- And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken. Ecclesiastes 4:12 – Solomon in his pursuit of purpose and the point of this life notices an injustice taking place. He witnessed oppression taking place against people and seemingly no help ever coming their way. This fueled his mindset that life is pointless for if injustices like this were allowed and never handled it would be better to have never lived at all. Yet Solomon did take note that for those who did live that it was better to live in this life together. Whether we fell down or it was cold at night, existing in this “pointless” existence at least was far better when done together. Here Solomon is spot on, minus the whole pointless part! Life is designed to be done together, especially for us who follow Jesus. We were created to be supported and to support our brothers and sisters in Christ. That support system is called the church and it is one of the most precious gifts the Lord has given us. Yet we also see Solomon speak of a “threefold cord,” a third rope woven into the mix of support. While unsure exactly what Solomon meant by this third rope, we see this as showing the importance of weaving God into this structure of support. When a life wraps itself around the Lord there is not only support found, but the help in life’s oppressions, and even the purpose of our lives. God designed us to do life with other believers and designed us to do life with Him. Don’t be surprised then when you feel weak in the seasons you are trying to do life alone, you were never created to do life that way. Find your people, find time with the Lord, and find security in the support that this threefold cord brings you in this life. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 3389
- Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. Ecclesiastes 4:9 – When we do what we do for more than just ourselves, this is when we can find real joy in what we do. Allow yourself, or better yet train yourself, to not make what you do be only about for you. You have special people in your life you can live for. You have a God in your story you can live for. What scripture is reminding us is that as we make our reasoning for what we do in this life be for more than just us, this is when we find the purpose and fulfillment we’re looking for in the things we do. So if you’re married think about doing your job so you can bless your spouse more and make them happy. If you’re a Christian think about doing all you do so you can bring glory to God. Make your life about something more than just you. When you do, all that you do suddenly has a much deeper reasoning behind it. Let’s step into that deeper reason and use our life for others and for God. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 838
- Again, I saw vanity under the sun: one person who has no other, either son or brother, yet there is no end to all his toil, and his eyes are never satisfied with riches, so that he never asks, “For whom am I toiling and depriving myself of pleasure?” This also is vanity and an unhappy business. Ecclesiastes 4:7-8 – When I read this verse, my heart was caught up in thinking who am toiling for and “depriving” myself of sin for? May not be exactly what this passage is speaking on, but who am I trying to live a faithful witness for, one that is free of sinfulness and is pursuing Jesus? As I sit here at camp I can look at my students and say they would be some of those I’m toiling for. Brandi for sure. My future-daughter that we are in the process of adopting would be another big one. How about for you? Who are you toiling for? Sometimes having even just one name on your heart is all you need to keep saying no to the temptations and to keep striving after Jesus when it’s not easy. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1660
- The fool folds his hands and eats his own flesh. Ecclesiastes 4:5 – That phrase “folds his hand” was their way of saying someone was lazy. Imagine someone putting their hands together to go to sleep or how when your hands are together it’s much more difficult to do any sort of work. We see here the end result is only your own pain and destruction. No good is going to come from eating your own flesh. No good is going to come from a life of laziness. As with our passage the fool decided because he was so envious of his neighbor’s stuff he’d just do nothing, and as you’d expect, nothing good came from that choice. Where then is laziness creeping in to your story? Where you have been blessed with the rest and time to do something God has called you to do, you just keep putting it off. Is it with your time reading God’s Word? Time spending with family? Is it with coming to church? Is it with truly using your gifts for others and God? How could you today be active again in these areas? God longs for the best for you, but the best can’t be received with folded hands. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1994
Daily DEVO 