December in 1 Kings, Psalms, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes

1. Proverbs 23
2. Proverbs 24
3. Proverbs 25
4. Proverbs 26
5. Proverbs 27
6. Proverbs 28
7. Proverbs 29
8. Proverbs 30
9. Proverbs 31
10. 1 Kings 11 (Death of Solomon)
11. Ecclesiastes 1 & 2
12. Ecclesiastes 3
13. Ecclesiastes 4
14. Ecclesiastes 5 & 6
15. Ecclesiastes 7
16. Ecclesiastes 8
17. Ecclesiastes 9
18. Ecclesiastes 10
19. Ecclesiastes 11
20. Ecclesiastes 12
21. Psalm 72 – Messianic Psalm
22. Psalm 45 – The King of Glory!
23. Enjoy reading about JESUS' BIRTH (remember to read from the bottom up)

MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Put Ecclesiastes Back on the Shelf!

Ecclesiastes 11 & 12 - How to Live Life to the Fullest

LINKS: Ecclesiastes 11 and Ecclesiastes 12  
               (Read over the next two days)

BACKGROUND/REFLECTION 

Solomon has concluded his reexamination of four arguments to support his conclusion that life is not worth living. Here is a summary of that reexamination by Warren Wiersbe:

Being a wise man, Solomon reviewed his arguments and this time brought God into the picture. What a difference it made. He realized that life was not monotonous but filled with challenging situations from God, each in its own time and each for its own purpose. He also learned that wealth could be enjoyed and employed to the glory of God. Though man’s wisdom couldn’t explain everything, Solomon concluded that it was better to follow God’s wisdom than to practice man’s folly. As for the certainty of death, there is no way to escape it; and it ought to motivate us to enjoy life now and make the most of the opportunities God gives us. 

(Wiersbe, W. W. (1996, c1990). Be satisfied (Ec 11:1). Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books.)

Solomon concludes this book in Ecclesiastes 11 and 12 by getting down to some practical applications for us that counter the four arguments:

1. Life is not monotonous but an adventure of faith. So diligently live by faith making eternal investments through acts of charity (11:1-6).
2. Death is certain but life is a gift from God who wants us to treasure and enjoy life (11:7 - 12:8).
3. Wisdom of the world cannot answer the deeper questions of life but God's wisdom can, and He has given us the experiences of life to learn how to live according to His wisdom (12:9-12).
4. Wealth is a waste if we do not steward all our wealth (money, time, abilities, talents, etc.) out of our reverence for Him (12:13-14).

1. Live by Faith (11:1-6)

Solomon is pressing the rich into showing their faith by not being idle in doing good to others and giving freely. There are two possible interpretations of "casting your bread upon the waters."  One relates to merchant grain ships that Solomon would have been quite familiar with (1 Kings 10:15, 22). A merchant had to trust and wait for months for their ships to return. It was risky business to send them out upon unfamiliar and potentially dangerous waters. 

Another interpretation relates to the ancient world practice of casting seeds from boats into the overflowing waters of the Nile or marshy ground. When the waters went down, crops would spring up from the fertile soil (Isaiah 32:20), but what an act of faith to just throw it into the water! He continued his illustration using the farmer who has to trust God for all his crops.  The merchant (or alluvial plain seed sower) and the farmer have no control over the circumstances and must labor by faith.  Through these illustrations, he exhorts us to diligently labor on behalf of others, trusting that our investments today will reap eternal rewards tomorrow and into eternity. The New Testament equivalent of this would be Galatians 6:9, "Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary" (see also Psalm 126:5-6 and Hosea 10:12). 

2. Enjoy Life Responsibly (11:7-12:8)

Solomon is drawing the young person into purer and more lasting joys by exhorting that person to remember/revere his or her Creator and live a lifestyle in fear of the Lord which is usually much healthier than one in pursuit of sensual pleasures! He exhorts us to enjoy life but do it responsibly before old age and death come!

Today is a very DARK fall day. It is rainy and wet and cold, but my house is flooded with light as I have about 25 candles lit in my living room. It is my act of rebellion against the spiritual darkness by remembering God's blessings even though I was raked over the coals (link for our international readers who don't understand American idioms) by a frustrated 20-something last night. The frustrations were stemming from something deeper. So, I put away my pride and potential offense to get to the bottom of it. I remember what it was like to be in my 20s, and I once had a 50-something (like myself) comfort me both physically and spiritually in my frustrated days. She gave me such kind words telling me that she would never want to relive her 20s. I could have compassion for this 20-something too.  

After remembering this 50-something woman today, I looked her up so that I could call her and thank her for being a light in a dark place in my life, but she passed away in 2004. Life is so short! We must learn to enjoy this life that He has given us with all its trials and hardships!

3. Live According to His Wisdom (12:9-12)

The world has its wisdom, and God has His. We need to choose God as our teacher in the school of life! Solomon was a wise teacher of God, and we can learn much through his proverbs and other writings (Song of Solomon, Ecclesiastes, Psalm 72 and 127) about living wisely in this life. 

