King James Bible Study – [Mark 8:34 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.]
Date: Monday, June 20, 2022
Chapters: ECCLESIASTES 1-6
Study: Where The Heart Is
Hello My Friend,
I never have been someone who wanted to be wealthy as I have seen what money does to people. I can care less about diamond rings and top of the line clothes as they look gaudy and ugly to me. That does not mean that I do not want to be comfortable and not have to worry about where I am going to get the money to put sixty dollars worth of gas in my car just to get back and forth to work. There is a very good reason why God puts most of us in a position where we are asking each day for our daily bread, [Matthew 6:19-21 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.]
If anyone can teach us a thing or two about laying up for ourselves treasures from heaven, it is Solomon. The Book of Ecclesiastes contains twelve chapters, the timeline is approximately 977 BC. The author of the book is Solomon and it was first written to the Jews, but is addressed to all believers. The purpose of the book provides a description of the quest for life apart from God. What we are to learn from the book is that unless God is in the work, it is vanity (worthless) and vexation (distressing) of the spirit, [Ecclesiastes 2:26 For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit.]
Solomon was raised by David, who was the apple of God’s eye, and out of all of David’s children, Solomon was the one who did love the Lord with all his heart more than all the rest. He truly loved and feared God, even became a preacher, and not only was the wisest, but richest man in the world. God gladly gave him all of that because of his faith and faithfulness. Well, all that changed when he married women who did not fear God, astonishingly, he had over one thousand wives, all of different faiths, and if that was any indication that he felt that he was missing something in life, then I do not know what else would. Solomon, wrote this book near the end of his life when his heart not fully on God, after realizing that without God, everything is vanity.
[Ecclesiastes 1:1-4,8-10,17-18 The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem. 2 Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity. 3 What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun? 4 One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever. 8 All things are full of labour; man cannot utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing. 9 The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. 10 Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us. 17 And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit. 18 For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.]
[See, this is new? it hath been already of old time,] I always say that the difference between now and then is technology. Everything that we see, including all this evil, sadly, God has seen already. Remember, the days of Noah and Sodom and Gomorrah? All of what we are seeing is just a foreshadow of what is to come before Jesus gets here, and we do not want to be here with that happens, [Matthew 24:7-8 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.]
[And I gave my heart to know wisdom,] This is where we need to be very careful as the wisdom of this world can the change the heart. Apart from our salvation, everything we do in life we must work at. And let me tell you, the more you do learn, the more it really is distressing on your spirit and it can change your heart. The world is full of things that the heart desires, and it may not be sinful things, but unless it is in the will of God, pursuing them will always be distressing. And this is exactly what Solomon discovered.
[Ecclesiastes 2:8-11,17,20 I gathered me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces: I gat me men singers and women singers, and the delights of the sons of men, as musical instruments, and that of all sorts. 9 So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me. 10 And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour. 11 Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun. 17 Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit. 20 Therefore I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labour which I took under the sun.]
[Therefore I hated life;]. I was never a part of the world, and whenever I did try to fit in the world rejected me because they knew I was not one of them, even before I knew Christ as my Saviour. My brief moment in the world really did have me hating life to the point that I had no idea who I was. That is when Jesus found me and let me know that He had a better life for me, and no one will ever take that from me, [1 Peter 3:14-15 But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; 15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:]
I have said it before, in all my years since dedicating my life to Christ, I have not seen God’s hand upon me more than it is now. Everything from His intervening to protections, to provisions, He gives me so much more than I deserve. Did you know that He even allows us to take a fall sometimes? Everything has a purpose.
[Ecclesiastes 3:1-5,10-11,14 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: 2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; 3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; 4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; 5 A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; 10 I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it. 11 He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end. 14 I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.]
[whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever:] God is eternal, it does not matter if it is heaven or hell, we will all end up somewhere when this shell of a flesh that we drag around comes off of us. Without Christ, people fear death because they have no idea where they are going when they die, many believe when you die, that is all, life is over so live it up now. Many believe, if you are good you go to heaven, and if you are bad you go to hell, and still many believe your soul or spirit jumps into another body, or even animals. All these things are man made beliefs drummed up by someone who feared death, not knowing Christ. Solomon, knew that living life to please the flesh was all vanity, something was missing, whether the ones who are oppressed or the oppressor, a comforter. And that explains exactly why he had so many wives, he was looking for comfort.
[Ecclesiastes 4:1-2,9,13-15 So I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter. 2 Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive. 9 Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. 10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. 13 Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished. 14 For out of prison he cometh to reign; whereas also he that is born in his kingdom becometh poor. 15 I considered all the living which walk under the sun, with the second child that shall stand up in his stead.]
[Wherefore I praised the dead] All the women, all the kids he must have had, all the servants, all the fame, possessions, and fortune, none of it gave Solomon any comfort. Without Christ we are left to figure life out on our own, and let me tell you, we fail at it. I have seen people literally die prematurely because they could not get over the death of a loved one. This is why Jesus sent us the Holy Spirit when He left, He is the closest thing that we have to seeing Jesus face to face, [John 14:26-27 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. 27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.]
The older I get the more precious life becomes to me, I do not want the rest of my days to be working for nothing, I want to make each day count. Christians ought to be the best workers in all that they do, not exhausting themselves in work that brings no joy. In doing so we will be very prosperous, but we must be careful, if we take our eyes off Jesus for one second we could lose it all. Solomon, warns about the evil of superficial wealth.
[Ecclesiastes 5:1-2,6,10-12 Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil. 2 Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few. 6 Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands? 10 He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity. 11 When goods increase, they are increased that eat them: and what good is there to the owners thereof, saving the beholding of them with their eyes? 12 The sleep of a labouring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep.]
[and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools:] You know those people, the ones who never see their wrong, but seem to point out yours. They never stop talking, pointing out all kinds of Scripture to try to prove to you that you are wrong, they are right, and we better obey them or else? Let me tell you, there is just as much Scripture to prove them wrong, but that makes us no better than them. Why? There is a time to remain silent and a time to speak. Arguing with them will only add fuel to the fire, as they can care less what really happened.
[Ecclesiastes 6:1-5 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is common among men: 2 A man to whom God hath given riches, wealth, and honour, so that he wanteth nothing for his soul of all that he desireth, yet God giveth him not power to eat thereof, but a stranger eateth it: this is vanity, and it is an evil disease. 3 If a man beget an hundred children, and live many years, so that the days of his years be many, and his soul be not filled with good, and also that he have no burial; I say, that an untimely birth is better than he. 4 For he cometh in with vanity, and departeth in darkness, and his name shall be covered with darkness. 5 Moreover he hath not seen the sun, nor known any thing: this hath more rest than the other.]
[I say, that an untimely birth is better than he.] You can work yourself to death, but unless your soul is saved it is all vain. It would have been better had that person never been born, at least, if they died in the womb their soul would be saved. How is that possible? Babies, whether they are born or died before as well as children in their innocence age, and those who are born with mental impairments because they do not know what sin is. God has a special place and purpose for those who are born with impairments that limit their ability to know what account for their sin, such as cerebral palsy or retardation, but I guarantee you that they definitely know who Jesus is, [2 Samuel 12:22-23 And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell whether GOD will be gracious to me, that the child may live? 23 But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.]
Today’s Prayer: God, As much as I try to do everything with Your Son guiding me I know I fail miserably at it. Sometimes I think I can handle it on my own and that You do not want to deal with such petty things, but I know that You want to be in every part of my life. I realize that true joy and happiness is not found in pursuits that please my flesh, but in what pleases You. Lord, give me Your power, mercy, grace, and strength to labor for the things that count. Help me to build everything upon Your foundation so I cannot fall and if I do fall, pick me back up and keep me looking to You and for the hope that passes understanding. Let me use my knowledge to glorify You so that my spirit will not grow to hate the things I love to do. I ask these things in Your name, Jesus. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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