Word for the Day

                               Religion says, 

            "I obey; therefore I am accepted."

                            Christianity says, 

              "I'm accepted; therefore I obey."

                                    Timothy Keller

Walking Thru Ecclesiastes

Solomon’s Final Conclusion

Ecclesiastes 9:1 - 12:14

 

“Remember him before the light of the sun, moon, and stars are dim to your old eyes, and rain clouds continually darken your sky. Remember him before your legs start to tremble, and your shoulders stoop. Remember him before your teeth stop grinding; and before your eyes see dimly.” - Ecclesiastes 12:2-3 ^NLT

            Once we are born, we begin our slow march toward death. While a rather morose way of looking at life, in reality it is quite true. It seems like our time on earth is so long, yet time goes so very quickly that before you know it you are old, and you wonder where all the time went. That is the dilemma of those who wait to serve the Lord. You say to yourself “I will commit my life to God another day”, but you are not promised another day.

The phrase “seize the day” applies here. It literally means to “do the things you want to do when you have the chance instead of waiting for a later time.” * More specifically, serve God NOW as opposed to tomorrow, for tomorrow may never come.

The verses 2-5 can be taken allegorically or literally. These verses represent what happens to a person as they age. It is implying that one can wait so long to commit their life to God that they may no longer have the desire or ability to make that commitment. It can be a terrible thing to realize that all you’ve accomplished in your life has essentially amounted to nothing and all that you could have done in Christ’s name was left undone. One should never wait to do that which can be done today. Commit your way to the Lord and realize your full potential in God. Recognize what your spiritual gifts are and use them. Don’t wait until it is too long. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

*Merriam-Webster Dictionary

Walking Thru Ecclesiastes

Solomon’s Final Conclusion

Ecclesiastes 9:1 - 12:14

 

“Don’t let the excitement of youth cause you to forget your Creator. Honor him in your youth before you grow old and say, ‘Life is not pleasant anymore.’”- Ecclesiastes 12:1 ^NLT

            Is it better to become saved at an early age or later in life? Actually, you could make a case for both. Giving your life over to Christ early on in life secures your place in God’s family and seals your eternal destination. There is the issue that arises with many young people who grow up in the church … that being wondering what they are missing. Looking at it retrospectively you realize you weren’t missing anything of value and certainly nothing of eternal value, but some folks simply need to find out for themselves. This is what Solomon did. 

While becoming a believer later in life affords you the opportunity to experience life in the world, it’s like playing with fire … you could get burnt. The devil is absolutely NOT our friend and while the things of this world may look enticing, they are nothing but baubles, cheap imitations of the real thing that God offers. A person wastes valuable time living for the kingdom by dabbling in the world. 

Solomon is building up to his crescendo, which is at the end of this book. He has now begun to incorporate God as he builds up to his final conclusion. He speaks from experience, having married multiple wives, and availed himself of all the pleasures of this life. Having enjoyed such things he realizes what he had strayed from and therefore what he was missing. Everything aside from the Lord is meaningless. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Word for the Day

 

Word for the Day

 

Word for the Day

 

Walking Thru Ecclesiastes

Solomon’s Final Conclusion

Ecclesiastes 9:1 - 12:14

 

“You who are young, be happy while you are young, and let your heart give you joy in the days of your youth. Follow the ways of your heart and whatever your eyes see but know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment. So then, banish anxiety from your heart and cast off the troubles of your body, for you and vigor are meaningless*.” - Ecclesiastes 11:9-10 ^NIV

            It’s interesting how when we are young, we tend to think many things simply don’t matter. We didn’t take a whole lot serious in our younger years, did we? But have you ever thought that things we did then can have an impact on our life today? Many of the choices we make are irreversible and can affect us forever. How many of the decisions we make are based on selfishness? I would venture to say far too many. I know mine tend to be. When we make these decisions, I have a feeling eternity is the farthest thing from our minds.

            Solomon cautions his readers not to do anything of a physical, moral, or spiritual nature that may prevent them from enjoying life in their later years. There are so many things one can do in this life to enjoy themselves without stepping on another’s toes or disobeying the statutes of God. We should also not be the one who rains on another’s parade by pretending to be the moral police. Those are two extremes: being morally extreme and being morally lax. 