4. Steward the Wealth of Our Life (12:13-14)

God has given us everything we need to live a full and rich life. We are to steward all of it by fearing God and keeping His commandments. It is so simple really! Corrie ten Boon said: 

"The measure of a life, after all, 

is not its duration but its donation." 

Let's steward that life as wisely as possible. 

APPLICATION

Are you living by faith by being generous with the wealth (both materially and spiritually) he has given you?  While it is great to have this happen year-round, if you are reading this according to the Bible Book Club schedule, Christmas is only days away, and it is a great season for responding to the needs of others!

Are you enjoying the life that God has given you while living responsibly?  

Are you responding wisely to the challenges of life? 

Is God's Word running through your veins and out into the decisions you make every day?

Are you wisely stewarding the time, talents, wealth, and possessions He has given you?

PRAYER

Lord, Thank You that You have given us this life to enjoy and bring joy to You. Teach us to number our days so that we may present to you a heart of wisdom (Psalm 90:12). Help us to steward our time wisely because these days are evil (Ephesians 5:16). Help us to give generously (Proverbs 3:9,10). Teach us to fear You and keep Your commandments (Ecclesiastes 12:13). Amen. 

Ecclesiastes 9 & 10 - "No Exit"

LINK: Ecclesiastes 9 & 10

BACKGROUND

A key repeated phrase in Ecclesiastes 9 and 10 is "no man knows" (9:1, 12; 10:14). Man cannot predict what will happen to him in the end and whether his toil will fail or succeed. We do know that we all share a "common destiny" (NIV) and that is death. The fact is that none of us get out of here alive! After making this conclusion, Solomon continues with his recurring theme of living life! Death is coming, but God has given us good gifts to enjoy so let's enjoy them! With all this, Solomon warned that life can sometimes be unpredictable, and we must yield to God's loving hand of Providence and walk in wisdom rather than folly.

In Ecclesiastes 10 and 11, Solomon concluded his discourse with a practical application. 

REFLECTION (Written in 2009)

Ecclesiastes has been all about the quest for meaning in life. Many search for it. 

This week, I completed Walden by the famous transcendentalist, Henry David Thoreau. He went to Walden Pond in Massachusetts for two years, two months, and two days to contemplate the meaning of life and observe nature. He observed that "The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation." I agree with Thoreau's observation while I do not necessarily agree with some of his conclusions about how to "live life."

I also read the play No Exit by French playwright and existentialist, Jean-Paul Sartre. He sets a man in a locked hotel room with two other women and "no exit." They are bound for eternity in that room bringing each other sorrow and grief as each takes turns manipulating and taking control of one another. The main character cries, "Hell is -- other people!"

Solomon, Thoreau, and Sartre all grappled with the question, "Is life worth living?" There was a dark time in 1987 when I, too, grappled with this question. I was a believer in Jesus who was despairing of life after a series of events that left me overwhelmed, tired, and feeling very much alone. On the outside, life was good; I had just graduated with a master's degree and was working at a good job in my career field. Maybe the achievement of some worldly goals made me see the emptiness I still felt within. I remember a great wrestling match with God in my bedroom on Emerald Street in Eugene. God won. He drew me to His presence in a very powerful way. Sometimes, even as long-time believers, we can get knocked off course.

After investigating "life under the sun," Solomon concluded that life was not worth living! He cited the monotony of life, the vanity of wisdom, the futility of wealth, and the certainty of death as arguments to support his conclusion. Yes, it was not worth living apart from knowing that what we are doing is part of God's purpose for our lives.

APPLICATION

We will talk about Solomon's practical application tomorrow when we conclude our reading of Ecclesiastes.

PRAYER

Lord, thank You that Jesus is the answer to our desperate condition. Thank You that Jesus came so that we might have an abundant and full life (John 10:10). We want You to be the center of everything we do. We want Your purposes for our lives. Teach us Your way. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Ecclesiastes 8 - Evil in the World and Joy in the Journey

LINK: Ecclesiastes 8

BACKGROUND

As Solomon continued to praise wisdom, he purported that a wise person knows how to act with graciousness. In 8:1-9, he is saying that one should recognize the absolute authority of a king and the need for wisdom in averting a king's wrath in order to avoid harm. (This is wise advice considering what we have learned about kings in our Bible reading!)

In 8:10-17, he also tackled the issue of why there is evil in the world. He lamented that wicked people often go unpunished which leads to even more wrongdoing. Solomon believed in the "doctrine of divine retribution" (people eventually are punished for evil) and that God-fearing people are better off than the wicked; but he had seen the wicked getting what the righteous deserved and vice versa. He saw this as perplexing or meaningless.

