Solomon’s practical counsel
Spotlight on Ecclesiastes 7:1-14
“Don’t long for ‘the good old days’. This is not wise.” - Ecclesiastes 7:10
For some reason the past always seems better than what you’re currently going through. We lose touch with reality at times when things seem so dire, but looking backward is unwise. We see a clear illustration of looking back bringing disaster in the story of Lot as he and his family escaped Sod’om (Genesis 19:1-29). In Luke 9:62 Jesus says, “Anyone who puts his hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God.”
There is nothing behind us that is worthy of our attention. It is finished. History cannot be altered, but it can be repeated. We learn from our mistakes and determine not to do the same thing again. Allowing God to lead us by his Holy Spirit can make that happen.
Solomon lets us know in Ecclesiastes 1:9 that “there is nothing new under the sun”. It is only our ability to forget the negative things from our past that make it seem like it was better back then. We deceive ourselves with such thinking. We need to be biblically progressive in our thinking. Meaning we must seek to strengthen our relationship with God by continuously drawing closer to him and thus further from this world of sin which seeks to drag us down. That is how we progress in the spiritual maturation process. Don’t become fixated on the past as if it were perfect. Use it as a springboard to a better future free from the ignorant mistakes that had been made. Wisdom comes from learning our lessons well and applying what we’ve learned to our lives. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.
Richard Keller
Bread of Life Ministries
Resources: Biblical Theology Study Bible; copyright 2019 by Zondervan; Quest Study Bible Notes; 2011 copyright by Zondervan; MacArthur Study Bible; 2019 copyright by Thomas Nelson.
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