Ecclesiastes 12:10

Sullivan defends his title, 1889   Gentleman Jim Corbett is sometimes called the father of modern boxing. Because of his scientific approach and innovative techniques, he is often credited with changing prizefighting from a brawl to an art. He bettered the sport by popularizing the influence of footwork, the use of the left hook, and even the use of hand wraps.   However, he credited his success in the ring to not his innovations but to his persistence . He said this famous quote about his success:   “Fight one more round. When your feet are so tired that you have to shuffle back to the center of the ring, fight one more round. When your arms are so tired that you can hardly lift your hands to come on guard, fight one more round . When your nose is bleeding and your eyes are black and you are so tired that you wish that your opponent would crack you one on the jaw and put you to sleep, fight one more round – remembering that the man who always fights one more round...

“Words of the Preacher: A study of the wisdom of Ecclesiastes”   Experience is a trait that is very valuable for any organization. A person with experience in an area can usually do a job faster, easier and better than those without.   But the Preacher tells us in Ecclesiastes 4:13 of a time when experience is wasted. He says, “ A poor yet wise lad is better than an old and foolish king who no longer knows how to receive instruction.” Experience and position are not assets to those that think they no longer need to listen to anyone else.   No matter how long you have been doing something and how good you may be at it, there is always something else you can learn. Those that “check out” and feel they “know it all” are no longer an asset to any organization or to themselves.

“Words of the Preacher: A study of the wisdom of Ecclesiastes”   Sometimes when we see bad behavior in those under our authority, it is easy to dismiss the problem and hope it “fixes itself”. A teacher doesn’t want the disturbance of calling down the student, the employer doesn’t want the drama that comes in correcting the employee, and the parent doesn’t want the hassle of disciplining the child.   But the Preacher gives us some important council in Ecclesiastes 8:11. Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed quickly, therefore the hearts of the sons of men among them are given fully to do evil.     When punishment or admonishment is not done in a timely manner, it promotes more wrongdoing. Human beings often equate a lack of response as acceptance. As my daughter has often said after I have not answered her request, “I’ll just take that as a yes”.   If nothing immediately happens to us, then we think the action must be valid. It make things ...

For many, a person’s faithfulness is synonymous with attendance. A person is faithful to the Lord if they are at the services with regularity. While assembling together is vital for a Christian (Hebrews 10:25), we have more than just services to attend, we have to attend to service. Christian duty does not begin and end at the doors of the building. A person can never miss an assembly and still be unfaithful in regards to seeking the lost, loving one another, or doing good works. Attendance shouldn’t be the end of our commitment to Christ but rather the stimulus to do more in the kingdom.

“Words of the Preacher: A study of the wisdom of Ecclesiastes” It seems out society has becoming obsessed with safety. Think back to how many safety features that are now considered “essential” that we just didn’t have twenty years ago. We all want to be safe, so we accept them, even to the point of absurdity. I don’t know about you but sometimes it seems to get carried away. Everything has to be padded, protected, sanitized, and secured to the nth degree. We foolishly think we can make everything perfectly safe.                But Preacher tells us differently in Ecclesiastes 10:8-9, “ He who digs a pit may fall into it, and a serpent may bite him who breaks through a wall. He who quarries stones may be hurt by them, and he who splits logs may be endangered by them.” Any activity comes with some inherent danger. That doesn’t mean we should stop doing them. We can’t control everything that may happen and thinking ...

Have you ever heard the expression “Get a real life”? It doesn’t mean to find something that is truly alive, but rather to increase your existence beyond the boring. To get out of the fantasy world, to go do something different, something that stirs the mind, body and soul, something better than just existing, a “real” life. I think this is an interesting concept, one that Paul touches on in Acts 17:28.                 In that passage, he tells the people i n the midst of the Areopagus that in the One True God “ we live and move and have our being ”. He’s not just the one that make us alive, not just the one keep the world spinning, but the one that makes us who we are. Our lives are just more than breathing air going about our daily tasks, but the completeness of ourselves as his creation. Only with God can a life be complete. That is why Jesus could promise an “ abundant life ” in John 10:10. Worldly living may b...