Despite this contradiction, he offered the same advice he offered in 2:24-26; 3:12-13, and 5:18-19: eat and drink and enjoy life! He is not recommending hedonism (the pursuit of pleasure for pleasure's sake). Rather, he is recommending submission to God. We cannot control when God allows adversity or prosperity. We cannot have all our questions answered or comprehend all of His mysterious ways, but we can receive the good things in life as gifts from His hand and fully experience the joy they bring as we walk by faith and trust that He is in control of all the unanswered questions.

REFLECTION 

As I typed this post, my favorite song in the whole wide world kept going through my head. I want it sung at my memorial service.

I hope you can see how this song relates to this chapter. It sums up how Solomon proposes we live: WITH JOY! There is joy in this journey of life despite the mysteries and questions and incomprehensibility of our big God and evil in the world. I don't even know if you will see the connection between Ecclesiastes 8 and this song, but God is leading me to put it here. So, I will! I pray it blesses you like it did me tonight.

APPLICATION AND PRAYER

This is a beautiful YouTube video clip. Light some candles and meditate.

Joy in the Journey
by Michael Card

There is a joy in the journey
There's a light we can love on the way
There is a wonder and wildness to life
and freedom for those who obey.

And all those who seek it shall find it
A pardon for all who believe
Hope for the hopeless
and sight for the blind.

To all who've been born of the Spirit
And who share incarnation with Him
Who belong to eternity stranded in time
and are weary of struggling with sin.

Forget not the hope that's before you
and never stop counting the cost
Remember the hopelessness
when you were lost.

'Cause There is a joy in the journey
There's a light we can love on the way
There is a wonder and wildness to life
and freedom for those who obey
and freedom for those who obey.

Wishing you freedom and joy this day . . . Carol

P.S. This is my favorite song of all time. 

Ecclesiastes 7 - A Bend in the Road

LINK: Ecclesiastes 7

BACKGROUND

In this chapter, Solomon does not contradict his advice in the last chapter to eat, drink, and find satisfaction in one's work. He is saying to enjoy what we have while we can, but adversity and hardships also strike and are there to remind us that life is short, and we must make it count by living each day with wisdom, integrity, and close communion with Him.

REFLECTION (written in 2009)

"Consider the work of God

for who is able to straighten what He has bent?"

I cannot tell you how many times I have claimed Ecclesiastes 7:13 through gritted teeth as some circumstances in my life have taken a tragic (at least from my point of view) turn. I have had to look God squarely in the face and say, "God, You have allowed this to happen, and I do not like what has happened, but I am not going to try to straighten what You have already bent. You are in control, and I relinquish mine. You are God, and I am not."

Often, God allows "bends" in the straight path we think we are taking toward eternity. Wasn't the whole book of Job all about a huge "bend" in Job's righteous road? We are bent toward wanting to straighten God's bends though! Part of maturing in Christ means learning to understand those "bends" as allowed by His hand for His sovereign purposes.

A woman asked me to pray today because her husband will likely lose his job in the latest job cuts from one of the largest employers in town. For many, these lay-offs have been quite an unexpected "bend" in the road. Many thought they would retire from this company, but there is no job security now. It is a sad time for many. The morale is quite low as many wait for the next axe to lower. Today it was a 5% pay cut, elimination of stock options, and reduction in 401(k) contributions. Many "bends" today, but we pray that God draws many people closer to His side through the uncertainty of the times. Trust in God is never misplaced trust.

We've been there. In August, the day after we turned from a fantastic exploration trip to Southeast Asia (the picture above is from that trip), George got his pink slip. Thankfully we have had six prior unemployment "bends" in our married life. So, we had this sick (my friend Abigail calls it "positive reframing") sense of excitement about what was around that next bend. We knew that God had something special in mind even if it involved adversity, suffering, or even poverty. We accepted it and tightened our budget to brace for what was ahead. Who were we to attempt to straighten God's bend?

After four months of unemployment, we can testify about the bend! God is good. He continues to be sovereign, yet again (I used to tell girls in my Bible study to "mark it on their calendar" when they saw God's sovereignty each day. You should try it!). He was faithful the last five times of unemployment, and guess what? He was faithful once again! We see it was all part of His plan. In those four months, George was able to invest more time in being a part of a team that got the first Perspective on the World Christian Movement course in Corvallis up and running. This has been a huge blessing for us to see 120 people coming every Sunday night excited to see God's name proclaimed among the nations!

In God's perfect timing, four weeks after the course was running smoothly, George started a job with the USDA Forest Service on the OSU campus. In God's perfect way, He "bent" the roads of two of the guys that George meets with so that they are ALSO working on the OSU campus, making it so much easier to meet! Your God at work, once again.

We are so glad we did not waste energy trying to "straighten" things out. God knows what He is doing with our lives, and we can rest confidently in Him!

2023 Update: The Perspectives Course had been done many times in our town, and I just met with a group of people yesterday who want to start another one next year!

APPLICATION

How do you respond to those "bends" in the road? Maybe you are facing a possible one in the near future or going through it right now. Talk to God about this and listen to what He says to You. Write it down. He may give you a verse to cling to. Write it on a card and memorize it. Return to it again and again. God is in the process of maturing You for His sovereign purpose!. Do not do anything to try to straighten Him out.

