Introduction Introduction Introduction Introduction Jeremy M. Gwaltney Jeremy M. Gwaltney Jeremy M. Gwaltney Jeremy M.

Gwaltney

I can remember reading through the book of Ecclesiastes as a teenager. I was in a Bible study
led by Jerry Daley, the founding pastor of Grace Church, and when I told him I was reading
the book, he smiled and in his own somber way, joked, Thatll cheer you up!

It is true that Ecclesiastes is not the book that our positive and encouraging Christianity
often enjoys. But since that study in my teen years I have returned to it to glean wisdom
from its words. Its cynicism creates a mystery that invites you to dig beneath the surface, and
when that wisdom is discovered and understood, it has a powerful impact on the way we
view our existence.

In a time when bad news is raging on every broadcast, when experts are certain we are
struggling like never before, and when Americans are fickle because prosperity is being
redefined, Ecclesiastes can serve to both remind us not to take things too seriously, and warn
us against wasting our lives on the temporal things. Its final verses stand as the key to the
whole book: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For
God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing whether good or evil.
(Eccl. 12:13-14)

The following is a simple introduction to a complex book. I hope you find it and the
devotional enjoyable, but most of all may it encourage us to think with Godly wisdom on
how we are not to waste our lives!


Title, Author and Date

Title: So what on earth does Ecclesiastes mean? Well, we actually get the word from an
English transliteration of a Greek transliteration of the original Hebrew title. As most of you
know, the New Testament was originally written in Greek and the Old Testament was
originally written in Hebrew. The Hebrew title for the book is Qohelet which is commonly
translated in English as the teacher or the preacher. Qohelet comes from the Hebrew
root for Qohal which means assembly or gathering. Qohal is almost exclusively used
in the Old Testament as a gathering of the people of God.

The thinking is that the preacher of Ecclesiastes is a title taken by the author as a symbolic
gesture someone who is passing on wisdom and observations about life to the people of
God. It is not an official office or position as we might think of a preacher in todays church
context.

So how did we get from Qohelet to Ecclesiastes? When the Greek version of the Old
Testament was translated from the Hebrew, they translated Qohelet using the Greek root
Ekklasia (which is the Greek word for community or church). Because the early church read
the Greek version of the Old Testament more than the Hebrew version, the title eventually
became popular in the Greek and Roman churches of the Middle Ages and stuck as
Ecclesiastes in our English translations.

Author and Date: The date depends on the author and vice versa, so well look at these two
together. Traditionally, the author of Ecclesiastes has been believed to be Solomon. He was,
after all, the son of David, king in Jerusalem and many of the circumstances described in

Ecclesiastes fit the reign and wisdom of Solomon. If this is true, then the book would have
been written in the tenth century B.C.

However, over the last few hundred years, there have been doubts raised by conservative and
liberal Bible scholars alike that Solomon could not have written the book. The arguments are
complicated and varied, but generally fall on three primary points. First, Solomon would
have written the book using primitive Hebrew (12
th
-8
th
century), yet Ecclesiastes as we have
it has a lot of Aramaic influence (7
th
-1
st
century), which is a sign of later Hebrew. Second, the
literary style seems to be influenced by other literary forms not found in Hebrew literature,
but from literature of a later period. Third, some of the things said in Ecclesiastes are not
fitting for Solomon. For example in 1:16 he says he was wiser than all who ruled Jerusalem
before him; yet, prior to Solomon, only David ruled Jerusalem. Later in Ecclesiastes the
author talks of the misrule of kings over their subjects, yet, say scholars, why did Solomon
speak poorly of his rulership, or why did he not change his oppression of his subjects?

The brilliant scholar and apologist, Gleason Archer, is unconvinced by these claims. He
rightly points out several explanations to each objection. First in regards to Aramaic in the
book, the results are inconclusive. Aramaic and Hebrew are close linguistic cousins so one
scholar may find 100 Aramaic terms, another only 7. Besides, Aramaic was the business
language of much of the Middle East for a long time so it is conceivable that Solomon was
familiar with it. As for the unique literary genre, it simply proves nothing. Solomon, and
indeed any author, has the liberty to be creative in his writing. Besides, the reverse is true,
there are no literary pieces from other eras and cultures that are exactly like Ecclesiastes.

Finally, there are also explanations for the non-Solomonic statements in the book. First,
David took over Jerusalem from the Jebusites who had ruled there for hundreds of years, so
there were many rulers to oversee Jerusalem prior to David and Solomon. Secondly, it is
always possible for a person to make observations about wisdom and not heed his own
advice. Benjamin Franklin coined the term, early to bed and early to rise makes a man
healthy, wealthy, and wise, yet he was known to keep long hours and sleep in. Solomon
could have seen the evil results of his reign, noted it, but still done nothing about it.

Finally, Archer makes one observation that seems to be the kingpin for dating the book. [It]
is noteworthy [that the language of Ecclesiastes is similar to Song of Solomon] a fact that
furnishes greatest embarrassment to those who place [Song of Solomon] back in the tenth
century and Ecclesiastes in the fifth century. If in this stylistic peculiarity there is such a close
resemblance between the two, it is only reasonable to attribute them to the same period, if
not indeed the same author. Hence, if the Song of Solomon is tenth century and composed
by Solomon, it is hard to resist the conclusion that Ecclesiastes is of the same period and
origin.

So both the evidence and tradition supports the notion that Solomon, probably near the end
of his reign, wrote Ecclesiastes sometime in the tenth century B.C.


Literary Style

Ecclesiastes is one of four or five books of the Bible along with Psalms, Proverbs, Job, and
maybe Lamentations that are known as wisdom literature. This literary style is based
more on the content of their message than the style of their message. For example, Psalm,
Proverbs and Job are all mostly poetry. Yet Ecclesiastes, and parts of Job, are mostly

narratives. However, they all have in common a wisdom that is based in the fear of the
Lord.

When it comes to interpreting wisdom literature, especially Proverbs and Ecclesiastes, it is
important to realize that the authors are talking in large generalities and principles. They are
not talking in commands and promises.

For example, Ecclesiastes can make a statement like, there is no remembrance of the former
things (1:11) and it seems odd to us. After all, we all know who Columbus is, we all know
about George Washington, we can recall the horrors of Pearl Harbor and the glories of D-
Day even though most of us werent alive for those people and events. Ecclesiastes is not
saying that everything is forgotten, but rather that most things are not remembered. So the
lesson to learn is that the vast majority of things we think are important, or change the
worlds destiny, in reality wont last past our lifetime. While the statement is not true in
every case, the principle does hold true.


The Tone of Ecclesiastes

The tone of Ecclesiastes can be said to be cynical or skeptical, but it would probably be a
mistake to label it as purely pessimistic. Solomon, after all, does discuss the joys and rewards
of life; he talks about the good, he talks about justice. He is very much in tune with the
different seasons of life.

However, he is skeptical and cynical precisely because he understands that all that is joyful,
rewarding, good and just in this life is ultimately not where meaning is found. Why? Because
this life is passing, brief, fleeting; it is grasping at the wind. In Solomons mind, for a thing
to have genuine value it has to have an element of permanence. Therefore, the book is
cynical toward taking things to mean more than they should, or as more joyous than they
are, or more meaningful than they will be. The book is skeptical that things are as evil as we
say, as hard as is declared or as difficult as we imagine. The book can actually shock us into
a state of reality where we can step back, look at life and realize there has got to be more
than this alone.

