WORDS OF WISDOM
Following are some verses from our OYB reading for today that hardly need any commentary. Sometimes the text of Ecclesiastes can seem somewhat cynical to us, but consider these verses—lots of good food for thought on a variety of topics: death… criticism… anger… adversity… sin…
Ecclesiastes 7:2,5,9,10,14; 9:12 (NASB) "It is better to go to a house of mourning Than to go to a house of feasting, Because that is the end of every man, And the living takes it to heart."
"It is better to listen to the rebuke of a wise man Than for one to listen to the song of fools."
"Do not be eager in your heart to be angry, For anger resides in the bosom of fools."
"Do not say, "Why is it that the former days were better than these?"
For it is not from wisdom that you ask about this."
"In the day of prosperity be happy, But in the day of adversity consider- God has made the one as well as the other."
"Indeed, there is not a righteous man on earth who continually does good and who never sins."
"Also, do not take seriously all words which are spoken, so that you will not hear your servant cursing you."
"Moreover, man does not know his time: like fish caught in a treacherous net and birds trapped in a snare, so the sons of men are ensnared at an evil time when it suddenly falls on them."
And this from 2 Corinthians 7:9-10 (NIV) … "yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death."
Godly sorrow vs. worldly sorrow—consider the difference. “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret…” “Worldly” sorrow might be more like disappointment or disgust without acknowledging what God has for us in whatever circumstance that caused our sorrow.
Ecclesiastes 7:2,5,9,10,14; 9:12 (NASB) "It is better to go to a house of mourning Than to go to a house of feasting, Because that is the end of every man, And the living takes it to heart."
"It is better to listen to the rebuke of a wise man Than for one to listen to the song of fools."
"Do not be eager in your heart to be angry, For anger resides in the bosom of fools."
"Do not say, "Why is it that the former days were better than these?"
For it is not from wisdom that you ask about this."
"In the day of prosperity be happy, But in the day of adversity consider- God has made the one as well as the other."
"Indeed, there is not a righteous man on earth who continually does good and who never sins."
"Also, do not take seriously all words which are spoken, so that you will not hear your servant cursing you."
"Moreover, man does not know his time: like fish caught in a treacherous net and birds trapped in a snare, so the sons of men are ensnared at an evil time when it suddenly falls on them."
And this from 2 Corinthians 7:9-10 (NIV) … "yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death."
Godly sorrow vs. worldly sorrow—consider the difference. “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret…” “Worldly” sorrow might be more like disappointment or disgust without acknowledging what God has for us in whatever circumstance that caused our sorrow.
by Bob Busenitz
Posted in Read Through the Bible
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