PRAYER

Lord, we are grateful for the bends in the road. Teach us not to be straighteners. Teach us to ride the wave of Your sovereign will until we reach Your secure shores. We pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.

Ecclesiastes 5 & 6 - Chasing After Wind

LINK: Ecclesiastes 5 & 6

BACKGROUND

Some commentators think this is an "interlude" in Solomon's argument, but it is a very important part of his argument! First, he wisely warned us to approach God with reverence and be ready ("to draw nigh with the desire") to hear (obey) rather than offering the sacrifice of a fool. The essence of the Old Testament ritual was obedience and not a hasty sacrifice (Remember Samuel's rebuke to Saul in 1 Samuel 15:2?) or vow. Perhaps Solomon was looking back in reflection at the end of his life at his own disobedience (see 1 Kings 11 regarding his foreign wives).

Second, he warned against corruption in government and the need for honest and organized authority. The gist of these verses can be summed up in this quote by Bishop Mandell Creighton in 1887, "Power tends to corrupt; absolute power corrupts absolutely."

Next, he covered the futility of loving money because it cannot bring satisfaction or solve your problems. "The human heart was made to be satisfied only with God" (Warren Wiersbe). Solomon argued that increased money for a person whose heart is in the wrong place only leads to increased anxiety and not increased pleasure. Also, a person cannot take it with them. He enters the world with nothing and leaves with nothing!

In Ecclesiastes 6, Solomon concluded his assertions on the meaninglessness of riches by giving some practical advice summed up by Warren Wiersbe in this way:

Nobody can truly enjoy the gifts of God apart from the God who gives the gifts. To enjoy the gifts without the Giver is idolatry, and this can never satisfy the human heart. Enjoyment without God is merely entertainment, and it doesn't satisfy. But enjoyment with God is enrichment and it brings true joy and satisfaction. (Be satisfied)

REFLECTION (written in 2009)

As I meditated on this, I recalled a conversation several years ago with a recently married man whose sole goal in life was to become a "Christian millionaire." He did not have any plans to use his money for God's glory, he just wanted to be rich. Period.

Fast forward twenty years. Even though he has tried, he did not become a millionaire. In fact, it has become quite the opposite despite his fruitless pursuit of wealth and "chasing after wind." How very sad. Sadder still that he ended up having an affair and leaving his wife. 

I want to chase after things that last into eternity and are burning on God's heart. Tonight, I spent two hours with three other people who are passionate about God's glory spreading throughout the whole earth. They are all taking the Perspectives on the World Christian Movement class! The article in the book called "Apostolic Passion" really hit us. I hope you enjoy it too!

APPLICATION

Read "Apostolic Passion" and let me know what you think!

2023 Update: The author of the article, Floyd McClung, passed away in 2021 after a five-year illness that left him incapacitated. I am so grateful for his life. Read the article, and you will understand why. 

PRAYER

Lord, we want to run hard after You and not chase after wind. Show us where we are chasing after meaningless things. Help us to know that any gift we receive in this world is material to bring You glory. We ask this in Jesus' name, Amen.

Ecclesiastes 4 - What Makes Life Meaningful?

LINK: Ecclesiastes 4

BACKGROUND

In Ecclesiastes 4, Solomon continues to reexamine his supposition from Ecclesiastes 1:4-11 that life is monotonous. He challenges these "ivory tower" intellectual conclusions by observing real life. 

He observed injustice and oppression and labor motivated by status, envy, greed, and/or fame.  He contrasts this by giving several advantages of companionship. 

He draws the conclusion that it is better to be poor and wise than rich, foolish, and powerful (4:13). Status, riches, power, and fame are all transitory and meaningless in the whole scheme of life. 

REFLECTION

God was gracious to nip my need for fame and recognition in the bud very early in my life. I am so grateful! I can honestly say I am not motivated by status or fame because I was given a stark wake-up call at 17 years old!  

I know I told this story earlier in the Bible Book Club, but I will repeat it (with some modifications) to remind you:

Written in 2008: In high school, most people liked me (except the jealous ones) even though I did not necessarily like myself all that much. By the end of my senior year, my room was filled with flowers from all the awards that I had racked up in the academic, social, and athletic realms. During the "award season" of senior year, the mom of my friend, Julie, said to her, "If there is anyone you should look up to and model your life after, it should be Carol." I was flattered, and this was a temporary fix (like a drug) to the deep craving that I had for love and acceptance. 

The morning after this lovely compliment, I got a distressed call from Julie telling me that her mom had fallen asleep at the wheel of her Volkswagen Bug, crashed into a pole, and died instantly. Her flower-filled memorial service was set in stark contrast to the flowers in my bedroom, many of which had begun to turn brown with pedals making a mess all over my floor. 

Julie's mother's death caused me to ask myself many questions: "So, I win all these awards, but the glory of those awards fade away, just like these flowers. What is life all about anyway if we all eventually die? Why am I here on earth; and if I am someone Julie should look up to and model her life after, who am I looking up to and modeling my life after?" 

