TODAY IN THE WORD

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Ecclesiastes 5:18-20
Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. - Psalm 37:3
TODAY IN THE WORD
A recent survey of American households attempted to discover the relationship between income and happiness. They polled people at varying income levels from very poor to extremely rich. The results came as some surprise to the group conducting the study. The only connection found between an increase in money and an elevated sense of happiness came at the poverty line. Families who had trouble meeting their basic needs–clothes, food, a warm home, etc.–were generally less happy than other families. But from that point on, even as the income level increased, the satisfaction level stayed the same.

If you’ve been following along with the study so far, you shouldn’t be surprised at all by those findings. Today’s reading marks the fourth time that Ecclesiastes has come to the conclusion that it is good for us to enjoy what we have and find satisfaction in our work (cf. 2:24; 3:13, 22). The fact that it has been repeated so often makes the point worth driving home again. We’ve already gone over the idea that attitude and obedience play a major part in determining satisfaction and happiness. The previous passages, like today’s, have also made the point that the ability to enjoy what we have comes from God (vv. 19, 20).

But today’s passage adds a new wrinkle. It is God who gives a man his wealth and possessions (v. 19). It’s not a new idea that everything we have comes from God, but in this context it’s particularly noteworthy.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Isn’t it interesting how concerns about money can distress us? Whether it’s retirement or a new job, welcoming a new baby into the world or sending him on to college, building a new home or downsizing–all those issues can fill our minds with oppressive worry.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Matthew 6:19-34
Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. - Matthew 6:29
TODAY IN THE WORD
According to 1 Kings 10:14, King Solomon received 666 talents of gold annually, which calculates to about 23 metric tons. At today’s prices, that amounts to an income, just in gold, of about $300 million a year. His throne was inlaid with ivory and outlaid with gold. The interior of the temple he built was completely covered in pure gold. His palace was constructed out of fine cedar beams and a precision-cut, high-grade stone foundation. He employed thousands of men for seven years to build the temple, and it took thirteen years to build his marvelous palace.

According to today’s verse, however, God outdid him in seven days without spending a penny. In Ecclesiastes, we’ve studied verse after verse of conclusions that everything under the sun is meaningless; enjoy what God’s given because it won’t last. Jesus goes one step further, essentially concluding that worrying about such things is a waste of time–the richest, most resourceful man in all the world can’t compete with lilies or grass (vv. 28–30)! So let’s set our mind on higher things (v. 33).

Looking back to the beginning of today’s passage, we see that Jesus gets at the heart of the issue with the question, “Where is your treasure?” Earthly treasures fade away, but heavenly treasures never diminish (vv. 19, 20). It’s really a matter of having your heart in the right place (v. 21).

The illustration of the eye as a lamp is an excellent test for determining where your heart is. What do your eyes seek after? Do you tend to scan for a flashy new car or a bigger, nicer house that tempts you toward envy? Or are you constantly looking for new opportunities to serve God and deliver compassion? Those are telltale signs of who your master is, God or Money. Verse 24 says that you can’t serve both.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
What do your eyes say about you? When you see others, you might be tempted to look first at the material things like their clothes, their car, or their home. But that kind of first look tends to tempt us either to judge or to envy.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Ecclesiastes 6
For who knows what is good for a man in life? - Ecclesiastes 6:12a
TODAY IN THE WORD
Shakespeare’s Hamlet had issues. In quite possibly the most famous soliloquy in any play, he asks the question, “To be, or not to be?” He had reached the point that many people come to when he wondered if it was better to suffer the pains of life or to end them altogether. But for Hamlet, the rub was the unknown. The uncertainty of “what dreams may come” during the sleep of death was enough to stop him from ending his life. But the inability to bear the suffering that life brought kept Hamlet from enjoying one second of his existence.

Hamlet, in effect, was fighting the same inner struggle as Ecclesiastes in today’s reading. Verse 12 is the key verse in this chapter, because it essentially asks the question, “What’s the point of living, and what comfort can you find when you don’t know what comes next?”

The chapter starts out with an “about face” from the point we left off. The previous verses discuss enjoying a worry-free life. But if God doesn’t enable a man to enjoy life, look out (v. 2)! It’s meaningless, but it’s worse than that. The passage makes the case that it would be better not to have lived at all than to live a long, productive life without joy.

