November 9th 2021 – Ecclesiastes 4:1-6
"4 Again I saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun. And behold, the tears of the oppressed, and they had no one to comfort them! On the side of their oppressors there was power, and there was no one to comfort them. 2 And I thought the dead who are already dead more fortunate than the living who are still alive. 3 But better than both is he who has not yet been and has not seen the evil deeds that are done under the sun.
4 Then I saw that all toil and all skill in work come from a man's envy of his neighbour. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.
5 The fool folds his hands and eats his own flesh.
6 Better is a handful of quietness than two hands full of toil and a striving after wind."
Ecclesiastes 4:1-6
In 4, the modern versions give a more graphic rendering than the AV: 'All labour and all achievement spring from man's envy of his neighbour' (NIV). What the Preacher is observing is the familiar theme of 'keeping up with the Joneses'. He speaks very cynically in this, but very realistically, because envy is, of its very nature, something unsatisfiable. You will always find somebody better off than you are, and even if you could reach the top and could not rise higher - and this is of course an unobtainable fantasy - you will still envy, for you would envy those who still had something to strive for. Once we jump on that particular bandwagon - or to change the metaphor, that vicious spiral - there is no saying how much lasting harm and misery the self-destructive process will bring to us (5). The antidote to all this is well expressed in 6 - quietness and contentment are the true riches, more to be desired and coveted than all the world's pomp and glory. Here is a telling comment from the Notes in the Gilcomston South Church Record: 'Are you content in your human situation, Christian? Can you sit down and relax and rest heart and mind and say, Thus am I, as God doubtless would have me now: It is enough, I am well content, for I am in His hand. This is not Christian service, we must be up and doing for that, but it is Christian being, and Christian work can only be done by Christian beings. Be first, then do.' (W. Still)
November 8th 2021 – Ecclesiastes 3:16-22
“16 Moreover, I saw under the sun that in the place of justice, even there was wickedness, and in the place of righteousness, even there was wickedness.17 I said in my heart, God will judge the righteous and the wicked, for there…
November 7th 2021 – Ecclesiastes 3:16-22
“16 Moreover, I saw under the sun that in the place of justice, even there was wickedness, and in the place of righteousness, even there was wickedness.17 I said in my heart, God will judge the righteous and the wicked, for there…
November 6th 2021 – Ecclesiastes 3:1-15
3 “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: 2 a time to be born, and a time to die;a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;3 a time to kill,…
November 5th 2021 – Ecclesiastes 3:1-15
3 “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: 2 a time to be born, and a time to die;a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;3 a time to kill,…
November 4th 2021 – Ecclesiastes 3:1-15
3 “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: 2 a time to be born, and a time to die;a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;3 a time to kill,…
November 3rd 2021 – Ecclesiastes 2:24-26
“24 There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God, 25 for apart from him who can eat or who can…
November 2nd 2021 – Ecclesiastes 2:24-26
“24 There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God, 25 for apart from him who can eat or who can…
November 1st 2021 – Ecclesiastes 2:24-26
“24 There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God, 25 for apart from him who can eat or who can…
October 31st 2021 – Ecclesiastes 2:12-23
“12 So I turned to consider wisdom and madness and folly. For what can the man do who comes after the king? Only what has already been done.13 Then I saw that there is more gain in wisdom than in folly, as…