The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, and majestic in his radiant splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Ecclesiastes 6:1-2,
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
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"I have seen another evil under the sun, and it weighs heavily on mankind: God gives some people wealth, possessions and honor, so that they lack nothing their hearts desire, but God does not grant them the ability to enjoy them, and strangers enjoy them instead. This is meaningless, a grievous evil."
The person depicted in these verses has a different life experience than one in the previous chapter, "Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept their lot and be happy in their toil—this is a gift of God." Ecclesiastes 5:19. The one is blessed with wealth and possessions and enjoys them. The other is blessed with the same but then is prevented from enjoying them. Who knows what their lot in life will be from God?
I am reminded of Luke 12:16-20. It is a parable Jesus told of a rich man who had a bumper crop. He told himself, "You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry." However, God interrupted his plans, calling him a fool, saying, "You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?"
The pursuit of wealth in this life is tenuous at best. However, the pursuit of wealth in the next life is not. It brings a certain and guaranteed reward. Again, I am reminded of Jesus' words, "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matthew 6:19-21.
Where is my heart today?
The person depicted in these verses has a different life experience than one in the previous chapter, "Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept their lot and be happy in their toil—this is a gift of God." Ecclesiastes 5:19. The one is blessed with wealth and possessions and enjoys them. The other is blessed with the same but then is prevented from enjoying them. Who knows what their lot in life will be from God?
I am reminded of Luke 12:16-20. It is a parable Jesus told of a rich man who had a bumper crop. He told himself, "You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry." However, God interrupted his plans, calling him a fool, saying, "You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?"
The pursuit of wealth in this life is tenuous at best. However, the pursuit of wealth in the next life is not. It brings a certain and guaranteed reward. Again, I am reminded of Jesus' words, "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matthew 6:19-21.
Where is my heart today?
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
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