TODAY’S BIBLE READING CHALLENGE:
Ecclesiastes 10:1-12:14
2 Corinthians 8:1-15
Psalm 49:1-20
Proverbs 22:20-21
Ecclesiastes 10:1 — If you read about marketing, you’ll read about “brand consistency.” The thing that has always amazed me about “business books” is that most of the time they espouse principles that are based in Solomon’s words with illustrations from the author’s life.
Ecclesiastes 10:16-17 — In other words, elections matter!
Ecclesiastes 10:20 — Ever wonder where the expression “A little bird told me” came from?
Ecclesiastes 11:5 — Just within the last few decades we’ve been able to map the progress of the growth of the bones in the womb, but we’re still amazed by how God has it all coded in DNA. The 3.1 billion base pairs that make up the human chromosomes is truly amazing.
Ecclesiastes 11:9 — Solomon keeps bringing the point back to this – yes, you can enjoy life, but remember God will bring you into judgment! So, remember your Creator (Ecclesiastes 12:1)!
Ecclesiastes 12:6 — StackExchange.com seems to like Adam Clarke’s analysis:
The context is aging, approaching death, and the call to remember the creator acknowledged in your youth. Verses 3 – 6 compare the aging body to a house where the keepers are the hands that become paralytic and shaky; the strong men are legs that begin to bow and no longer hold up the body; the grinders are teeth that have decayed with age, and can no longer chew strong meat; the windows are the eyes that dim and can no longer see well; the doors being shut in the streets are the lips and mouth which can no longer swallow; and the sound of grinding low is the lost teeth, and inability to chew properly; rising up at the sound of a bird is the inability to sleep soundly being disturbed at the least sound; the daughters of music being brought low is the weak and feeble voice of old age.
The silver cord is the nervous system breaking; the golden bowl breaking representing the brain and loss of memory; the pitcher broken at the fountain and the wheel broken at the cistern is the heart slowing and failing to pump; which then results in the death of the body.
Ecclesiastes 12:12 — There are approximately 130 million books in the world as of 2010, and over 2 million new titles every year are published. Solomon was right! And much studying can be fatal. While I was in law school, this news clipping from the New York Times was passed around:
Ecclesiastes 12:13 — Yes, what is the conclusion of the matter? Fear God, and obey Him!
Ecclesiastes 12:14 — Because one day God will bring every secret thing into the open!
2 Corinthians 8:5 — Vic Eliason shared with me a story that a pastor told him. Elvis Presley was religious according to his pastor – Elvis recorded religious songs, attended church, and even gave generously into the offering. But while Presley gave of his money, he didn’t give his heart. His pastor told him, “Elvis, God doesn’t want your money – He wants your heart!” Yes, it is good to give, but unless you have given your heart to the LORD, giving all of your goods profits nothing (1 Corinthians 13:3).
2 Corinthians 8:14 — God did not give you an abundance to be hoarded, but so you could give to help others!
Psalm 49:6 — Speaking of money … you can’t buy salvation with it (Psalm 49:7). Souls are precious (Psalm 49:8). Use your earthly resources to lay up treasure in heaven (Matthew 6:19-21)!
Psalm 49:16-17 — You can’t take it with you (1 Timothy 6:7). This may be the only picture ever taken of a hearse with a U-Haul behind it:
Proverbs 22:21 — How can you know the truth? Read God’s Word!
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