These verses in James express my position: 

But the brother of humble circumstances is to glory in his high position; and the rich man is to glory in his humiliation, because like flowering grass he will pass away. For the sun rises with a scorching wind and withers the grass; and its flower falls off and the beauty of its appearance is destroyed; so too the rich man in the midst of his pursuits will fade away. (James 1:9-11) 

I was like that "rich man" in the midst of my pursuit for my own glory because I had achieved everything I had set out to do in high school; but even with all of this, I was really bankrupt in my soul! 

Julie's mom's death hit me hard, and my life began to unravel. Sure, I was achieving both academically and athletically in college, but I was very depressed. Like Solomon, I was seeing that life was meaningless and striving after wind. Yes, I had been a believer in Jesus since I was ten years old, but I did not really know how to follow Him. I did not let Him define what gave me meaning in life and was still going by what the world told me was meaningful. I needed someone to lead the way. 

Then came Cheryl Potter. 

Cheryl was a mild-tempered, humble coworker who was not very "rich" in the world's eyes but had EVERYTHING I wanted. We worked alone in the business office of the Fallbrook Hospital on the 3-10 p.m. shift. Things would get crazy and stressful when emergencies would come in, and Cheryl always worked diligently and calmly and with love for everyone. Cheryl followed Jesus, and I wanted to follow Cheryl so I could follow Jesus too. The rest is history. 

The last time I talked to Cheryl was in the winter of 2005. She was fighting breast cancer, and all my emails had bounced. I was afraid to pick up the phone because of what I might not hear on the other end. I thought that if she had died, she lived her life for something that really mattered: the glory of God. I do not doubt that she left a legacy of "mighty women" behind her, all because she led by following Jesus. Cheryl was really someone to look up to and model her life after. 

So, this post has taken all day because I got brave and located an old number for Cheryl and made the dreaded call wondering if she would be on the other end of the line. 

And she was! Still Cheryl and cancer-free for three years! Alive and vacuuming! She had just said goodbye to a woman (and her two dogs) who had lived with her for three weeks while the woman was between homes. She was a brand new believer in Jesus. Cheryl was still leading other "mighty women" toward what is really important in life by pointing them toward Jesus. 

May I someday live to fill her shoes. 

I was around many people recently who are very successful in the world's eyes, and I was not intimidated by their worldly achievements in the least. (They were not cramming those worldly achievements down my throat either and were very kind, but I had the potential of feeling inferior.) I may not receive a salary for what I do (although I could, I chose not to), but I know that God thinks it is VERY important, and that is all that matters!  My life is beautiful and meaningful, and I am doing EXACTLY what he has gifted me to do! That is really all that matters in the grander scheme of things. :)

APPLICATION 

Are you evaluating your life according to the world's standards or God's?

PRAYER

I praise You that You give life meaning and dimension that is wonderful! Help us to conform to Your standards of significance rather than the world's. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen. 

Ecclesiastes 3 - A Time for Every Delight

LINK: Ecclesiastes 3

BACKGROUND

This chapter is so beautiful. Linger long over it. 

In Ecclesiastes 1-2, Solomon has presented four arguments that life is meaningless and is not worth living, but he will reexamine each of them in Ecclesiastes 3-10: 

1) Life is monotonous (1:4-11) is reexamined in 3:1-5:9
2) Wisdom is vanity (1:12-18) is reexamined in 5:10-6:12
3) Wealth is futile (2:1-11) is reexamined in 7:1-8:17
4) Death is certain (2:12-23) is reexamined in 9:1-10:20

In this chapter, he reexamines his supposition that life is monotonous by concluding that God was in control of time and life experiences. From birth to death, God has divine purposes sometimes beyond our own understanding. Solomon concludes that if we cooperate with God's sovereign timing in everything, both the good and the bad, life will be meaningful and beautiful (3:11, Romans 8:28). 

The NIV says there is a time for every "activity" under heaven. The NASB says "event," but in the margin, it says "delight." Delight is a much closer translation of the Hebrew word. The basic meaning of the Hebrew word is "to feel great favor towards something, to experience emotional delight." Some of the things don't seem like they would be things of "delight," (death, killing, weeping, mourning, losing, hating, war) but weaves all into the fabric of our lives to accomplish His purposes in us.  He knows what He is doing. We can trust that they are to prepare us for eternity (3:11), and we might not fully understand all of life's pain and toil until we meet Him face to face. 

Solomon concluded that we are to enjoy life, not in a pagan hedonistic way, but enjoy the gift of life that God has given us, even in toil and pain, knowing He is in control and knows what He is doing. 

REFLECTION 

One thing I love to do in my ministry of helping people "fly" is having them go through their life experiences to reflect upon how life events have shaped them. Here is the handout that I use to help them:

Timeline Reflection Questions 
(©Carol Weaver)

Throughout the year, you will be adding to a timeline to analyze overall patterns of God’s work in your life. The analysis of the timeline comes from the book called The Making of a Leader by Robert Clinton. This is a valuable tool to help you to reflect upon your spiritual journey and get the “big picture” of where you have been and where God is taking you.

