TODAY IN THE WORD

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Ecclesiastes 1:1-11
What does man gain from all his labor at which he toils under the sun? - Ecclesiastes 1:3
TODAY IN THE WORD
In one of the first scenes in The Lion King, Disney’s biggest hit movie of the 1990s, the king of beasts teaches his son that a good king must show respect for every creature, from the ant to the antelope. His son inquires, “But, Dad, don’t we eat the antelope?” His father replies, “Yes, but let me explain. When we die, our bodies become the grass. And the antelope eat the grass. And so we are all connected in the great Circle of Life.”

New Age philosophy? Certainly. But the author of Ecclesiastes would likely have dismissed this twentieth-century thought as “nothing new” and “meaningless.” Today’s reading takes us through the Teacher’s summary observations and conclusions, and he doesn’t seem to think the so-called “circle of life” is such a great thing. He categorizes the cycles of the earth as “utterly meaningless” (v. 2) and “wearisome” (v. . Take particular note of the description in verse 6, as the phrase “chasing after the wind” is repeated often throughout the book. Ecclesiastes paints the picture of life as a frustrating, circuitous course that ends right where it begins.

The rhetorical question about the profit of a man’s labor (v. 3) and the hopeless conclusion about man being remembered after his lifetime (v. 11) bring a sobering poignancy when applied to the events that followed Solomon’s life. His projects were astounding and his rule was the greatest Israel ever knew. But after his death, Solo-mon’s legacy became almost immediately irrelevant when his son, Rehoboam, rejected his father’s advisors in favor of the counsel of his younger friends (1 Kings 12:. It wasn’t long before the throne of Israel was no longer his (1 Kings 12:20).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
This is a good place to remind ourselves that our purpose in studying Ecclesiastes is not to judge the life of Solomon–we want to turn the light of God’s Word onto our lives and into our hearts!

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Luke 3:1-18
The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth. And all mankind will see God’s salvation. - Luke 3:5–6
TODAY IN THE WORD
“Wrong will be right, when Aslan comes in sight.” So begins the prophecy about the great lion in the book, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, by C. S. Lewis. When the children in the story entered Narnia, they discovered a land ruled by the White Witch, where it was always winter and never Christmas. But the mere mention of the name Aslan stirred the hope that the witch’s spell would be broken. The children cried, “ 'Oh, yes! Tell us about Aslan!’ . . . for once again that strange feeling–like the first signs of spring, like good news, had come over them.”

The preaching of John the Baptist excited similar feelings. Verses 1–2 in today’s reading list the ruling powers of the day, and it reads like a Who’s Who of the chief players in Christ’s trial and crucifixion. The sordid history of Israel between Solomon’s reign and the rulers in today’s passage bears evidence that the hopeless cycle described in Ecclesiastes 1 had gone unbroken for centuries. Remember Ecclesiastes 1:15: “What is twisted cannot be straightened.”

John made it clear in verse 5 of today’s reading that things were about to change and that the words of Isaiah 40:3–5 would be fulfilled. And in the same fashion as his Old Testament predecessors, John preached repentance to avoid the “coming wrath” (v. 7).

In his explanation of what the fruit of repentance should be, John’s words shed light on the message of Ecclesiastes. He advised his listeners to live with other people’s interests in mind. Those that are able should give to those in need (v. 11), and those in power should stop abusing that power at the expense of others (vv. 12–14). Instead of analyzing what one man gains from his labor, John called attention to what one man is willing to give up.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
John’s teaching showed a different perspective from that of Ecclesiastes. Does your life show the others-focused mentality of which he spoke? Today, make it your mission to meet the needs of those around you. The message of Ecclesiastes holds true: a life spent trying to please oneself will never bear eternal, meaningful fruit. Let John’s words be the announcement of the coming of Christ into your decision-making today. Self-centeredness is the sign of twisted priorities–let Him make the paths of your heart straight!

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Ecclesiastes 2:1-9
I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. -
TODAY IN THE WORD
Estimates of Bill Gates’s net worth range upwards of $30 billion, his house has about one and a half acres of total living space, and he continues to work feverishly to improve his business–Microsoft dedicated $6.8 billion this fiscal year alone for research and development. Who can imagine being so wealthy, let alone the prospect of getting richer! If we were to compare any of our lives to Bill Gates’s life, we probably wouldn’t expect to find much in common.

