Rongmei Bible Reading Reflection From Ecclesiastes 1-6

[Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (LRU) as a daily reading update (reflection) from each chapter of the Bible]

[07:53, 4/19/2021] S.R:

NINGTINGDYN 1:11 "Reynungc pat kanmei tei gaanv khat na sini ningtow bam dat mak khe, kumna ntaw pat bammei hei thei thangc thu ningtow bam dat ni tuang hamh the."

Aniu panti hei katitna mei panti e. Guang nimei panti hei tho tingsaengzaeng panti e: tingkao hametei maikuam khou puni the!

Ram kaguaina hei guangnimei panti ta machun hian na, tao ringbam mei panti, khou pian mei nai dut khang tuna lung lak ni na e.  Hei panti khou tho, pian mei ni naizat ni tuang ham e, naibam nu bamni, guang nimei panti ta mala na (hametei ram chak mak ge tei) adi zaengsi mei panti cho! Ariammei panti e!

Meiruini ningtoulou nituang ham mak tu e. Kachang e, theikanmei nun guai ta amu bam ngam the! Ringbam mei rui na tho theih mei nun khang suang tho gaeng mai the!

 

NINGTINGDYN 2:18-19

"Ai rui taanclou kanmei taanv khatni ntaanv guangloumei guay hei akhang nsa de, kalam thu mi guay hei athei thangc lungc guang nimei khang ganclou kan nimei tuang de, kamei tei ningtyngmei puni ny, mpangmei puni ny thow thayna cho? Ai rui taancloumei guay khatni aningting rui mi kandic khou ntaanv guangloumei guay hei kamei katuang swkan nimei tuang di the. Mi guayna hei nsa de."

Aniu Christian mei guai si, Guang Solomon kumna sabam khang nai e. Nangnanun, nangtounun, nangkai riangluainun, nangkai zikzei nun, khang gai taan, taan padiklou bam mei tei, kaniu chaluan e thei, kaniu ning ting e tei, gai e. Tiki thou thai bam puni cho? Kaniu ningting bam pusini, chaluan bam sini, khatni kaniu khang gaihak gaenghak bam sini, nang khang tho gaeng rap tuang mak e.

Latpi kanei latou mei nai e:

1. Gailiang mei taan nanun, tounun, riangluainun, zikzeinun khang taan lou numei tho aniu guai panti, Raguang ta pingna lungmei hei kaniu ni lai-nzeih na lung diu khang. ( The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom tuna sabam mei ta e).

2. Aniu mi kandih khou matha-mala na lung mei suang, mi kandih khou kai-sam gai mei suang, mi kandih khou sian-lanh padik mei suang, tingkao tho ri-kaduai lou mei rui gaeng hian e. Aniu theih bam sini, tingkao tho zaeng gai puni.

 

NINGTINGDYN 3:1, 4

v1. "Kandih khou pat bammei ramh katana hei Ravguangc rui tiiloumei ganv khou pat bammei tuang e."

v14. " ...Ravguangc rui sw bammei akhat kiu thu aniu rui kata ping khang e."

Ronaldo, Justin Bieber, Napoleon, Einstein mphao bam mei ne, Raguang rui. Armstrong IAS subam mei ne Raguang rui. Nang ai degree naina English sa thai bam mei ne, Raguang rui. Ai Christian subam meine Raguang rui e.

Nang ai suchui puijaeng khou rui aniu subam mihei phang tuang ham e. Anei khang suang suchui mei pei na nai e. ZLR meipang khou, Armstrong khang suang heimei pei na naide. IRS Gaanreipou khang suang heimei ne nai de. Kamei le khat na huatna ncham bam mei guai prelims se pat mak bam mei ai thai mei se nai gei e.

Officer Timothy ne Raguang rui de. Oja Gaitoungam ne Raguang rui de. Navodayan guai ne selection pass sumei Raguang rui de. Aniu hei-hian, suchui-hian mei tuang nai rap mak ge tupuilat re. Hei-bam tini, Rarui. Chui-bam tini Rarui.