The first four developmental phases in Clinton’s book are summarized below along with reflection questions to help you in completing your time-line. Many of the phases overlap because, hopefully, we are always growing in these areas.

Phase I: Sovereign Foundations

Overview: In this phase, “God providentially works through family, environment, and historical events. This begins at birth. You might find it hard to believe that God was working through your family or your environment, especially if these were not godly influences, but He was. It is exciting to see how the providence of God was—and is—working through all our experiences.” God is developing you by “laying foundations in your life. . . His primary lesson is to learn to respond positively and take advantage of what God has laid in these foundations” (p.44).

Assignment: As you share your life story, answer SHAPE questions, and share with others about the people and things that have shaped your life, take time to reflect and ask God to put together some of the pieces of your sovereign foundations. As He does, you will come to a deeper appreciation of His power in your life. What things did God use in your life to bring you to where you are today? What people, circumstances, or events did God use to woo you to Himself? Reflect upon your desires, passions, longings, and struggles in your early years. How have they affected your spiritual journey in positive and negative ways? The reason that Clinton calls it sovereign foundations is because God has a sovereign plan for your life, and everything (both positive and negative) fits into that plan. Reflect on them and map this on your timeline to give perspective you would not otherwise have.

Phase II: Inner Life Growth

Overview: In this phase, you start seeking to know God in a more personal, intimate way. You learn the “importance of praying and hearing God.” It is marked by growth in discernment, understanding, and obedience. In this phase, “God uses testing experiences to develop character” (p.45).

Questions: When was the first time you sensed the presence of God in your life? What were your early experiences of the spiritual disciplines (prayer, meditation, study, fasting, solitude, etc.) that had a particular impact on your life? When were your “aha” moments with God that brought about changes in you? What were some of your testing experiences that brought you into deeper intimacy with Him and grew you in character? This is a good time to look at those “painful” experiences in your SHAPE material and reflect upon how they shaped your character. Plot these on your timeline. For some of the painful things, feel free to write them in “code” to maintain privacy and confidentiality.

Phase III: Ministry Maturing

Overview: In this phase, you have learned about reaching out to others. You are beginning to experiment with spiritual gifts (even though you may not have known what they were all about). You may have taken specific training to be more effective in ministry. Ministry is the focus at this stage. Many of your lessons will zero in on relationships with other people and on your inadequacies in your personal life as you become “other-centered.”

Questions: What were experiences that you particularly liked/disliked or in which you were effective/ineffective? Did you get training that gave you better skills in a ministry? Were there any bible studies you participated in that really helped you grow in your walk with God and ability to serve Him? Did you lead a study? Did you disciple a person? Were you involved in helping a needy group of people? Did you take a short-term mission? Record these ministry experiences. What positive and negative experiences did you have within the Body that helped you gain an understanding of others and yourself?

Phase IV: Life Maturing

Overview: In this phase, you have “identified and are using your gifts in a ministry that is satisfying. You have gained a sense of priorities concerning the best use of your gifts and understanding that learning what not to do is as important as learning what to do. Mature fruitfulness is the result. Isolation, crisis, and conflict take on new meaning. That principle that ‘ministry flows out of being’ has a new significance as your character mellows and matures. . . In this phase the leader’s experiential understanding of God is being developed. Communion with God becomes foundational; it is more important than success in ministry.” There is a “positive response to the experiences God ordains” (p. 46).

Questions: Do you understand your gift mix, and are you functioning in that mix in ministry and saying no to other things that are not in your “primary gifting”? When did this occur? Have you had any experiences of isolation, crisis, and conflict in ministry that have matured and challenged you as a minister? Have you had challenging situations, but you responded positively to the experiences God has ordained? Does your “doing” in ministry flow out of “being” in communion with God?

Clinton has two more phases called Convergence and Afterglow, but for most, they come much later in life. So, I did not cover those phases in this assignment. 

You can download the Timeline Reflection handout HERE. 

APPLICATION

Make a timeline and reflect on how God has made "everything beautiful in His time."

PRAYER

Lord, thank You that You really do make all things beautiful in Your wonderful timing. Thank You that You have had a reason for every one of our life events. Shape us into the people that You desire us to be. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen. 

Ecclesiastes 1 & 2 - Give Up Your Small Ambitions

LINK: Ecclesiastes 1 & 2

BACKGROUND

Ecclesiastes is the Greek word for the Hebrew word Koheleth which means "preacher." In this case, the preacher is King Solomon. It is the inspired record of his search for meaning and satisfaction toward the end of his life (possibly around 933 B.C.). Throughout this book, Solomon will cover ten pursuits that are empty apart from God: wisdom, work, possessions, status, companionship, fame, money, long life, feasting, and desire.