So the skepticism and cynicism are not there to discourage us. Rather, they are there to
inspire us to see life in the eyes of eternity, and evaluate ourselves in the presence of the fear
of God. After all, it is eternity and our life in (or out of) the presence of God that is
permanent.


Key Words and Phrases

No two languages are exactly alike, even when they have similar words. This sometimes
means that a translated language has difficulty catching the exact nuance for the original
language. This is even true as a language develops. For example, did you every wonder how
we got the phrase the patience of Job? After all, while Job did endure, patience isnt the
first word we think about when we come to that story. Well, three or four hundred years
ago, patience in English meant suffering. But over time, it has developed to mean
something more akin to waiting than suffering. This is how language can develop even
when it isnt being translated.


The vast majority of the time these types of issues do not come into play when you are
reading an English Bible. Sure, it has been translated from another language, but there have
been more than four centuries worth of work, hundreds of translations, done by many
competent scholars. So our Bible is reliable, authoritative, and, quite frankly, enjoyable to
read. But occasionally there are a few phrases where the English misses the nuance and the
book of Ecclesiastes has one or two of these phrases. Below are just a couple of brief
explanations of these phrases that you will read in the coming weeks.

Vanity: (Hevel in Hebrew): If you were to look up vain in a dictionary you would likely
get one of the following definitions: not yielding the desired outcomelacking
worthexcessively proud or conceited. In our culture, the latter two definitions are
probably the most popular. Unfortunately, the first definition is closest to the Hebrew idea in
Ecclesiastes, and even it is a bit lacking.

The Hebrew word for vanity is Hevel and it is used more in Ecclesiastes than in the rest
of the Old Testament combined. It comes from a root word that means breath or vapor.
Obviously, neither breath nor vapor is proud, nor does it lack meaning (after all, we get life
from breath). But what is common among vapor, breath and vanity is that they all lack
permanence. For example, Proverbs 31:30 calls beauty vain, but in the context it is saying
that beauty passes with age, not that beauty is without meaning.

This is the idea of vanity in Ecclesiastes. It means that life is transient, passing, temporal
and not permanent. Therefore, meaning cant last because life itself does not last. Therefore,
what is meaningful must be found in what is permanent, and the only permanent thing is
God Himself. Ultimately for Solomon, life can have meaning, but not without a connection
to the Eternal.

Good and Evil: It might not be an overstatement to say that the most important passage for
Ecclesiastes (outside the book itself) is Genesis 3:1-8. When Adam and Eve fall into sin they
take of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. What is ironic in the story is that prior
to them eating of the fruit, they lived in a creation that was very good. So, by eating of the
tree, all life (the very good) was now tainted with evil.

These two words by themselves are very common in the Old Testament. However, when
they are used in close proximity it is rare, and usually meaningful. Ecclesiastes has one of the
highest concentrations of both words individually (good is used 52 times; evil is used 32
times) and jointly (7 times: verses 4:3, 4:8, 6:2-3, 7:14, 8:12, 9:2-3, 12:14). There are two
locations where the play on these words are particularly intriguing: in Chapter 2 and Chapter
12. A brief explanation is below:

Chapter 2 of Ecclesiastes: Ecclesiastes opens with some general observations about life with the
Preacher (Solomon) concluding in verse 13 that it is an unhappy (evil) business that God
has given the children of men. So, as a response, Solomon tries to correct this state, and
discusses this attempt in chapter 2, beginning by saying: I said in my heartI will test you
with pleasure (good); enjoy yourself. He then goes on to try to give himself all types of
pleasure and wisdom (including building a garden, oddly enough) but finds that it is not
meaningful. What is his conclusion? Verse 17: So I hated life, because what is done under
the sun is grievous (evil) to me. In essence, what Solomon has tried to do is to recreate
Eden, a place where only good can thrive. However, in his efforts he constantly runs into the
effects of evil because all of life has been tainted by sin. This will constantly lead him to what

seems like a contradiction but makes a lot of sense in the end. Life does have joy, pleasure,
even meaning because it was originally created to be very good. However, because of the
evil that has invaded this existence, because of the effect of sin, and the passing of life
required by its consequences, that is, death, you cannot find lasting goodness. Thus all life is
transient or vain without a taste of the permanence of God.

Chapter 12:14: Chapter 12:13-14 is Solomons final conclusions on the meaning of life:

The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole
duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.

Here we see good and evil again. Solomon has tried and failed to separate one from the
other; in this life that cant happen. What is the solution? Fear God. Knowing the eternal
helps dictate how we live in the temporal. And it is only in the eternal where lasting meaning
can be found.

Children of Men: This is a very odd phrase and it is used only three times in Ecclesiastes
(1:13, 2:3, 3:10), but each time it has a poignant meaning. Each time the phrase is connected
with the striving of this life. In 1:13 it is in reference to an evil assignment, in 2:3 it is in
reference to good things, and in 3:10 it is in reference to work and labor. All are things that
characterize this life as temporal and potentially vain.

What is fascinating about this phrase is that it is only used one other time in the entire Old
Testament, and that is in Psalm 145. Notice the contrast in contexts with Ecclesiastes.
10 All your works shall give thanks to you, O LORD,
and all your saints shall bless you!
11 They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom
and tell of your power,
12 to make known to the children of man your mighty deeds,
and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and your dominion endures throughout all generations. Psalms 145:10-13

In Ecclesiastes the task of the children of men is locked in the temporal realm. The solution
in Psalm 145 is the everlasting Kingdom of God. Living our life in the pursuit of God and
His Kingdom is what gives our life lasting meaning and what makes all that we do
enjoyable, rewarding and worthwhile.


The Message of Ecclesiastes and Dont Waste Your Life

It has already been said in the words above, but in the mind of Solomon meaning is
connected to permanence. And the only true permanence is in the presence of the Almighty
God. So how is that connected to living life now? A few short observations:

First, we should enjoy life and live wisely. Originally, God did create this world to be very
good and Ecclesiastes upholds that view. There is much good to be enjoyed, to do, to strive
for. So even though we live in a temporal reality, there is much in this life to take pleasure in.


Second, we should not take life too seriously. This goes both ways. While we should have
joy in the good times in life, those good times should not dictate our joy. While we should
take sorrow in the bad times in life, those sorrows should not dictate our reality. There is
time for both. But generally speaking our highs are too high and our lows are too low. We
can enjoy God in all things.

Third, this life is not all that there is. Therefore, fear God. As it has been said before, in the
end it doesnt matter how much property we own, what our resume looks like, what kind of
fame we achieved, what our score on World of War Craft is - and the one with the most stuff
doesnt actually win. What matters is if we faithfully lived for the eternal King and Kingdom
in this life. All our life should be lived with this in mind! What I do now in worship and
honor to Jesus Christ does indeed last for all eternity. So a life lived in pursuit of Him, in
enjoyment of Him, and in the advancement of His Kingdom is a life not wasted.




Resource List

Resources used for this introduction include:

A Survey of Old Testament Introduction, Gleason L. Archer, Moody Press, 1994
Ecclesiastes, The Expositors Bible Commentary, Vol. 5, J. Stafford Write, Zondervan, 1991
Ecclesiastes, New International Biblical Commentary, Vol. 12, Elizabeth Huwiler, Hendrickson,
1999
Ecclesiastes, Keil and Delitzch Commentary on the Old Testament, Vol. 6, Hendrickson, 2006
The American Heritage Dictionary, 3rd ed., Hough Mifflin Company, 1993
The Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon, Hendrickson Publishers, 1997
The Englishmans Hebrew Concordance of the Old Testament, by George V. Wigramn,
Hendrickson Publishers, 2006

Lectures notes from Dr. Robert Cole, professor of Old Testament studies and Hebrew at
Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forrest, N.C.