Gaapsu, lianti na lung mei phaan, Raguang ta pingna lung khang e.

 

NINGTINGDYN 4:4

"Maansei rui ramh akhat khang heidi ranvna karamc bammei hei kakainingmei ta mamavmei zaeng rui de twmei ni ai thay the. Tiki hei tei nsa de. Hei tei mpwan ta nym khang nthau bampui riath de."

Kathiak khat meilat ding e nih? Meiguaina Mamamei ran na di the. Taan tan bam mei guai hei sian khang ran na ding the ki. Doctor ne sian khang, engineer ne sian khang, politician ne sian khang. Sian phang gei lana, meiram mei khang suang lung-gai khang, zao-pao hian khang . . . tumei ran na di the.  Pastor guai ne meiram mei church khang suang progress gaihian ni. Ronaldo ne, Messi LaLiga khou bampui jaengrui, suchui hian tuang e tu e.

Doctor taan, Engineer taan, Politician taan, Pastor taan; taan guai ko tho gaibam nu de, tiki lungning tho gairap mak khe. (Not the work itself but the intention)

He, Kaipou, alungning hei zaolouna su-nthan lou o. Nang hu khou, dai-riu, chuimei-maeng, lian-ti,  mei lungning guai ta lagan lou o. Amen!

 

[15:58, 4/23/2021] S.R: NINGTINGDYN 5:4-6

“Nang rui Ravguangc khou latdyng swlou kan e thei hei tei nuhmei kamv katumcna taanc o. Mpangmei ta kamei kahaw mak ge. Nang rui taanc ni twna nrianhlou kan e thei taanc o. Latdyng swlouna taanh makmei suangc thu latdyng sw makmei rui gay de. Nang tuang latsav rui nang ta paapc khou tikeylou riu. Ravguangc tuang amuh khou “Ai latdyng swloumei tei nkhuai the,” twna sa khang sw lario.”

"Mpangpuimei" tuna Bible rui sabam mei ko tho, Raguang ta pingmangmei guai the. Matric failed sumei ta ram me; Exam thapat ngam mak mei ta ham me; IQ nsuan mei ta ham e; Mental retarded ta ham e; Raguang ta machun makmei, Raguang ta tari mak mei, Raguang ta nzian makmei, nun guai ta the, mpangpuimei tumei ko.

Niupanti khou, machunmei, tarimei, nzianmei, pianmei, ko Raguang tha??? Kum mak ge thei nang ai ne mpangpuimei the. Raguang rui kahao mak mei the!

Kaipou, ningtingpuimei tisulou o. He alung, Khrista khou pian thai o.

 

NINGTINGDYN 6:7

"Maansei gaanv khat rui kabung khang na taancna lungc e, tiki tu biuc zat mak ge."

Maansei hei pianthaimei tumei tho mak khe. Kumtipui zaeng rui lungai-lungsi mei padik bam tuang the. Lungai meirui kalan (wealth) tei nzan (generosity) mei phaan, lungai ran khang su the. Sianthuai khang tipoulou chui ni the.

Buddha ruise na, pianthaimak mei hei si-mei bangbi khat the tuna salou e. Tiki, akumna aniu pianthai ni-na cho tumei tho, Buddha thai mak khe.

Pianthaimei tumei hei, v2 khou hilou mei ta, thai pui gan khou, nai puni. "Raguang rui" tumei ta the.

Ramguaina hei Ra-khou rui guang tuang e; Ramguaina hei, Ra-rui nulou mei lung khou pat bam tuang e; Ramguaina hei Raguang rui gai-khang tisulou puni (Rom8:28) tumei, thai pui gan khou, aniu pian thai puni. Ngguai, lungai pui gan khou ni, rian-ra pui gan khou ni!

Naigei bam tini, "Raguang rui" tumei thai mak ge thei, v3-4 khou hilou mei, neihlatou mak mei, ariammei panty supuni. Lungsi bam tini, "Raguang rui" tumei thai e tei, v12 khou "akum puni cho?" tuna  than bam mei ta thai puni. Kazaengthu, Raguang rui kata thai, phu pui meita tiphanglou puni, mi Kandi khou khat ni guang nimei Kandi khou oi!