Solomon begins Ecclesiastes 1 by proclaiming "Everything is meaningless!" He will use the term meaningless throughout the whole book, and it refers to what is without real substance, value, permanence, or significance. He asserts that all human effort is futile. He supports this thesis by proclaiming that this futility is demonstrated in nature. All of nature's activity is monotonous and tiring without making any progress or reaching a fixed goal. He compares this to man's activity that produces weariness and no satisfaction.

In Ecclesiastes 2, he experiments with the value of pleasure and comes up wanting. Then he covers three empty pursuits apart from God: wisdom, work, and possessions. In wisdom (a more correct word would be "human knowledge"), he sees some advantage but concludes that there is no real advantage to being wise as opposed to living foolishly because both the wise man and fool die and are forgotten. Then he evaluates work and possessions and concludes that toils bring no lasting pleasure even if one accomplishes great things and is rewarded for them. Even if there is much fruit in a person's labor, he "can't take it with him" and must leave it to someone else. The results of a person's labor may be inherited by a fool who would squander it and all that labor would be in vain. In view of the fleeting value of the fruits of man's toil, he recommends that man enjoy the fruits but realize that true wisdom, knowledge, and enjoyment are not possible apart from being in a right relationship with God and living to please Him.

REFLECTION

Looking at Everything in Light of Eternity: A Total Life Makeover

As we meditate on Ecclesiastes, let's all gear up to put everything in our life out on the table and examine it all in light of God's eternal purposes. I already mentioned Dave Ramsey's "Total Money Makeover"  in our reading of Proverbs. Well, let's do a "Total Life Makeover"! Let's examine our life in those ten areas that are mentioned throughout the book:

Wisdom/Human Knowledge (2:15-16)
Work (2:19-21)
Possessions (2:26)
Status (4:4)
Companionship (4:7-12)
Fame (4:16)
Money (5:10)
Long Life (6:6)
Feasting (6:7)
Desire (6:9)

The title of Warren Wiersbe's "Be Series" commentary on this book is entitled Be Satisfied. This is so appropriate because true satisfaction can only be attained when we know what is really important in life and adjust our lives and futures to God's purposes.

APPLICATION

Frances Xavier, a 16th-century missionary to Japan, wrote back to fellow students and said:

 "Give up your small ambitions 

and come East to proclaim the glorious gospel of Christ."

Do you have small ambitions in light of God's BIG purposes? It may not mean going East to Japan, but God has a specific and vital role that only you can play in His plan.

Ask God about your "small ambitions." In light of Ecclesiastes 2, evaluate the two empty pursuits apart from God that Solomon talked about acquiring human knowledge and working to gain possessions.

PRAYER

Lord, reveal to us our small ambitions. Help us to live in the light of eternity. For Your glory, we pray, Amen.

Ecclesiastes 12 - Enjoy Life! Fear God!

LINK: Ecclesiastes 12

by Katrina

BACKGROUND
Solomon gives a vivid illustration of old age coming like a storm and breaking down the "house" (body) of the old man.

• watchmen of the house tremble - your arms/hands tremble
• mighty men stoop - you walk bent over
• grinding ones stand idle because they are few - you lose your teeth
• those who look through windows grow dim - your vision grows dim
• doors are shut - loss of hearing
• arise at the sound of the birds - you awaken early (even though you might not want to)
• afraid of a high place and of terrors on the road - you fear falling
• almond tree blossoms - your hair turns white (like the almond blossoms)
• grasshopper drags himself along - you are impaired by crippled and bent limbs
• caperberry is ineffective - you become sexually impotent
• goes to his eternal home - you die

Solomon is using this illustration of old age to spur the young not only to enjoy their youth, but also remember to serve God in their youth. Old age will come quicker than you think!

REFLECTION
Solomon comes to his conclusion. He said at the beginning of the book that life, in and of itself, is meaningless. If life is going to have meaning, that meaning must come from God. "Remember God," Solomon says. Pay attention to what God says, consider his words, obey him. "Fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil" (v 13-14).

APPLICATION
Enjoy life! Fear God!

PRAYER
Lord, what a privilege it is to live this life for you! May I live my life in such a way as to honor you. In the name of Jesus, amen.

Ecclesiastes 11 - The Adventure of Life

LINK: Ecclesiastes 11

by Katrina

BACKGROUND
Life is an adventure! We never know what is going to happen, so here are some words of wisdom from Solomon.

• Be bold in your business ventures (v 1), yet diversify your assets (v 2).
  
• Learn to recognize the cycles and finalities in life (v 3).
• Do not be overly cautious or fearful and thereby never accomplish anything (v 4).
• Don't expect to understand everything that God does (v 5).
• Work diligently (v 6).
• Enjoy your life on this earth, especially your youth (v 7-10).
• Pursue your dreams, but do so within the bounds of living righteously before God (v 9).
  