English Standard Version of the Bible
Accordance Bible Software
www.biblegateway.com


Week One, Day One Week One, Day One Week One, Day One Week One, Day One Jim Reklis Jim Reklis Jim Reklis Jim Reklis


Todays Reading Section: Ecclesiastes 1:1-11 The Futility of Life

Verse of the Day: Vanities of vanity, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities. All is vanity!

Comments:
OK! Dont get depressed on our first day of devotions in Ecclesiastes. Hear what the
preacher is saying and reflect on what his point is in such a statement. His opening
statements are intense because he wants us to catch where he is taking us through this book.
The word vanity (or as other translations use, meaningless) should be thought of not as
an issue of pride, but of the futility of this life without God. Another word picture would be
to see life as a vapor (James 4:14), a shadow of true substance. Nothing is new or original,
nothing is unique in itself, and nothing by itself has meaning or purpose. This first section is
a declaration of a central truth of all Scripture, namely that all things exist by God and for
God and His purposes. Without this view of all of life and history (both personal and
corporately), everything is empty, void of real meaning.


Questions for Reflection:
So what about you, have you experienced this sense of futility about life? If so, what effect
did it have on you?

What would God want you to gain from seeing the futility of your own and others lives and
history?

How can you use this understanding in your walk with God and other people?


Prayer Points for Today:
For prayer I encourage you to read Psalm 90:12 and James 4:13-15. Then pray for God to
help you see life through His eternal lens and perspective. Ask Him to arm you each day
with this knowledge so you rightly assess your days.


Week One, Day Two Week One, Day Two Week One, Day Two Week One, Day Two Jim Rek Jim Rek Jim Rek Jim Reklis lis lis lis


Todays Reading Section: Ecclesiastes 1:12-18 The Futility of Wisdom

Verse of the Day: For in much wisdom is much vexation, and he who increases knowledge
increases sorrow.

Comments:
Solomon extols the virtues of wisdom in the book of Proverbs. So, is he contradicting
himself here? No, not at all. He is explaining the full extent of the Fall, the eating of the fruit
of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Where does that take us? Believing that we,
apart from God, can have knowledge and use it wisely is futile, nor does it really change
anything. This really hits home in me and in our culture. We believe knowledge, by itself, is
power. Solomon who was the wisest man of his age came to a different conclusion, we were
not made to handle knowledge on our own, and we need the eternal to give us true
knowledge of the temporal. Solomon reminds us of what he wrote in Proverbs 1:7 - the
beginning of knowledge is the fear of the Lord!

Think about where you have trusted in your own knowledge and wisdom and it failed you.
Also, think about where you trusted in them and you succeeded. Do you see the vexation
and sorrow Solomon is speaking of? We fall or rise on our knowledge working for us. It
never works successfully all the time and the more we rely on it the more sorrow it causes.


Questions for Reflection:
Repentance is agreeing with God about anything He says and then changing our mind and
what we do. As you think about your life choices and decisions, what do you need to repent
of today?

Where do you have sorrow from following your own wisdom? Have you turned to Christ
for forgiveness and healing? If not, go to Him now and receive from His fountain of mercy.

Where do you need wisdom? James 1 tells us to ask of God and He will give it liberally.


Prayer Points for Today:
Ask God to be your wisdom in life. Pray Proverbs 3:5-8

Week One, Day Three Week One, Day Three Week One, Day Three Week One, Day Three Jim Reklis Jim Reklis Jim Reklis Jim Reklis


Todays Reading Section: Ecclesiastes 2:1-11 The Futility of Pleasure

Verse of the Day: I said to myself, Come now, I will test you with pleasure. So enjoy
yourself. And behold, it too was futility.

Comments:
While we dont explore the pursuits of pleasure to the same measure stated here, all of us
have an insatiable thirst to please ourselves. Solomon, in his pursuit of pleasure, held nothing
from himself to enjoy, yet comes up empty. There was no quenching his thirst, just like
pouring into a bucket with a hole in the bottom. It is a fascinating testimony of a fantasy we
probably all dream of: attempting to satisfy our cravings in the fullest extent with food,
drink, sex or other bodily stimulations. We all look for something to fill us with pleasure, but
end up in the same place - still thirsty. We need to discover what is most pleasurable and
satisfying, God himself. There is a place to satisfy the longings, desires and pleasures we
each have, in the person of Jesus Christ. He is the well of living water, and when we drink of
Him, our thirsts are satisfied. (John 4:13-14) And the more we drink of Him the more
satisfied we are. Solomons wisdom leads us to one place that his father David describes in
Psalm 16:11, In your presence is fullness of joy and at your right hand are pleasures
evermore. An amazing thing happens: when we find our first pleasure is God, we actually
enjoy all the secondary pleasures He has graciously given us.


Questions for Reflection:
Every day is a pursuit to find our pleasure in something. Where do you go to try to quench
that thirst?

What keeps you from going to Jesus to meet that desire?

Can you see that lesser things become idols when we dont go to God to be our first desire?



Prayer Points for Today:
Read all of Psalm 16 and meditate on verse 11. Now pray it out loud for yourself. Do it
several times and then pray for Jesus to satisfy you with His love. Learn to drink in the soul-
satisfying life of Jesus everyday, ask Him to help you do it.

Week One, Day Four Week One, Day Four Week One, Day Four Week One, Day Four Jim Reklis Jim Reklis Jim Reklis Jim Reklis


Todays Reading Section: Ecclesiastes 2:1-11 The Futility of Possessions

Verse of the Day: Then I became great and increased more than all who preceded me in
Jerusalem.

Comments:
Solomon was the Bill Gates of his day. He had immense wealth and could literally have
anything he wanted. No expense was too great for him, and he could possess whatever his
heart desired. Here we see he actually indulged himself whole-heartedly! As he did with
pleasure Solomon is going through a kind of clinical testing what will satisfy my heart;
what will make me happy? He is the guinea pig for us all and his test results are conclusive.
Possessions, no matter how many or how great they are wont make us happy or satisfy us.
Oh, they offer momentary enjoyment, but we tire of them easily and look for some new
thing to fill our hearts again. How futile says the preacher!

You and I enjoy conveniences and products that kings of long ago would have paid vast
sums to enjoy. Yet, we can be unhappy with them or take them for granted. We live in a
possession fixated society and are encouraged to let things make us happy. And when we
tire of one there is always a new one to choose from. Perhaps we are more like Solomon
than we know!


Questions for Reflection:
Do you recognize your own struggle with trying to make things satisfy your heart?

What can you do to change that in your heart?

What do you think are true riches and do you have any?

Are you thankful for what God has so richly provided for you already?



Prayer Points for Today:
Today, cultivate a grateful heart for all that God has blessed you with. Thank Him out loud
for the daily provisions, the roof over your head, more than two outfits to adorn yourself
with, and on and onwere rich! Thank Him! Then ask God to de-fang the serpent of envy
and greed that seeks to strike your heart with discontentment. Let Him be your portion.
Remember to love people and use things, not the other way around.

Week One, Day Five Week One, Day Five Week One, Day Five Week One, Day Five Jim Reklis Jim Reklis Jim Reklis Jim Reklis


Todays Reading Section: Ecclesiastes 2:18-26 The Futility of Work

Todays Verse: Thus I hated all the fruit of my labor for which I had labored under the
sun, for I must leave it to the man who will come after me.

