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!

Sermon Tips from the text of 1 Peter 2:18-25

  Sermon Tips for Expository Preachers, Listeners, and Students

Bible Reading Reflection from Proverbs 23-31

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

ℙℝ𝕆𝕍𝔼ℝ𝔹𝕊 𝟚𝟛:𝟞-𝟠

"Do not eat the bread of a selfish man,

Or desire his delicacies;

For as he thinks within himself, so he is.

He says to you, "Eat and drink!"

But his heart is not with you.

You will vomit up the morsel you have eaten,

And waste your compliments."

When was the last time you experienced this proverb? O were you that selfish man who set that table?

 

ℙℝ𝕆𝕍𝔼ℝ𝔹𝕊 𝟚𝟜:𝟙𝟞

"For a righteous man falls seven times, and rises again,

But the wicked will stumble in calamity."

It does not say "the wicked will fall but the righteous will stand" nor "the righteous will fall sometimes and the wicked will prosper sometimes," it says the righteous falls not twice or thrice but seven times. 7 as a symbol of completion, meaning, he may fall, again and again, even more than the average person, but God promises to uphold him. He shall not be utterly cast down (Ps.37:24)

Do not be surprised if the wicked are prospering and the righteous are suffering now!

 

ℙℝ𝕆𝕍𝔼ℝ𝔹𝕊 𝟚𝟝:𝟚𝟙-𝟚𝟚

"If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat;

And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink;

For you will heap burning coals on his head,

And Yahweh will repay you."

It's a double win. First, you win him by shaming him righteously. Second, you win the blessing of God. You win his favor and the favor of God. And you shamed the devil! Winning by good deeds last long while winning by strength brews up revenge. Have you ever done it? I have!

 

ℙℝ𝕆𝕍𝔼ℝ𝔹𝕊 𝟚𝟞:𝟙𝟟

"Like one who seizes a dog by the ears

Is he who passes by and becomes passionate about strife not belonging to him."

Is this not funny? 🤣

Try pulling the ears of a street dog and see what happens? And end up in hospital with an anti-rabies injection!

 

ℙℝ𝕆𝕍𝔼ℝ𝔹𝕊 𝟚𝟟:𝟙𝟜

"He who blesses his friend with a loud voice early in the morning,

It will be counted as a curse to him."

Some people wake up very early. Some people wake up a little later. If you are a very early guy, don't disturb his sleep. Even words of blessing will sound like a curse. It has been, huh?

Like that blessing, untimely exhortation and advice are not profitable nor appreciated. It also says "loud voice" The way, manner what we do is also important, not just when.

 

ℙℝ𝕆𝕍𝔼ℝ𝔹𝕊 𝟚𝟠:𝟠

"He who increases his wealth by interest and usury

Gathers it for him who is gracious to the lowly."

Be careful how you invest your money!

 

ℙℝ𝕆𝕍𝔼ℝ𝔹𝕊 𝟚𝟡:𝟙

"A man who hardens his neck after much reproof

Will suddenly be broken beyond healing."

What a word picture! When clothes are too dirty, mixed with dirt, they become rigid and easily torn.

A plastic bottle with water kept in the freezer is easily broken when it got frozen!

 

ℙℝ𝕆𝕍𝔼ℝ𝔹𝕊 𝟛𝟘:𝟟-𝟡

"Two things I asked of You,

Do not withhold from me before I die:

Keep worthlessness and every false word far from me,

Give me neither poverty nor riches;

Feed me with the food that is my portion,

Lest I be full and deny You and say, “Who is Yahweh?”

Or lest I be impoverished and steal,

And profane the name of my God."

One of the well-known passages in the Proverbs, especially the second request. But, let's remember that's the second request. The first request is being neglected. The first request is to keep him away from falsehood and lying. Don't you agree with him? I do.

I don't want to be a liar. I feel guilty (and rightly so) when I even tell a half-truth. Even when you praise someone or something you could be lying about some facts. Every salesman is guilty of sin the Apocrypha says @________ 😉

Also, I don't want to be lied to, deceived, or cheated. That's why I hate shopping. I just don't like bargaining! There's legitimate bargaining, but I think what's going on in India's market is most probably not legitimate bargaining but fooling around.

Again, let the first request be the first request!

