KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus Through Every Chapter
Date: Wednesday, June 21,
Chapters: Ecclesiastes 7-12
Message: Blessings Through Hardships
Hello My Friend,
Next to the Book of Job, Ecclesiastes is one of my favorite books of the Old Testament, to many this seems odd, I even had a preacher make a comment as to why I like the book. Many do not enjoy reading it because it hits the heart as we discover all our pursuits to increase our wealth in whatever we desire are vanity, I like the book because it reminds me that God is always in control, we are going to be blessed tremendously, but with the blessings also comes hardships before and many times after. Hardships are not always in the form of financial burdens, they come in any form, but it is the hardships that not only define us, but bring us closer to God.
“A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one’s birth. It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart. Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better. Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this. Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked? In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: God also hath set the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him.” – Ecclesiastes 7:1-3,10,13-14.
“for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.” It is strange, but we need sorrow in life, it opens our heart and gives it to God. God blessed Solomon with much knowledge and wisdom, he was not only taught to be a good king, but a Godly man as well. He prospered greatly because of his relationship with God, but once he turned away from God what he discovered was women were not the answer to his problem.
“I applied mine heart to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom, and the reason of things, and to know the wickedness of folly, even of foolishness and madness: And I find more bitter than death the woman, whose heart is snares and nets, and her hands as bands: whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be taken by her. Behold, this have I found, saith the preacher, counting one by one, to find out the account: Which yet my soul seeketh, but I find not: one man among a thousand have I found; but a woman among all those have I not found. Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.” – Ecclesiastes 7:25-29.
“but a woman among all those have I not found.” A thousand women, he had a thousand wives, and not one of them feared God. And he wondered why he did not find one that was a Godly influence? We have great power ladies, and with that power comes responsibility, men might be rulers, but it is the women who make or break them. Life can end in an instant, we cannot keep dwelling on the things or the life we do not have, we have to make the best out of what God has given us at this moment. God does have a purpose for allowing the things we go through, and it is not for us to die prematurely from a sin filled life.
“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. 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. 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. 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. 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: 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.” – Ecclesiastes 8:8-13.
“Though a sinner do evil an hundred times,” Christians are by far sinless, but they do know God will be there for them when they acknowledge and confess their sins to Him. The world cares less about what God thinks, let alone what we think, they are in it all for themselves, committing to some of the most wicked deeds to get what they want. This is why Jesus died to save our soul, our flesh is weak and will die because we do not even have to try to sin, we do it naturally, but our soul, if Jesus is our Saviour, it will never die, no matter how many times we sin. We need to be careful not resent the hardships we face, it is perfectly fine to ask God questions as to how we can get through them and even why we have to deal with them, but we are not to allow ourselves to become so resentful that we turn away from Him and to sin. God has a reason for everything He allows, and if we trust Him He will see us through it all.
“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. 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. 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. Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God now accepteth thy works. Let thy garments be always white; and let thy head lack no ointment. 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. 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.” – Ecclesiastes 9:1,5-10.
“do it with thy might;” Solomon went through a great deal of pain to know how God works regarding the poor and the rich, although he was no closer to an answer than when he first began, he did come up with one conclusion, the same things happen to all people. While there is life there is opportunity, and since death is certain, it is our best interest to make the best possible use of the life God gave us while we are here. We have to do everything with all our might, hoping for the best outcome.
“In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good. Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun: But if a man live many years, and rejoice in them all; yet let him remember the days of darkness; for they shall be many. All that cometh is vanity. Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment. Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity.” – Ecclesiastes 11:6-10.
“that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment.” Solomon observed that one day we will all be judged for our actions as adults, in our youth, it is easy to fall for the things of the world because we are learning and growing, but as we grow we learn that life is not all about fun and games, everything we do, has consequences, and we will face God in judgment for them. While the unsaved will be judged for everything, the saved will be judged for what they did after they were saved, and this is were our good works count, not to keep our salvation, but to show God that we love and thank Him for sending His Son to save us. Solomon concluded the whole matter, we need God more than anything else.
“And moreover, because the preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yea, he gave good heed, and sought out, and set in order many proverbs. The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth. The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd. And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh. Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.” – Ecclesiastes 12:9-14.
“The preacher sought to find out acceptable words:” Solomon spent his lifetime searching for pleasure from every worldly source, he concluded that ignoring the Word of God was the vanity of vanities, we need to fear God and keep His commands if we want to be blessed through hardships, it will not all be joyous, but at least when we see Jesus He will tell us, well done, good and faithful servant. “His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” – Matthew 25:23.
Jesus Christ Magnified: Today, Jesus is revealed through the one who will bring every work into judgment (Ecc 12:14a). When Jesus returns every person will give an account for their lives. “And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.” – John 5:29.
Today’s Prayer: God, Thank You for the gift of eternal life when I trusted in Your Son as my Saviour, I know there is nothing I can do to earn or keep that, and am grateful for the sacrifice of Your precious Son so that I can live with You forever. I know that everything You do for me is in Your best interest, things I longed for, but have not gotten are only opportunities for something better. It is easy for me to say I trust You, but it is not so easy for me to understand the hardships You place in my life. Lord, I want to trust You at all times, even when I do not understand. Help me to trust and obey all Your decisions, and let me not get discouraged or disgruntled over things, and keep me looking for the blessings as I endure my hardships with You, because I do know that You will always supply me with every single thing I need, and then some. In pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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