Walking Thru Ecclesiastes

Solomon’s practical counsel

Spotlight on Ecclesiastes 7:1-14 

 

“A fool’s laughter is quickly gone like thorns crackling in a fire. This also is meaningless.”- Ecclesiastes 7:6

 

            In this verse Solomon compares a fool’s laughter to crackling thorns in a fire. “The thin wood of thornbushes produces a lot of noise that draws attention as it bursts quickly into flame. However, it makes very poor firewood since it has no lasting heat or sustained cooking ability.” ^[1] This is a tremendous analogy. Solomon gives us a visual to something that cannot be seen. While you can see a person laughing, you cannot see the laugh itself, just like you can’t see the wind.

            When you light a fire, whether using thornbushes or any other kind of wood, there is a big burst of flame. Depending on how much wood is on the fire and how the stack of wood is set up will determine the initial flame and how sustainable it will be. By comparison, laughter bursts forth, then dies to a barely discernable sound in a short time. Forced laughter is easily recognizable and dies out rather quickly. It has no intrinsic meaning or value; therefore, Solomon refers to it as meaningless.

              There is value in wisdom. Wisdom is something you can grow from by acquiring it. It is something you can enrich others with by passing it along. Not so with laughter. Those that laugh incessantly become an annoying nuisance. While all in God’s creation has value, those who languish in useless banter and resist the maturation process are doomed to stumble thru life making fools of themselves.  While still loved by God, they are squandering the precious life God gave them in favor of frivolously bandying about. They must feel they can avoid any serious responsibilities in this life, however, life itself has many serious matters inherently embedded in its’ fabric. The behavior of a foolish man is deemed meaningless by Solomon, like so many other things he has experienced. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries  

Resource:  NIV Study Bible (Copyright © 1985, 1995, 2002, 2008, 2011 by Zondervan.)

^[1] NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible (Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.)

Walking Thru Ecclesiastes

Solomon’s practical counsel

Spotlight on Ecclesiastes 7:1-14 

 

“Better to be criticized by a wise person than to be praised by a fool.” - Ecclesiastes 7:5

 

            Solomon moves from death to comparing wise and foolish men. Foolish men tend to be shallow in most, if not all areas of life. They take very little, if anything seriously. They avoid the serious issues of life and thus are ill prepared when something hits them square between the eyes. A foolish person, when forced to deal with a serious situation is like a fish out of water, flailing about.

            A wise man can provide constructive criticism, even if it stings when receiving it. The receiving party must have an open mind and heart to receive any type of criticism. There are those folks who, in their own ignorance, believe in their heart that they are always right. Not open to criticism, their growth is stunted. Those who are open to any type of criticism will win in the end, because those offering the criticism more times than not only has their best interests at heart.

            The key word in this posting is ‘constructive’. This type of criticism is meant to instruct, correct and / or warn. Some criticize simply for the sake of criticizing. Maybe it’s personal, or some sort of control thing. Praise from a foolish man accomplishes nothing and has no lasting value. It’s like ashes in the wind, scattered in all directions. Anything coming from the mouth of the foolish is mindless and meaningless. Valueless and frivolous. They are not taken seriously and become like nothing more than the proverbial clanging cymbal. Steer clear of them and seek out those whom you can benefit from by their wise critique and counsel. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resources: New Spirit-Filled Life Bible (Copyright © 2002 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.); NKJV Study Bible (Copyright ©1997, 2007 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.) and Believer’s Bible Commentary (Copyright © 1989, 1990, 1992, 1995, 2016 by William MacDonald.).

Walking Thru Ecclesiastes

Solomon’s practical counsel

Spotlight on Ecclesiastes 7:1-14 

 

“A wise person thinks a lot about death, while a fool thinks only about having a good time.”- Ecclesiastes 7:4

 

            In verse 4 Solomon continues with thoughts about death and how we should face the death of others. Although it sounds a bit morbid, in reality from the day we are born we start down the road to death. Everyone shall pass on from this life eventually. Some have many years; some have their life cut short. I’ve experienced this personally because my mother passed away at 53 years of age from pancreatic cancer. That was an untimely death to be sure and I had to deal with it without God because I wasn’t yet a Christian. I have made my peace with that situation and believe in my heart that she is in heaven. Did it make me wiser? Frankly, without the Holy Spirit to temper my reaction I was very angry. I cried bitter tears then, but tears of joy now at the wonderful memories I will always have.

