Day 246

Ecclesiastes 4:1–6:12; 2 Corinthians 6:14–7:7; Psalm 47:1-9; Proverbs 22:16

IN OUR READING from Ecclesiastes today, we continued to experience Solomon’s observations on the futile experiences of life on earth. He seems willing to speak the things we certainly feel at times but would never say because they feel incongruent with our favorite verses of victory and prosperity. When we understand that these words are coming from the pen of a person who had achieved success, pleasure, and power beyond our wildest dreams, we begin to understand that we’re being given cautionary wisdom.

Solomon makes many observations throughout Ecclesiastes, but he also states his conclusions. Ponder carefully some of the conclusions that we encountered just today:

• “I observed that most people are motivated to success because they envy their neighbors. But this, too, is meaningless —like chasing the wind.” (Ecclesiastes 4:4)
• “Too much activity gives you restless dreams; too many words make you a fool.” (Ecclesiastes 5:3)
• “Talk is cheap, like daydreams and other useless activities. Fear God instead.” (Ecclesiastes 5:7)
• “Those who love money will never have enough. How meaningless to think that wealth brings true happiness!” (Ecclesiastes 5:10)
• “To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life —this is indeed a gift from God. God keeps such people so busy enjoying life that they take no time to brood over the past.” (Ecclesiastes 5:19-20)
• “Enjoy what you have rather than desiring what you don’t have. Just dreaming about nice things is meaningless —like chasing the wind.” (Ecclesiastes 6:9)

In our reading from 2 Corinthians, Paul encouraged us to consider how we are attempting to blend what can never be in harmony:

How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness? What harmony can there be between Christ and the devil? How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever? And what union can there be between God’s temple and idols? For we are the temple of the living God.

For Paul, this was a massive issue. Attempting to have one foot in darkness and the other in the light was nothing more than unhealthy contamination. As sons and daughters of the Most High, why would we do that? Why do we? To put it in the vernacular of Ecclesiastes, this is nothing more than chasing the wind —it’s meaningless.

Paul encouraged us to “cleanse ourselves from everything that can defile our body or spirit.” And, in doing so, to “work toward complete holiness because we fear God” (2 Corinthians 7:1).

Let’s think about that. What are we giving our hearts to that defile us spiritually? What are we allowing to speak into our identity that offers anything less than union with God? These things are a waste of precious life. Allow the Holy Spirit to reveal the ways you are trying to create harmony and health by blending things that can only make you unhealthy in body and spirit.

WORSHIP:

Come, everyone! Clap your hands! Shout to God with joyful praise! For the LORD Most High is awesome. He is the great King of all the earth.