I am currently reading Ecclesiastes in my daily Bible reading and it is a wonderful reminder that earthly treasures are precarious and can cause a lot of anxiety. For those who know, however, that God is the source of the richness of life, there are many pleasures in life and the ability to enjoy them.
What gain has the worker from his toil? 10 I have seen the business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with. 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. 12 I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live; 13 also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God’s gift to man. (Ecclesiastes 3:9-13)
It’s really pretty simple. Work hard, do good, worship God and enjoy Him forever.
Here are three things you should know about Ecclesiastes.
Here’s an interesting article about Selina Hastings, Countess of Huntingdon (1707–1791) who was an English Christian and religious leader who played a prominent part in the religious revival of the 18th century and the Methodist movement in England and Wales. She did a lot of good in her life.
“The Sovereignty of God is the pillow upon which the child of God rests his head.” –Charles Spurgeon
In my daily Bible reading I have really enjoyed Ecclesiastes. I recommend reading the whole book. It is chock full of good stuff and is perfectly and absolutely revelatory for today’s modern reader. The Twitter possibilities are endless: “Woe to you, O land, when your king is a child.”
Anyway,
Remember your Creator before the silver cord is loosed, Or the golden bowl is broken, Or the pitcher shattered at the fountain, Or the wheel broken at the well. 7 Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, And the spirit will return to God who gave it.
8 “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher, “All is vanity.”
(12:6-8)
And the conclusion of it all is: “Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all.” Yup.
Meanwhile I am also reading Dear and Glorious Physician by Taylor Caldwell, published back in 1959. Saint Paul refers to Luke as the “beloved physician” (Colossians 4:14) and it is he who is the subject of this novel.
Caldwell, you will recall, was an enormously successful writer of best-selling novels in her heyday. She did serious research and knows her subject; there is a lot of information about ancient medicine. She writes well, but the style is stilted and dated. I am 163 pages in (562 pages) and Luke is still a boy…and unfortunately I now see that the action all takes place before he ever meets up with Saint Paul. But I’ll keep going.
I would be remiss if I did not mention that tomorrow is the 200th birthday of Ulysses S. Grant, 18th U.S. President and Commander of the Army during the Civil War, who holds an honored position in our family.
We will toast Cousin Lyss on the 27th and will probably have a party down the road to celebrate.
This is an interesting article about the U.S. Grant statue across from the Union League Building in Brooklyn. Also, please note that The Grant Monument in front of the U.S. Capitol will be the scene of a commemoration of Ulysses S. Grant’s 200th Birthday today! U.S. Senator Roy Blunt of Missouri, the Architect of the Capitol, J. Brett Blanton, and the U.S. Capitol Historical Society are hosting this hybrid in-person and livestreamed commemoration. This year also marks 100 years since the dedication of the Grant Memorial, located along the U.S. Capitol Reflecting Pool and recently restored by the Architect of the Capitol to its former glory. Thank you, Sen. Blunt!
Well, once again Anne has hit the nail on the head. (And I have to say, this adults-and-their-American-Girl-doll trend is particularly disturbing.)
“If you are feeling similarly foolish, or disappointed, or just stressed and depressed, get up out of your bed and go to church. For there is a new kind of economy, a different way of being that all the world longs for, though it is impossible to see until you find yourself there with other disappointed people. For the basis of our life together is not your work. It is rather the meaning underneath, which is forgiveness. If you don’t know what to do with yourself, you can cling to Jesus who forgives your sins, because he shed his own blood for that singular purpose.”
dual personalities 