            A person who thinks a lot about death is not to be preoccupied with it, but rather it resides in the deep recesses of his mind for the purpose of him taking life just a little more seriously than he might normally. This is certainly not taking a shot at having fun or being happy, there just needs to be a healthy balance. It’s just that when a person is confronted by their own mortality it can be a sobering thing which should make them wiser since we all eventually die.

            I’d like to end this posting with the following quote regarding verse 4 from the Believer’s Bible Commentary, which I think is worth sharing: “The mind of a wise person maintains poise and serenity in the presence of death. He can cope with sorrow and pressure because his roots are deep. Fools can’t stand to face serious crises. They try to drown out the sounds of life as it is with laughter and gaiety. They avoid contact with hospitals and mortuaries because their shallow resources do not equip them to stand up under the pressures of life.” ^[1] Choose when to be fun-loving and exuberant and when to be sober and serene wisely, because it is a direct reference to the depth of your soul.  Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resources: Reformation Study Bible (Published by Ligonier Ministries); New Spirit-Filled Life Bible (Copyright © 2002 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.) and The Wiersbe Study Bible (Copyright © 2021 by Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.)

^[1] Believer’s Bible Commentary (Copyright © 1989, 1990, 1992, 1995, 2016 by William MacDonald.)

Walking Thru Ecclesiastes

Solomon’s practical counsel

Spotlight on Ecclesiastes 7:1-14 

 

“Sorrow is better than laughter, for sadness has a refining influence on us.”- Ecclesiastes 7:3

 

            In Ecclesiastes 6:12 Solomon asks the following question: “In the few days of our meaningless lives, who knows how our days can best be spent? Our lives are like a shadow.” It would appear that he is attempting to answer that question, at least in part, in these 14 verses that open chapter 7.

            While the saying “laughter is the best medicine” may be true, our inner self, our serious side, craves answers to the deeper questions. We experience many sorrows in this life. Sorrow causes us to be introspective. Many times, we wish to go off by ourselves and reflect on life in general and life as it pertains to us. In that regard sorrow is better than laughter. Note the verse isn’t saying laughter is bad, just that sadness refines us. 

            In the refining of steel, the process requires furnace temperatures of anywhere from 7000 to 10,000 degrees. Any impurities come to the surface and are scooped off. These impurities are called ‘dross’. Life can be like a steel refinery in that our inadequacies, our weaknesses, our flaws come to the surface during trials of sorrow. They can be scooped out by the Holy Spirit, thus making us a little more refined as we strive to be like Christ.

            Sorrow tends to bring out our innermost thoughts so that we can make a true evaluation of ourselves. It can be a painful process because it is never easy to inflict pain on oneself. But just as you must cut yourself to get out the venom from a snake, the process is necessary to grow.

Never underestimate the value of sorrow, for it comes to us all, and it can allow us to mature in ways nothing else can. “True wisdom is developed in the crucible of life’s trials.” ^[1] Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resources: New Bible Commentary (Copyright: Universities and Colleges Christian Fellowship, Leicester, England, 1953, 1954, 1970, 1994 All rights reserved.); NIV Biblical Theology & Study Bible (Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan).

^[1] John MacArthur Study Bible, 2^nd Edition (Copyright © 1997, 2006, 2019 by Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.)

 

 

Word for the Day

 

Walking Thru Ecclesiastes

Solomon’s practical counsel

Ecclesiastes 6:1 thru 8:17

 

“Better to spend your time at funerals than at parties.  After all, everyone dies — so the living should take this to heart.”- Ecclesiastes 7:2

 

            This verse seems like an odd thing to say, but before we judge it as absurd, let’s look closer at it. It appears that Solomon is not being purposefully morbid, but in reality, knows people avoid discussing death. They squirm just a little at funerals and definitely do NOT want to discuss their own arrangements for when they pass on. I believe Solomon is showing his readers, not that parties are bad, but that funerals provide life lessons. Your time spent at a funeral can be beneficial in the long run. 