Comments:
We think being a workaholic is a recent problem. Apparently it has been around for a long
time. Solomon had an unquenchable thirst to produce. He describes it as wanting to leave
something that marks his life, his accomplishments; in a word lasting fame. Then he realizes
a central truth on the Bible and life, once you are dead someone else takes over what you
worked for. Now Solomons mansion is owned and lived in by another. His great enterprises
are owned and managed by others. Now all his labors seem worthless, with no lasting value.
A simple reality is spoken in verses 24-25 that will be repeated several times in this book.
Gods gift is to enjoy your labor and its fruit each day you are given. Dont try to be great or
make a name for yourself or have lasting fame. Go to work, do a great job, then come home,
enjoy your wife and family, eat a good dinner and thank God! Wow, that is revolutionary
thinking. Sounds like it could reduce the stress level most live with and bring a deeper
satisfaction for simple living with each other. Think about it.


Questions for Reflection:
What do you work for?

What do you want to be remembered for?

How satisfied are you at the end of each day?

How burned out are you from trying to produce?


Prayer Points for Today:
Read Matthew 11:28-30 slowly. Repeat as needed to let it soak into your heart. Then pray it
over your life.


Week two, Day One Week two, Day One Week two, Day One Week two, Day One Kendrick Vinar Kendrick Vinar Kendrick Vinar Kendrick Vinar


Todays Reading Section: Ecclesiastes 3:1-11

Verse of the Day: There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under
heaven.

Comments:
God is the author of life. There is an appointed time for everything under the sun. Every day
is not fun, easy, and leisurely. There is a time to weep and a time to laugh. (3:4) Living life
with God means cooperating with the time that has been appointed by God.

Theres a time to tear down and a time to build up. (3:3) This is true for work, family life,
and our personal schedule. The ability to understand the appropriate time appointed by God
is wisdom. You need to receive Gods wisdom or you may keep when its time to throw
away. (3:6)

Every season is beautiful as we flow with Gods plan and purpose. One thing is for sure: you
dont get to choose the seasons of life. The times are appointed by God. Your role is to
recognize the season and respond flow with it.

Recognize and enjoy the season God has appointed for you. Dont be envious of the time
someone else is in. Dont be too anxious to get to the next season. Even if its tough,
experience God and His purpose for the season He appointed for you.

Questions for Reflection:
What are some times/seasons that God has for you now? They may be very different for
different aspects of your life.

Are there any ways that you could better cooperate with what God has appointed for you?


Prayer Points for Today:
Take a few minutes to wait on God listening and talking to Him about the appointed
times/seasons that He has for you.

Ask God to give you wisdom to discern what Hes given to you.

Ask God if there are any specific steps you could take to flow with His appointed times for
you?

Week two, Day Two Week two, Day Two Week two, Day Two Week two, Day Two Kendrick Vinar Kendrick Vinar Kendrick Vinar Kendrick Vinar


Todays Reading Section: Ecclesiastes 3:12-22

Verse of the day: I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good
while they live.

Comments:
I always take note when the Scripture mentions superlatives. Theres an issue of priority.
Solomon uses a superlative in 3:12 when he says that there is nothing better for them than
to rejoice and do good in ones lifetime.

Amidst all the mention of the vanity of life and the insignificance of what we do, Solomon
concludes that theres nothing better than rejoicing and doing good. What does he mean?

Verse 13 explains more about the first part: rejoicing. Its a gift of God to work hard and then
enjoy oneself eating and drinking. Its a gift when God empowers the heart to enjoy the fruit
of our labor. There is a satisfaction with oneself and life - a rest in your spirit. A sense of well
done.

The second thing Solomon mentions is to do good in ones lifetime. After all the talk
about how futile it is to do anything, youd think hes changing his message. Not really. Lets
read verse 14 again: I know that everything God does will remain forever; there is nothing
to add to it and there is nothing take from it, for God so worked that men should fear Him.

What we do is temporal and meaningless if its simply our own work. What God does
remains forever. It has eternal lasting significance. When we align ourselves with His will
His plan His work, then were doing good in ones lifetime. Thus, we need to fear or be
in awe of God, as the end of verse 14 says. We need to humble ourselves to find out what
Hes doing and what Hes has planned for us.

Questions for Reflection:
In what ways are you at rest in working hard and enjoying the fruit of your labor?

Do you cram too much into a day or week ever? Maybe the busyness is revealing a lack of
deep satisfaction in simply doing what God has called you to do.

What is on your to-do list from God? What is on your not to-do list from God?

Prayer Points for Today:
Talk to God about your satisfaction and rest in Him. Are you working hard and then
enjoying the fruit of your labor? Are you hearing well done over your life?

Pray about doing good in your lifetime. Ask God to bless your to-do list from Him. Ask Him
for courage to jettison those things on your not to-do list.

Week two, Day Three Kendrick Vinar Week two, Day Three Kendrick Vinar Week two, Day Three Kendrick Vinar Week two, Day Three Kendrick Vinar


Todays Reading Section: Ecclesiastes 4:1-8

Verse of the Day: And I saw that all labor and all achievement spring from man's envy of
his neighbor. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

Comments:
There is a great weight, sadness, and truth to Solomons observation of the oppression that
happens on earth in verses one to three. The atrocities committed by one human violating
and oppressing another is inconceivable: sex trafficking, physical abuse, rape, genocide, war,
abortion, and many others. The experience of oppressions on earth is only softened by the
fact there is a Comforter. There will be a judgment when righteousness and justice prevail.

The Expositors Bible Commentary writes about verse four, This verse gives a profound
diagnosis when it says that all achievement comes through a drive toward superiority. This
was the basic idea of the psychologist Adler, who propounded the concept of the inferiority
complex. Our God-given drive to be great goes awry when we compare ourselves with
others. We end up motivated by competition and jealousy.

Verse five talks about how one person responds to a competitive jealous environment by
folding his hands and not working. Foolish. Another gives both hands to working hard and
strives to make it to the top. Ahhhto have a balance of work and rest with the right
motivation. One hand of rest is better than two fists full of labor and striving after the wind.

Its a meaningless pursuit to work endlessly, pile up riches and not enjoy them (to deny
oneself the pleasure of relationships and a healthy rhythm of living) as verse eight tells us.

Questions for Reflection:
How are you doing in having a healthy balance between not burying your head in the sand
regarding the atrocities of the world and not becoming hopeless and depressed?

Make an honest assessment of your motivations for your labor. When do you fall into
competition and envy with others? How can you move toward freedom and purity in
motives?

Is your tendency to withdraw and avoid competition/conflict or is it to press hard to get on
top? Are there any changes that God would have for you?

Prayer Points for Today:
Pray for a human atrocity that burdens your heart. Care deeply, pray, and give it to God.
Only His work will change human hearts and comfort the oppressed.

Pray about your motivation for the work that God has given you.




Week two, Day Four Kendrick Vinar Week two, Day Four Kendrick Vinar Week two, Day Four Kendrick Vinar Week two, Day Four Kendrick Vinar


Todays Reading Section: Ecclesiastes 4:9-16

Verse of the Day: Better a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer
knows how to take warning.

Comments:
In verses nine to twelve, Solomon contrasts the vanity of rivalry and competition with the
power of unity and working together. Paul talks about sharing with one another in our
abundance, so that well have the ability to help another in our lack. (2 Cor. 8:12-15) In our
pride and independence we can think we can or should make it alone. Yet we need each
other. If you think you stand, take heed lest you fall. How much better to have others with
you as you go through life!