 

ℙℝ𝕆𝕍𝔼ℝ𝔹𝕊 𝟛𝟙:𝟚

"What, O my son?

And what, O son of my womb?

And what, O son of my vows?"

A very genuine, serious, and passionate word of counsel from a mother. Many times, we remember Proverbs 31 for the excellent wife, which is described in v10-31. What about looking at v1-9.

I would say, be a disciplined man of v1-9 to get an excellent wife. If you want a smart woman, be yourself smart. If you want a godly woman, you, yourself, have to be godly.

The Rongmei proverb "Jouki kangmei nruai tha mei puan e" itself reflects the exploitativeness of a person. So don't even think of it. So, if you want an excellent woman of Proverbs 31:10-31, might I suggest you be a disciplined man of Proverbs 31:1-9.

His mother was dead serious. He must not run after girls (a womanizer) but be pure and committed. He must be sensible, sober, and self-controlled. Wine takes away one's sense. He must be righteous in his practice, well appreciated by all sorts of people, and stand up for others.

And ladies, watch out for such men! Don't be a gold digger!

Bible Reading Reflection from Proverbs 10-22

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

ℙℝ𝕆𝕍𝔼ℝ𝔹𝕊 𝟙𝟘:𝟙

"𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝕡𝕣𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕣𝕓𝕤 𝕠𝕗 𝕊𝕠𝕝𝕠𝕞𝕠𝕟.

A wise son makes a father glad,

But a foolish son is a grief to his mother."

From here, begins the real proverbs—short witty statements—till chapter 22:16 are the proverbs of Solomon the wisest man.

Scholars have counted them to be 375 proverbs. Well sufficient to update his proverbs once a day every year!

BTW, chapters 1-9 serve as the foundation, a basis to understand and apply the following proverbs appropriately. They are instructions given by an experienced loving father and mother to a son.

Well, most of them are witty and true even by the standards of this wicked world, but they are all wise sayings because they are measured by the standard of heaven. It's heavenly wisdom, inspired, and to be studied.

For example, v13, it had been true even for the world for centuries, but now, if you beat a fool or even your child, you are a fool and could end up in jail. But it's the world that's changing, not the Proverbs. The world professing to be wise, they become fools!

 

ℙℝ𝕆𝕍𝔼ℝ𝔹𝕊 𝟙𝟙:𝟚𝟠

"He who trusts in his riches will fall,

But the righteous will flourish like the green leaf."

The Scriptures’ Philosophy is different from the world when it comes to prosperity and longevity of life. It's not by wealth; it's by righteousness. Don't run after richness; run after righteousness.

It's ok, good, and better to be rich than to be poor, but how we get rich should not be at the expense of righteousness. And even when we are rich, it's our righteousness that will sustain us.

Rightness must be preferred over Richness! Don't run after easy money, easy work, and easy popularity at the cost of the right living!

 

ℙℝ𝕆𝕍𝔼ℝ𝔹𝕊 𝟙𝟚:𝟙𝟘

"A righteous man knows the value of the life of his animal,

But even the compassion of the wicked is cruel."

Not only by the way how a man behaves with fellow humans but even with animals. Perhaps even by the way how one kills a mosquito! Christian veterinarians should be able to quote this verse by heart! 🙂

 

ℙℝ𝕆𝕍𝔼ℝ𝔹𝕊 𝟙𝟛:𝟚𝟚

"A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children,         

And the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous."

The obvious fact: righteous people work hard and leave enough inheritance for even the third generation.

Whereas the wicked people even what they have earned will be taken away and be given to righteous people after they die.

Again, Proverbs is establishing for us a righteous hard-working life to choose.

 

ℙℝ𝕆𝕍𝔼ℝ𝔹𝕊 𝟙𝟜:𝟡

"Ignorant fools scoff at guilt."

That's a lot of words in a single line. Only 5 words but weighty ones.

Ignorant (adjective, functioning as the further description of this individual)

Fools (the nature of this person, his identity, BTW, it's plural. There are many... Are you one of them? 🥶)

Scoff (verb, this is their action, their habit, what they do. Know them by what they do!)

Guilt (Guilt is to be relieved by confession, repentance, forgiveness, and reconciliation; not by mocking, scoffing, or ignoring). And BTW the ultimate guilt of sin is removed by the death of Christ. It's not by scoffing! And our response is a godly sorrow leading towards repentance!