And that can be our reaction when we read today’s passage as well. It’s easy to imagine the life of a king as some distant, fantastic dreamland that bears no resemblance to our own. But a closer look at this passage reveals a striking similarity to the life of a typical, everyday person . . . just carried out to an extreme degree.

Verses 1–3 summarize the search for the good in life through selfish measures, and verses 4–8 show the details of the three main categories of the search: projects, possessions, and pleasures.

The projects described here don’t seem to resemble an ongoing job or trade as much as leisure projects. The house-building, tree-planting, and reservoir-constructing in Ecclesiastes might correspond to a new shed, some tomatoes, and a sprinkler system in your backyard--on a grander scale than we’re used to, certainly, but the intended result of personal enjoyment is the same.

Although we can’t identify with the amount (or even the nature) of possessions listed in verses 7–8, everyone at one time or another has bought something with the hope that it would make life a bit more enjoyable.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Can you say, as verse 9 does, that your wisdom has stayed with you through it all? It’s far too easy to use up our leisure time without thinking seriously about what we’re doing.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Ecclesiastes 2:10-26
My heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward of all my labor. - Ecclesiastes 2:10b
TODAY IN THE WORD
Sixteen people working at an elementary school in Holdingford, Minnesota–fifteen lunch ladies and one custodian–hit the jackpot with a winning lottery ticket last year, collecting about $2 million each. Only two of them retired. Serving food to little children, and cleaning up after them, may not be the most glamorous work, but these women love what they do too much to quit. One of them said that the main drawback of winning the money was that “you get more headaches.”

Imagine that–they love being surrounded all day by hundreds of kids, but millions of dollars make their heads hurt.

Solomon could have appreciated that attitude. He says in verse 10 of today’s reading that the main reward of his labor, even more than the vast luxury his work produced, was the delight he got from working. He essentially repeats that sentiment in verse 24, noting that such happiness comes from God. But the rest of this passage reveals the far less optimistic conclusion that, in the end, there is no lasting earthly reward for all man’s labor (v. 11).

This view, though, produced more than a headache. He sees that although a wise man is better than a fool, death awaits them both (vv. 12–16). He then calls attention to the end result of great accomplishments, that a man must pass on his work to a successor with no assurance of its continuation (vv. 18–21). This seems like a fitting attitude for someone who knew his kingdom would be stripped from his son (1 Kings 11:11–12). Solomon, it seems, finds no lasting reward for a life of painful, restless labor (vv. 22–23). Verse 17 stands out as a particularly harsh conclusion. What more could one man ask for than the life Solomon had enjoyed? If he “hated life,” what does that say about the worth of earthly pleasures?
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Are you satisfied? If not, ask God to adjust your attitude and obedience. In verse 24, the phrase is “find satisfaction in his work,” not “find satisfying work.”

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Corinthians 15:55-58
“Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” - 1 Corinthians 15:55
TODAY IN THE WORD
For just under $200,000, an Arizona foundation will arrange for a person’s remains to be preserved by cryonics, a chemically treated freezing process, immediately after death. The funds are also designated to pay for the revitalizing procedure, which will commence as soon as three scientific advances have been discovered: a cure for whatever caused the person’s death, a way to stop the aging process for all mankind, and an antidote for the poison used to preserve the body.

The company has only been in operation since 1972, but had the procedure been available in Paul’s day, he probably wouldn’t have wasted his money. Since the sting of death is sin and the power of death is the law (v. 56), Paul knew that no scientist could ever produce the remedy for either.

Throughout chapter 15, Paul discusses the reality of the resurrection of Christ and, through Him, the assurance of the resurrection of all who believe in His name. Today’s reading delivers the powerful conclusion to his argument in this chapter. Quoting the prophet Hosea, Paul pronounces death powerless (v. 55).

From what we’ve studied so far in Ecclesiastes, death has been shown as the great equalizer that conquers all men, rendering their labor on earth meaningless. But Paul claims triumphantly in verse 57 that through Jesus Christ, God gives us victory over death. We see in verse 58 that the promise of escaping death should dramatically alter our approach to life.

The assurance of life after death shouldn’t just make us feel better, it should make us live better, too! But when Paul talks about giving ourselves to “the work of the Lord,” what exactly does he mean? Paul used a similar phrase earlier when discussing his work as an apostle. He said to the believers in Corinth, “Are you not the result of my work in the Lord?” (9:1). Throughout chapter 9, he makes it clear that his main task was simply to preach the gospel.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Even if you have a job that isn’t directly related to preaching the gospel, you can still give yourself “fully to the work of the Lord.” Paul did!