            Christians stand before the Bema or Mercy Seat of Christ. This is where we all give an accounting of what we’ve done for the kingdom in Christ’s name. It is at that time that we receive our rewards. Those who stand before Almighty God at the White Throne Judgment are the ones who never received God’s glorious gift of forgiveness with entrance into eternity with Him forever. Here those whose names aren’t found in the Lamb’s Book of Life will be cast into a Lake of Fire forever with no chance of redemption. That is not meant to frighten anyone, just make you away that if you think God will not judge man for his indiscretions is sadly mistaken. Be in a constant state of readiness, for no one knows the day or the hour of Christ’s Return. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries 

* Transitory, idle, empty, and devoid of truth.

Word for the Day

 

Walking Thru Ecclesiastes

Solomon’s Final Conclusion

Ecclesiastes 9:1 - 12:14

 

“Light is sweet, and it pleases the eyes to see the sun. However many years anyone many live, let them enjoy them all. But let them remember the days of darkness, for there will be many. Everything to come is meaningless.”- Ecclesiastes 11:7-8 ^NIV

            Here Solomon is reminding his readers of the days that brought light and sweetness to their souls. He then warns them to remember the dark days, for they come to us all at one time or another. He says the dark days will be numerous. Just how numerous is not said, but this world is not our friend. Evil lurks around every corner; however, light dispels the darkness. Even when the light isn’t seen the shadows prove there is light.

                  Learning from the past is valuable, for to not learn from it causes us to repeat it. When Solomon says, “Everything to come is meaningless”, I believe that though he hasn’t said it yet, he is building to a point where the question must be asked, “what truly has meaning?” Surely there must be something in this life that is meaningful. 

                  Reflecting on your dark days doesn’t mean we focus on them forever, analyzing and dissecting them. We don’t dwell on them, but rather are ever mindful of them so as to avoid them going forward. We also shouldn’t be blinded by the days of light so much so that we become oblivious to any darkness that may come upon us. Although he hasn’t established this direct point just yet, Solomon is pointing us in an important direction. That Almighty God is with us always and will always work for us for our ultimate good no matter what the current circumstances may look like. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Walking Thru Ecclesiastes

Solomon’s Final Conclusion

Ecclesiastes 9:1 - 12:14

 

“Sow your seed in the morning, and at evening let your hands not be idle, for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or whether both will do equally well.”- Ecclesiastes 11:6 ^NIV

            Continuing in the context of the unknown, Solomon recommends for man to work hard and diversify that work. He shows that by telling man to plant in the morning and in the evening. It is unknown which planting will be successful; one, the other or both. Essentially, what we are being asked to do is to let the success or failure of a task rest in the hands of God. Do not hesitate. Do not procrastinate. Do that which you are called to do.

            The future is known only to the Lord, who is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning, and the end. This shines a light on how foolish it is to not align ourselves with Him. Man thinks of himself as autonomous, in need of no one’s help. When he hits a roadblock, he seeks the help of equally foolish men. We are incapable of knowing that which God already knows. Even when a part of His family we still have yet to master the skill of acquired knowledge and discernment. Our ego gets in the way. 

            If we look at Solomon’s example in a different way, we get the same result. Let’s say sowing seed, whether in morning or evening is referring to the spreading of God’s Word. We still don’t know which seed will be received and allowed to grow. So, we sow that seed regardless of the day or time and leave the growth and harvesting to the Lord. Do not shy away from doing that which you have been called to do. There are many ways to sew seed. Pray, listen, then proceed as you are led by the Holy Spirit. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resources: NIV Biblical Theology Study Bible; NKJV Study Bible; The Believer’s Bible Commentary & The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Old Testament.

Walking Thru Ecclesiastes

Solomon’s Final Conclusion

Ecclesiastes 9:1 - 12:14

 

“As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things.” - Ecclesiastes 11:5 NIV

            Life has many mysteries. Some things we understand, but many things we do not. Solomon mentions two things that confound the mortal mind: the birth of a child and the movement of the wind. These are two very common things man encounters every day. Who controls these things? Who forms a child in his or her mother’s womb? We cannot accomplish this on our own. Our belief in a supreme spirit being, an Almighty God, who supplies the answer to these questions and much more. 