Next comes a string of observations on the subject. First, we have a sobering revelation about human motivation that brings to mind Jesus’ powerful statement in John 6:35: “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry.” But without Christ, our appetites are never satisfied. Verse 8 raises an interesting question about the worth of wisdom, conjuring the ironic picture of a homeless man with excellent manners. Verse 9 speaks of longing for things that are distant from us by time or space. For example, during a cold winter, Chicagoans often wish they could fly to Florida or turn the calendar forward to June. Such longing, though, is meaningless.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
If you ever need motivation for witnessing, this passage is a good source. Thoughtful people who don’t know Jesus Christ as Savior are tormented by the reality of this passage. They, like Hamlet, find no meaning in the suffering of life–and they are frightened by the horrible unknown future that awaits them after death. You have the message of hope and light that their souls long to hear. Share it with someone today! No endeavor could be more meaningful than to lead someone to saving faith in Jesus.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Ecclesiastes 7:1-14
Wisdom, like an inheritance, is a good thing and benefits those who see the sun. - Ecclesiastes 7:11
TODAY IN THE WORD
Yesterday, Ecclesiastes posed the question, “What is good for a man in life?” Today’s reading is an implicit answer to that question, as today’s verse indicates. Wisdom is a good thing, and this passage is filled with pearls of wisdom that hope to form a string of meaningful truth. The struggle, though, is that this inspired wisdom from God is intentionally limited to the para-meters of “under the sun” thought. This is, in essence, wisdom for the here and now without a thought given toward eternity. But the wisdom it offers for us today is still powerful.

The comparison of a good name to fine perfume is a piece of poignant poetic imagery–a reputation has a way of lingering like an odor, good or bad. It also marks the first of seven “better than” statements that offer wise guidance for our choices. The mood of the passage shifts immediately, as mourning is counted better than laughter (vv. 1–4). Before we dismiss that notion as the depression of someone detached from God, consider that James reinforces the same sentiment in his epistle (James 4:9). A sober attitude is the fruit of a humble heart.

Rebukes are generally not our favorite thing to hear, but wise correction is better than foolish reinforcement (vv. 5, 6). That’s a difficult truth to accept sometimes, but again, humility is important. Verse 7 refers back to the issue of money and acceptance–a love for either can be used against even a wise man through bribes or extortion. Verse 8 gives us an insightful contrast between proudly beginning a project and patiently enduring until the end. Part of that patience is having the humility to be slow to anger–notice what a key factor humility is in wise living.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
There is a strong connection between Ecclesiastes and the book of James. Both of them focus especially on the here and now in different ways. While Ecclesiastes looks to answer this world’s questions without looking into heaven, James commands us to put our heaven-bound faith into practice on earth. We will study the book of James later this year, and you can get a head start. Set aside some time to read through all of James and compare it to what we’ve read so far in Ecclesiastes. It will be good preparation for tomorrow’s study.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: James 3:13-4:17
Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. - James 4:10
TODAY IN THE WORD
Robert Louis Stevenson gripped the world with his horrifying tale of human duality, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. In it, he personifies the division between good and evil with his title characters, Dr. Jekyll as the good side, and Mr. Hyde embodying the evil. The essential downfall of the experiment, however, was that Hyde’s evil was an inextricable part of Jekyll’s being. In other words, Hyde was all evil, but Dr. Jekyll was never completely good.

In light of today’s reading, Ecclesiastes appears to portray a similar struggle going on inside Solomon’s heart. He has a keen awareness of the fallen “wisdom” of this world that consists of envy and proud selfishness. He also cites much of the heavenly wisdom found in today’s passage in James. But the tone of Ecclesiastes seems to indicate that Solomon never fully embraced the wisdom of God, and so he was brought down. Can we not sympathize with this battle for control of our hearts between the wisdom of the devil and the wisdom of God?

This passage is an indictment against greed, and it’s particularly humbling to see how greed and a thirst for pleasure even enter into our prayer life (4:3). Then in verse 4, that incriminating word, adulterous, makes unmistakably clear what is at stake with the choices we make as believers. Staying true to God is a matter of fidelity, and entertaining relationships with worldly behavior, or other gods in Solomon’s case, is unacceptable. Because we aren’t the only ones who can be envious–the Holy Spirit owns the deed to our hearts, and He is not interested in sharing with the world (4:5). Even when we stumble, though, there is hope. Again, humility is key–there is grace awaiting the humble (4:6).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
One thing we can say about Solomon: he was honest about his struggles. With insight from James, we can see that Solomon fought through an intense battle between the glorious pleasures of kingship and the humble reality sewn into every sinner’s heart. Before God, we must acknowledge that we’re fallen and that we’re subject to His command. We have a choice. We can either go on ignoring His sovereignty, or we can display our submission through a “good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom” (3:13).