Funerals are a part of life because everyone dies at one point or another in their life. It gives us an opportunity, generally unwanted at the time, to reflect on our own life. It reminds us that it is never too late to change the trajectory of our lives. As a believer in Christ, it gives us the opportunity to look in the proverbial mirror and see if we measure up to the standard God has set before us. For those who do not know God in a personal and intimate way, it reestablishes the biblical fact that as long as you have breath in your lungs you have time to realize your sinful state and seek forgiveness from God. It stands to reason that it would be far better to experience God’s mercy than his judgment.

Taking something to heart is seeing and treating something as important, even significant. A Christian funeral is generally speaking a cause for celebration. After a persons run of faith is over, they are passing over to their eternal reward … they are being promoted to glory. Those left behind will typically miss the individual, but know they will see him again, as long as they have made their peace with God. 

While it would be morbid to fixate on death all the time, we are not being asked to do that. We are being asked to use a funeral as a springboard to reflect of one’s own life. God’s real and so is sin. Whether one believes in the afterlife or not doesn’t change what will happen one day. Assess your own walk with God. Is it all it can be? Who’s not making the effort, you or God? Think about it. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Walking Thru Ecclesiastes

Solomon’s practical counsel

Ecclesiastes 6:1 thru 8:17

 

            We’re moving on to Chapter 7 which the editor’s sub-titled “Wisdom for Life”. After reading the first 14 verses I’ve decided I’d like to spend a good amount of time here. 

 

“A good reputation is more valuable than costly perfume. And the day you die is better than the day you are born.” - Ecclesiastes 7:1

 

            It can be noted that Ecclesiastes 7:1-14 looks to be written in the same style as Proverbs, also written by Solomon. Singular wise statements that we should reflect on as a means of applying them to ourselves.  When Solomon speaks of “a good reputation”, he is speaking of one’s character. As believers we are to slowly take on the behavioral characteristics of Christ. Those who do not have any inclination to do so, whether a professed Christian (aka, CINO or Christian in Name Only), an agnostic or an atheist, will find that the consequences of that decision will be quite unpleasant. It is not a punishment, but rather the results of one exercising their free will to decide which path to take in this life. God is pleased with the righteous man who elects to follow him regardless of the circumstances they are confronted with. This individual is of tremendous value to God and his kingdom because they lived an honorable life.

            The next statement found in verse 1 leaves us guessing. Solomon is saying the day you die is a far better day then the day you are born. So, is he referring to the man of good reputation or any man? The day a righteous man dies is without question a wonderful day, for it is the day he gets promoted to glory. However, the day one is born is not a bad day by comparison, because that is when the journey begins. If God wills it there is a lot of living to be done before one’s life is over. As a real-life illustration, in the logistics world of retail clothing, the product must be received and placed in stock before it can be picked to be packaged and shipped out to the person who ordered it. Something must come first, so in my opinion, being born is at the very least just as good as dying, but one isn’t better than the other. That is said in the face of those in life who utter the regrettable words, “I wish I was never born.” 

            On a cinematic note, if you’ve ever watched the classic movie “It’s a Wonderful Life” with Jimmy Stewart, you know that he had a terrible problem that seemed to have no resolution. He prayed to God wishing he had never been born and God honored his prayer. Once our protagonist found that things were much different without him there, he asked God to restore him back to his previous life. His guardian angel, Clarence declared these famous words, “You see George, you actually had a wonderful life.” Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Word for the Day

 

Word for the Day

 

Walking Thru Ecclesiastes

Solomon’s practical counsel

Ecclesiastes 6:1 thru 8:17

 

            Solomon is now stepping from personal observances to practical counsel. Counsel from the “wisest man on earth” ought to be worth paying attention to, wouldn’t you say? Let’s see what he has to say …

            The 6^th chapter begins with what Solomon considers to be a “serious tragedy”. That being the man who works hard to accumulate great wealth and honor yet has no time to enjoy either one. If this man finds no satisfaction in life than what is the purpose of that life. He might as well not have been born at all.

