus, constantly ask him for wisdom in all aspects of your life.

For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. Proverbs 2:6 

Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. Proverbs 4:7 

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. Proverbs 9:10 

Are you going through hard times? Do you know someone who is going through hard times (physically or spiritually)? Ask God for wisdom to do and say the right thing.

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. James 1:5  

Have a blessed day,
Donna

Unpredictable

11 I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all. 12 For man also knoweth not his time: as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare; so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them. Ecclesiatess 9:11-12

What is Solomon saying? In a nutshell, life is unpredictable. We all know good things happen to bad people and bad things happen to good people. People we think will not succeed might become presidents of companies. People we thought would be a famous athlete or make something great of themselves, because of their high school or college years, become “couch potatoes”.

Sometimes our lives are just like the fish swimming around then all of a sudden their whole world is turned upside down when they are caught in a net. Different events occur in our lives which make us go “another way”.  Solomon says, “time and chance happens to all”.

Lots of people start off on one path then something happens to totally change the course, it may be a death, a change in financial situation or a variety of other circumstances. A sudden tragedy can put us in a tailspin for a long while.

What do you do when life throws a “curve ball”?

Have a blessed day,
Donna

Enjoy life

7 Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God now accepteth thy works. 8 Let thy garments be always white; and let thy head lack no ointment. 9 Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity: for that is thy portion in this life, and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun. 10 Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.  Ecclesiates 9:7-10

Solomon tells us to enjoy life, not recklessly, but enjoying God’s creation. Should we moan and groan because we are going to die? Absolutely not but “Stop and smell the roses” once in a while. As you go along doing your daily tasks “Don’t make mountains out of mole hills” and “Pick your battles”. We tend to be “uptight” about the littlest things in life.

Look around and be thankful. Live your life joyfully. Now is the time to do that good work; Now is the time to encourage others; Now is the time to be a testimony; Now is the time to … (fill in the blank).

Once we die it is too late to “do all the things we want to do”. Ask God what He would have you do and do it.

Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31  

Have a blessed day,
Donna

Death to All

1  For all this I considered in my heart even to declare all this, that the righteous, and the wise, and their works, are in the hand of God: no man knoweth either love or hatred by all that is before them. 2 All things come alike to all: there is one event to the righteous, and to the wicked; to the good and to the clean, and to the unclean; to him that sacrificeth, and to him that sacrificeth not: as is the good, so is the sinner; and he that sweareth, as he that feareth an oath. 3 This is an evil among all things that are done under the sun, that there is one event unto all: yea, also the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that they go to the dead. 4 For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion. 5 For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten. 6  Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun. Ecclesiastes 9:1-6

The book of Ecclesiastes is very thought provoking. As I read, my thoughts range from  “Oh my” or “I agree” to “I don’t really like thinking about …” As I read chapter nine, I suddenly developed “writer's block” or I should say “thinker’s blog” I have been pondering over this chapter for the last few days.

It is not a subject most of us like to think about, but it is something none of us can avoid. We can try exercise, eating the “right foods”, fixing our hair, fixing our teeth and changing our looks but, the inevitable will happen, all will die.

Death comes to all; it comes to the old as well as the very young. The righteous die and the wicked die, the “good” die as well as the “not so good”. There is absolutely nothing we can do to stop it, all have an appointed time.

More people fear what will happen after death more than death itself. Death should not be feared. Each one of us can know where death will lead us, to heaven or to hell.

I  venture to say no one wants to go to hell. God, the wonderful heavenly Father has a plan so no one needs to go to hell. The plan is called salvation. Are you unsure of where you will go after death? Take a few minutes to read the verses below:

The Romans Road is a group of Bible verses that show the way of salvation in Jesus Christ.

-The Bible says no one is innocent.

As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: Romans 3:10 

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Romans 3:23 

We all have sin in our hearts. We all were born with sin.  

- Admit that you are a sinner.

Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: Romans 5:12 

We all have original sin from Adam, the first man.

For the wages of sin is death; … Romans 6:23 

Sin has an ending.  It results in death.  We all face physical death, which is a result of sin.  But a worse death is spiritual death that alienates us from God, and will last for all eternity.

- Understand that you deserve death for your sin.

… but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:23 

Praise God that verse 23 doesn’t end with death. The verse continues BUT (God gives us a choice)

Salvation is a free gift from God to you!  You can't earn this gift, but you must reach out and receive it.

- Ask God to forgive you and save you.

I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Luke 13:3 

Repent means to think differently. We need to think differently about our sin and turn from it.

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 

Jesus died for our sin, your sin and mine. He paid the price for all sin, when He took all the sins of the world on Himself on the cross.

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Romans 10:9 -10

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.Romans 10:13 

- If you know that God is knocking on your heart's door, ask Him to come into your heart.

Pray and ask Jesus to forgive you of your sin and come into your life and save you. Repent  and turn to Him.

Have a blessed day,
Donna