Friday Devo
Scripture:
Ecclesiastes 1:1-5
1 As you enter the house of God, keep your ears open and your mouth shut. It is evil to make mindless offerings to God. 2 Don’t make rash promises, and don’t be hasty in bringing matters before God. After all, God is in heaven, and you are here on earth. So let your words be few.
3 Too much activity gives you restless dreams; too many words make you a fool.
4 When you make a promise to God, don’t delay in following through, for God takes no pleasure in fools. Keep all the promises you make to him. 5 It is better to say nothing than to make a promise and not keep it.
1 As you enter the house of God, keep your ears open and your mouth shut. It is evil to make mindless offerings to God. 2 Don’t make rash promises, and don’t be hasty in bringing matters before God. After all, God is in heaven, and you are here on earth. So let your words be few.
3 Too much activity gives you restless dreams; too many words make you a fool.
4 When you make a promise to God, don’t delay in following through, for God takes no pleasure in fools. Keep all the promises you make to him. 5 It is better to say nothing than to make a promise and not keep it.
Commentary:
5:1–7 Fear God, the Holy and Righteous One. The previous exhortation to “fear God” was motivated by God’s sovereignty (3:9–15); in this section, it is motivated by his holy and righteous character.
5:4 When you vow a vow to God. The Preacher wishes to keep people from uttering rash or meaningless words during the worship of God (vv. 1–2), and in particular he has in mind the careless taking of a religious vow as an act of piety (cf. Deut. 23:21–23). By taking a vow, a worshiper would promise to perform a specific act (such as making a sacrifice) if God would respond favorably to a particular petition (Gen. 28:20–22; Judg. 11:30–31; 1 Sam. 1:11). Since making a sacrifice was costly, however, people often looked for some excuse to avoid following through with it (e.g., Eccles. 5:6).
5:4 When you vow a vow to God. The Preacher wishes to keep people from uttering rash or meaningless words during the worship of God (vv. 1–2), and in particular he has in mind the careless taking of a religious vow as an act of piety (cf. Deut. 23:21–23). By taking a vow, a worshiper would promise to perform a specific act (such as making a sacrifice) if God would respond favorably to a particular petition (Gen. 28:20–22; Judg. 11:30–31; 1 Sam. 1:11). Since making a sacrifice was costly, however, people often looked for some excuse to avoid following through with it (e.g., Eccles. 5:6).
Questions:
- When we have a small view of God, we get arrogant. We can start to become ungrateful. We can start thinking that God exists for us, and that his love for us is measured by how much he gives us. We can actually start to judge God, questioning why he does certain things or doesn't do other things or allows this or that. We forget that one day soon WE will stand in front of HIM, our Righteous Judge, and he will ask us to give an account for our life. We must keep ourselves in the right place, humbly submitted before God. Do you ever find yourself questioning God? What are the signs in your life that might suggest your view of him is small? How do you go about staying humble?
- God is indescribably amazing! I am nothing, yet he gave me everything. THIS way of living leads to walking in humility. It keeps our life and faith on track. He is amazing, I am nothing, yet he gave me everything. We are like the pale blue dot (Google it)... a speck of dust on a speck of dust, caught up in the light beam of God's love. In which situations in your life do you need a perspective shift? What issues have dominated your field of vision and taken your eyes off him? What needs to change?
Pray:
- That you would humbly submit to God.
- That you would look past your troubles and see the One on the throne.
This Week's City 7:
Try to commit to memory!
2. Are there sources outside the Bible that confirm the Biblical account of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead? Many Roman and Jewish historians have confirmed that the apostles died as martyrs for preaching that they saw Jesus risen from the grave. No one dies for something they know to be a lie.
(Luke 1:1-4; Acts 26:26; 1 John 1:1-4, Josephus, Clement, Hegesippus, Tertullian, Origen, Polycarp)
(Luke 1:1-4; Acts 26:26; 1 John 1:1-4, Josephus, Clement, Hegesippus, Tertullian, Origen, Polycarp)
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