REFLECTION/APPLICATION
I do see life as an adventure, with God leading me through it. I want to experience the variety and wonders of God's creation. I enjoy going new places, meeting new people, reading new adventures, experiencing new tastes and new cultures, etc. God has given me much to enjoy in this life.

There are many ways to enjoy life -- as many ways as there are people, I suppose. So, how about you? Do you enjoy the life God has given you?

PRAYER
Father, thank you for each day you have given me here on this earth. Let me milk this life for all it's worth. I want to serve you each and every day. May I be diligent and not live in fear, trusting you to lead me and do what you will with my life. For, in reality, my life belongs to you. You have purchased it with the blood of Jesus. In his name, amen.

Ecclesiastes 4 - Scenes of Life

LINK: Ecclesiastes 4

by Katrina

BACKGROUND
Having discussed the times of life, Solomon now looks around at several "scenes" from life on this earth.

First, he observes those who are oppressed and those who oppress them. Neither is happy.

Next, he watches laborers in their competition against one another. He sees both the hard working man (v 4) and the lazy man (v 5). He sees a well-balanced man (v 6). But he also sees the workaholic (v 8) who couldn't get enough no matter how much he had. The work of the laborers is vanity and striving after wind.

Third, he observes two men together. Because there are two of them, they have some benefits over isolated men -- in their labor, when one falls, in keeping warm, and in protection. There is another person to help in all these situations. And the fact that there are two working together makes them stronger.

The final scene is the throne room of the king. Although a man is king, it is not worth much if he is also a fool. A poor man can come out of prison and take the throne. But in the end, he will lose the throne to another successor. This, too, is vanity and striving after wind.

REFLECTION
One thing Solomon points out in this chapter is that we need balance in our lives. For example, we need to work, but the work itself is not the goal, neither is great riches for riches' sake. Our work should be productive but not all-consuming. I like how Solomon illustrated his point -- we should have work in one hand and rest in the other.

APPLICATION
Life is full of opportunities to go "overboard" in one area and neglect another. Take some time to examine your life and evaluate whether it's balanced. You might ask a close friend to help you in your evaluation. (Sometimes our own perceptions aren't quite accurate, but a loving friend can help you see things more realistically.) Some specific areas to consider and questions to ask yourself --

• time - Do I use my time wisely or fritter it away on meaningless activities?
• money - How do I spend it? Am I investing in things of value, or just purchasing pleasure for today?
• health - My body belongs to the Lord. Am I taking care of it? Am I using it in a way that is pleasing to him?
  
• abilities/talents - Do I honor God with my creative abilities?
  

PRAYER
Lord, you have blessed us and given us many things in this life. Help us to be wise stewards of the time, money, health, abilities, and other resources you have given us. Teach us how to keep our lives balanced and to use these resources for your glory and honor rather than only for personal gain. Amen.

Ecclesiastes 3 - Time & Eternity

LINK: Ecclesiastes 3

by Katrina

BACKGROUND
Everything that happens in this life "under the sun" has an appropriate time of occurrence. There is an appointed time for everything - a time for birth and a time for death, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build up, and so on (v 2-8). This passage is very well-known and popular. I've heard songs written from it. It is a very poetic way to demonstrate the variety of things that happen in this life.

In verse 11, Solomon transitions from this life to the next. "He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also set eternity in their heart." Mankind has been given a sense of eternity. He knows in his heart that this life is not all there is. We can look beyond the daily routine of life toward eternity. In light of eternity, Solomon reminds his readers that there is also a judgment coming. "God will judge both the righteous man and the wicked man" (v. 17). Every man dies and his body returns to dust, but his soul ascends to God (v 21).

REFLECTION
"I know that everything God does will remain forever; there is nothing to add to it and there is nothing to take from it, for God has so worked that men should fear Him" (v. 14). All the things that we do routinely on a day-to-day basis - laundry, meals, plant, build, search, weep, etc. - are not things that will remain forever. They are the stuff of this life and allow us to function "under the sun." But God's work is eternal. He has eternal purpose. We know from the New Testament that we can join God in this eternal work and purpose, but it's still God's work, not ours. We still have to do the stuff of this life, but what a privilege it is to join God in this work of eternal value!

APPLICATION
We have many tasks to do in this life, and sometimes we get bogged down in them all. Solomon has some good reminders for us here in verse 12-13 and 22.

• We are to rejoice in our work
• We should resolve to do good in this life
• We can enjoy the fruits of our labor
• We should recognize them as a gift from God.

Take some time today to think about your attitudes when you are doing the "stuff of life." Do you rejoice as you work or do you grumble and complain? I think it's easier to enjoy the fruits of my labor when I have done the labor cheerfully! Do you seek out good things to do? And remember, everything you have - even if you worked for it - is really a gift from God, and be thankful.

PRAYER
Father, thank you for all you have given us -- ability to work, food and drink to enjoy, (add anything you are thankful for). Remind us to rejoice in our work that we do on a day-to-day basis. Help us to seek out good things we can do in this life to benefit others. We praise you as the eternal God, whose work will remain forever. Amen.