SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 4/28/2013
8:53 AM
My Worship Time Focus: In the
Marketplace PT-2
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: Eccl. 4:4-8
Message of the
verses: We will continue in today’s
SD what we began in yesterday’s SD and look at the last two sub-points from
this second main point from Ecclesiastes chapter four.
The Integrated man (vs. 6): “One handful of peaceful repose Is better
than two fistfuls of worried work—More spitting into the wind (The Message).” “One hand full of rest is better than two
fists full of labor and striving after wind (NASB).”
I mentioned at the end of yesterday’s that there was a
man that Solomon describes that would be between the industrious man and the
idle or lazy man and that man is the “integrated man” which is described in
verse six for this man has balance in his work and in his quietness. Having time away from the job to relax is
something that is not so easy to accomplish in the day and age we live in, but
it is needed to help us quiet our souls and stay in touch with God.
Solomon tell us that if we have two handfuls of labor and
not have one handful of rest then we will be striving after the wind. The Apostle Paul writes to his beloved son in
the Lord, Timothy the following in chapter six and verse six as he instructs
him about money, “But godliness actually is a means of great gain when
accompanied by contentment.” Contentment
is something that I am striving for and have been for a long while, but I am
not sure that I can always have complete contentment, but none the less it is a
great goal to have, especially in the times we now live in.
The independent man (vv. 7-8): “7 ¶
Then I looked again at vanity under the sun. 8 There was a certain man without a dependent,
having neither a son nor a brother, yet there was no end to all his labor. Indeed,
his eyes were not satisfied with riches and he never asked, "And for whom
am I laboring and depriving myself of pleasure?" This too is vanity and it
is a grievous task.”
When it comes down to it the “independent man” is worse
off than the industrious man or the idle man for he has nobody to even work for
and no one to even leave his inheritance to when he dies. “The unexamined life is not worth living”
wrote the Greek philosopher Socrates. Dr.
Wiersbe writes “But the independent man never stopped long enough to ask
himself: ‘For whom am I working so hard?
Why am I robbing myself of the enjoyment of life just to amass more and
more money?’”
In conclusion to these four men’s lifestyle Dr. Wiersbe
writes “Solomon’s conclusion was, ‘This, too, is meaningless—a miserable
business!’ (vs. 8 NIV) God wants us to
labor, but to labor in the right spirit and for the right reasons. Blessed are the balanced.”
Spiritual meaning
for my life today: Being retired I
have opportunity to labor more for the cause of Jesus Christ and that is what I
desire to do along with doing the work
around the house that needs to be done.
My Steps of Faith for Today: Trust the Lord to direct me in the way that I
should go in doing my work around the house along with doing the work of the
Lord.
Memory verse for the
week: 2Cor. 5:17
17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new
creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.
Answer to yesterday’s Bible
Question: “In Rome” (Acts 23:11)
Today’s Bible
Question: “Whom did God take directly to
heaven in a whirlwind?”
Answer in Tomorrow’s SD
4/28/2013 9:23 AM
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