Verses thirteen to sixteen are classic Ecclesiastes verses of wise observations of life. A poor
yet wise lad is better than an old and foolish king who no longer knows how to receive
instruction. Proverbs emphasizes over and over the virtue of being able to receive instruction
(wisdom). Foolishness doesnt receive instruction. The scary thing is that its always a blind
spot. You dont think you need instruction. The old and foolish king lost his ability to
receive instruction meaning he previously was wise and received instruction. That
challenges me: I could be a person who started well (receive instruction and wisdom) and yet
over time I could start thinking I got it down pretty well. I could develop a blind spot and not
receive correction.

Questions for Reflection:
Is your reflex to share with others when you have an abundance? When have you done that
lately?

Are you humble enough to receive from others when you have a need? When?

When did you recently receive instruction or correction from someone? Who knows your
personal life well enough to pastor you and oversee your life? Who do you go to for input
and counsel?

Prayer Points for Today:
Pray for open doors to share with others. Be ready!

Talk to God about your ability to receive instruction. Hows it going?

Week two, Day Five Kendrick Vinar Week two, Day Five Kendrick Vinar Week two, Day Five Kendrick Vinar Week two, Day Five Kendrick Vinar


Todays Reading Section: Ecclesiastes 5:1-7

Verse of the Day: Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter
anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few.

Comments:
This section of Ecclesiastes addresses a common theme of Solomons writings in Proverbs:
our words. He says that as you go to the house of the Lord, draw near to listen rather than
offer the sacrifice of fools. He clearly defines the sacrifice of fools in the following verses:
speaking hastily to God consumed with self.

What a great model and inspiration for our time with God. Rather than coming to talk at
God and hurry on your way, slow downrelaxyes share your heart with God but then
listen. Wait on God. Let your words be few. Be open to receive.

Dont be quick to vow to God the great things youll do for Him. One of my axioms is
under promise and over produce. It is better to that you should not vow than that you
should vow and not pay.

Its not being afraid of commitment, but rather its a strong commitment to be a person of
your word. If you say it, then youll do it. People will grow in confidence that they can trust
your words. Your leadership equity and influence will grow.

So in your talking with God and others: let your words be few. Be a good listener. Be a
person of your word.

Questions for Reflection:
Think about your time with God. What percent is spent talking to God or reading His Word
verses quietly listening and waiting on Him? All three are important.

How could you incorporate time listening to God into your daily routine? Decision making?

Have you made a vow to God you havent kept? If youre carrying a sense of guilt or failure,
then take some time to seek forgiveness. Ask God what to do from this point. His mercies
are new every morning.

Prayer Points for Today:
Spend extra time waiting on God. He knows your heart. Share it with Him, but then really
slow down and listen. Receive from God. Let Him comfort, strengthen, and encourage you.

Pray about being a person of your word. If youve broken your word, maybe you need to go
make things right with someone. Commit in your heart to let your yes be yes and your
no be no.

Week Three, Day One Week Three, Day One Week Three, Day One Week Three, Day One John Held John Held John Held John Held


Todays Reading Section: Ecclesiastes 5:8-20

Verse of the Day: He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves
wealth with his income; this also is vanity.

Comments:
Todays section of Scripture addresses the issues of greed and contentment. The Scriptures
have much to say in regard to money and how prone we are to allow money to become the
focus of our lives.

Jesus made it clear that, in light of the idolatrous tendencies of our own hearts, money has
the power to gain mastery over our lives. Money is something we can easily be tempted to
love, be devoted to and serve to the exclusion of God. (Matthew 6:24; Luke 16:13)
Paul tells us that those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many
senseless and harmful desires desires that plunge a man into ruin and destruction and
pierce his heart with grief. (1 Tim 6:9, 10) Because the love of money is a root of all kinds
of evil (1 Tim 6:10), Scripture reminds us repeatedly: Keep your life free from love of
money, and be content with what you have. (Hebrews 13:5, see Phil 4:11)

The New Testament passages quoted above reveal that the love of money and the pursuit to
gain wealth can have very serious eternal consequences: wandering from the faith and the
destruction of your life. The vanity of vanities in all this is that the insatiable desire for
money and wealth contributes nothing to the hearts capacity for true joy in this present life.
As John Piper has written, and this section of Scripture affirms, the deepest, most satisfying
delights God gives us through creation are free gifts from nature and loving relationships
with people. After your basic needs are met, money begins to diminish your capacity for
these pleasures rather than increase them. Ultimately, Jesus Christ is the One who satisfies
the deepest longings of the human heart.

Questions for Reflection:
Are you aware that there is a fundamental connection between your spiritual life and how
you think about and handle money? We are often tempted to separate our faith from our
finances; yet, God sees them as inseparable.

Do you have a biblical understanding of wealth; that is, wealths dangers and its potential for
great good in advancing Gods purposes?
Contentment is presented in this section of Scripture as a key characteristic of a godly life.
Are you content? What does Paul say is the key to contentment in Philippians 4:11-13?

Prayer Points for Today:
Thank God today that the deepest and most satisfying delights we can enjoy are found in our
relationship with Jesus Christ.

As Gods Word reminds you of the fleeting character of riches, pray that you will more fully
invest in Gods kingdom and store up treasures in heaven. (Matthew 6:19-21)

Pray that you will be a faithful steward of all the riches God has entrusted to you.


Pray that your life would be marked by contentment.

Week Three, Day Two Week Three, Day Two Week Three, Day Two Week Three, Day Two John Held John Held John Held John Held


Todays Reading Section: Ecclesiastes 6:1-12

Verse of the Day: There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, and it lies heavy on
mankind: a man to whom God gives wealth, possessions, and honor, so that he lacks
nothing of all that he desires, yet God does not give him power to enjoy them, but a stranger
enjoys them. This is vanity; it is a grievous evil.

Comments:
Chapter six continues the theme of greed and contentment introduced in chapter five.
Ecclesiastes 5:19 says that when God gives an individual wealth and possessions, along with
the power to enjoy them, this is a gift from God. The mere fact that one has wealth and
possessions does not automatically mean he can enjoy them. In fact, this blessing is spoken
of one who humbly acknowledges the life that God has given him. (5:18) There is
recognition that God is the source of all things.

The first twelve verses of chapter six highlight that even those things that are recognized as
earthly blessings wealth, abundant possessions, honor, many children, a long life are all
vain if they cannot be enjoyed.

The verses for today present a man to whom God gives wealth, possessions, and honor
(for nothing happens apart from God); however, God does not give him power to enjoy
them, but a stranger enjoys them. We are told this is a man who lacks nothing of all that
he desires. Unfortunately, there seems to be no desire for God.

How tragic when one makes the acquisition of wealth, possessions, or honor his sole purpose
in life. It is a sad irony to achieve the desire of your heart, only to realize you are unable to
truly delight in any of it. I am reminded of Jesus parable of the rich fool, This night your
soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be? (Luke 12:20)

How blessed we are to know the One who gives us true joy and contentment to our lives and
satisfies the deepest desire of our hearts. It is the gift of God to enjoy the good things that He
has brought into our lives.

Questions for Reflection:
Are you convinced that wealth, possessions, and honor alone are no guarantee of genuine
happiness? What examples can you list that testify to the reality of this truth?

Jesus warned us that the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires
for other things enter in and choke the word (Mark 4:19) What precautions are you taking
to make sure wealth and possessions do not assume an inappropriate place in your life?