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Ecclesiastes 7:15-29
There is not a righteous man on earth who does what is right and never sins. - Ecclesiastes 7:20
TODAY IN THE WORD
By this point in our study of Ecclesi-astes, you may have asked yourself, “If Solomon had so much wisdom, how could he possibly turn to other gods? Isn’t that the most foolish thing anyone could ever do?” But today and tomorrow we’ll see that wisdom, even for the wisest of people, has its limitations, especially when the perspective is limited to this earth.

For instance, how can a wise men make sense of the fact that righteousness sometimes can lead to death, while some wicked people enjoy long lives (v. 15)? Such a question leaves an “under the sun” mind with two possible answers: either a) righteousness has no immediate or long-lasting benefits over wickedness, or b) righteousness is impossible to obtain.

Verse 16 includes a tough statement to process, but it helps to look at it together with verse 20–no one can be truly righteous, let alone overrighteous, and it’s hard to imagine anyone being overwise, either, especially to the point of self-destruction. Overwicked or foolish, that’s easier to picture (v. 17). But the verses may be speaking more about self-perception than an actual state of being–a person with a proper view of God seeks after wisdom and righteousness, but falls short of thinking of himself as supremely good or wise (v. 18).

Overall, this passage offers a realistic look at one man’s search for wisdom. After an interesting admonition not to hold other people’s speech to a harsher standard than your own (vv. 21, 22), this wise man admits that even he falls short of ultimate wisdom (v. 23). He seeks to understand the stupidity of wickedness and the madness of folly (v. 25).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Beneath the surface of today’s passage lies the difference between wisdom and righteousness. Part of wisdom is recognizing one’s own sinfulness, but the remedy doesn’t come through wisdom–righteousness comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe (Rom. 3:22).

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Ecclesiastes 8
Wisdom brightens a man’s face and changes its hard appearance. - Ecclesiastes 8:1b
TODAY IN THE WORD
Eliot Ness, the well-known lawman who brought Al Capone to justice, never enjoyed financial success. Even as his crime-fighting career continued after such a remarkable achievement, he and his family had to settle for common means. How humbling it must have been to see the criminals he chased enjoy riches beyond his wildest dreams. He died before his one chance at commercial gain, the publication of his book, The Untouchables.

King Solomon, through all his exposure to foreign rulers, must have seen many cases of wicked, powerful men enjoying prolonged reign over their kingdoms. And with an “under the sun” mentality, it’s hard to see the value of living righteously when wicked men are rewarded with prosperity. Today’s reading is a product of observing life through that lens–justice isn’t always carried out “under heaven” (v. 11, 12).

But the beginning and the ending of today’s reading offer an insightful look into wisdom. Verses 1 and 17 both point to the fact that even a wise man can’t explain everything about life–but his wisdom still allows him a positive outlook! Even if he disagrees with the king, a wise man can still act appropriately with respect and obedience (vv. 2–6). But not even the king has ultimate power (v. . Death is the great equalizer that brings an end to a wicked man’s glory days (v. 10). Even if the wickedness continues for years, life will be far more enjoyable for the man who does good (vv. 11–13).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Have you ever been under the authority of someone with whom you disagreed? If not a king, perhaps a boss or even a church leader? Verses 2–6 are quite valuable for anyone in such a situation. When a person in authority has the power to make decisions with or without your approval, it’s best to seek “the proper time and procedure” for any action you might take instead of making a rash, emotional decision. Ask God to show you the appropriate course of action with a prayer for wisdom today.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1Corinthians 1:18-2:16
I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate. - 1 Corinthians 1:19
TODAY IN THE WORD
In the baseball fantasy Shoeless Joe, by W. P. Kinsella, Ray followed the command of a mysterious voice to turn his cornfield into a baseball field. His act of faith brought results, as baseball players from the past appeared out of thin air to play there. Ray considered it an amazing accomplishment, but his neighbors were sure he was crazy–they couldn’t see the players! A marvelous revelation to Ray was viewed as complete nonsense by everyone else because they couldn’t see the entire picture.