He, Araguang! Ramguaina Kaipou nang e! Nang khou alung, amachun, azaeng (my joy) guai nai tan tan bam diu. Tisulou o, Amen!

Short Reflection from Ecclesiastes 1-12

[Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (OVU) as a daily reading update (reflection) from each chapter of the Bible]

[9:16 pm, 03/06/2022] S.R: 𝔼𝕔𝕔𝕝𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕒𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕤 𝟙:𝟙𝟜

"I have seen all the works which have been done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and striving after wind."

Reputation, Achievement, Success, Legacy, and even Pleasure are all in vain if we are never found in God

 

𝔼𝕔𝕔𝕝𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕒𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕤 𝟚:𝟙𝟘

"All that my eyes desired I did not refuse them. I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure, for my heart was pleased because of all my labor and this was my reward for all my labor."

This preacher had tried everything imaginable and concluded that everything we do, have, and desire is vanity under the sun.

So, I don't need to be envious of Elon Musk, Einstein, or Alexander!

 

𝔼𝕔𝕔𝕝𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕒𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕤 𝟛:𝟙𝟞

"Furthermore, I have seen under the sun that in the place of justice there is wickedness and in the place of righteousness there is wickedness."

What to do in this fallen world! It shall always be. And life has to be hard.

 

𝔼𝕔𝕔𝕝𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕒𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕤 𝟜:𝟙𝟛

"A poor yet wise lad is better than an old and foolish king who no longer knows how to receive instruction."

Beloved, let's be teachable people!

 

𝔼𝕔𝕔𝕝𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕒𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕤 𝟝:𝟙𝟘

"He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves abundance with its income. This too is vanity."

Let's not be materialistic, let's be rich in good works too!

 

𝔼𝕔𝕔𝕝𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕒𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕤 𝟞:𝟟

"All a man's labor is for his mouth and yet the appetite is not satisfied."

While others are looking for good food, millions are working even for a basic meal!

 

𝔼𝕔𝕔𝕝𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕒𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕤 𝟟:𝟚𝟙-𝟚𝟚

"Also, do not take seriously all words which are spoken, so that you will not hear your servant cursing you. For you also have realized that you likewise have many times cursed others."

Let's be kind to those who gossip about us.

 

𝔼𝕔𝕔𝕝𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕒𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕤 𝟠:𝟙𝟚

"Although a sinner does evil a hundred times and may lengthen his life, still I know that it will be well for those who fear God, who fear Him openly."

Do not be envious of the wicked. Do not pity yourself seeing the prosperity of the wicked. Do not fret. Do not be intimidated.

 

𝔼𝕔𝕔𝕝𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕒𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕤 𝟡:𝟙𝟞

“So I said, "Wisdom is better than strength." But the wisdom of the poor man is despised and his words are not heeded.”

That's why we need to have some money to be heard!

 

𝔼𝕔𝕔𝕝𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕒𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕤 𝟙𝟘:𝟚𝟘

"Furthermore, in your bedchamber do not curse a king, and in your sleeping rooms do not curse a rich man, for a bird of the heavens will carry the sound and the winged creature will make the matter known."

Indeed, it's better to not raise a fight we cannot win.

 

𝔼𝕔𝕔𝕝𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕒𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕤 𝟙𝟙:𝟡

"Rejoice, young man, during your childhood, and let your heart be pleasant during the days of young manhood. And follow the impulses of your heart and the desires of your eyes. Yet know that God will bring you to judgment for all these things."

People say, "Follow your heart."

The Bible doesn't forget to warn about the coming judgment.

 

[2:26 pm, 14/06/2022] S.R: 𝔼𝕔𝕔𝕝𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕒𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕤 𝟙𝟚:𝟙𝟛

"The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person."

Exactly the opposite of what the world wants.

They don't want the fear of God. They don't want the commandments of God. They don't fear God. They don't obey God. They don't even care to know who God is and what He says.

