Walking Thru Ecclesiastes

Solomon’s Practical Counsel

Ecclesiastes 7:15-22

 

“Do not be excessively or willfully wicked and do not be a fool. Why should you die before your time?” - Ecclesiastes 7:17 ^{Amplified Bible}

^{It should be clear that God is the one who determines when a persons life will end, but foolish people can bring death on prematurely due to poor decisions they have made in life. Fools think only in the short term. They look for immediate remedies to their circumstances, taking unnecessary risks, making damaging lifestyle choices and wasting their true potential. The Lord never condones any sort of wickedness, for sin cannot abide with him. His standard is always perfection, which is why perfection was necessary to remove our sins.}

^{Our lives are filled with temptations that are designed to trip us up. Our ‘old nature’, while dorment as we walk with God, doesn’t require much to wake up and push us toward evil intentions. Media bombards us continuously with tempting suggestions that are meant to drive us over a cliff. It’s why our focus must be very specifically aimed at our Lord and nowhere else.} 

^{Being willfully wicked comes to believer’s who take a break from their religious regimen to “enjoy” their life. First of all, true believer’s in Christ are NOT religious! We have entered into a personal, intimate relationship with the Creator of the Universe and man’s first breath. As far as I know, the word religion doesn’t even appear in scripture. I have known people personally who have decided “to hang up their faith” temporarily, taking a break from what they consider to be the arduous riggers of their walk. They have fallen for a trick of Satan. Their break will more than likely take them far from God. They have gotten bored with their walk, thinking things need to be exciting all the time. Define ‘exciting’. One such person suddenly saw God as a tyrannical dictator who needed to be stopped. Walking with God can include a multitude of pitfalls, but these are to stretch and strengthen your faith. Saying you’re bored with your walk with God is nothing more than an excuse to take an easier route. There is no easier route, only the one set up for you by God himself. Allow your selfless side to grow so as to avoid wicked tangents in your life. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.}

^{Richard Keller}

^{Bread of Life Ministries}

^{Resources: NIV Quest Study Bible, 2011 Zondervan.; Believer’s Bible Commentary, 2016, William MacDonald.}