Daily Devotional From THE Wall 10/15/11

Investing In Your Future

Ecclesiastes 11:1-8

As I read the text for today I was struck with a sense of awe as I thought about the necessity of preparing for one’s future. Those of us who work and are looking forward to retirement someday have plans in place to have a secure future, I hope. As I reflex on this text I am reminded of the all the people in the Enron fiasco that lost so much of what they had invested or planned on for their future. As I think about the economic times we are in and people being laid off from their jobs and having very difficult times finding new ones. I wonder about the security of the future

However, today’s text gives us instructions and directions that are counterintuitive to the natural mind. The imagery and similes used are powerful. We are told to cast our bread upon the waters, to share liberally with the poor sowing into them the necessities of life. We are assured that what we have sown will be returned to us eventually. We are admonished to sow generously and abundantly into the lives of many persons, because we do not know if one day we may be in their shoes. We are to be as generous as a rain cloud filled with water, because in death our deeds will be judged and where we end up will be settled for eternity. This is one of those scriptures that give us a promise that what we have sown will be returned.  Additionally we cannot allow our sowing and reaping to be determined by circumstances. If we wait for optimum conditions to do the work that God has for us to do we will never get it done, because there will almost always be thing that could cause us to delay doing God’s will. Since we do not know what the Lord is doing in the circumstances he allows in our lives we should be about the master’s will and sow our seeds no matter the time of day, early morning or late night.

Finally this text tells us that life is sweet. Every morning that we wake up and see a new day is a day to celebrate. We should enjoy the comforts of life, and not allow ourselves to become bitter over life situations. No matter the circumstances we should be able to say as the psalmist, “This is the day The Lord has made, and I will rejoice and be glad in it.  This enjoyment of life should be tempered with the understanding that we will spend more days in eternity than in this life that we are to enjoy. That truly is the future that we are investing in. How we live and give, sow and reap will determine the joys we share in eternity. If our investments for the future are only for this life, they are vain, futile, and empty, or as is said in the text “Vanity”

Prayer: Father show us how to invest in our future. Open our eyes that we may see those who are less fortunate than we and give us hearts that will give them generous portions of our resources. Also, dear Lord, help us to focus our attention on your will and not the circumstances which will be a distraction to us. Help us to enjoy the sweet life that you provide. AMEN

What Time Is It?

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

There's an opportune time to do things, a right time for everything on the earth:  A right time for birth and another for death,  A right time to plant and another to reap,  A right time to kill and another to heal, A right time to destroy and another to construct, A right time to cry and another to laugh, A right time to lament and another to cheer, A right time to make love and another to abstain, A right time to embrace and another to part, A right time to search and another to count your losses, A right time to hold on and another to let go, A right time to rip out and another to mend, A right time to shut up and another to speak up, A right time to love and another to hate, A right time to wage war and another to make peace. (MSS)

As I read the scripture today I thought about the J. G. Wentworth commercial, “It’s my money and I want it NOW”.  Many of us in our quest for the acquisitions of things want it NOW. Most of us want God to bless us right NOW.  Wait is a four letter word for us. But there is an opportune time for everything. The question is What Time Is It?

            In America we have been raised in a culture of instant gratification. In this cultural climate, we flip a switch and we have light, we go through drive through for FAST FOOD. We have instant rice, oats, coffee, and tea. The instant mentality causes waiting and timing to be problematic for us. We are used to voila!!, and it’s there. An opportune time is almost foreign to our thinking.
            As I remember finishing school and getting my first job, I remember wanting to live a certain lifestyle of affluence. I remember the sense of disappointment as I went to look for the type and style of furniture I wanted, but it was well out of my pay range. But I wanted it NOW. I see that same quality in many today, wanting to live a lifestyle they cannot afford at this time and being frustrated, angry, and depressed because of it. This is not the opportune time. The question is What Time Is It?
            This text today is particularly poignant as I watch and wait with my youngest daughter as she awaits the arrival of her first child. She is so ready for this child to be born. Not just the anticipatory excitement of waiting for this blessed event, like a child waiting for Christmas, but a desire that can, if not mastered cause one to do something unrealistic at its best, and detrimental at its worst. Waiting for the opportune time, particularly when you are in pain and discomfort is difficult, but still, the question is What Time Is It?
            The lack of our ability to wait for God’s timing causes us to meet with many problems that we would not have if we waited on God’s provision. Most, if not all of our debt would be eliminated if we had waited on God. Most, if not all, of the criminal offences that occur would be eliminated if we waited on God.  Most of our failed and relationships are because we failed to wait on God. For EVERYTHING there is a season. What struggles are you facing? What decisions do you need to make? How do you need to proceed? The answer you need is in asking the right question. The question is What Time Is It?

Prayer: Gracious Father, we come to you today acknowledging that we are impatient, and want instant gratification. We ask O God that you would help us make the mental, emotional, and spiritual adjustment to be able to wait on your time. There is an opportune time for Everything. Help us to wait on ours. AMEN!

Stop Working for the Wind

Stop Working for the Wind
Ecclesiastes 5:10-20

So much of what we spend our time on is planning for, trying to, or dreaming about amassing wealth. We are consumed with bigness, muchness, and grandness. Our self-worth, self-esteem, and even our outlook on life are tied to amassing the trappings of wealth.

This text clearly tells us ten detrimental things about amassing wealth:

     1.   We’ll never have enough money.

     2.   Wealth does not bring happiness.

     3.   The more money we have the more associates will gather

            to help us spend it.

     4.   It will only slip through our fingers.

     5.   Rich folk seldom get enough sleep.

     6.   Hoarding riches harms the hoarder

     7.   We lose everything in risky investment and will not have an

           inheritance for our children.

     8.   We can’t take our wealth with us into eternity.

     9.   The world is no better off because of our presence.

    10.   Life is filled with frustration, discouragement, and anger.

This text makes it abundantly clear that the love of money and the acquisition of wealth will never satisfy. Therefore, I would like to encourage you to “Stop Working for the Wind”.

      Just as this text clearly tell us that working to amass wealth is futile, frustrating, and depressing. It also tells us several relevant, realistic, and relieving truths that can be a blessing for us as believers if we apply them to our lives

     1.   It is good to eat, drink and find enjoyment in the work that we do.

     2.   Make the most of what God gives us.

     3.   God gives us wealth and the capacity or good health to enjoy it.

     4.   God keep those who apply the principles so busy enjoying life

           that we neither brood over the past, or worry about the future.

It seems to me if we take the time to take care of ourselves, find enjoyment in the work we have, and make the most of what we have. God will give us wealth, health, and an enjoyable life.

Prayer: Father help us to “Stop Working for theWind”, but to press into you. Show us how to take care of ourselves andjoyfully work where you have us. Then Lord, please help us position ourselvesto receive the wealth, health, and joy that come from you. Amen.