365 Reflections

What Solomon teaches in Ecclesiastes is one of the hardest lessons to learn. That pleasure and pursuits of this life cannot fulfill our lives. Why is this hard? Because every stage of life offers us another set of diverse pleasures and pursuits to chase. When we are young it's just fun with friends, then in our teen years, it's romance or partying. Then when we get older it's either harder partying, more serious romance, or professional accomplishment. We settle into marriage and it becomes weekend getaways and raising great kids. We get established in our work and it's a boat, a golf membership, something else we think will surely fill us up.  Solomon had every opportunity to chase every offering at every stage. Born to the already rich King David, Solomon inherited and increased his father's fortune exponentially.  Ecclesiastes 2:1–3 (ESV) I said in my heart, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy yourself.” But behold, this also was vanity. 2 I said of l...

When you go through a book of the Bible it's always interesting to find passages that are often lifted from that book for a single sermon or perhaps article and then realize how strange that passage is in relation to the rest of the book.  Proverbs 31 is one such passage. The passage on the excellent wife gets a lot of play perhaps on Christian teaching and books but it comes at the end of a book devoted to teaching young people wisdom from their elders.  Moreover, it focuses on what seems to be an impossible quest - to find a woman like this. Proverbs 31:10–11 (ESV) An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. 11 The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. Some commentators relate this woman to Ruth from the time of the Judges. Ruth worked hard, she was trustworthy and loyal. She impressed all who knew her as she left her home and people to align with Israel for the sake of her mother-in-law to whom she had no legal bind...

The secrets to a successful life are pretty simple - do the opposite of whatever comes naturally. Proverbs 13 introduces us to some of those very things.  First, learn to stop sharing every opinion and thought and rather seek to learn and be taught. Proverbs 13:1 (ESV) A wise son hears his father’s instruction, but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke. Proverbs 13:3 (ESV) Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin. The old saying is true, "God gave you two ears and ONE mouth for a reason." Therefore listen at least twice as much as you speak. Plus, the truth of all of us is there's a lot of nonsense in us that comes naturally from that sin nature. But if we listened more and spoke less we'd learn and grow wise.  Second, keep your head down and focus on your work. Stop looking to get rich quick.  Proverbs 13:4 (ESV) The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied. Proverbs ...

It's amazing how much the Scriptures speak of rest . It is in the Garden of Eden, it's the goal of the deliverance of Israel and establishment in the Promised Land (see Joshua 14:15). It is there after Othniel's judgeship over Israel (Judges 3:11). It is also now here in 1 Kings 8 (the longest chapter in the book) after  Solomon's dedication prayer. 1 Kings 8:54–57 (ESV) Now as Solomon finished offering all this prayer and plea to the Lord , he arose from before the altar of the Lord , where he had knelt with hands outstretched toward heaven. 55 And he stood and blessed all the assembly of Israel with a loud voice, saying, 56 “Blessed be the Lord who has given rest to his people Israel, according to all that he promised. Not one word has failed of all his good promise, which he spoke by Moses his servant. 57 The Lord our God be with us, as he was with our fathers. May he not leave us or forsake us, This is the desire of God: rest for you with Him. I...

For what purpose is the gift of teaching? Exodus 35:30–35 (ESV)   Then Moses said to the people of Israel, “See, the Lord has called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah; 31 and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, with intelligence, with knowledge, and with all craftsmanship, 32 to devise artistic designs, to work in gold and silver and bronze, 33 in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, for work in every skilled craft. 34 And he has inspired him to teach, both him and Oholiab the son of Ahisamach of the tribe of Dan. 35 He has filled them with skill to do every sort of work done by an engraver or by a designer or by an embroiderer in blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen, or by a weaver—by any sort of workman or skilled designer. I love what this passage illustrates for us. Bezalel, first mentioned in Exodus 31 is now brought up again with the materials gathered for construction of the Tabernac...

Exodus 7 is a bit of a turning point in the story. It moves from the story of the man God would use to the story of redemption God will perform. Here's God's commission to Moses and Aaron: Exodus 7:2–4 (ESV)   You shall speak all that I command you, and your brother Aaron shall tell Pharaoh to let the people of Israel go out of his land. 3 But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and though I multiply my signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, 4 Pharaoh will not listen to you. Then I will lay my hand on Egypt and bring my hosts, my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great acts of judgment. What a job. God first says, "Say all I command to Pharaoh." Then God says, "And I want you to know he will not listen to you." If that were my assignment I'd wonder what was the point! But herein lies the secret to works for God for those He has called. You are not in charge of results, you are simply assigned the task to speak. No one can m...

Psalm 127:1–5 (ESV)   Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. 2 It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep.           3 Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord , the fruit of the womb a reward. 4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth. 5 Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate. When I first read this Psalm I thought it was two different Psalms that have been forced into one. The first part is about building something - industry, work, labor. The second about family, children and rest (which often don't go together). But I was wrong. I learned that Jewish people see this Psalm as a unit because in their mind all areas of life flow togethe...

I read something powerful from Warren Weirsbe about the Sabbath being changed from Saturday to Sunday for those who follow Christ. The Sabbath referred to the work of God being completed in Creation.  God worked to create and rested AFTER the work was done.  The Jews were taught to obey the Sabbath as a testimony to their special covenant relationship with God.  It was Holy.  That means it was "separate."  Their 7th day to rest in a largely agricultural society was a sign that separated them from every other nation that served the "gods" of fertility and prosperity. Today in Christ, we celebrate the "Sabbath" on the first day of the week.  That is, we celebrate it BEFORE any work gets done for that week.  Why?  Because the WORK of our salvation has already been done!  It was accomplished on the cross and completed in the resurrection - which appropriately happened on the first day of the week!  You see, in the NEW CREATION of our hea...

So many times we want to widdle our walk with the Lord to read your Bible and pray.  Read and pray will do it all.  Reading and praying is what Christians are called to do.  But that's not all. Don't get me wrong... We should read our Bible. We should pray. But there comes a time when we have to do more than just read and pray. 2 Timothy 2:4–6 (ESV) No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. 5 An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. 6 It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. Paul relates our faith to being soldiers ... Soldiers submit their will to the will of the commander.  You are not called to fulfill your dreams, you are called to fulfill God's dream for the Earth.  You may not be in the station or place you desired, but you've been stationed by the Commander in Chief.  Do what He tells you. Paul says it's like b...

Matthew 25:18  But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money. Hiding someone else's money seems ridiculous.  I can understand hiding your own money.  You are afraid of losing it.  But someone else's money just seems silly. There's a subtle lesson to learn here: This servant acted like the money was his. We forget, our money is actually God's money.  What we do with it can look foolish when we start to act like it's ours. When we spend it on what does not last. When we hoard it for our children to be far too well off. When we hide it. Money is not made to be hidden.  Money is made to be used, a tool given by God, entrusted to us until He returns.  There will be an accounting. The ones who lived like the money was their masters doubled up, they succeeded wildly!  That's the lesson of this scripture more than anything.  You can't lose when you go to work with God's resources REMEMBE...