            It seems as though money has played an important part in Solomon’s life and it also seems as if he may be describing himself. I believe he is. Not being born would eliminate many negative things from a person’s life. No pain, no sickness, no failed attempts at love (which brings heart pain rather than physical pain), no financial debt and so on. Surely even if a person has virtually no time to enjoy what he has accumulated there must be something positive that has come from his life. Solomon seems to have a very dour disposition. If everything is truly meaningless than why would anyone want to live at all? There is meaning in the simplest of endeavors. It is up to us to learn from what we go thru in this life. Is it possible that Solomon’s massive wisdom was both a blessing AND a curse? Perhaps his experience as King of Israel has caused him to seek a solution to life’s various situations as if life itself and the satisfaction of it all relied on him.

            It would seem that after all he had been thru, Solomon was able to present us with the following nugget of wisdom and truth in verse 9: “Enjoy what you have rather than desiring what you don’t have. Just dreaming about nice things is meaningless - like chasing the wind.”

            Solomon shares with us the point that while the future is set and determined, it is also unknown to all but Almighty God. We are unable to predict the future. It is a foolhardy endeavor to argue or complain to God though it isn’t a sin to do so. Solomon declares that “the more words you speak the less they mean.” I suppose that our words would become like the clanging cymbals spoken of in 1 Corinthians 13:1. Meaningless words with no benefit. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

 

Word for the Day

 

Walking Thru Ecclesiastes

Walking Thru Ecclesiastes

Solomon’s general observations

Ecclesiastes 3:1 thru 5:20

 

            In Chapter 5, Solomon begins by telling his readers how to approach God.  When you enter God’s house you should do it with EARS OPEN and MOUTH SHUT. We should be open to anything that may transpire there. Remember, the creature is not at any point in its existence greater than its’ Creator. Therefore, we ought to be prepared to listen to God’s voice. We think we know but we do not. God knows and is willing to share wisdom with us, but we come ill prepared to listen. Too many of us think we know better than our Lord, but if that were true then how do we end up in so many calamitous situations.

            Solomon touched on making promises. In verse 5, 6 he proclaims, “It is better to say nothing than to make a promise (to God) and not keep it. Don’t let your mouth make you sin.”

In Israelite culture making a vow was a very serious matter. Once made they were unbreakable. It was and still is a foolish endeavor to make a promise you cannot keep. If you make a vow (or a promise), KEEP IT, or don’t make it at all.

            Acquiring wealth is considered by Solomon to be a futile undertaking. No matter how much you acquire will be determined not to be enough. Once you have your wealth you will also acquire “new” friends who will help you spend it. Therefore, believing that true happiness coming from acquiring wealth is foolhardy … a chasing after the wind. It can be a very risky strategy to place large sums of money into an investment. This is meaningless, especially if you lose your money in a faulty investment. Then you have nothing left to pass on to your children. This was a terrible thing, for it was of paramount importance to the Jews to leave something to their offspring.

            Solomon ends this chapter by pointing out something good, at least from his perspective. That it was good for people that work hard to eat, drink, and enjoy life as they work hard during the short life that God has given us. We really don’t have much time to live at all. 80 or 90 years no doubt seems like a healthy sum of years to live on this earth but compared to eternity it is a mere drop in the proverbial bucket. Note he is not saying to party hardy every chance you get. That which we have is a gift from God. We are to enjoy that which we have and not wish we had more. Don’t brood over the past, but rather focus on the gift Giver instead of the gift itself. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

 

 

Walking Thru Ecclesiastes

Solomon’s general observations

Ecclesiastes 3:1 thru 5:20

 

            As we proceed to chapter 4, I have noticed here that even though Solomon appears to have found a few redeeming qualities in life in the end he concludes that it is “all meaningless - a chasing after the wind”. He observes the oppressive state of things and says that because life is so incredibly hard for those living, he concludes that the dead are far better off than the living. Those who are not yet born are the most fortunate of all because they have yet to experience the evil that exists in this world. It is clear that anyone who does not follow the Lord would certainly become depressed at what they see as the meaninglessness of everything around them.

            He comments on the advantage of having a companion in this life, stating that without a companion one individual would easily become discouraged at his plight. The solitary man (or woman) works hard to gain wealth, yet begins to question what he is working for, all the while passing on pleasure in the here and now. This also is meaningless … but give this person a companion and success can be more easily obtained. It was Confucius who said, “Many hands make light work”. That is obviously very true. Solomon gives another example based on a person being attacked. One person attacked can be quickly defeated, but it is more difficult to defeat two. A third party assisting brings out a clear illustration; “a triple-braided cord is not easily broken”. The logic of this statement is easy to see, but it still doesn’t lead Solomon to find significant value in living.

