- Be not overly righteous, and do not make yourself too wise. Why should you destroy yourself? 17 Be not overly wicked, neither be a fool. Why should you die before your time? Ecclesiastes 7:16-17 – Continuing with his “under the sun” mentality Solomon gives his wisdom on how one should live their life. One shouldn’t go hard trying to be too righteous, but also don’t allow yourself to be too wicked either. Don’t try to be too wise, but also don’t be too foolish in life either. Essentially Solomon is pushing that we should have a balanced life. Since there is nothing after this life (according to Solomon) then live this life the best you can, and a balanced life is the best. Yet that way of thinking is certainly challenged by the rest of scripture and the characters scripture highlights. God calls us to be wholly holy, not part holy part wicked. David was a man who sought the Lord wholeheartedly and was punished for the parts that were wicked. Paul was a man that by most worldly standards would not be called one who lived a “balanced” life but instead lived every day for righteousness. Finally look at Jesus, the One we are called in imitate with our lives. Did He settle for not too righteous and not too wicked, but a little of both is best? Absolutely not, Jesus lived wholly holy, and so should we. If balance is what Solomon is pushing, then scripture is calling us to an unbalanced life. Wickedness in any form and any amount is cut out and righteous living is prioritized. Foolishness is set aside to pursue God’s holy wisdom. No more is our life about this balance of doing good on Sunday at church and having some “fun” with sin the other days. Our life instead is a life wholly dedicated to pursuing God and living for God. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 3392
- For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fools; this also is vanity. Ecclesiastes 7:6- I love a good campfire. I’ve also gotten pretty good over the years at perfecting a good campfire too. One thing you learn is something this passage refers to. You can throw a large bushel of thorny brush into fire and it will give off a big blaze, but it’s going to burn out super fast and it’s not going to give you the prolonged heat you need. The writer wants you to see the sinful pleasures of life like thorny bushes in a fire. Sure those pleasures will blaze strong for a moment, but the heat you need, the help and joy you need for life, isn’t going to be given by that quick blaze. You’re going to need some solid branches and logs tossed into that fire to keep the flames steady and strong. Be sure the fuel you’re putting into your fire of life is the things that will keep you going. Be sure that fuel is the things of God. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 841
- Do not take to heart all the things that people say, lest you hear your servant cursing you. Your heart knows that many times you yourself have cursed others. Ecclesiastes 7:21-22 – I believe God knew I needed to hear this passage today. I’m finding myself leaning into an old mindset of worry and stress doing the thing scripture here says not to do. I’m listening to what people are saying, and listening to what the enemy is saying as well. If you’ve been there before, you know that can lead to a pretty dark space. So today, what I’m trying to remind myself and what I’ll lead you to do is to listen to what has already been spoken about you by the Lord who made you. You are seen, you are loved, and you are wanted. And so much more. Be careful to not take to heart everything other’s say yet be careful to hold close all that God speaks. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1663
- Consider the work of God: who can make straight what he has made crooked. Ecclesiastes 7:13 – I feel like this passage is politely saying, “Remember who you’re talking to.” I’m not sure how you are viewing God today, but I know for myself this passage is humbling reminding me to see Him for who He really is. A quote I found while studying this passage says, “There is no standing before a lion, no hoisting up a sail in a tempest, no contending with the Almighty” (Trapp). He is the one in my story with the true power and the final say. I don’t have the final say in my story, I’m not in control. My enemy doesn’t have the final say in my story, he doesn’t have control over me. God is above all, over all, and has the final say in all. What He has established no one can tear down. Today know if you have placed your life in His hands nothing and no one can change His hold on you. As John 10:28-29 says, “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.” Take heart today knowing the life, security, grace, peace, and love that God has established in your story from Him to you no one can change. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1997
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