Ecclesiastes 8
Today's Passage: Ecclesiastes 8
Life isn’t always simple, rather it is vastly complicated. When we think we are secure, tragedy strikes. When a situation seems bleak, it turns into prosperity. In many ways, the book of Ecclesiastes is the sobering answer to the book of Proverbs. Proverbs tells us that the right actions produce the right results, but Ecclesiastes tells us that that’s not always the case. Sometimes the wicked prosper and the righteous suffer. Sometimes life isn't fair.
Ecclesiastes 8:14 “There is a vanity that takes place on earth, that there are righteous people to whom it happens according to the deeds of the wicked, and there are wicked people to whom it happens according to the deeds of the righteous.”
How have you seen this in your own life?
If this is the case, do we just give up and live life apart from God? No! The author writes in the middle of this chapter that despite all the “vanity” of life, it is best to live life in the fear of the Lord (v10-13). We should humble ourselves before the Lord because 1) it’s the right thing to do and 2) because he is the one in control. Life can be tricky and messy. The wicked may prosper, and the righteous may suffer, but it is God who “causes everything to work together for the good of those who love [him]” (Rom 8:28). Therefore, true wisdom is found in humble faith in the Lord and relinquishing control to him; trusting that he is good even when circumstances aren’t.
What areas of your life do you try to control?
What would it look like for you to surrender everything to the Lord?
Written By: Joe Weaver
Life isn’t always simple, rather it is vastly complicated. When we think we are secure, tragedy strikes. When a situation seems bleak, it turns into prosperity. In many ways, the book of Ecclesiastes is the sobering answer to the book of Proverbs. Proverbs tells us that the right actions produce the right results, but Ecclesiastes tells us that that’s not always the case. Sometimes the wicked prosper and the righteous suffer. Sometimes life isn't fair.
Ecclesiastes 8:14 “There is a vanity that takes place on earth, that there are righteous people to whom it happens according to the deeds of the wicked, and there are wicked people to whom it happens according to the deeds of the righteous.”
How have you seen this in your own life?
If this is the case, do we just give up and live life apart from God? No! The author writes in the middle of this chapter that despite all the “vanity” of life, it is best to live life in the fear of the Lord (v10-13). We should humble ourselves before the Lord because 1) it’s the right thing to do and 2) because he is the one in control. Life can be tricky and messy. The wicked may prosper, and the righteous may suffer, but it is God who “causes everything to work together for the good of those who love [him]” (Rom 8:28). Therefore, true wisdom is found in humble faith in the Lord and relinquishing control to him; trusting that he is good even when circumstances aren’t.
What areas of your life do you try to control?
What would it look like for you to surrender everything to the Lord?
Written By: Joe Weaver
1 Comment
Thank you for this great reminder to trust God & surrender to Him even when His decisions don't always seem right to our finite minds! His ways are higher, and sometimes they're harder or less pleasant than what we would have chosen. But we don't know everything - and He does! As clay accepts the potter's molding wisdom, and play-dough submits to my children's fingers, and my husband's tools yield to his wielding hands, and cookie dough shapes to my scooping spoon ... in the same way God wants me to yield everything to His perfect plan, for my good & His glory.