Are you thankful to God for the things He has enabled you to enjoy?

Prayer Points for Today:
Praise God that He has revealed Jesus Christ to you and called you to turn from these vain
things to a living God. (Acts 14:15)

Thank God for the ability to enjoy the good things He has graciously given to you.


Personalize First Corinthians 7:30-31 as a prayer to God (I like the NIV translation).

Week Three, Day Three Week Three, Day Three Week Three, Day Three Week Three, Day Three John Held John Held John Held John Held


Todays Reading Section: Ecclesiastes 7:1-10

Verse of the Day: Be not quick in your spirit to become angry, for anger lodges in the
bosom of fools.

Comments:
The beginning of this section of Scripture (7:1) is reminiscent of Proverbs 22:1, A good
name is to be chosen rather than great riches and communicates a truth that we would all
affirm: godly character is to be valued over great wealth. However, as we continue reading
these verses, we may find ourselves challenged by the words of the Preacher. Is the day of
death better than the day of birth? Is the house of mourning better than the house of feasting?
Is sorrow better than laughter? I am reminded of James 1:2, Count it all joy, my brothers,
when you meet trials of various kinds. Joy and trials are two experiences my mind
has a difficult time putting together. Of course, this only serves to reveal my need for a
renewed mind a mind able to view things from a biblical, eternal perspective. According to
this section of Scripture, death, mourning, and sorrow the hard and painful seasons of our
lives are ever-present realities. However, when we respond with faith in God, He uses the
hard times to develop in us genuine spiritual maturity.

In Ecclesiastes 7:9, we are commanded, Be not quick in your spirit to become angry. If we
do not have a biblical understanding of suffering, we can often respond in anger when
hardship or adversity comes our way. In the book, Gilead, the narrator makes a profound
statement as he comes to the end of his life: A little too much anger, too often or at the
wrong time, can destroy more than you would ever imagine. James writes, See how great
a forest is set aflame by such a small fire. (James 3:5)

Warnings against giving place to anger are repeated throughout Scripture. Proverbs 16:32
says, Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he
who takes a city. In Proverbs 19:11 we are told, Good sense makes one slow to anger, and
it is his glory to overlook an offense. In the New Testament, fits of anger are listed among
the works of the flesh. (Gal 5:20) Believers are commanded to put away all bitterness and
wrath and anger. (Ephesians 4:31) James reminds us that the anger of man does not
produce the righteousness that God requires. (James 1:20)

Here, we are told that anger is at home in the hearts of fools. In Scripture, the fool is one
who lives contrary to Gods wisdom in his moral life and follows the inclinations of his
obstinate heart. The fool wastes his life, because he ignorantly prefers the fleeting and
temporary pleasures of this life to the eternal happiness of the life to come.


Questions for Reflection:
What is your view of suffering? Is it biblical?

When have you experienced the greatest spiritual growth: during times of ease or times of
hardship?

Do you find that you are quick in your spirit to become angry? What exchange is God
calling you to make (see Ephesians 4:22-24)?


Prayer Points for Today:
Consider the fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) together with Pauls definition of
love. (1 Corinthians 13:4-7) Pray that you would be conformed to the image of Christ.

Week Three, Day Four Week Three, Day Four Week Three, Day Four Week Three, Day Four John Held John Held John Held John Held


Todays Reading Section: Ecclesiastes 7:11-18

Verse of the Day: In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider:
God has made the one as well as the other.

Comments:

In the day of prosperity be joyful. As I read those words, my initial thought might be,
That is not a difficult imperative to obey who isnt joyful during times of prosperity? But
then I am reminded of those verses in Ecclesiastes that say there are those to whom God
gives wealth and possessions and honor who are experiencing prosperity and, yet, they
are unable to enjoy it. I believe there is also a type of joy that is focused more on the things
associated with prosperity the wealth or the possessions in and of themselves rather than
joy in the God who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. (1 Tim 6:17)

As I read Ecclesiastes 7:14, I cannot help but be reminded of Job. In the Scripture, Job is
introduced to us as a man blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away
from evil. (Job 1:1) He was blessed with great prosperity, both in his family and his
possessions. Then, in one fateful day, Job lost his ten children and all his wealth. In one
afternoon, all his prosperity was gone. As he processes the loss of all he had, we see the
character of Joband the focus of his life. We are told that Job fell on the ground and
worshiped, declaring, Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return.
The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord (Job 1:21).
Later, after he had been afflicted with loathsome sores (2:7), he still expressed confidence
in the sovereignty of God: Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?
(Job 2:10) Scripture teaches that comfort and calamity, prosperity and adversity, come from
the hand of God. Consider: God has made the one as well as the other.

For us who have placed our faith in Jesus Christ, who are loved by God, we know that all
things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose. (Rom
8:28) As William Cowper wrote:

God moves in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform
Deep in unfathomable mines of never-failing skill,
He treasures up His bright designs and works His sovereign will
Judge not the Lord by feeble sense, but trust Him for His grace.
Behind a frowning providence He hides a smiling face...
Blind unbelief is sure to err and scan His work in vain.
God is His own interpreter, and He will make it plain.

Questions for Reflection:
Is your joy in the things God has blessed you with a joy that finds its ultimate satisfaction in
God Himself, as the Giver of all things?

Do you realize that nothing comes into our life that does not first pass through the hands of
our loving heavenly Father?

Prayer Points for Today:

Thank God today for His love, mercy, grace, and faithfulness towards you.

Pray that in times of adversity that your faith in God would remain strong. (Rom 4:20)

Week Three, Week Three, Week Three, Week Three, Day Five Day Five Day Five Day Five John Held John Held John Held John Held


Todays Reading Section: Ecclesiastes 7:19-29

Verse of the Day: this alone I found, that God made man upright, but they have sought
out many schemes.

Comments:
As the Preacher has observed life under the sun, he has commented repeatedly concerning
the injustice, oppression, and wickedness that he has witnessed all around him. He has seen
evil practiced even in those places that should be marked by justice and righteousness. (Eccl.
3:16) High officials, who are charged to maintain good order and protect the poor, instead
oppress the poor and abuse the power of their office. This behavior is so common, those who
experience it should not be amazed when it occurs (Eccl. 5:8) Solomon affirms the
universality of human depravity when he declares, Surely there is not a righteous man on
earth who does good and never sins. (Eccl. 7:20) Although there is much that the Preacher
has not been able to understand concerning the human condition, he has come to one firm
conclusion: God made man upright, but they have sought out many schemes. (Eccl. 7:29)

The first chapters of Genesis record the creation and fall of man. Although created in the
image of God and enjoying a true knowledge of God in righteousness and holiness, Adam
chose to rebel against Him. He directly disobeyed God, and by his transgression, he brought
condemnation upon himself and all mankind. As Paul writes, Adams disobedience led to
condemnation for all men. (Rom. 5:18) The guilt of Adams sin is imputed to all mankind
and is the root of all the sinfulness that defiles the life of man.

The good news is that God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he
loved us (Eph. 2:4), sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, to save us from our sin and restore us
to a right relationship with God.

As believers, Jesus Christ has paid the penalty of our sin by bearing the wrath of God. Jesus
has broken the dominion of sin that once held us in bondage. We still battle indwelling sin in
our hearts. Even as those who have placed faith in Christ, we are prone to walk in our own
strength and trust in our own understanding. How quickly we can be tossed to and fro by
the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in
deceitful schemes. (Eph. 4:14) Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this
body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! (Rom. 7:24-25)

Questions for Reflection:
According to Ecclesiastes 7:25-29, what lies at the heart of all the wickedness, oppression,
suffering, and evil that is observed in the world?