            The entire overall theme of this book is that we cannot understand all the ways God works to fulfill his plans for us. Just because we cannot understand what is happening to us or in the world around us doesn’t mean a thing. We haven’t been asked to understand, but rather to trust. Throughout scripture God has never given us a reason NOT to trust him. 

This life has conditioned us to look for immediacy in everything, but with God we must learn to wait. His impeccable timing forces us to wait, whether we want to or not, because he knows the best time for things to take place. The mystery of the wind reveals God’s unpredictable nature. Unpredictable only because we cannot understand it, yet it is real because we can see and feel the results of the wind. Trust in the workings of God. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Old Testament

Word for the Day

 

Word for the Day

 

Walking Thru Ecclesiastes

Solomon’s Final Conclusion

Ecclesiastes 9:1 - 12:14

 

“If clouds are full of water, they pour rain on the earth. Whether a tree falls to the south or to the north, in the place where it falls, there it will lie. Whoever watches the wind will not plant; whoever looks at the clouds will not reap.”- Ecclesiastes 11:3-4 ^NIV

            This is another life lesson from Solomon. He is sharing with his readers the uncertainty of life. While we know that rain clouds do come and dump water on the earth, back then they didn’t know when other than looking up at the skies for clouds. When a tree falls on its own, there is no telling what direction it will fall, but when it does fall that’s where it will lie until someone moves it. There is a certain level of uncertainty in every aspect of life. It is the man of faith who doesn’t use uncertainty as an excuse for not moving forward.

                  Uncertainty can lead a man to laziness or at the very least procrastination. Putting off a task or chore due to unknown conditions will cause the person to accomplish nothing. It is certainly possible for someone to be too cautious. While you can wait for perfect conditions, they may never come. There may never be an ideal time to make your move. You can be assured that when a move isn’t made, failure will follow.

                  As believers in Christ, we should be seeking and then obeying the promptings of God’s Holy Spirit. Once we feel certain that we have our directive(s) then obey in faith as you feel led with the enabling of the Spirit. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resources: The Reformation Study Bible; The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible Notes; The NKJV Study Bible & The Believer’s Bible Commentary.

Walking Thru Ecclesiastes

Solomon’s Final Conclusion

Ecclesiastes 9:1 - 12:14

 

“Ship your grain across the sea; after many days you may receive a return. Invest in seven ventures, yes, in eight; you do not know what disaster may come upon the land.” - Ecclesiastes 11:1-2 ^NIV

            Not much is known of Solomon’s personal life. Archeologists worldwide struggled to find a shred of evidence that he actually lived at all. Then came British marine archaeologist Dr Sean Kingsley. He spread his research net far and wide and found out that Solomon not only lived but was the world’s first shipping magnate. According to Kingsley Solomon worked with his allies the Phoenicians, who were ship builders. He acquired much wealth thru his shipping endeavors. * This is no doubt where the advice from the first two verses of chapter 11 come from.

            There’s an adage “You must spend money to make money.” Solomon is sharing with his readers to be adventurous with respect to spreading your investments around in many directions … in other words - diversify. Also be generous, for those who are generous are thought of highly and well respected. Solomon wrote in his Proverbs (11:24) “One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.” 

In those days when a ship left port with your goods on it to sell in a foreign land there was no way of knowing if the ship would arrive at its desired destination, let alone return with payment for the goods or a return shipment of goods in a barter type of arrangement.

Make wise investments, however, when an endeavor fails, as some surely will, do not become paralyzed with fear and become overly cautious. Another adage fits here - “Nothing ventured, nothing gained.” Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resources:  Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Old Testament; NIV Biblical Theology Study Bible; NIV Quest Study Bible Notes & NIV Study Bible Notes

* Information from www.theguardian.com.