 

ℙℝ𝕆𝕍𝔼ℝ𝔹𝕊 𝟙𝟝:𝟙

"A gentle answer turns away wrath,

But a harsh word stirs up anger."

This is true! Have seen it many times already! 👍

 

ℙℝ𝕆𝕍𝔼ℝ𝔹𝕊 𝟙𝟞:𝟛

"Commit your works to Yahweh

And your plans will be established."

One of my favorite chapters in the book of Proverbs is Chapter 16. And v3 is interestingly different from what we normally and usually do. We plan and commit our plans to God to bless us with successful work. Many of our prayers are informing God what to do or what can be done. This proverb is telling us to commit our works to God and that God will establish our plans.

 

ℙℝ𝕆𝕍𝔼ℝ𝔹𝕊 𝟙𝟟:𝟡,

"He who covers a transgression seeks love,

But he who repeats a matter separates close companions."

Note the verbs. They are the actions. Those are what matter — to do and not to do: Cover and Repeat

Be forgiving. And once you have forgiven, do not recall again, do not talk about it again. Or else, ask, "Do I really have love? Have I really forgiven?" Or "Do I want some people to talk about my mistake again and again?" "Do I love people who never stop talking about my past mistake? "And the answers are most probably "No!"

 

ℙℝ𝕆𝕍𝔼ℝ𝔹𝕊 𝟙𝟠:𝟚𝟜

"A man of too many friends comes to ruin,

But there is a friend who sticks."

Proverbs 18 has lots of wisdom than I thought before! But I've decided to single out v24 for today. It's good to have many friends than have many enemies. Gandhi is supposed to have said, "Do you have 50 friends? Too less. Do you have 1 enemy? Too many"

However, friends influence one another, and therefore must be wise. It's good to stick with only a few good friends. As another writer said, "One friend is enough, two is too many, and it's impossible to have three friends"

Bill McCartney has 4 levels of friendships. He says many people don't have a first-level friendship. Do you have a friend that sticks closer than a brother as this proverb says? Well, I don't have. All the friends I have aren't even good enough to be called my best friends. I think I don't have even a second-level friendship. Everyone is in the 4^th or 3^rd level.

Be careful of your friendship! Please don't try to be cool and say around, "You are my BFF, best friend forever" to anyone. Don't be stupid! As one writer said, "Friends are often more trouble than help!"

But there's indeed a friend who sticks closer than a brother, than a superglue: Jesus Christ. He is not just our God, not just our Lord, not just our brother, but also our friend. And He laid down His life for me. Nobody does that. And He will never let me go of His hands. Even super-glue can be broken, no, not from the love of Christ!

 

ℙℝ𝕆𝕍𝔼ℝ𝔹𝕊 𝟙𝟡:𝟙

"Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity

Than he who is crooked in lips and is a fool."

We don't want to be treated as poor people because everyone looks down on the poor. They are even treated as fools, lazybones, witless, powerless, hopeless, and useless. Yet this verse says, it's better to be poor and live a life of integrity.

In other words, it's better to be poor and learn how to swim in a river, than to have the brain of Einstein and the wealth of Elon Musk, and not have learned to swim in a capsizing boat in the middle of the river.

Man of integrity! Man of principle. Man of careful thinking!

 

ℙℝ𝕆𝕍𝔼ℝ𝔹𝕊 𝟚𝟘:𝟙𝟜

"‘Bad, bad,’ says the buyer,

But when he goes his way, then he boasts."

Everyone behaves the same when it comes to business and shopping!

 

ℙℝ𝕆𝕍𝔼ℝ𝔹𝕊 𝟚𝟙:𝟡

"It is better to live in a corner of a roof

Than in a house shared with a contentious woman."

The thought is repeated in v19.

Don't marry a contentious woman. Full stop!

Break up! Dump her! If she is contentious! 😎

 

ℙℝ𝕆𝕍𝔼ℝ𝔹𝕊 𝟚𝟚:𝟙

"A good name is to be chosen over great wealth,

Favor is better than silver and gold."

Indeed, being rich in reputation is better than being rich in wealth. A reputed man will not live in poverty; however, a rich man could be hated by many.