How familiar are you with the doctrine of original sin? Would you be able to explain this
teaching to an unbeliever?

Do you have a biblical understanding of indwelling sin? Sin and Temptation by John Owen is
an excellent resource.

Prayer Points for Today:
Thank God for His great salvation and consider afresh how amazing His grace truly is!


Pray to be freed from legalism (performance righteousness), subjectivism (living by your
feelings and emotions), and condemnation (more focused on your sin than on Gods grace)

Week Four, Day One Week Four, Day One Week Four, Day One Week Four, Day One Jonathan Love Jonathan Love Jonathan Love Jonathan Love


Todays Reading Section: Ecclesiastes 8:1-4

Todays Verse: Who is like the wise man? Who knows the explanation of things? Wisdom
brightens a man's face and changes its hard appearance.

Comments:
Wisdom is the ability to see life from Gods perspective and then to know the best course of
action to take. Most people would agree that wisdom is a valuable asset, but how can we
acquire it? Proverbs 9:10 teaches that the fear of the Lord (respect and honor) is the
beginning of wisdom. Wisdom comes from fearing, knowing, and trusting God. James 1:5
also tells us that if any of us lacks wisdom, we can ask God, and He will give it to us
generously. I wonder how much time and energy we waste by trying to figure things out
with our own wisdom without stopping to ask God for His perfect wisdom. I believe that
often times our faces that have had a hard appearance could be brightened if we made a
habit of seeking God daily for His wisdom in all of our situations.


Questions for Reflection:
When you come across a difficult situation in life, what is your first response? Do you panic,
worry, call a friend, or do you stop and pray?

Is there a situation you are facing right now that requires wisdom? If so, have you asked God
to give you wisdom?

Do you think you could get rid of some of the stress in your life if you made a habit of
seeking God for wisdom every day?


Prayer Points for Today:
Pray that God would fill you with wisdom for every situation in your life.

Pray that God would help you to fear Him each day.

Pray that God would help you to develop a habit of seeking His wisdom and not your own.



Week Four, Day Two Week Four, Day Two Week Four, Day Two Week Four, Day Two Jonathan Love Jonathan Love Jonathan Love Jonathan Love


Todays Reading Section: Ecclesiastes 8:11-13

Verse of the Day: Although a wicked man commits a hundred crimes and still lives a long
time, I know that it will go better with God-fearing men, who are reverent before God.

Comments:
Oftentimes we are tempted to think that there is no difference with respect to reward
between those who do evil and those who do right. We all know of people who are evil that
dont fear God and yet seem to have wonderfully blessed lives here on this earth - better lives
than ours in fact. They have more money and fun and everything they do seems to prosper.
We wonder why they live such a great life while we, who are doing what is right, seem to
face so much hardship. Is there really a benefit to doing right? This verse confirms that
indeed there is. We must have an eternal perspective and not merely an earthly temporal
view. We are living for God with our hearts set on eternity. We will be rewarded then for
every good deed, none will go unnoticed. These others are living for earthly and temporary
gain, and their reward will be earthly and their punishment eternal. Dont waste time
comparing yourself to someone else who doesnt fear God yet seems to be walking in more
blessing than you. God has promised a treasure in heaven that will not fade for all of
eternity. Fear God and live righteously; He will take care of the rest.


Questions for Reflection:
Do you know someone who does not fear God, yet seems to have it better off than you?

In frustration, have you ever wondered why this is?

Would you say that you are a person with an eternal perspective or do you spend most of
your time focused on how things look here on earth?


Prayer Points for Today:
Ask God to give you an eternal perspective of your life and what you are doing.

Ask God to encourage you by helping you see that your obedience to Him is producing fruit
that will last for eternity.

Pray that God will give you strength to continue to live righteously knowing that you are not
living for earthly things.

Week Four, Day Three Week Four, Day Three Week Four, Day Three Week Four, Day Three Jonathan Love Jonathan Love Jonathan Love Jonathan Love


Todays Reading Section: Ecclesiastes 8:14-15

Verse of the Day: So I commend the enjoyment of life, because nothing is better for a man
under the sun than to eat and drink and be glad. Then joy will accompany him in his work
all the days of the life God has given him under the sun.

Comments:
I love this passage of scripture. It is such a simple, but much needed reminder. How often do
we waste our time and energy being frustrated or stressed out about life? We complain,
worry, and become anxious. Solomon tells us to take a step back and relax. He recommends
joy and contentment as encouragement for us along this crazy adventure that we call life.
Life will have its share of problems, but if we only focus on the problems, we miss out on the
daily joy that God wants us to have. God loves us and He is with us. He has ordained every
step of our lives. We need to grab hold of that and live it. When we realize God is in control
and He has given us each day as a gift, it changes our perspective. So enjoy your life today,
no matter what comes your way. It is a gift from God.


Questions for Reflection:
When it comes to life, are you more of an optimist or a pessimist? Do you find the joy each
day or do you focus on the problems?

What are some practical things you could implement in your daily life to help you be
thankful and find joy in the routine things you do?


Prayer Points for Today:
Ask God to help you find joy in Him each day.

Ask God to help you find joy in the routine things of this life.

Ask God to help you to have fresh vision and passion for what he is doing in your life today.

Week Four, Day Four Week Four, Day Four Week Four, Day Four Week Four, Day Four Jonathan Love Jonathan Love Jonathan Love Jonathan Love


Todays Reading Section: Ecclesiastes 9:7-10

Verse of the Day: Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the
grave, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor
wisdom.

Comments:

God has given each one of us specific gifts and talents that are unique to us. He has a destiny
for our lives. We are made to glorify Him and spread His fame throughout the earth. We all
may have different occupations, but we share this common destiny. Whatever we find
ourselves doing, we need to do it with all of our hearts as someone who has a purpose
behind what we do. God has placed you where you are with the talents you have to advance
His Kingdom in the earth. So whether you are in school, working, staying at home,
whatever you are doing, do it with all your might and strength. Dont waste time thinking
that what your doing now is not that important or not your ultimate goal in life. Put your
whole heart into whatever your doing.


Questions for Reflection
Have you been putting your whole heart into everything that you do in life, including those
things you dont enjoy?

Do you see each day as an opportunity to glorify God in whatever your hand finds to do?
Are you doing it whole-heartedly as worship to Him?

Is there anything in your life where you know you have purposefully not put your whole
heart into it?


Prayer Points for Today:
Repent if there has been anything you have done half-heartedly.

Pray that God would give you strength and vision to do whatever your hand finds to do with
all of your heart as an act of worship.


Week Four, Day Five Week Four, Day Five Week Four, Day Five Week Four, Day Five Jonathan Love Jonathan Love Jonathan Love Jonathan Love


Todays Reading Section: Ecclesiastes 9:13-18

Verse of the day: The quiet words of the wise are more to be heeded than the shouts of a
ruler of fools.

