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The Illusion of the “Good Old Days”
“Surely oppression drives the wise into madness, and a bribe corrupts the heart. Better is the end of a thing than its beginning, and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. Be not quick in your spirit to become angry, for anger lodges in the heart of fools. Say not, ‘Why Continue reading
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Remember Your Creator
“Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, ‘I have no pleasure in them’” (Ecclesiastes 12:1). One of the observations made repeatedly in Ecclesiastes is that life under the sun is uncertain. “Time and chance happen to them Continue reading
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Instructive Suffering
“A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of birth. It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for this is the end of all mankind; and the living will lay it to heart” (Ecclesiastes 7:1-2). The Continue reading
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In His Time
“There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every season under heaven” (Ecclesiastes 3:1). That there is an appointed time for everything is the fundamental truth discussed in this extended passage (Eccles. 3:1-8). What is appropriate on some occasions is not so at others. The passage presents a series of Continue reading
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He Who Regards the Clouds
“He who observes the wind will not sow, and he who regards the clouds will not reap” (Ecclesiastes 11:4). The wisdom of this passage is understandable when we apply it to everyday life. If a farmer allows himself to become overly concerned with the threat of strong winds, he will not be busy working to Continue reading
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Some Answers For the Frustrated
“I saw under the sun that in the place of justice, even there was wickedness” (Ecclesiastes 3:16). Much of what the Preacher discusses in Ecclesiastes is based on his observations about life. Repeatedly he uses the phrase “I have seen…” or “I saw under the sun…” (3:10, 16, et al.). His observations were partly the Continue reading
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Love One Another
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another” (John 13:34). Often something that is old in that it has been around a long time can become all new because of a new way in which it is treated Continue reading
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Bear One Another’s Burdens
“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Gal. 6:1-2). All of us carry burdens in life, and there is a sense in which each of us must assume responsibility for carrying our own load and being accountable for it. But sometimes our burdens become too great to carry alone. Our heaviest Continue reading
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Accept One Another
“Therefore, accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God” (Romans 15:7). Diversity was present in the church from its inception. Converts came from various backgrounds, customs, and traditions. Such diversity sometimes contributed to differences of opinion and conflict among the brethren. There were both Jews and Gentiles in the Continue reading
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Be of the Same Mind Toward One Another
“Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation. Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. If possible, so far as it depends on you, be Continue reading
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Members of One Another
“So we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another” (Rom. 12:5). The phrase “one another” is used in 100 times in 94 New Testament verses. Of these, 59 are statements that give exhortation to churches and Christians about what we are to do—action we are to take—regarding one Continue reading
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Worshipping God With a Heart of Service
“And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?’ Then I said, ‘Here I am! Send me’” (Isaiah 6:8). Isaiah was shown a vision of God, high and exalted. Angels worshipped him. The prophet was filled with awe. He knew how unworthy he was to be in Continue reading
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