Read the Bible in a Year (24JUL19)

DAILY REMINDER – Today, July 24’s Bible reading is Ecclesiastes 1-4.

NEXT DAY REMINDER – Tomorrow, July 25’s Bible reading is Ecclesiastes 5-8. May God bless you with the reading of His WORD.

Ecclesiastes Introduction

The book of Ecclesiastes is believed by many biblical scholars to have been written by King Solomon. Those who may disagree often use the argument that even though the first verse of the book refers to words being that of the son of David, anyone who was a descendant of David could fulfill that reference. The question of authorship centers mainly around the pseudonym that is used throughout the book by referring to the writer as pastor, teacher, or Qoheleth in some biblical versions. Yet, the writer gives many clues that points overwhelmingly to King Solomon being more probable than not as being the author of Ecclesiastes.

The word, Ecclesiastes, itself refers to one who speaks publicly in an assembly such as a teacher. There is no exact time period as to when the book was written, but if Solomon was indeed the author, that would place its authorship around the tenth century B.C. This book has often been viewed as not only a book of wisdom but one of gloom. Yet, the author, as he looked back over his life, allows the reader to understand that everything obtained in life is absolutely useless and meaningless without God. 

ECCLESIASTES MOMENT – (24JUL19) According to an article posted with the Business Insider, over seven-million Americans held more than one job during July 2017, which was up by 2% from the previous year. Americans are finding it more difficult to make ends meet than ever before, and although many are saying that the unemployment rate has gone down, there are many factors that have not been included in their numbers which gives Americans a false sense of security. Those factors include Americans who are holding down two or three jobs to pay for basic expenses such as food, shelter, clothes, transportation and more. The price of goods and services are going up, while the paychecks of many are going down. According to Forbes, 40% of Americans are just one paycheck away from poverty. Let the wrong situation occur and they will be out on the street to join the homeless population. This can happen to ANYONE.

It does not matter who you are or how much money you have in the bank. Medical bills have made rich people become poor. The loss of a job has caused people to lose their homes. A natural disaster has caused people to lose all of their material possessions. A crash on Wallstreet has caused some to go from shopping on Rodeo Drive to the local discount store. Things can change in the blink of an eye. For those who do not believe this can happen, just look at the streets of L.A. and you will see that the homeless population is growing daily, and all of those people were not what many would unfortunately classify as bums. The Teacher in Ecclesiastes wrote, Meaningless…Everything is meaningless. What do people gain from all their labors at which they toil under the sun?” (Ecclesiastes 1:2-3).

The Teacher was reflecting over his own life and how he had toiled for many things, but in the end, he thought that it was meaningless. This was not him saying that a person should not work to obtain things, but he was letting the reader know that it was better to enjoy the moment, than to worry about the future after you’re gone. All that he had worked for would one day be passed on to someone else who hadn’t toiled for it and probably would not appreciate it as much. The Teacher wrote, “I hated all the things I had toiled for under the sun because I must leave them to the one who comes after me. And who knows whether that person will be wise or foolish? Yet they will have control over all the fruit of my toil into which I have poured my effort and skill under the sun. This too is meaningless” (Ecclesiastes 2:18-19). One day, just as the Teacher, we too may see the day that all that we toiled for will be meaningless. That is why it is important to place our hope and trust in the Lord because material things come and go, but the Lord is our only Rock of Refuge. Something to ponder….

 QUESTION OF THE DAY - (24JUL19) The Teacher in Ecclesiastes wrote, “What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:9). What did the Teacher mean by this? We have often heard the saying, “History repeats itself.” This concept is what the Teacher was relaying to the reader when he wrote the above text. We often see that things which took place in history are being repeated because many people make the mistake of not learning from the past, or there are certain generational curses and/or blessings families and nations embrace rather knowingly or unknowingly. Writer and philosopher, George Santayana, is credited with having coin-phrased the following quote, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”.

For example, in America, we are seeing a repeat of racial tensions rising once again. Many people thought that this was over after the 60’s, but we are seeing race relations become increasingly hostile due to what many would claim to be narcissistic political agendas.  Also, the fight for certain civil liberties is being brought to the forefront once again, and what was once what we as Americans prided ourselves on such as our flag, national anthem, and support of our armed forces are being fought for and against within our government, schools, and on the streets of America during some protests and rallies. Yes, the Teacher was correct that there is nothing new under the sun. But, one day, this will all be brought to a permanent end. The Bible says, “Then I saw ‘a new heaven and a new earth,’ for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea” (Revelation 21:1). Jesus is coming back and there will be no more sin, pain, grief, death, or wickedness. It will never be repeated nor be allowed to rise again. This is our great hope in which we can be sure of if we endure to the end. Something to ponder….   

ECCLESIASTES MOMENT – (24JUL19) The other day, I heard a news report state that school districts were considering allowing students to have “mental health days” where they could take up to five school days a year off from school without any stress of getting behind on work if they felt it was needed. One may ask, “What about days that they already get such as spring and winter breaks, holidays, summer vacations, as well as weekends to recoup?” Are we living in such a snowflake generation where schools are catering more to the undisciplined than the academic achiever? Aren’t kids to be shown love and taught how to handle life rather than run away from it? This is not to say that parents should not get counseling for their children’s mental health if they need it. But those in authority must be careful not to encourage a lack of ambition in children, so that they will know that everything has its proper place and time. The Teacher in Ecclesiastes wrote, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens” (Ecclesiastes 3:1).  We are living in a time that if we do not teach young people about God, life, good work ethics, and basic moral values that we will have a generation of sluggards. They will be good for nothing because they were taught that they can throw temper tantrums to get their way and the world owes them something for nothing. Oh, it may be too late for many when we listen to the likes of freshman Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and the “Squad” aka the Jezebels of Congress. Nevertheless, we must teach children what is right despite who does not follow it.

God is a God who is all about timing. The Bible says, “For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay” (Habakkuk 2:3). God has an appointed time for everything that takes place on earth and the people who dwell in it. Our timing is not God’s timing, but He sees and knows all that there is about everything. We must teach children about God’s timing and how it is timed perfectly. The Teacher in Ecclesiastes wrote about the various things in life where timing was of the essence, and we must know that the time for us to honor Him with our lives is now. No man knows the day nor the hour when Jesus will return, but we know that His return is soon. Let us be sure to spread this Good News to everyone we see as well as teach young people that when they honor God with their lives, His blessings for them are timed perfectly. Something to ponder….