Walking Thru Ecclesiastes

Solomon’s Final Conclusion

Ecclesiastes 9:1 - 12:14

 

“Do not revile the king even in your thoughts, or curse the rich in your bedroom, because a bird in the sky may carry your words, and a bird on the wing may report what you say.” - Ecclesiastes 10:20 ^NIV

            Here Solomon gives us a life lesson that is very important. It deals with a person’s integrity. Their honest ability to devoid themselves of ill speech regarding another. This would be classified simply as gossip. Unflattering talk regarding another person. Whether they be the President of your country, your boss, your spouse, or another random person, gossip is a vile habit and doesn’t need to be a part of our behavioral makeup.

            Solomon lived in a culture where the King’s word was final. An evil, ruthless ruler could have people executed for simply expressing an opinion that differs from his own. While this may not be so in all cultures or time periods, it is safe to say that we should always be very careful what we say in private. Sooner or later others will find out. 

            Gossiping can cause one to develop a nervous condition, never knowing if what they had said in private was leaked out to the public. Keep a high level of integrity and you’ll never need to worry.  We should go out of our way to both encourage and edify with honesty and truthfulness all with whom we come in contact. In this way you are being Christ to those people. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Ephesians 4:29 - “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building other us according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”

NOTE: The use of the word ‘bird’ in Ecc. 10:20 is a figure of speech meaning a spy or informant.

Walking Thru Ecclesiastes

Solomon’s Final Conclusion

Ecclesiastes 9:1 - 12:14

 

“A feast is made for laughter, wine makes life merry, and money is the answer for anything.”- Ecclesiastes 10:19 ^NIV

            Solomon is telling us of things that bring pleasure but are only temporal. Having a feast or even just eating a standard meal is all well and good but you will need to eat again and again to provide sustenance to your body. Drinking wine can bring pleasure, but again it is only temporary. And then there is money. Government leaders, businesses, families and even churches fall into the trap of thinking money is the answer to all their problems and needs. 

                  Scriptures warns us of the love of money. There is no doubt that money is necessary to survive in this life, but scripture specifically speaks to the issue of the “love of money”.  No matter how much you have you still feel you must have more. Some folks think they’ll never have enough. They want enough so that they will never have to worry about lacking anything ever again. Therein lies the trap, for you will never have as much as you think you need. There will always be something you have to pay off or something you feel you simply must have.

                  Here is what scripture has to say about the issue of loving money: “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”^{(Matthew 6:24)} “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” ^{(1 Timothy 6:10)} “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’” ^{(Hebrews 13:5)} The sad truth is that many Christians honestly believe they can control their want for more, yet the devil is lying in wait and will suck them into a downward spiral due to their ignorance. We must realize and then accept that the Lord Himself is all we will ever need. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Thoughts from a Random Mind

I’ve already spoken of my problem with judging people by their appearance. Seems to me a lot of folks have the very same problem. Whether Christian or not, we all fall into the same trap. The Lord shared something with me at work yesterday. The things He placed in my heart analyze this topic a little deeper. 

                  Isn’t it interesting that when two men meet for the first time one of the first questions they ask is either “Where do you work?” or “What do you do for a living?” It’s our way of assessing various things about that person. Things like how much they make, which spins off into what he drives, where he lives … the wheels start turning in our mind and we determine all sorts of things about that person without saying another word. It’s a pretty common practice. 

Christians are no different. What’s one of the first questions we ask someone we are meeting for the first time … “What church do you go to?” or “What denomination do you belong to?”  We can really go to town with that information. If they’re from a Pentecostal or Evangelical background, we may feel a certain sort of way. Orthodox church goers (such as, Methodist, Lutheran, Presbyterian, or Catholic) are viewed another way. We don’t accept people for who they are. Not always, but many times. We shun certain denominations without really knowing anything about the persons attending them.  What if they are born again yet aren’t attending any church at all at the time. Depending on how we feel about a given church or denomination, or why they don’t go to church at all and why. We will judge them accordingly. We allow that info to influence how we feel about them. And what about Jews? They’re very different than Christians in beliefs and practices. But they are created by the same God and loved by Him the same as you and me. Don’t they deserve to be loved just like anyone else, regardless of their religious affiliation. What about other religions? What about Jehovah’s Witness or Mormons, two groups that are viewed by Christians as cults? What about atheists or agnostics? The list goes on and on. 