But this is what humans must do

Bible Reading Reflection from Ecclesiastes 7-12

[Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (LRAU), a daily reading update (reflection) from each chapter of the Bible] 

𝔼𝕔𝕔𝕝𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕒𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕤 𝟟:𝟙𝟚

"For wisdom is protection just as money is protection, But the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the lives of its possessors."

Money indeed gives security. That's why ladies don't want to marry a poor man. 😂 Wisdom brings money and also preserves life. This person (wisdom) not only gives security but gives stability as well!

There's another category in the book of Proverbs: Righteous person. This person is godly in the sight of God and man. He is not a simpleton nor a sluggard. He is diligent and generous.

This person may not be filthy rich nor worldly-wise, but he will lack nothing and even his children will be well-taken care of (Ps. 37:25-26). This person gives security, stability, and longevity of prosperity!

Money, Wisdom, or Righteousness: what would you have?

 

𝔼𝕔𝕔𝕝𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕒𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕤 𝟠:𝟙𝟝

"So I commended pleasure, for there is nothing good for a man under the sun except to eat and to drink and to be merry, and this will stand by him in his toils throughout the days of his life which God has given him under the sun."

Friends, enjoy your life. We ought to! God wants us to. Of all people, Christians must be more joyous than everyone. This is God's world. God is our Father. Even in injustice, suffering, and pain, we can live in peace knowing God is in control of everything. Phillip Yancey wrote, “When an unbeliever gets cancer, God allows a believer to get cancer, so that the world may know the difference how believer hopes in God.”

Enjoy your life, your work, your world! Of course not in sin. Pray that you will love what you do! The writer of Ecclesiastes commended it!

 

𝔼𝕔𝕔𝕝𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕒𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕤 𝟡:𝟡

"Enjoy life with the woman whom you love all the days of your fleeting life which He has given to you under the sun; for this is your reward in life and in your toil in which you have labored under the sun."

The blessing of marriage is granted to all: the righteous and the wicked. And no matter what, marriage is supposed to be permanent, until death does separate. And it's monogamous. It's “the woman” (singular).

Love (and marriage) is indeed a sensible, meaningful, and satisfying gift of God! Both the married and the single must have a high view of marriage! Be committed, be faithful.

 

𝔼𝕔𝕔𝕝𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕒𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕤 𝟙𝟘:𝟙𝟡

"Men prepare a meal for enjoyment, and wine makes life merry, and 𝕄𝕠𝕟𝕖𝕪 𝕀𝕤 𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝔸𝕟𝕤𝕨𝕖𝕣 𝕋𝕠 𝔼𝕧𝕖𝕣𝕪𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕘."

This is what it is under the Sun, but remember, the people of God live under the Son. There's a Son above the Sun. We live by the law of the Son.

But, is it not interesting that the writer of Ecclesiastes affirms that to a natural man and the natural world devoid of God, money is the answer to everything?

 

𝔼𝕔𝕔𝕝𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕒𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕤 𝟙𝟙:𝟞

"Sow your seed in the morning and do not be idle in the evening, for you do not know whether morning or evening sowing will succeed, or whether both of them alike will be good."

This is one of the motivating verses that pushes me to do what I usually do like posting a WhatsApp article, publishing a blog article, and creating a lot of Bible reading groups!

There were times when I wanted to quit, give up, change, etc. but I better persevere because I never know what of my works will encourage, inspire, and transform others. But if I keep doing it, I know, at least one of them may/will bear fruit(s).

 

𝔼𝕔𝕔𝕝𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕒𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕤 𝟙𝟚:𝟙𝟚

"But beyond this, my son, be warned: the writing of many books is endless, and excessive devotion to books is wearying to the body."

Reading many books could be beneficial, but a waste of time as well! There are bad books, good books, better books, and best books! Thousands of books are being published and sold every day, yeah, endless! Steve Lawson suggested that we should buy only the best books.

People would want to have books with their names on them. They want to look smart and popular. They would even hire ghost-writers. The writer of Ecclesiastes affirmed that most books are useless even in his time.