The same can be said of Ecclesiastes–a limited outlook makes the world look meaningless. Today’s reading gives us the picture of “foolishness” to everyone with an “under the sun” mentality, and that picture is Christ crucified (1:23). Here we learn that the approach of Ecclesiastes is similar to Greek thought at the time, both seeking meaning through wisdom while the Jews looked for miraculous signs from God (1:22). But what miracle, what wisdom is there in the perfect Son of God being slaughtered?

Paul goes on to describe God’s paradoxical way of defeating wisdom with foolishness, strength with weakness (1:27, 28). In fact, the church is filled with less-than-impressive people whom God used for His glory (1:26, 29). Paul is a perfect example of God’s strength shining through weakness (2:1–5).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Today’s passage teaches us to boast, not in our own power, but in Christ who is our “righteousness, holiness and redemption” (1:30). On one hand, that means we should practice humility. But on the other hand, we also need to open up our minds to the possibilities–God can use you to accomplish His work, no matter what limitations you’ve experienced. Not only can God overcome the weaknesses of fallen people, they are His vessels of choice! Ask the Lord for courage to do what He asks and for His glory to outshine your sin.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Ecclesiastes 9
Whatever your hands find to do, do it with all your might. - Ecclesiastes 9:10a
TODAY IN THE WORD
According to an old French legend, the walled city of Carcassonne came under siege during the Middle Ages. As the story goes, the people trapped inside had run almost completely out of food, and although the city walls kept the powerful army at bay, starvation seemed imminent. One person came up with the idea to take the one remaining pig in the city and stuff it with all the grain they had left. They threw the animal over the wall for the attacking army to see–and the troops gave up hope of ever wearing down such a “bountiful” city and finally passed them by.

Some storytellers claim the city was named for the hero in this story, but it’s likely that if the legend has any basis in reality, the truth behind the heroism has been lost forever–no one from that time is around to verify the facts! And that’s the point Ecclesiastes hammers home in today’s reading. The fight against death is a hopeless battle, no matter how skilled or well-known the warrior may be (vv. 11, 12).

Verses 13–15 take us through an account of a poor but wise man that saved his entire town against a mighty army–and he received no glory, no recognition. We never even find out his name. But then again, we never learn the identity of the powerful king either. In time, though, they all passed on at their appointed time. Under the sun, they both share the same destiny–beyond the sun is another matter altogether.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Today, Ecclesiastes asks a probing question: who can know man’s destiny?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Ecclesiastes 10:1-12:8
And the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it. - Ecclesiastes 12:7
TODAY IN THE WORD
An entire performance of Rossini’s opera, William Tell, lasts about six hours–more than most human voices, or ears, can endure. But its overture (basically the symphonic synopsis of the story) is likely the most well-known piece of music of its kind. It has four parts, all of which are fairly popular: the sunrise on the cello, the storm on the drums and brass, the peaceful pastoral scene by the English horn and flute, and the galloping call of the trumpet–the tune that gave the Lone Ranger his theme.

The four-part construction resembles the four seasons as it summarizes the entire six-hour epic through its full circle of emotions in a matter of minutes. Today’s passage does much the same thing for the book of Ecclesiastes. It’s a string of wise sayings and observations that, in a sense, guide us through the author’s entire view of life “under the sun.”

There are too many quips and phrases in this passage to cover them all today, so let’s focus on a few. What political conservatives would love to use as a verse to condemn liberals (10:2) is really a statement noting how the wise man and the foolish man head in completely opposite directions. That theme runs throughout this passage.

Scattered along the way are some very good pieces of advice. Remain calm in the face of anger, even when its source is a powerful leader (10:4). There may be great temptation to storm away from an outburst, but calmly continuing in your duties can quiet the waters. Along the same line of respectful humility, don’t show disrespect to your superiors, even when you think you’re alone. In fact, we shouldn’t let hatred enter our thoughts–such attitudes have a way of making themselves known (10:20).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
It may be difficult to spend time each day thinking about life in such broad, sweeping strokes. Now might be a good time to clean the palate, so to speak.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: John 1:1-14
The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world. - John 1:9
TODAY IN THE WORD
Did someone say meaningless? Throughout this month, we’ve seen the world from the “under the sun” mentality, and the conclusions that life is chasing after the wind, a burden laid on men, meaningless, meaningless, meaningless. It’s a tough but important message for someone living under the delusion that earthly pleasures are enough to satisfy. But for someone who is discouraged by the hopeless tenor of Ecclesiastes, today’s passage is a refreshing source of truth and the “true light,” Jesus Christ.