            The last paragraph of this chapter speaks of a poor youth who is wise being better than an old, foolish king who refuses any and all advice.  He states that the poor boy could rise out of poverty and become king someday. This is a positive thought, but once again Solomon sabotages his own optimistic thoughts by concluding that one day a new generation would grow up and reject the new king, making his rise to success once again meaningless … a chasing after the wind. 

            It is quite apparent that all Solomon did in his life without God bored and depressed him. His writing is making a point that will lead him back home. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Walking Thru Ecclesiastes

Solomon’s general observations

Ecclesiastes 3:1 thru 5:20

 

            Chapters 3-5 give general observations Solomon shared about life. The main point of the first 8 verses of chapter 3 is that all things are appropriate at a certain time. God knows the ‘when’, but he never tells us. In Solomon’s list of ‘things’ are dichotomies: birth and death, planting and harvesting, killing and healing, tearing down and building up, crying and laughing, grieving and dancing, scattering and gathering, keeping and throwing away, tearing and mending, loving and hating, war and peace.  

            According to Solomon, God’s purpose is for people to fear him. This is not being scared of him, but rather holding him in reverential awe and respect. So, we are not to serve him because God can extinguish our lives with a single swipe of his mighty hand, we are to willingly serve him because we have come to recognize that he loves us without conditions placed upon that love. We have come to believe the narrative, based on scripture, that God is real, and Christ died for us. Love could possibly be the most powerful force on earth, along with ‘truth’.

            Solomon then speaks briefly regarding the gross injustices that exist in this life. He speaks of the rampant corruption in a courts of law and says the following to himself: “In due season God will judge everyone, both good and bad, for all their deeds.” Justice will then be served. Could this be a prophetic utterance in the midst of is observations, for it sounds eerily like what is about to take place in our country in the not too distant future.

Solomon concludes the 3^rd chapter by comparing humans to animals in the respect that we both breath in air and we both die at some point. But there is a pointed difference between animals and humans … God places the hope of eternity in our hearts. Something that he has not done with animals. We have souls that need saving. Whether animals have a soul or not appears to be a topic for debate. It would be my personal feeling that since animals do not sin, they mustn’t have a soul. Therefore, they don’t need salvation … a key difference between animals and humans. Could I be wrong? Sure, but frankly, I think this debate is inconsequential. A look at chapter 4 next time … until then, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: The Life Application Study Bible; Tyndale Publishers.

Definitions:  

dichotomies - “two contrasting or opposing parts” 

Inconsequential - “something lacking importance”

(American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing)

Walking Thru Ecclesiastes

Solomon’s personal experiences - Part 2

Ecclesiastes 1:1 thru 2:26.

 

            Continuing on with Solomon’s experiences, we see first off that he this writing was done late in his life, after he was King. Verse 12 specifically says: “I, the Teacher, was king of Israel, and lived in Jerusalem.” “Was” & “lived” … Past tense. Verse 14 reveals that Solomon had observed all things going on under the sun. He had determined that all things are meaningless, in that the chasing after them is like chasing after the wind. Think about that. We can’t see the wind … we can see the effects of the wind, but not the wind itself. It is impossible to catch with your bare hands. It’s a vain endeavor … a colossal waste of time.

            In verse 18 Solomon acknowledges that “The greater my wisdom, the greater my grief. To increase knowledge only increases sorrow.” He highlights two types of wisdom: human wisdom thru reasoning & the wisdom that comes from God. Solomon found that pursuing human wisdom was again, like chasing after the wind. In his quest to find happiness he sought to either have built or acquire whatever his heart desired. Ecc. 2:10 is a telling statement: “Anything I wanted; I would take. I denied myself no pleasure.” This is what pursuing worldly wisdom gets you … ultimately just a whole lot of worthless nothing. Temporal things that bring temporary pleasure and happiness. While there is nothing intrinsically wrong with the pursue of these this, when it is done to the exclusion of the pursuit of God, misery is sure to follow at some point. 