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven. - Ecclesiastes 3:1
TODAY IN THE WORD
In the 1960s, thousands of years after it was written, the meaning of today’s reading changed–and all it took was seven small words. The song, “Turn, Turn, Turn,” made popular by The Byrds, set portions of today’s reading to music. The only additional lyrics were the repetition of the word turn and the concluding phrase, “I swear it’s not too late.” What had previously existed as a bittersweet catalog of the conflicting activities of life became an optimistic cry of hope against the evils of war.

Of course, a simple song can’t really change the meaning of Scripture, but if you hear the words “turn, turn, turn” echo in your head every time you read today’s passage, you know how powerfully our culture can affect our perceptions. Although many people try to manufacture hope in the repetitive cycle of life without God, we must resist the temptation to follow the world’s lead and instead take a fresh look at the categories of life listed here.

As we read through the seasons, it’s impossible to miss the emotional symmetry running throughout it. The first half of verse 2 sums up man’s existence in stark fashion, and the verses that follow categorize our lives in similarly simple, powerful terms. We gain life, and then we lose it. We give life, and we take it away (vv. 2, 3). Our lives alternate between order and disorder (vv. 3, 5–8). Our emotional expressions run full circle (vv. 4, 5, 7, .

Ecclesiastes is very realistic in its observations of life. The Teacher hasn’t left anything out of the human experience here, at least nothing from the strictly human perspective.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
If we were the authors of our existence, we might choose to eliminate half of this list. How great would life be if there were no time to die, to weep, to mourn, or to hate? But we are surrounded by positives and negatives, so let’s relate it all to God. Look at the good as God pouring out His grace on you. And view the bad as evidence of your need for God. Remember, Solomon eliminated as many negatives as he could–but he positively forgot that he needed God!

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Ecclesiastes 3:9-22
I know that everything God does will endure forever. - Ecclesiastes 3:14a
TODAY IN THE WORD
Peter Pan, the title character in J. M. Barrie’s play and novel, told Wendy that he ran away the day he was born. He explained, “It was because I heard father and mother talking about what I was to be when I became a man. I don’t want ever to be a man. I want always to be a little boy and have fun. So I ran away.” If only Solomon had thought of that!

Today's reading actually resembles Peter’s “just have fun” philosophy, the chief difference being that Ecclesiastes doesn’t provide the escape clause of Neverland. The primary direction given to us in chapter 3 is to enjoy life and be satisfied (vv. 12, 13), and that’s the second time Ecclesiastes makes that point (2:24). But we need to understand that idea in its context. The end of today’s reading brings up for the third time the issue of enjoying one’s lot, but with a qualifier–no one knows what comes next (v. 22).

Likewise, we can miss the point of verse 11. It’s natural to single it out as a warm, sentimental statement about the glory of each and every part of creation. But this passage really emphasizes the humility of all creation. It is God who dictates the seasons of life, and He alone understands the eternal plan. The labor of man is subject to change and death, but what God does lasts forever (v. 14). That is the unmistakable distinction between God and man.

And so it follows that, although men won’t remember the rulers of the past (2:16), God keeps record of all man’s deeds, and will judge them righteously, unlike the fallen system of this world (vv. 15–17).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Few people in the world illustrate how our actions can have enduring meaning quite as poignantly as our mothers. A mother’s love is an important channel of God’s grace in our lives, and a mother whose example leads her child to faith in Christ has taken part in a wonderful, never-ending accomplishment. So what better gift to give your mother, no matter where she might be, than to rededicate your life to following Christ, bringing honor to her and glory to God. (Of course, flowers are a nice touch, too.)

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Hebrews 12:1-3
Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. - Hebrews 12:1b
TODAY IN THE WORD
Near the end of the third century ad, Saint Anthony’s parents died and he inherited a rather large fortune. But rather than enjoy the pleasures such riches would give him, Anthony took the opposite approach. He gave away all he had and withdrew himself completely from the world and all its pleasures. The converted emperor Constantine had popularized Christian faith and put an end to the rampant persecution of the church. Although some of his practices may have been extreme, Anthony stood out in an era of comfortable Christianity. He became one of the first monks to impose a level of suffering on himself. He withdrew from the routines of a typical daily life, not to escape the responsibility and pain, but to resist the delights of “under the sun” living.

What a stark contrast to what we’ve studied in Ecclesiastes! In terms of personal satisfaction, Anthony’s approach was an attempt to mirror Christ’s suffering and sacrifice. Today’s passage compels us to make such an attempt ourselves.

Hebrews describes the life of a believer as a race, an interesting picture in light of Ecclesiastes’ cyclical metaphors. Even a race held on a circular track in an arena has a finish line, a point when the race starts and stops. As verse 2 points out, the prize awaits us after the race is over.

The portrait painted here is of Christ, who ran a course none of us could duplicate. He, the supreme King over all creation, did not enjoy a life of ease, peace, and luxury. He faced shame, opposition, and suffering throughout His ministry, especially on the cross (vv. 2, 3). Ecclesiastes might have directed Him to enjoy life on earth while it lasted, but Hebrews makes it clear that Christ’s ultimate joy was yet to come (v. 2).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
You don’t need to follow Anthony’s example of giving away all your possessions and moving into a cave somewhere, but you can adopt a similar mindset. Take a mental inventory of everything you own. What do you have that exists primarily for personal enjoyment? Consider selling those items and giving the proceeds to your church. Ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart and your home for any “extras” that hinder you spiritually–and ask for the resolve to give them up in order to run the race of the Christian journey.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Ecclesiastes 4:1-8
“Because of the oppression of the weak and the groaning of the needy, I will now arise,” says the Lord. - Psalm 12:5
TODAY IN THE WORD
F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, The Great Gatsby, serves as a modern-day Ecclesiastes. Jay Gatsby epitomized the reckless extravagance of the Roaring Twenties as well as the hollow dreams that left America as a whole unsatisfied. He amassed enormous wealth to impress another man’s wife–and he never really experienced genuine love, only affectionate greed. As Fitzgerald assessed, “No amount of fire or freshness can challenge what a man will store up in his ghostly heart.”

In the book, Gatsby died alone, but sadly he’s not alone in his pursuits. At the outset of today’s reading, the Teacher bemoans the evil oppression that pervades this world and the suffering it causes (vv. 1–3). Look at the extreme terms used to describe the hopelessness of the situation! Verse 4 gets at the reason behind the sad state of affairs–greed. Notice that it’s not just personal desire, either. It’s a matter of wanting what someone else has. At its extreme, greed causes oppression. At the very least, though, it results in meaningless labor (v. 6).

The image of the hands in verses 5–6 provides a gripping mental picture. To fold our hands and rest would be laziness, to grab everything within our reach would be greedy, but to take only what we need without seeking something more brings peace and satisfaction.

Verses 7–8 point to a good test of satisfaction–is there anyone to enjoy life with? A life of envying one’s neighbor only promotes alienation and loneliness. The questions that the man asks are remarkably probing. For whom am I doing all this (v. ? “Myself,” would be quite an empty answer, and the Teacher can find no good motivation for such an existence.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Today’s passage shows how our outlook on life involves more than just ourselves–so this is a good time to search out your life for any signs of greed. Does the statement in verse 4 apply to any part of your life? Try asking yourself the question in verse 8: “For whom am I toiling?” Make a concerted effort today to turn the focus of your attitude outward–work to serve others and share the love of Christ!

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Ecclesiastes 4:9-16
Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work. - Ecclesiastes 4:9
TODAY IN THE WORD
During the reign of Nicholas II, the last czar of Russia, Vladimir Lenin was arrested multiple times for his radical conduct, but he emerged as a powerful new leader after the October Revolution. After Lenin died, Joseph Stalin, son of a shoemaker, took the Soviet helm. All three rulers had one thing in common–their popularity waned completely by the end of their lives, but their spirit of tyranny lived on. It was out of that state of oppression that renowned author Alexander Solzhenitsyn fled the KGB. His friend, the famous musician Mstislav Rostropovich, risked his career and life to give Solzhenitsyn asylum, where he was able to continue writing in peace for years.

The second half of today’s reading takes us through a power-shifting scenario much like the one Russia endured, and it shows us just how fleeting public support of a leader can be. The old ruler can succumb to stubborn foolishness (v. 13), to the point where he can be overthrown by an imprisoned foe or succeeded by a poor commoner from his own land (v. 14). The masses may be swayed by the hope a new leader brings (v. 15), but before long the newness wears off and the ruler’s approval rating plummets (v. 16).

Verses 9–12 show that the fleeting approval of many is far inferior to the loyalty of one friend. When two join together, their work is more efficient (v. 9), they can rescue each other from downfall (v. 10), and they can keep each other safe and warm (vv. 11, 12). The history of Russia illustrates the point here–Solzhenitsyn gained more from the love of one friend than any Russian ruler ever received from the near-absolute power they wielded.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Yesterday we learned that greed and envy lead to oppression and loneliness–today we concluded that any popularity gained from such selfish ambition is easily lost, but the love of friendship offers a more lasting reward.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: John 15:9-17
Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. - John 15:13
TODAY IN THE WORD
In his poetic play, Murder in the Cathedral, T. S. Eliot writes, “A Christian martyrdom is never an accident. . . . A martyrdom is always the design of God, for His love of men, to warn them and to lead them, to bring them back to His ways. It is never the design of man; for the true martyr is he who has become the instrument of God, who has lost his will in the will of God, and who no longer desires anything for himself, not even the glory of being a martyr. . . . So in Heaven the Saints are most high, having made themselves most low, and are seen, not as we see them, but in the light of the Godhead from which they draw their being.”

It takes far more than an “under the sun” mentality to give up one’s life as a martyr. Even the friendship described in Ecclesiastes 4 doesn’t go that far. Truly sacrificial love and humility comes from an expanded, eternal point of view–the kind evidenced by Jesus and the Twelve, almost all of whom died directly because of their love for each other and for Christ.

Today’s reading shows the chain of love all the way from the Father to the Son to those who obey the Father’s commands (vv. 9, 10). But the love doesn’t reach its final destination in us–Jesus commands us to pass it on (v. 12)! And when He calls for us to love each other, He’s not talking about words or empty affection. The greatest way we can show our love is to give up our very lives (v. 13).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
You may not have to die for your friends or for Christ–He didn’t expect us to plan our own deaths. But you do have a say in adhering to the full obedience that’s expected of a friend who remains in Christ’s love (vv. 10, 14).

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Kings 3:4-15
Then the king and all Israel with him offered sacrifices before the Lord. - 1 Kings 8:62
TODAY IN THE WORD
After reading the first four chapters of Ecclesiastes, one might assume that Solomon didn’t have much experience relating to God–he talks about God in somewhat impersonal terms. So it’s important that we remind ourselves that God spoke directly to Solomon on a number of occasions. In tomorrow’s reading, Ecclesiastes speaks rather candidly about the proper approach to God, so today we’ll try to learn how someone with firsthand access to God could possibly come to the conclusions offered in Ecclesiastes 5.

Today’s reading is the first account of the Lord appearing to Solomon, this time in a dream (vv. 5, 15). Solomon had just offered one thousand burnt offerings (offerings for an individual’s sin) at Gibeon, the most important of the high places (v. 4). Even though the method he used was forbidden (see Deut. 12:1–6), God still graced Solomon with an offer to give him anything he wanted (v. 5).

Solomon pleased God with his request for wisdom and discernment to rule the Lord’s people (vv. 9, 10), so God granted his request and added even more rewards to Solomon’s blessing (v. 13). But there was one stipulation. God reminded Solomon to stay on course with His ways (v. 14). As we’ve learned in our earlier studies, and as Ecclesiastes seems to indicate, Solomon didn’t live up to that command.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Today’s reading is a lesson in quality over quantity and endurance over extravagance. Solomon’s interaction with God tended to be dramatic, and his responses were splendid. But his commitment to God wavered.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Ecclesiastes 5:1-7
Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains would tremble before you! - Isaiah 64:1
TODAY IN THE WORD
In her short story, “Greenleaf,” Flannery O’Connor draws a parallel between realizing the truth about God and being charged by a bull. The character Mrs. May, who had dismissed religious people as simple, suddenly finds herself squarely in the path of a bull’s ferocious horns. As the beast pierces Mrs. May’s heart, O’Connor writes, “she had the look of a person whose sight has been suddenly restored but who finds the light unbearable.”

Sometimes God’s revelations to us can be striking, perhaps coming too late in life to take advantage of the truth. Solomon may have fit into that category. Verse 1 in today’s reading is a vast departure from Solomon’s grandiose approach to offering sacrifices. This is a strong warning against taking God and His glory too lightly.

