Words of Wisdom

I say this often, but the Lord’s ways never cease to amaze me. A few weeks ago, I noticed something strange happening when I would text: my auto-spell kept changing “and” to “abd.” (Be watchful for unusual things that happen; there is often more to it than what meets the eye.) So I did what most people would do – I googled “abd.” The result led me to scripture in Ecclesiastes, “That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past.” Not going to lie, I was slightly confused by the scripture and really didn’t understand why the Lord led me to it. So I did what most people would do – I started at the beginning of the book and read through until the end. (Ecclesiastes is relatively short, plus I was on vacation!)

The first thing I sensed was a somewhat jaded undertone, especially when you read it in other translations. King Solomon, the writer and wisest man of his time, appears to be in a place of unsettled thoughts, beginning the book with words about the vanities and futility of life. But, as I read on, it became clear to me that he was actually in a moment of clarity and admission. Solomon was reflecting on his life and sharing wisdom – gathered from his foolishness – with the reader. Our achievements, our desires, our concerns, and dare I say it, our lives… they are meaningless without Jesus. The Lord brought confirmation of that when Pastor whispered the same message during his sermon a few Sundays ago.

It is not difficult to get bound up by nonsense and matters that distract us from our true purpose. Yes, we should enjoy the gifts we are given; we should “eat and be merry”, but we can’t get so involved in the pleasures that we become reckless in our walk with God. The same holds true on the other end of the spectrum; we can’t become so overwhelmed by our tribulations that we step out of the will of God – we are workers of inequity if we do so. Our circumstances cannot dictate our actions; we are not justified if we react out of anything other than love, whether it be towards a stranger, our family or our brothers and sisters in Christ. “For God will bring every act to judgement, every hidden and secret thing, whether it is good or evil.” Don’t be on the wrong side of judgement.

While we know the concept Solomon is teaching, it can be difficult at times to look past the circumstance. We get lost in it and think the end of the world is at play. It’s really not. Jesus has us covered, even when it feels like your world is crashing down; and, even if your world does crumble, His promise of peace still stands. Isaiah 41:10, “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” We have to believe this with every ounce of our being and apply it if we want to move forward in God’s will for our lives.

Ecclesiastes ends with these simple, yet profound words: “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.” That is it, humble (or get over) yourself and do what God tells you to do. Nothing more, nothing less. Jesus has set the standard and is calling His people to the benchmark. Now is not the time to waver. Be resolute and consistent in your daily walk, regardless of a circumstance or those offended around you. Overcome through Jesus, through His Word and through communion with Him. He is the answer to every care in our lives.

Lord, I thank you for loving me and keeping me in times of trouble. Your Word feeds my soul and brings peace to my life. Help me to dig into your Truth; help me to shine brighter than I ever have for your glory and your purpose. In the mighty name of Jesus, I pray.