            Solomon decided to compare the wise to the foolish. After comparing the two, realized that a wise man will be remembered no longer than the foolish man. In reality, he said that in time neither will even be remembered. Solomon became angry at this silly life and began to hate it because of all the trouble it caused him. It was then that he again muttered his famous line: “Everything is meaningless - like chasing the wind.” As you can see, he is building his case for devoting your life solely to God. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Walking Thru Ecclesiastes

Solomon’s personal experiences

Ecclesiastes 1:1 thru 2:26.

 

            In 1 Kings 3:1-15, Solomon, the son of King David, sought wisdom from God to rule over his people in Jerusalem. God was so impressed by his selfless request that he gave Solomon both what he asked for and what he didn’t ask for … namely material and monetary wealth. Because of his humble request he was from then on considered the wisest man who ever lived. 

            In the very beginning of Ecclesiastes Solomon states that “Everything is meaningless … completely meaningless.” He sights several examples: people come, and people go; the sun rises and sets only to rise again the next morning; the wind blows north, then it blows south, then in circles; rivers run to the sea, but the sea is never full … then the waters return to the rivers only to flow back out to the sea. His meaningless life was exhausting him. No matter how much he had or how much he saw or how many places he went or how much he heard, he was never satisfied. 

            Though wise beyond measure, wisdom doesn’t always mean you will make all the right choices. Solomon spent most of his life away from God, which was the impetus for writing Ecclesiastes in the first place. Although many times younger people no longer listen to the wisdom passed down from their family elders, many do and to THOSE Ecclesiastes was written.

           The entire book reflects on the years Solomon chased after the wind, never obtaining lasting satisfaction. Without God his life was completely empty and without meaning. Happiness and satisfaction did not come from acquiring everything he thought he wanted. True happiness and contentment reside in knowing God. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Taking a Walk thru the Book of Ecclesiastes

In line with my posting from Monday morning lies the Book of Ecclesiastes. It was written by the wisest man alive, David’s son Solomon. The purpose of this book it “to spare future generations the bitterness of learning through their own experience that life is meaningless apart from God”. ^[1] One of the key phrases that is often repeated is “Everything is meaningless; a chasing after the wind.” Solomon experienced many things in his life and this book breaks down all the important lessons he has learned.

 

The book is broken down into four sections: 

 

1. Solomon’s personal experiences, found in 1:1 thru 2:26.

2. Solomon’s general observations, found in 3:1 thru 5:20.

3. Solomon’s practical counsel, found in 6:1 thru 8:17.

4. Solomon’s final conclusion, found in 9:1 thru 12:14.

 

I will take a look at each section over the next few days. If I feel it necessary, I will stretch the teaching out a bit to cover more of its’ content. I believe the Lord led me here as a result of my thoughts regarding the lack of substance in the world around me. Take notes if you feel you’d like to. I believe we will learn much from Solomon’s writings here. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

^[1] From the introduction to the Book of Ecclesiastes; page 1381; The Living Application Study Bible; Tyndale Publication.

Thoughts from a Random Mind

I’m going to try my best not to get political, because I don’t think there’s any place for politics in the church. That’s my personal opinion. I reflect on the fact that the political world is massively corrupt and that we’ve essentially been living a lie for decades due to the work of corrupt individuals who have infiltrated our country in an attempt to take over. If that is in essence true than large portions of my life have been a lie. What I believed to be true was nothing more than a mirage … smoke and mirrors. Corruption and lies are rampant in our country and it has effected the entire world. I believe God is bringing judgment on many evil individuals for the sake of this country and by extension, the world. Once the judgment hits, I’m sure I, along with millions upon millions of others will watch in stunned silence as the truth of the matter unfolds.

It has become a heavy thing to experience. I’ve come to realize that all I held important and dear to me has not been what it has appeared to be. I have begun to wonder what truth is and what has been a lie. This has little, if anything, to do with God. He is truth. He is the one true constant. There is no falseness in him. There is no indecision in him. There is no evil in him. Only truth and light. All that is good and holy is in God … it’s in his makeup. If there was ever a time when people needed to turn to Almighty God, it is NOW. So much around us isn’t real. The lies that have been perpetrated against all of us shall be revealed and justice will prevail. Time is all that is stopping the reckoning that is on its way. Judgment shall be swift and complete. 