Verse 2 puts us in our place, drawing the distinction between our confinement under the sun and God’s elevated presence in heaven. It doesn’t seem like Solomon to do anything in a limited way, but verses 2 and 3 give wise counsel against multiplying our words to God.

The last section of this reading seems to come from the point of view of someone who learned the hard way not to leave vows unfulfilled. If any of Solomon’s numerous fellowship offerings were the result of a vow, he would have likely regretted the unbridled enthusiasm with which he made them. James repeats this wise advice when he warns against swearing by heaven, earth, or anything else (James 5:12).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
As you plan to attend church tomorrow, now is a good time to prepare your heart for corporate worship. Before you go to bed tonight, quietly reflect on the great things God has done in your life, His glorious attributes, and His unfailing promises.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Hebrews 4:14-16
Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy. - Hebrews 4:16a
TODAY IN THE WORD
Haley Mills was an established child star at the time, but her escort to Disneyland one day had even more clout. As she was ushered past thousands of guests waiting in endless lines, one security guard attempted to stop the duo from proceeding. He yelled, “Hey, who do you think you are, Walt Disney?” Imagine his shock and embarrassment as Mills’s escort turned around and said, “As a matter of fact, I am Walt Disney.” Needless to say, the guard let them through.

Special relationships with people in high places garner all sorts of special access. And our relationship with Christ gives us immediate access that even a king would envy. Today’s reading in Hebrews reveals that, with Christ as our high priest, we enjoy benefits even Solomon couldn’t call his own. Our high priest has ascended higher than any Old Testament priest ever could (v. 14)!

But our access comes not just from Christ’s lofty position in heaven, but also from the common experiences Jesus went through on earth (v. 15). We have a high priest who can relate to our weaknesses and has overcome all our temptations. Because of that unique relationship, we can “approach the throne of grace with confidence” to receive help whenever we need it–whether it’s grace when we suffer or mercy when we stumble (v. 16).

This doesn’t negate, however, Ecclesiastes’ warning about the appropriate awe the presence of God should stir within us. It simply adds another dimension to the picture. “Under the sun” thinking puts primary stress on our sin without considering the redemptive power of our heavenly high priest. Our inclination toward faithlessness makes any oaths we might make to God very risky. But Christ’s priesthood is confirmed with an oath straight from God that can never be broken (Heb. 7:20–22).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Is there some temptation in your life you’re afraid to bring to Jesus, some sin you’ve never had the courage to confess? Jesus can sympathize with whatever you’re facing! You can approach His throne with boldness and claim His grace and mercy in your time of need.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Ecclesiastes 5:8-17
The sleep of a laborer is sweet, whether he eats little or much. - Ecclesiastes 5:12a
TODAY IN THE WORD
In the late 1980s, a revolutionary anti-depressant drug hit the market, and by the early '90s, the name Prozac entered the popular vocabulary of American culture, along with yuppies, thirtysomethings, and workaholics. The drug was intended to treat a chemical imbalance that caused clinical depression, but it became a fashionable cure for anyone with a priority imbalance for whom success, career, and money just wasn’t enough to bring happiness. Fulfillment in a pill.

Ecclesiastes diagnosed that condition long ago. We read in our passage today that oppression, injustice, and denial of basic human rights is to be expected because the sickness of greed is widespread, and even the king is not immune (vv. 8, 9). The basic problem is inherent in their desires: a love affair with money can never be satisfied (v. 10).

Verse 11 points out an additional problem with wealth: the more you have, the more people tend to turn up at your doorstep wanting their share. This type of friend doesn’t offer any of the benefits mentioned in chapter 4–shared labor, rescue, warmth, protection–all they bring is superficial acceptance that fades just as fast as the money that they’re spending.

The next observation stands out as the sole positive point in this passage. A hard day’s work yields a good night’s sleep (v. 12). But the sheer accumulation of riches brings insomnia. The next verses give us some idea why–wealth, whether it’s hoarded or lost altogether–seems to be a grievous evil either way (vv. 13, 14). In the end, riches really do not matter, because, as the saying goes, you can’t take it with you (vv. 15, 16). If you’re ever in danger of making money too much of a priority, verse 17 should instantly cure that line of thinking. An existence marked by “great frustration, affliction and anger” isn’t worth pursuing. A pill might alleviate those symptoms for awhile, but no pharmacy can change the end result!
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Once again, Ecclesiastes reveals that so much of life depends on attitude and desire. What is your attitude toward money? A good test is to ask yourself this question: do I have enough money?