We start out with “the Word,” and there’s no hint of the separation from God that marks Ecclesiastes. The Word was not only with God, the Word was God (v. 1). Ecclesiastes bemoans existence under the sun–without the Word, the sun and everything under and above it wouldn’t even exist (v. 3). He is the source of life and light for all mankind (v. 4). But here’s what causes the frustrations of Ecclesiastes–man couldn’t comprehend the light of the Word (v. 5). John the Baptist had an announcement to make: true light was coming (vv. 6, 9)!

Problem solved, right? Not completely. Even though life under the sun without God is meaningless, the world preferred the vain darkness and rejected the true light (vv. 10, 11). It’s hard to believe that anyone toiling under the frustrations of earth would deny themselves “the right to become children of God” (v. 12). For those who believe in Him, what a life–they will live as children born of God (v. 13)!
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
For those who believe in Christ, this passage is a benchmark for us in light of the lessons we’ve learned this month. Not only are earthly pleasures of no ultimate consequence, but when we choose to pursue them instead of the kingdom of Christ, how can we say that we truly “recognize Him”? And this passage tells us what we’re missing–grace, truth, and life! Make the commitment today to live like a child born of the Father.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Ecclesiastes 12:9-12
The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails. - Ecclesiastes 12:11a
TODAY IN THE WORD
Sometimes truth is like a refreshing drink of cold water on a hot summer day. Just when we feel like the heat of the world will overcome us, God’s Word brings encouraging reminders to us that energize and motivate our weary souls. Yesterday’s passage in John 1 was a great example of that effect.

Other times, though, the truth is not so kind and painless. Sometimes we feel God’s truth penetrate our hearts like the horn of the bull in “Greenleaf” (see May 15). His wisdom is piercing, and our conviction stings. Ecclesiastes is filled with that second type of truth, which makes it a particularly difficult book to absorb. But if we want the truth to make a permanent impression in our lives, we need it to be powerful and sometimes even painful.

Hopefully the Teacher has imparted his knowledge to you this month, and we’re reminded in verse 10 today that his words are appropriate and valid. We normally take that as a given in the Bible, but Ecclesiastes is full of passages that we’d like to explain away without too much consideration. We might think to ourselves, for instance, “Yes, life is meaningless . . . without God,” and then we move on. But we need to examine our lives–how many times in the day do we act as if God were completely distant? That’s when Ecclesiastes thinking shows up, and that’s when we need Christ to charge our lives with meaning!

We don’t always look forward to hearing wisdom that comes from God, because it is like goads, sharp instruments used to prod and drive oxen (v. 11). His wisdom may secure us like well-driven nails hold wood, but we’re not always quick to put our hearts under His hammer!

So we turn to other sources of wisdom, don’t we? Walk into any bookstore, secular or Christian, and you’ll find no shortage of books waiting to direct and drive your life in every conceivable direction. But the Teacher tells us to beware such sources (v. 12). There are many gimmicks that promise to give you the secrets to successful life, but none stand the test of time like God’s Word has!
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
At the beginning of the month, we recommended that you read through Ecclesiastes in one sitting, to take it in as a poetic expression of human emotion and heaven-sent wisdom. This would be a good time for you to repeat that reading, this time with a fuller understanding of its implications in your life. Think about how your perception of this book has changed since the month began. How has this book changed you? Ask the Holy Spirit to make those changes permanent in your life.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Ecclesiastes 12:13, 14
Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. - Ecclesiastes 12:13b
TODAY IN THE WORD
King David was about to die. It was time to charge his son, Solomon, with the responsibility of leading his people, God’s people, as their new king. He said to Solomon, “So be strong, show yourself a man, and observe what the Lord your God requires: Walk in his ways, and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and requirements, as written in the Law of Moses, so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go” (1 Kings 2:2, 3).

Perhaps Solomon should have written that down before testing out everything under the sun! Because the “conclusion of the matter” in today’s reading (v. 13) bears a strong resemblance to the words Solomon received early in life. After all he went through, all the wisdom and experience of the world had only substantiated what he was told at the beginning. Solo-mon learned the hard way that David’s advice was exceedingly wise. We don’t have to make the same mistake, so let’s continue learning from the words of Ecclesiastes.