I am realizing that nothing much matters to me anymore. The things of this world seem especially empty right now. Lifeless. Unimportant. That which is not for God is worthless. Hanging on to it is meaningless. Let go of all the inconsequential ‘things’ in your life and cling ever so tightly to God. HE is the truth and will NEVER fail any of us. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

How Much Faith Do We Really Need?

 

            What would you think if every time you asked God for something you received it instantly? Would you like that? Does that require faith? Perhaps there are different kinds or levels of faith. Let’s think about that … .

            If you KNEW without a shadow of a doubt that every time you asked something of God you would instantly receive what you requested, I suppose it would be faith in the form of asking in the first place. It wouldn’t be a large amount of faith because you already were assured of the outcome. But what if what you were requesting wasn’t God’s best? What if it was actually BAD for you? Maybe that’s why ALL our requests are NOT answered instantly in the affirmative. 

            Scripture tells us that faith as small as the smallest seed from biblical times (the mustard seed [Luke 17:6] … which was said to be approximately the size of a pin head) is all that is needed to move a mountain. (Do you think Jesus meant that literally?) Any faith in God at all is acceptable to the Lord. “We don’t need more faith; a tiny seed of faith is enough if it is alive and growing.” [1]

            Having said that I believe it takes deep, abiding faith to wait as long as it takes to receive an answer from God, never even knowing if an answer will come. Not greater faith, but long standing faith. Faith that has stood the test of time. Faith that has not wavered in the face of tribulation. You see, we don’t need a mountain of faith to succeed in God’s world, just a modicum. *

            Don’t wish for things that are non-essential to your life. They may be harmless and there is no sin in seeking them. Instead seek those things that will enhance your life spiritually. Seek personal enrichment in the things of the Lord. Read his word … even one verse, paragraph or chapter will help you begin to think along the lines that will lead to spiritual growth. Trust God regardless of the appearance of things around you. Remember, the Creator is far superior to his creation. Nothing can defeat God and by extension, nothing can defeat us if we draw close to God. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

* Modicum - A small amount of something.

[1] Page 2243 - verse notes for Luke 17:6 - Life Application Study Bible. 

 

NOTE: You can BE anything you choose to be today, so BE KIND.

How Long Shall we than Live?

Isaiah 57:1-2 (from yesterday’s post) begs the question “Who says how long we are to live?” Psalm 90:10 says the following: “The years of our life are seventy or even by reason of strength eighty; yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away.” So, if scripture says we should live 70, maybe 80 years, why do people die prematurely? Because of sin, our lives are filled with “toil and trouble”. Life is not perfect. It is riddled with sin … both ours and that of others. The thought brought up in Isaiah that God takes some “before their time” is so they might not have to endure the evilness that surrounds them any longer. As with all seemingly unanswerable situations, God has his reasons. We aren’t asked to understand, only to trust God and have faith in him and his word.

Ephesians 6:2-3 says the following: “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.” This is from Deuteronomy 5:16 …  “Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the Lord your God is giving you.” Paul was quoting the Old Testament. So, it adds a personal criterion for achieving a long life, but these scriptures don’t say how long “long life” is.

Since God, Christ & the Holy Spirit were together at the beginning of time, they put the DNA into Adam & Eve when they were created. It’s the same with each one of us. They know what makes everyone of us ‘tick’. They know when we’ll be born and to whom. They know the future from the past and when each person that is so inclined will become ‘born again’. They also know when and how they will pass on from this life. Nothing surprises them, so it will be no surprise to God when a baby dies, or a young parent meets death thru disease or car accident. 

We don’t know what is coming. When we leave the house each day, we, frankly, don’t know if we will make it back home again that night. But God knows. We also don’t realize when angels provide protection for us as we go about our business each day. Sin is the reason why tragedy strikes so unexpectantly. There are times when we make our own decisions regarding life choices and they lead to death. That wouldn’t be God’s fault for it falls under the category of “free will”. Do as you please but bear the consequences … which do not always happen to good.