Comments:
There are voices all around us every day that cry out for attention. Friends, family members,
co-workers, and strangers all have advice and something to say. With so much information
and advice out there, sometimes it is hard to know who to listen to. We must tune our ears
to listen to the whispers of the wise. They might not be the loudest, but they should be the
most sought after. I believe it is important for us to have people in our lives with proven
track records in their relationship with God. We need people who have demonstrated that
they have the capacity to hear from and follow God. These people are easy to pick out,
because the fruit of their lives speaks volumes. When we find people like this that we can
look to, then we need to listen to what they have to say. Many claim to be wise, but are
really foolish. They cry out for our attention, but in the end their wisdom leads to
destruction. Dont waste your life listening to the shouts of the foolish. Listen for the
whispers of the wise and apply what you hear


Questions for Reflection:
Do you have people in your life that you can count on for wise Godly input?

Do you have people in your life that you know are foolish who try to give you advice?


Prayer Points for Today:
Pray that God would help you to find wisdom and apply it.

Pray that God would expose the foolish voices that try and work there way into your mind.

We We We Week Five, Day One ek Five, Day One ek Five, Day One ek Five, Day One Nathan Fancher Nathan Fancher Nathan Fancher Nathan Fancher


Todays Reading Section: Ecclesiastes 10:1-4

Verse of the Day: A wise man's heart inclines him to the right, but a fool's heart to the
left.

Comments:
Wisdom and foolishness will simply reveal themselves in ones behavior. That seems
obvious. However what might not seem as obvious is the matter of the heart. This verse, if
taken all by itself, might seem a bit unfair. Like there are only wise people and foolish people
and their behavior will never change. It could get discouraging.

But be reminded that the clear command in wisdom literature has for the most part been:
Acquire wisdom! Gain knowledge! Proverbs 8:5 says, O simple ones learn prudence. O
fools, learn sense!

So theres hope for the fool who wants to change and grow wise! If you feel that your heart
has lead you down pathways of foolishness dont get fatalistic and think youll always be that
way. This would certainly lead to a wasted life. Allow the heart of these wisdom writings to
lead you to the heart of God and ask him for wisdom.


Questions for Reflection:
How is your bible intake? The renewing of our minds by Gods word is vital for growing in
true wisdom.

In your decision-making do you find your hearts inclinations are towards pleasing God?


Prayer Points for Today:
True wisdom starts with having the fear of the Lord. Ask God to fill you with knowledge of
his nearness and a desire to please him in every decision you make.

Think of all the foolish things that God has forgiven you for in your past. Thank him for his
mercy and ask that he would grant you increasing wisdom for this day.


Week Five, Day Two Week Five, Day Two Week Five, Day Two Week Five, Day Two Nathan Fancher Nathan Fancher Nathan Fancher Nathan Fancher


Todays Reading Section: 10:8-11

Verse of the Day: If the iron is blunt, and one does not sharpen the edge, he must use more
strength, but wisdom helps one to succeed.

Comments:
The old phrase work smarter not harder jumped out at me as I thought about this verse.
Godly wisdom leads us from self-reliance to Christ-reliance. As we do ministry or work or
anything in life, our blades will inevitably grow dull. And thats where the test is. Will we
stop and be sharpened by the Lord or do what we so often do and try using more of our own
strength while doing our God-given tasks?

We must use more strength when we rely on ourselves, so naturally self-reliance will lead
to burnout. James says it so clearly in his epistle: If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask
God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. (James 1:5)

Dont waste your access to God. Ask him for wisdom! It will help you succeed!


Questions for Reflection:
Of the areas in your life that you know you are called to, which do you find burdensome?

How do you sharpen yourself?


Prayer Points for Today:
After youve identified the areas where you tend to be self-reliant, go to the cross and take
the burden of Christ on you. It is easy and light. Pray that God would give you his wisdom
and help you not lean on yourself any more.

Ask God for fresh and creative ways to remain sharp and reliant on his wisdom.


Week Five, Day Three Week Five, Day Three Week Five, Day Three Week Five, Day Three Nathan Fancher Nathan Fancher Nathan Fancher Nathan Fancher


Todays Reading Section: 11:1-6

Verse of the Day: He who observes the wind will not sow, and he who regards the clouds
will not reap.

Comments:
How many times has your excuse for procrastination been something to do with waiting on
the perfect this or that? Ive been very guilty of putting things off because I have to have
things a certain way only to find that getting things just right never happened. As a result
I didnt do anything.

Too much time trying to read the skies will only distract us from the task God has given
us. And those who wait for the perfect time will never sow and therefore they will never
reap.

God calls us to obey him in faith trusting that the results of what we reap are in his hands.
Im reminded of the old song:

Trust and obey for theres no other way to be happy in Jesus than to trust and obey.

Time is short! Dont waste it!


Questions for Reflection:
Are there any areas in your life where procrastination and fear have kept you from being
obedient to God?

What has God given you to sow and reap?


Prayer Points for Today:
Ask the Holy Spirit to come and strengthen your trust in the Lord. Perfect love casts out fear.

Pray for a fresh vision of sowing and reaping no matter what the circumstances may be.

Week Five, Day Four Week Five, Day Four Week Five, Day Four Week Five, Day Four Nathan Fancher Nathan Fancher Nathan Fancher Nathan Fancher


Todays Reading Section: Ecclesiastes 11:7-10

Verse of the Day: Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in
the days of your youth. Walk in the ways of your heart and the sight of your eyes. But know
that for all these things God will bring you into judgment.

Comments:
I wonder if a wrong way to react to this verse would be to put on a false humility and to not
rejoice at all. Im not sure that The Preacher meant that God would judge these young
men on their rejoicing, but on what they were rejoicing in. If we see the sweet light of the sun
on a beautiful day and rejoice that it has lifted our spirits, but God isnt thanked and he is far
from our thoughts, then weve missed the whole point of the sweet light of sunshine.

I think of the Psalm 4:7, You have put gladness in my heart, more than when their grain
and new wine abound. The Psalmist here is definitely rejoicing! But so are these other
people with abounding grain and wine and other possessions. The difference is God. And
God will judge the hearts of men based on what or who was the ground of their rejoicing.

Dont waste your joy on the wrong thing.

Questions for Reflection:
Is there much rejoicing at all in your life? If not, that might be a sign that youre looking at
your circumstances and not to Christ.

When are you at your happiest and what fills your heart with the most joy?

Prayer Points for Today:
Pray that God would restore to you the joy of your salvation if you feel that it has waned.

Ask God that all other joys would lead to a greater joy in Him.



Week Five, Day Five Week Five, Day Five Week Five, Day Five Week Five, Day Five Nathan Fancher Nathan Fancher Nathan Fancher Nathan Fancher


Todays Reading Section: 12:1-14

Verse of the Day: The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his
commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into
judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.

Comments:
Verses 8-14 in chapter 12 are the conclusion and epilogue of Ecclesiastes. When its all been
said and done, true wisdom is fearing God and keeping his commandments. Every deed that
we have done will be judged. Remember though, that those of us who are in Christ will not
be judged and sent to Hell! Praise God! But what we did with Gods blessings in our lives is
going to be a big deal on that last day. Our life and all we possessed will have been either
used for him and his glory or it will have been wasted on other things.

The key I believe to guarding us from wasting our lives is to pursue our highest joy in God
himself. The warnings of this book are based on the truth that if God is not absolutely
central, then all the joys of this world and pleasures of this life are meaningless, empty, and
in the end, wasted.


Questions for Reflection:
Think of these two practical areas in your life: finances and time management. How is
fearing God and keeping his commandments applicable in these areas?

Are there any areas in your life that God may be leading you to completely lay down?


Prayer Points for Today:
Pray for a deeper hunger to feed on biblical wisdom and apply it to your everyday life.

Ask God to give you a greater taste for the things of heaven and eternity. Pray through
Colossians 3:1-4.