Our upbringing, our friendships, our schooling, what we watch, listen to, or read all play a part in how we see others. We segregate ourselves from certain folks because of information we have accumulated in our minds thru the years. Was Jesus like that? The only ones he rejected were the religious men of the day … the Pharisees. Interesting, isn’t it? 

What gives any of us the right to judge ANYONE about ANYTHING? We don’t know anyone’s back story. We only know what they have chosen to reveal to us and what we have chosen to assume about them. We are all unique. Everyone doesn’t have to believe exactly like me or you. While it’s true there is one way to heaven and that is thru Christ, I have no doubt that there are many tributaries that flow into the same stream, so to speak, that lead to God. And they all flow thru His blood. 

This practice of judging others comes from none other than Satan himself. It certainly doesn’t come from God. God seeks to unite us in a bond of love. Satan seeks to divide and conquer us.  To put it very simply, nothing good or positive has or will ever come from Satan. So, recognize the source of this bad habit and rebuke him in the name of Jesus’. 

We aren’t perfect. This isn’t meant to shame anyone or make anyone feel guilty. It’s merely meant to point out a problem we all seem to have. I know I do it all the time and I know better. I try with God’s help to treat all others the same, with the love of Christ. We’re not going to agree with everyone, but we can help unite us all with His love simply by how we treat others. Follow the “Golden Rule” from the gospels … Treat (ALL) others the way we wish to be treated. Scripture tells us the world will know we are Christians by our love for one another. Let’s learn from past mistakes knowing that they do not define us as people. Our ability to adjust and make the necessary changes will.

 

“Heavenly Father, I ask that we all strive to become more and more like Christ as each day progresses. I rebuke the devil in the precious and powerful name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The devil has no hold on us unless we give it to him. May we stay focused on the Lord and listen for the directives from the Holy Spirit within us. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

 

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Word for the Day

Walking Thru Ecclesiastes

Solomon’s Final Conclusion

Ecclesiastes 9:1 - 12:14

 

“Woe to the land whose king was a servant and whose princes feast in the morning. Blessed is the land whose king is of noble birth and whose princes eat at a proper time - for strength and not for drunkenness. Through laziness, the rafters sag; because of idle hands, the house leaks.” - Ecclesiastes 10:16-18 ^NIV

            It appears that Solomon is pointing out something that Jews should be painfully aware of. Thru the generations Israel had many immature and irresponsible leaders. Knowing this would be the result of Israel having a king like the other nations is the reason God had set Himself up as their only true king. However, there came a time chronicled in 1 Samuel*, when the Jews insisted on having a king so they could be like the other nations. Now the other nations were not the chosen people of God and both God and Samuel knew this. Samuel took offense to this request, but God allowed it because the people thought they knew better then God how to live. Even today God desires people who want to serve Him, not feel forced to.

            The books of 1^st & 2^nd Kings describe the decline of the kingdoms when Israel’s leaders were only concerned about themselves and not the people. These leaders were selfish and lazy. I liken the history of Israel and where they stood with God to a rollercoaster. There were good years, full of joy and prosperity (the rise of the coaster) and very bad years, when evil ruled (the drop of the coaster). 

            The verbiage used by Solomon here is very descriptive. We can picture in our mind’s eye sagging rafters which cause leaks in a house. Perhaps you’ve had the misfortune of sagging rafters at one time in your own home. That is a perfect expression of what the Israeli king at the time held as most important. As long as he was satisfied and his personal needs were met, why should he care what happened around him. Kings of this ilk were often overrun by other nations. They were easily manipulated due to their weak constitution. It is very easy to see the good from the evil kings. The good kings served God which served as a example to encourage the people to do likewise. The evil kings couldn’t care less what happened around them. They were to a man weak minded and useless to everyone, even themselves. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: Footnote from Ecc. 10:16-18; The Life Application Study Bible; Tyndale Publishers.

* 1 Samuel 8

Thoughts from a Random Mind

                  Matthew West has a new song out titled “Truth be told”. It’s a really good song that tells a message of how things should be, at the very least between fellow believers. He tells of how believers should be truthful when we’re asked how we are, for example. We say “fine” when we know we’re not fine. But as I listen to the song, I say out loud, but “who truly cares enough to hear what you have to, even NEED to say?” There’s too much judging going on and unfortunately, I am part of the problem with that one. Where’s the love man? I can think of a very small group of people that I might … might trust with the issues and problems that I face each day. That’s not even a definite. 

                  I’ve told my wife, tell others as little as possible, because the more they know about you or your situation, the more they feel they have the right to pass judgment. It’s the way I feel. It’s the way I’ve felt for a long time. Frankly, I simply don’t trust people. Not all people, but most. Many people that you try to talk to about something that is gnawing at you are busy doing something else and either don’t have the time to listen or are on their phone scrolling or texting while they are “listening to you” … You’re wasting your time talking to people who can’t manage to give you their undivided attention. 

                  So, do we have to enlist the help of a counselor or psychiatrist (preferably a Christian one) to find someone who will listen to us? A lot of us can’t afford that. It’s like you need to interview people to find out their life story to see if they will satisfy your need for a listener. I’m not talking about someone who listens and advises so much as just someone who listens and then offers to pray for you. Sometimes you just need to talk certain things out. Once you do that many times you can straighten it out by just having a sounding board to talk it out. 

                  It can be extremely frustrating when you have something that is heavy on your heart yet have no one that you can trust enough to unload on them. So, you internalize whatever it is. Christians are human beings just like you and me, but why is it that so many don’t seem to have too much interest in imitating Christ in their lives. I’m not the role model for the problem I speak of, but at least I am aware of the issue and am trying to work my way thru the weeds.

                  I think the most important resolution we can have for 2022 is to become more SELFLESS! We’re ALL selfish to a certain extent. Perhaps the world has beaten the caring out of a lot of us. Sometimes we’re too lazy to listen. Sometimes we listen but cannot help giving unsolicited advice. We need to empathize … we need to ask God to enable us to feel what they feel. That’s happened to me, so I know it is possible. 

                  Luke 6:31 & Matthew 7:12 list what most refer to as The Golden Rule. That title doesn’t appear in scripture but is typically accepted as the unofficial title of the verses. “Treat others just as you want to be treated.” (Luke 6:31 CEV) “Do for others what you would want them to do for you. This is the meaning of the Law of Moses and the teaching of the prophets.” (Matthew 7:12 ERV) We ALL need to be a lot better at this or we’ll not look any different to people than anyone else in this lost, sin sick world. 

 

 

Here's a prayer you can pray to get the ball rolling … please join me in rectifying poor behavior.

 

 

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, please help me to be more selfless in my everyday life. Let your Holy Spirit lead and guide us into deeper truths and mold us more into the image of your Son. In His name I pray … amen. 

 

 

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Walking Thru Ecclesiastes

Solomon’s Final Conclusion

Ecclesiastes 9:1 - 12:14

 

“If the ax is dull and its edge unsharpened, more strength is needed, but skill will bring success.” - Ecclesiastes 10:10 ^NIV

            There is no doubt that doing something without the proper tools is like chopping wood with a dull ax. It’s always better to make sure in advance that your tools are sharpened as sharp as they can be to assure a proper result. The same would be true with your skills. You must be willing to train and practice to optimize your use of those skills.

            The phrase “sharpening the blade” simply means that you recognize a problem exists with what you’re doing and realize honing your skill is necessary. Regarding Christianity, you might realize an issue with your walk or your attitude. If so, what is the first thing you should do?  Pray … the answer is to ALWAYS pray. God knows what you need and will answer your pray in due time. 

They say that “faith is a virtue”. Praying is a faith action. We pray to God not knowing how or when he will answer. The fact that we pray at all reveals an expectation of an answer. Waiting for our answer can challenge our patience and stretch our faith, but it is the only way to tap into God’s unlimited resources. He wants to bless you. He wants to see you grow spiritually, for that type of growth will make you meet for the master’s work. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Thoughts from a Random Mind

PLATEAU - an elevated, level expanse of land; a relatively stable level period or state; to level off. 