We may never understand the ‘why’ of it, but we can know that when we mourn, God mourns and when we’re grief stricken, the Holy Spirit is there to bring comfort. I will continue to dig into this topic and post my findings from time to time. God is good, despite the continued disobedience of his creation.

Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries  

Sometimes the Good Die Young

Isaiah 57:1-2

New Living Translation

“Good people pass away; the godly often die before their time. But no one seems to care or wonder why. No one seems to understand that God is protecting them from the evil to come. For those who follow godly paths will rest in peace when they die.”

         Sin promotes great evil. We are seeing this with our own eyes today. God knows the future and it stands to reason that he may desire to save certain ones of his children from the excessive evil that is coming. Perhaps the rapture of the church will rescue us all from this, in the meantime, we are to live godly lives according to the instructions given in God’s Word. 

            I’m sure we all know someone, whether it be man, woman, or child, that has died prematurely. It becomes a heavy weight on our heart as we utter the ‘why’ question. Why did they have to die? Why them? Why not a drug lord, pedophile or adulterer? There are so many evil people who do horrible things just because they feel they can. Why not one of them? Well, first off, we don’t know that they haven’t met some tragic demise. 

God mourns the loss of those of his children who have met death prematurely. We are allowed to question God. He’s not afraid of our doubts or questions at all. He also may not give us the answers we seek. The Christian walk can be treacherous, but in the end is rewarding. Those who die before their time will enjoy the glories of heaven sooner than we will and that’s a wonderful blessing. Our heartache comes from the fact that they are no longer with us. Death is part of the circle of life. Everyone dies at one time or another. God has his reasons why some die before others. 

I experienced this type of situation when my mother’s mother had to attend my mom’s wake. My mother died of pancreatic cancer at 57 years of age. I wasn’t yet a believer, so as you can imagine I was filled with the ‘why’ question … a tragedy that caught me off guard … by surprise. I wasn’t expecting it. My grandmother broke down and sobbed. The thought of outliving her daughter was too much grief for her to bear. She was inconsolable. So was I. I didn’t know what to think or do. It was hard, so I know even those who know the peace of Christ still struggle with premature death. 

I will continue on the topic of premature death of loved ones when time permits. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Word for the Day

 

Word for the Day

 

Thoughts from a Random Mind - The 'WHY' question revisited

Having read that devotional entitled ‘God in the Midst of Tragedies’, and with my wife and I discussing it, we both still have a difficult time dealing with the death of young children. Some get healed, some do not. Whenever children are involved in tragic events it touches the heart in a profound and hurtful way. Why must the innocent children of the world, of both Christian and non-Christian parents, be thrust into the theatre of pain? As before, I have no answer for this.

I suppose the only thing that comes to mind is that death is an integral and intrinsic part of the cycle of life. We are not promised a certain number of years of life. It seems unfair without question, but we must remember we are thinking with limited understanding that has been heavily influenced by all that has infiltrated our various senses since our birth. Scripture tells us we are not promised tomorrow. ^{(Proverbs 27:1)} Our expectations are that we will have many days on this earth before death takes us, but how do we come to that conclusion? Perhaps it has something to do with our belief that we are good people who deserve a long, happy, healthy life. But who ever told us we were entitled to that? For that matter, who ever told us we were good? According to scripture no one is good except God … not even Jesus ^{(Mark 10:18)}. According to scripture we aren’t good because we fail to “love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength” ^{(Matthew 22:37-38)}.

            According to the Bible no one deserves anything but punishment because we all sin … every last one of us. Yet scripture is crystal clear that God is merciful and kind and loving. It is most certainly a conundrum without an earthly solution. We may never know this side of heaven and once in heaven will we really care anymore. Those children that have passed on from various maladies and even those who have been aborted, shall be in heaven. Maybe the answer to the ‘why’ question lies in the future of said children? In other words, what would there life have been like had they lived. Is that possible? … most certainly. Maybe God was sparing them from future pain. Hmmm, sounds a little sketchy, but that’s just it, we simply do not know.

I will continue to ponder the great, seemingly unanswerable ‘why’ question, looking for a greater understanding. I’ll send my findings to y’all as they come to me. May God bless you and yours as we walk thru the future together. Until next time, continue to walk with the King of Kings and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries