July 13, 2011
I can't believe Proverbs is over. I expected it to take me much longer but this last week I ended up writing more than usual. Proverbs clearly lays out there are two ways to live and it is our choice. But along with our choices comes consequences. Those choices → consequences, not only affect us, they impact generations. Even Solomon, who had great wisdom, got off track. Ecclesiastes show the delusion and despair that comes when we take our eyes off of God and look only to ourselves.
"Useless. Useless! Everything is useless." Now that is despair. People live—people die. The sun rises—the sun sets. Reminds me of the song if that's all there is, then let's keep dancing. God created us for His purposes. If we only try to fulfill our own purposes life will be exhausting, discouraging, and useless. All of our work, pleasure, and ideas mean nothing if we are not fulfilling why we were created: to bring Honor and Glory to our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ.
Solomon, in all his wisdom, got off track. He was looking to himself, his wisdom, his knowledge, his wealth, and his desires. It was all about I, I, I, me, me, me. In my Bible I have circled twenty-eight "I's" in just the first eleven verses of Chapter 2. I this...I that—the problem of "I." There will be dissatisfaction with life IF we are not living our lives the way God created us to be. Nothing will satisfy. Not wealth, not family, not education, not accomplishments, nothing will fill the God-given void we were created with. Solomon, in Ecclesiastes 2:24-26 finally saw this. "No one can eat or enjoy life without him. If people please God, God will give them wisdom, knowledge, and joy." Sinners will only get the work and wealth of the moment. It won't truly be theirs. "All their work is useless, like chasing the wind."
Roger Palms, in Enjoying the Closeness of God describes it this way. Our life on earth is like a beach. We are frantically building our castles always fearful about the wave that is coming. We can't enjoy what we have because the wave is coming! That's because we are trying to be in control. We have made Jesus into "our" Jesus, someone we have accepted, a feel-good Jesus who just wants us to be happy instead of THE Son of the Living God who we should be surrendering to. "To reject God out of hand is one thing, but to acknowledge Him and then live as if He is neither LORD or God is a horrible existence. Then all we have left is sand." Sinking sand. Frantic. Trying to shore up the sides of our castle. Fear. Panic. Strategizing. Schemes. Dread. HURRY!! The waves are coming!!
God did not design us that way. God gave us a void in our lives that can only be filled by Him when we surrender our ALL! Then, and only then, when the storms come and the waves are crashing on shore, can we have total peace and joy because we are resting in the strong powerful arms of God.
Addendum: 4/23/15 ~ I can't believe I'm done with Proverbs this time either. Because I am recovering from surgery I had extra time this last week to record more of my entries.
Next Entry: Ecclesiastes 3:1 – 5:17
I can't believe Proverbs is over. I expected it to take me much longer but this last week I ended up writing more than usual. Proverbs clearly lays out there are two ways to live and it is our choice. But along with our choices comes consequences. Those choices → consequences, not only affect us, they impact generations. Even Solomon, who had great wisdom, got off track. Ecclesiastes show the delusion and despair that comes when we take our eyes off of God and look only to ourselves.
"Useless. Useless! Everything is useless." Now that is despair. People live—people die. The sun rises—the sun sets. Reminds me of the song if that's all there is, then let's keep dancing. God created us for His purposes. If we only try to fulfill our own purposes life will be exhausting, discouraging, and useless. All of our work, pleasure, and ideas mean nothing if we are not fulfilling why we were created: to bring Honor and Glory to our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ.
Solomon, in all his wisdom, got off track. He was looking to himself, his wisdom, his knowledge, his wealth, and his desires. It was all about I, I, I, me, me, me. In my Bible I have circled twenty-eight "I's" in just the first eleven verses of Chapter 2. I this...I that—the problem of "I." There will be dissatisfaction with life IF we are not living our lives the way God created us to be. Nothing will satisfy. Not wealth, not family, not education, not accomplishments, nothing will fill the God-given void we were created with. Solomon, in Ecclesiastes 2:24-26 finally saw this. "No one can eat or enjoy life without him. If people please God, God will give them wisdom, knowledge, and joy." Sinners will only get the work and wealth of the moment. It won't truly be theirs. "All their work is useless, like chasing the wind."
Roger Palms, in Enjoying the Closeness of God describes it this way. Our life on earth is like a beach. We are frantically building our castles always fearful about the wave that is coming. We can't enjoy what we have because the wave is coming! That's because we are trying to be in control. We have made Jesus into "our" Jesus, someone we have accepted, a feel-good Jesus who just wants us to be happy instead of THE Son of the Living God who we should be surrendering to. "To reject God out of hand is one thing, but to acknowledge Him and then live as if He is neither LORD or God is a horrible existence. Then all we have left is sand." Sinking sand. Frantic. Trying to shore up the sides of our castle. Fear. Panic. Strategizing. Schemes. Dread. HURRY!! The waves are coming!!
God did not design us that way. God gave us a void in our lives that can only be filled by Him when we surrender our ALL! Then, and only then, when the storms come and the waves are crashing on shore, can we have total peace and joy because we are resting in the strong powerful arms of God.
Addendum: 4/23/15 ~ I can't believe I'm done with Proverbs this time either. Because I am recovering from surgery I had extra time this last week to record more of my entries.
Next Entry: Ecclesiastes 3:1 – 5:17
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