Tues.’s Devo - Life is Good!

Read: Ecclesiastes 4:1-6:12; 2 Corinthians 6:14:7:7; Psalm 47:1-9; Proverbs 22:16
Today, Solomon sees all the wrong of the world and concludes that we will be happier dead than alive and it would be even better if we had not been born. (He sounds like he has been reading Job!) This is a stark contrast to his words earlier in his life that say, “Joyful is the person who finds wisdom, and one who gains understanding…she will guide you down delightful paths; all her ways are satisfying.” (Proverbs 3:13,17)
Solomon’s next great discovery was that man’s efforts and achievements stemmed from his envy of others. So, work is pointless. In Proverbs, Solomon said that “Evil people get rich for the moment, but the reward of the godly will last.” (Proverbs 11:18.) In Ecclesiastes, Solomon has become very cynical and lost his way. He doesn’t distinguish between the righteous and the wicked like he does in Proverbs but throws everyone into the same lot. He has lost his hope.
He does make some wise conclusions that it is not good to walk alone but to have a friend and a three-strand cord is better than one. We use this concept in our government today and have three branches of government.
He has learned the importance of the words we speak and the vows we make and warns us not to make them with out considering the weight of their consequences. He has also found that the country is blessed when the king makes himself a servant to the land. Amen!
Solomon warns against making our whole life about money because if we lose it, then what is the point of our life?
Paul makes a great distinction between the righteous in Christ and the ones of the world. He tells the Church not to yoke themselves in a team with unbelievers. In our world that would be to say that we should not enter into a contract with an unbeliever like a business venture, or a marriage. If we find ourselves in that situation, we need to ask God what to do because God’s ways and timing are not ours and his purposes go beyond our comprehension. But, we are citizens of another world and our government is from God which looks opposite to the world’s. There is no fellowship with darkness and light. Paul was strengthened knowing that the believers loved him; he got none of that from the world who harassed him at every turn.
Lord, thank you for the Body of Christ that loves us and surrounds us with strength and comfort. Thank you for giving us our life on this earth. May we make a difference in someones’ life today.