Verse 13 is a big statement that we need to understand fully: Fear God and keep His commandments. That is our duty in its entirety. At the very least, utmost obedience and respect is expected of us. But the wording is still a bit detached. Fear, obey, duty–these are all good words for us to keep in mind, but we are more than God’s military battalion. Where does love fit into this picture? Actually, His most important commandments to us are to love Him and to love each other (Mark 12:29–31)! So love and obedience are the same thing. Remember, Jesus called His disciples more than just servants–we are His friends because we share in His business (John 15:15).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Today’s passage is an application in and of itself, and it couldn’t be clearer: “Fear God and keep His commandments.” Although it shouldn’t be, this practice often becomes a seasonal cycle in our lives–obedience, sin, correction or judgment, repentance, and back to obedience where the cycle resumes. But that’s not what God wants from us. Seek God’s help in this! Make it a point several times each day to ask Him to help you obey. Such attention to obedience is a sign of respect and love that fosters a compliant heart.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Colossians 3:1-17
When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. - Colossians 3:4
TODAY IN THE WORD
The television show, This Is Your Life, offered its guests an entertaining, nostalgic look at all the wonderful things they had accomplished and all the people whose contributions made that person into the success they had become. Many people would come to tears of joy as they relived the greatest memories of their time here on earth.

In Colossians 3, though, Paul changes the direction completely. Instead of This Is Your Life, Paul says that Christ is your life (v. 4). And those things of the past, all the passing events that attracted the focus of Ecclesiastes, really have become meaningless. Our eyes are on the new life we’re living in Christ (v. 10).

It all begins with our thoughts and our attitudes. So we are to put our hearts and our minds where our Lord is (v. 1). We are raised with Him, and our thought life should follow suit. We need to stop digging up our old selves and all the evil practices we are prone to (vv. 4–9). Remember, these are the things that bring God’s wrath on men, from the flood, to the enemies of Israel, to the coming judgment on this world (v. 6). How meaningless would it be to be raised from that spiritual death–and yet constantly trying to return to the grave instead of enjoying the righteousness of Christ?

Growth is a process, and we read that our new self “is being renewed in knowledge” in the image of God (v. 10). Notice a couple of other points. First of all, this new self is just that: something new! It answers the cry of Ecclesiastes. But notice, too, that knowledge is part of the process–wisdom is a means to make us more like Christ; but without Him and His Spirit, that wisdom is unattainable (1 Cor. 2:13, 14).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
So what do we take away from this month of studying the questions and conclusions of Ecclesiastes and the revelations of Christ in the New Testament? How do we put it into practice in our lives? Verse 17 says it all: “Do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” That’s whatever we do, whatever we say, done to His glory, resulting in a life of thankfulness. Obedience is the best thank-you for God’s most meaningful gift!

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Ephesians 5:22-33
The wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. - Revelation 19:7
TODAY IN THE WORD
King Edward VIII of England shocked the world when he abdicated from the throne in order to marry the divorced American socialite Wallis Warfield Simpson. Some years later he gave marital advice to a group of his close friends about how to stay on good terms with one’s spouse. “Of course, I do have a slight advantage over the rest of you,” he admitted. “It does help in a pinch to be able to remind your bride that you gave up a throne for her.”

Believers also have a vivid reminder of what it cost Jesus Christ to make the church His bride. He did not give up His throne forever, but He did lay aside the prerogatives of divinity and took upon Himself a human nature (Phil. 2:5–8). Being fully human and fully God, He submitted to a brutal death on the cross in order to purify the church and present it to Himself as a spotless bride (Titus 2:14).

In many ways, this is also the drama played out in the biblical book Song of Songs, also called the Song of Solomon. One of the most mysterious and controversial books of the Bible, its message has something to say about both human marriage and the divine love God has for His church.

Its frank description of the delights of human love has caused some people to wonder why it was included in the Bible. However, the Jewish writings known as the Mishnah quote the second-century Jewish rabbi Aquiba as saying, “All the ages are not worth the day on which the Song of Songs was given to Israel; for all the Writings are holy, but the Song of Songs is the Holy of Holies.”
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Do you know a couple who reflect the biblical picture of a loving relationship? Ask them to tell you their story. How did they meet? What was it like to fall in love? What kinds of challenges have they had to overcome in order to keep their love for one another strong?