 

            Have you ever plateaued in your spiritual life? I have. I actually visualize my walk with the Lord as a steep climb up a mountain. You get saved and start your steep climb up. You get to a certain point in your walk, and you plateau and so on. Perfection is not your goal, consistency is. We strive to be EXACTLY like Jesus in our daily lives somehow knowing we will never achieve this. The proper result from reaching your plateau is that you remain stable for a certain period of time, when you level off. I believe it is one way God can lead you to the next section where your climb begins again. Sometimes you plateau to rest, sometimes for instructions, sometimes to heal, and still other times to assess your behavior. There are many reasons when and why people plateau spiritually. It is a very important to recognize it for what it is. Sometimes a person can feel lost on their path. Perhaps they’ve lost a sense that God is with them. Perhaps they have allowed themselves to stop growing in the Lord. The main thing to remember is that it can happen to anyone, and it doesn’t have to be a bad thing. If you feel empty inside and you feel you can no longer hear from God, pray. No matter how lame you think your prayer might be or how empty it may sound to you, pray. God loves to hear from us. Pray something simple regarding wisdom and guidance and he will hear you, and act on your behalf. Reaching a plateau is part of the process on the way to your eternal home. Praise God that he is a loving God who wishes to show us which way to go. “Love the Lord with all your heart and don’t lean on our own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths. (Proverbs 3:5-6) 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 Final Conclusion

Ecclesiastes 9:1 - 12:14

 

“The heart of the wise inclines to the right, but the heart of the fool to the left. Even as fools walk along the road, they lack sense.”- Ecclesiastes 10:2-3 ^{The New Living Translation}

            In ancient culture the right hand was the place of honor, power, favor, and authority.  Psalm 110:1 and Hebrews 1:3 speak of Jesus sitting at the right hand of the throne of God.  The use of the words right and left has nothing to do with political affiliation in this instance. 

            These two verses show that wisdom and folly go in distinct, opposite directions. It is essentially saying that those who are wise are naturally inclined to do that which is correct and leads to being honored and favored. A person who is foolish will manifest it thru their natural behavior each day. Thus, the foolish man will gravitate to the left which is metaphorical for weakness and even evil. 

                  Verse 1 revealed to us that even the smallest amount of folly can outweigh wisdom. “No matter how valuable wisdom is, a little folly can destroy it.” * It only takes one fly to spoil a batch of perfume. Until next time, walk with the king and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries   

* NIV Theology Study Bible footnote.

Resources: NIV Quest Bible Study Notes; NKJV MacArthur Study Bible, 2^nd Edition; Expositor’s Bible Commentary.

Thoughts from a Random Mind

New Year’s Resolution

 

“a promise to do something differently in the new year”

 

            In a way it’s a little bit like Lent. “The 40 weekdays from Ash Wednesday to Easter observed by the Roman Catholic, Eastern, and some Protestant churches as a period of penitence and fasting”

 

            While growing up in the Presbyterian Church, my mom would always say we needed to give up something for the 40 days of Lent. Nothing spiritual … candy, soda, TV, something of that nature. Once I became born again, I understood that self-assessment and change were important parts of the spiritual maturation process. Evangelical churches, as a rule, do not practice Lent, however, I have felt it important to inject into my own life a Spiritual Resolution for the coming New Year. I do not practice Lent per se but strive to be closer to God and more like Christ each day of each year. It’s a never-ending process that quite frankly never should end. Not until the day we meet Christ face to face. Living according to God’s biblical standards can be a daunting task that is made easier by seeking the leading and guidance of the Holy Spirit who lives within you. 

Knowing scripture helps you live it so perhaps your spiritual resolution could be committing to reading scripture each day and ponder its full meaning or read a devotional and look to apply what has been said to your daily life. Perhaps it could be to commit yourself more to prayer for your own spiritual growth and for others in need of prayer. Whatever it is, lift it up to the Lord and ask that he bless it so that you might be a blessing to others. 

Thank you all for your faithful reading of my blog. I am truly blessed and eternally grateful to have this platform to exercise my gift of writing. May God bless each and every one of you as you live for Him. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

           MAY YOU ALL HAVE A HAPPY, HEALTHY 2022!!