Hey! Thanks for taking the time to read this week's post!
I've been studying the book of Ecclesiastes, and have finally made it to the application phase of hermeneutics. I thought I would share with you what God revealed to me. I hope it also draws you to worship our sovereign Lord!
"A poor yet wise lad is better than an old and foolish king who no longer knows how to receive instruction. For he has come out of prison to become king, even though he was born poor in his kingdom. I have seen all the living under the sun throng to the side of the second lad who replaces him. There is no end to all the people, to all who were before them, and even the ones who will come later will not be happy with him, for this too is vanity and striving after wind." Ecclessiastes 4:13-16
Here we read a story of a poor, criminal, youth who supersedes an old foolish king, with nothing but wisdom on his side. But we know it wasn't just wisdom, but God, because all wisdom comes from God (Proverbs 1:7), and He is the one who sets up rulers and takes them down (Romans 13:1). Even in this great advancement, with "no end to all the people" who were on his side, the preacher says this is vanity. Why? Because there would come those who "will not be happy with him".
We see this almost exact same story happen in Genesis 41, when Joseph went from prison to the second in command over all of Egypt. Listen to what Pharaoh says after Joseph's interpretation of the dream and advice:
"And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this is, a man to whom the spirit of God is? And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shown thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art:" Genesis 41:38-39
But later in Exodus 1:7-11, we see that a new Pharaoh came in place that did not know about Joseph and his family's agreement, and enslaved the Israelites. Did this all turn out to be empty? Not according to God's plans, but if you're living for the sake of advancement, to live a bountiful life here on earth, it is vanity. It will not last. Promotion isn't wrong, but it can't be what we live for.
Jesus tells us what we should seek. Not promotion, but to be servants, humble, abased, lowly, and to accept and associate with the poor and rejected in society (Matthew 18:1-6, 23:6-12, Mark 9:33-37, 10:13-16, Luke 6:20, 9:46-48, 14: 8-11, 18: 9-17, 22-27). As you can see, Jesus taught this in the gospels A LOT! If we humble ourselves and are the least in this world, we will be exalted and the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Isn't this just an indirect way of seeking advancement? Why does Christ teach this? What does He want us to learn?
In choosing the lowest position, we actually are following Christ's example. Christ didn't come to earth to gain promotion in becoming king, though He easily could have, and the disciple we hoping for. He came humbled Himself, took on the form of a servant, and died a criminals death undeservingly. Why? Because He knew, God would exalt Him, and make Him ruler over everything (Philippians 2:5-11).
By following Christ's example, we will also share in His glory and exaltation (Romans 8: 16-18). Yet look what we will do with our crowns of glory:
"The four and twenty elders fall down before Him that sat on the throne, and worship Him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 'Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created.'" Revelation 4:10 & 11
Only God is worthy! It is only through Christ that we could gain this inheritance in the first place.Grace is a gift; how can we boast about our status (Ephesians 2:8 & 9)? All this, is so that God will get the maximum glory He deserves.
Living for ourselves and our own exaltation is vanity, because it won't last. In the end, God gets the glory. Live for God's glory by humbling yourself to serve and God will exalt you in do time.
Maybe you don't see yourself living to be promoted. I didn't. It's not like we want to supersede kings! But the more I thought about all this, the more the Holy Spirit convicted me of areas where I wanted to be the greatest and wanted people to think well of me.
I wanted to be the best musician, have the loftiest position to serve at camp, be the most God fearing evangelist... I wanted people to see me and suck in their breath in awe over such a godly, talented, young girl.
Say I got all that I wanted, and the whole world was on my side, would I be satisfied? I have to agree with the preacher, all is vanity: it wouldn't last. I wish I could say that now I have conquered this area of sin in my life and am living more humbly before God, but it is still a struggle and one I will probably fight my whole life.
Jesus, who is the greatest and exalted one, shines brightest through the weakest of people (2 Corinthians 12:7-11). The poor, humble, abased, and lowly are exalted, because Christ is exalted in them. God doesn't want us to be full of ourselves, but full of Him.
Jesus is our hope, and reason to live. Let's follow His example.
