Enjoying Yourself?

Ecclesiastes 2:24-25  ”A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, ²⁵ for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment?”

Tonight I read Ecclesiastes 1 and 2, it’s interesting to say the least. In chapter 1 the author talks about how meaningless wisdom is, that there is nothing new under the sun, verse 18 says “the more knowledge, the more grief.” Chapter 2 he begins by talking about the great wealth he has built up in property and posessions, also livestock and slaves. He says that he denied himself nothing. Towards the end he gets kind of bitter, but then he tells of the important thing. Verses 24-25. The cool thing that I saw in this is that  it doesn’t matter what I do, for work or pleasure unless I am keeping God forefront in my life. “Without him, who can eat or find enjoyment?” Papa is the only one who gives me enjoyment, whether I’m a janitor or a CEO, Papa is the one who gives me enjoyment.

I’m King of the Fools

Proverbs 19:11 “A man’s wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense.”

 

Ok guys, this blog is more of a confession. I really struggled with patience tonight, and by struggled I mean I had almost no patience. I was just easily frustrated as it got later in the night. I wish I could blow it off and say I was just tired, but I wont let satan deceive me in that way. Father took me to this verse. I acted a fool tonight. This morning at about 4:00 am Father woke me up and told me I needed to be a better example at work. I didn’t take long to fail that test.

 

Papa, forgive me for my pride and arrogance. Forgive me for not pouring patience back at as You have poured into me. I have been shown so much patience and mercy and I held on to it with a tight fist. Forgive me. I need You to do it for me. Forgive me for thinking I could get through the night on my own strength and understanding. Please come and cleanse and refresh me. Please continue to test me to develop maturity and wisdom.

Pure Wisdom

James 3:13-18 (NLT)
13 If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying. 15 For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. 16 For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind. 17 But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. 18 And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness.

“If you are wise…” James begins, and then he throws it down with “prove it!” Prov 9:10 says “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy one is understanding.” A simple substitution of wisdom with “Fear the Lord” would change the context of this passage.

If you fear the Lord… prove it by living a life based in humility. Obviously paraphrased, but kind of a a “duh” moment for me this morning. Who am I compared to the Lord? Of course I fear and revere Him, so why should I do anything outside of an attitude of humility? Just because of who He is, should be enough to keep me on my face. But often time it isn’t.

Here’s where Papa took me with this…. v14 talks about “… selfish ambition…” and not to cover it up, but for me, to search deep in my heart to see if it’s lurking because selfish ambition and jealously open the door for the enemy to come in like a flood (v15). The ESV says that it is “… earthly, unspiritual, and demonic.” That scared me, because jealousy and selfish ambition are a couple of things I tend to (and I imagine many do) struggle with and I do not want to open any doors to the enemy. Verse 16 goes on to say that every “... vile practice (ESV)” comes along with jealousy and selfishness. Yikes!

So how do I gauge my wisdom? How do I gauge how much I fear the Lord? v17 explains… First off it is pure (which means reverent or sacred). James goes on to list a “checklist” of how I am to live. Man I hate checklists. I always so far short. Anyway, here it comes.

• Pure – Am I reverent to and regarding the Lord?
• Peace Loving – do I bring peace to the situations I am in?
• Gentile at ALL times – ALL times?
• Willing to Yield to others – Do I always want my own way?
• FULL of Mercy – not just occasional mercy…
• FULL of Good Deeds
• Shows no Favoritism – see yesterday’s post on James 2 (Through His Eyes)
  
• Always Sincere – Always? Yikes!

Thank you Lord for your mercy where I fall short. If I continue to live in my own strength, I will never check off this list. If I choose to die to myself (Gal 2:20), then and only then is this kind of life possible. With this kind of life is promised a harvest of what we sow. Sow peace. Sow peace.

What harvest do I want?  What seeds am I sowing

Chase after Her

Proverbs 4 the message version is incredible. I mean I am sure all the versions are but out of all the ones I have read this one is my favorite.  It really depicts wisdom as a gorgeous woman that will save my life.  I need to chase after that.  The heading of the first 19 verses is “Your Life is at Stake.”  Then it goes on to tell me about wisdom.  Sell everything and buy Wisdom! Forage for Understanding!  Don’t forget one word! Don’t deviate an inch! Never walk away from Wisdom—she guards your life; love her—she keeps her eye on you. Above all and before all, do this: Get Wisdom! Write this at the top of your list: Get Understanding! Throw your arms around her—believe me, you won’t regret it; never let her go—she’ll make your life glorious. She’ll garland your life with grace,  she’ll festoon your days with beauty.”  Hold tight to good advice; don’t relax your grip. Guard it well—your life is at stake!  Those who discover these words live, really live;  body and soul, they’re bursting with health.

I’m not sure I could say something better or different.  Wisdom is an incredible thing.  Now I need to learn how to chase after it.  Does that mean reading more?  Trying to get in touch with people or listening to ones that are more knowledgeable in those things?  What is the difference between wisdom and knowledge?  Sounds like what a wife is supposed to do for you……I wonder if there is any correlation with that?

Dad let me chase your wisdom today.  Let me hold tightly to her, that she may guard my life and fill my days with grace and beauty. 

Not my wisdom

Last night I was given several words from men who I respect and trust.  They told me that next year I will begin to walk into more ministry and to not let my age hold me back.  One of the men said that I was the “Cushite” (2 sam. 18) and that I was the one who had the news to deliver.  Pappa I thank YOU for having those men speak into and over me like that.  But this morning I read today’s devo and it was as if Daddy was saying “I meant everything they said”.   In 1 Cor. 2:4 It says, “My speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power..”
It not about me….It’s not about me knowing everything and trying to minister out of my knowledge, but me knowing HIM and allowing HIM to speak through me.  As long as I say what HE wants me to say it will be effective.  It doesn’t matter how old I am.

Father thank YOU for that word.  I will go and do all that YOU have for me to do, for YOUR Glory.