That goes for so many blog articles and WhatsApp posts. Sometimes, I wonder even about myself and my writings. I aspire to be a smart, incisive writer, which I haven't been yet. Don't waste your time on ordinary books. Most books are empty exactly like their authors! Ecclesiastes or any book of the Bibles isn't ordinary writing!

Bible Reading Reflection from Ecclesiastes 1-6

 [Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (LRAU), a daily reading update (reflection) from each chapter of the Bible]

𝔼𝕔𝕔𝕝𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕒𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕤 𝟙:𝟜

"A generation goes and a generation comes,

But the earth remains forever."

Indeed, how transient is man's life! Well, how transient is the earth compared to the eternal God! As Jesus said, "Heaven and Earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away." We put all our thoughts, sweat, and efforts to build our careers to survive this transient life. Ought we not to consider the eternal things?

That consideration is to acknowledge God and fear Him! Without which, man's life is vanity, as chasing after the winds, no matter what and who we may ever become!

 

𝔼𝕔𝕔𝕝𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕒𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕤 𝟚:𝟚𝟜

"There is nothing better for a man than to eat and drink and tell himself that his labor is good. This also I have seen that it is from the hand of God."

God wants us to enjoy life. It was in Eden, also in heaven, and is also now. Even in the perfect Eden, Eve and Adam weren't enjoying themselves. They sinned for only one fruit that was withheld from them.

Is it a surprise that even now humans don't enjoy life. They complain about everything. Yes in the workplace, in marriage, in relationships, in family, in jobs, and in church.

Enjoying life, enjoying our works, relationships, and everywhere we are is a gift of God! If we get to eat and drink every day, that itself is sufficient to enjoy life. Or else, we are just not learning from the mistake of Adam and Eve!

 

𝔼𝕔𝕔𝕝𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕒𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕤 𝟛:𝟙𝟚-𝟙𝟛, 𝟚𝟚

v12-13 "I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and to do good in one's lifetime; moreover, that every man who eats and drinks sees good in all his labor--it is the gift of God."

v22 "I have seen that nothing is better than that man should be happy in his activities, for that is his lot. For who will bring him to see what will occur after him?"

Everyone wants to enjoy life. Everyone wants to enjoy the work we do: jobs, assignments, and relationships. That joy is a gift of God. God gives to those who know Him. Therefore, the one who knows (has a deep relationship with) God can enjoy life and everything that comes because he lives under God, not under the sun!

 

𝔼𝕔𝕔𝕝𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕒𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕤 𝟜:𝟙𝟛

"A poor yet wise lad is better than an old and foolish king who no longer knows how to receive instruction."

Let's keep learning!

As someone said, "If you are too old to learn, you are too old to live."

 

𝔼𝕔𝕔𝕝𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕒𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕤 𝟝:𝟙𝟚

"The sleep of the working man is pleasant, whether he eats little or much; but the full stomach of the rich man does not allow him to sleep."

There was a time when I could sleep anytime I want. Nowadays, I can't sleep with a full stomach (medical issues btw, not financial riches😂)! Anyway, it makes me understand and appreciate this verse better!

Be godly, be wise, be working, be joyful, and be gracious are some of the must-be principles that come to my mind as I go through the book of Ecclesiastes again.

 

𝔼𝕔𝕔𝕝𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕒𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕤 𝟞:𝟙𝟚

"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?"

When a doctor examines and tells a 'healthy looking' guy that he has cancer and needs to go for urgent treatment, he may not like to hear it, believe it, but a doctor would tell him anyway. That's his job.

Christians have a job to tell the world that life is useless and vanity under the sun, we've got to live under the Son. The world teaches us to be optimistic, to have self-confidence, have high self-esteem. Even the best life the world can imagine is 60-70 years. That's nothing in comparison to the gift of eternal life under His Son

Even if we get all the wealth of Elon Musk, get the brain of Einstein, get the looks of Brad Pitt, have the compassion of Teressa, and have the greatness of Alexander, it's just for 60-70 years or so. Well, those who live under the Son can live wisely even under this sun!