Ecclesiastes – Chapter 5

For he will not much remember the days of his life because God keeps him occupied with joy in his heart. Ecclesiastes 5:20 – While we are seeing Solomon speak about the Lord in this chapter quite a bit, keep in mind that he still is working with an “under the sun” mentality. Meaning all that matters is what’s happening in this life, not what matters in the life to come. Solomon is still seeing the meaninglessness of everything in this life with this “under the sun” mentality. In this chapter we see him speaking to the wealthy and showing how pointless wealth really is. Wealth can be lost in an instant, wealth can destroy you if kept with clinched fists, and the more wealth you have the more responsibilities you have to worry about too. Certainly true and wise words from Solomon, who had more money than he could ever spend, yet he still gave this further advice. To eat, drink, and find as much enjoyment in this life with whatever you do have for there is nothing beyond it. As our verse above says, just keep busy with the pleasures so you don’t remember the pointless nature of this life. What a depressing way to exist, just to do whatever you can in this world to block out the thoughts that there is nothing beyond it. Yet God isn’t about that sort of life. God longs for us to acknowledge the eternal aspect of our lives. Everywhere in scripture we are reminded that there is more to this life than what this world has for us. All throughout creation God is revealing and reminding us that life is more than just this life. The enemy would love for you to focus on blocking out the reminders of your eternal nature, but God’s heart is for you to dwell on it constantly. Your life is more than this life on earth, don’t let the things of this world keep you from seeing that truth. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 3390

As he came from his mother’s womb he shall go again, naked as he came, and shall take nothing for his toil that he may carry away in his hand. Ecclesiastes 5:15 – You never see a hearse pulling a U-haul. It’s an old saying, but man does it speak truth when we see this passage today. We can work and spend our life accumulating wealth and fame but we take none of that with us when we die. We come into this world empty handed and leave the same. If this is true, wouldn’t it make sense to invest in the things that will stay with you after you die? If you could have something precious to you for 80 years or for eternity which would you choose? So what lasts for eternity? Your relationship with God and your brothers and sisters in Christ. Not your Instagram follower amount or any record you break. God and people. Invest your life in things that will stay with you after this life. Pursue God deeply in life and share God’s love with everyone so they have a chance at spending eternity with you. Let’s not waste the shortest time of our life, this time on earth, investing in things that won’t last. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 839

Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. To draw near to listen is better than to offer the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they are doing evil. Ecclesiastes 5:1 – I love that phrase “guard your steps.” It implies that we can come into the house of God with unguarded steps. It means we can approach our time with God in ways that aren’t pleasing to Him. We can come to Him with a heart filled with apathy towards those around us. We can come wanting to be heard more than listening. We can come offering without first offering our heart. So how do you approach your time with God? Is it unguarded or do you care about your time with Him? Let’s seek to be more thoughtful about how we approach our time with Him. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1661

Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth. Therefore let your words be few. Ecclesiastes 5:2 – From a commentary I found, “When we come before God, our minds are full of our own business rather than the worship of God. When we talk too much, we usually talk like fools” (Wright). I feel like this is sadly me too often. I’ll even catch myself a few seconds into a prayer saying things that are just repeated phrases that I’m so used to saying in prayer and I’m not even aware of what I’m praying. Don’t take this verse, this quote, or this devotion as saying you’re talking too much to God. I doubt that’s a problem for any of us. Take it as saying be thoughtful about what you say. Whether you are saying a single word in prayer or investing your entire day to it, be thoughtful about the heart behind your conversation with God. Remembering that prayer is a means of worship and a means of giving space for God to also speak to us. God wants to hear about the happenings of your day and your needs of the moment, but also remember who you’re talking to. Yes He is your loving, Heavenly Father, but He also is the creator of the universe seated on the throne of Heaven being worshiped by multitudes of angels at this very moment. Make sure your heart is in the right place when you come to Him and be careful to not forget the worship aspect of your prayer life. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1995