Sincerely,
Brooke
I've been studying the book of Ecclesiastes, and have finally made it to the application phase of hermeneutics. I thought I would share with you what God revealed to me. I hope it also draws you to worship our sovereign Lord!
"A poor yet wise lad is better than an old and foolish king who no longer knows how to receive instruction. For he has come out of prison to become king, even though he was born poor in his kingdom. I have seen all the living under the sun throng to the side of the second lad who replaces him. There is no end to all the people, to all who were before them, and even the ones who will come later will not be happy with him, for this too is vanity and striving after wind." Ecclessiastes 4:13-16
Here we read a story of a poor, criminal, youth who supersedes an old foolish king, with nothing but wisdom on his side. But we know it wasn't just wisdom, but God, because all wisdom comes from God (Proverbs 1:7), and He is the one who sets up rulers and takes them down (Romans 13:1). Even in this great advancement, with "no end to all the people" who were on his side, the preacher says this is vanity. Why? Because there would come those who "will not be happy with him".
We see this almost exact same story happen in Genesis 41, when Joseph went from prison to the second in command over all of Egypt. Listen to what Pharaoh says after Joseph's interpretation of the dream and advice:
"And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this is, a man to whom the spirit of God is? And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shown thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art:" Genesis 41:38-39
But later in Exodus 1:7-11, we see that a new Pharaoh came in place that did not know about Joseph and his family's agreement, and enslaved the Israelites. Did this all turn out to be empty? Not according to God's plans, but if you're living for the sake of advancement, to live a bountiful life here on earth, it is vanity. It will not last. Promotion isn't wrong, but it can't be what we live for.
Jesus tells us what we should seek. Not promotion, but to be servants, humble, abased, lowly, and to accept and associate with the poor and rejected in society (Matthew 18:1-6, 23:6-12, Mark 9:33-37, 10:13-16, Luke 6:20, 9:46-48, 14: 8-11, 18: 9-17, 22-27). As you can see, Jesus taught this in the gospels A LOT! If we humble ourselves and are the least in this world, we will be exalted and the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Isn't this just an indirect way of seeking advancement? Why does Christ teach this? What does He want us to learn?
In choosing the lowest position, we actually are following Christ's example. Christ didn't come to earth to gain promotion in becoming king, though He easily could have, and the disciple we hoping for. He came humbled Himself, took on the form of a servant, and died a criminals death undeservingly. Why? Because He knew, God would exalt Him, and make Him ruler over everything (Philippians 2:5-11).
By following Christ's example, we will also share in His glory and exaltation (Romans 8: 16-18). Yet look what we will do with our crowns of glory:
"The four and twenty elders fall down before Him that sat on the throne, and worship Him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 'Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created.'" Revelation 4:10 & 11
Only God is worthy! It is only through Christ that we could gain this inheritance in the first place.Grace is a gift; how can we boast about our status (Ephesians 2:8 & 9)? All this, is so that God will get the maximum glory He deserves.
Living for ourselves and our own exaltation is vanity, because it won't last. In the end, God gets the glory. Live for God's glory by humbling yourself to serve and God will exalt you in do time.
Maybe you don't see yourself living to be promoted. I didn't. It's not like we want to supersede kings! But the more I thought about all this, the more the Holy Spirit convicted me of areas where I wanted to be the greatest and wanted people to think well of me.
I wanted to be the best musician, have the loftiest position to serve at camp, be the most God fearing evangelist... I wanted people to see me and suck in their breath in awe over such a godly, talented, young girl.
Say I got all that I wanted, and the whole world was on my side, would I be satisfied? I have to agree with the preacher, all is vanity: it wouldn't last. I wish I could say that now I have conquered this area of sin in my life and am living more humbly before God, but it is still a struggle and one I will probably fight my whole life.
Jesus, who is the greatest and exalted one, shines brightest through the weakest of people (2 Corinthians 12:7-11). The poor, humble, abased, and lowly are exalted, because Christ is exalted in them. God doesn't want us to be full of ourselves, but full of Him.
Jesus is our hope, and reason to live. Let's follow His example.
Sincerely,
Brooke
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