Daily Bible Study

Tweet

Day 312 (Ecclesiastes 7:11-22) Wisdom is good with an inheritance and profitable to those who see the sun. For wisdom is a defense as money is a defense, but the excellence of knowledge is that wisdom gives life to those who have it. Consider the work of God; for who can make straight what He has made crooked? In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: Surely God has appointed the one as well as the other, so that man can find out nothing that will come after him. I have seen everything in my days of vanity: There is a just man who perishes in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man who prolongs life in his wickedness. Do not be overly righteous, nor be overly wise: Why should you destroy yourself? Do not be overly wicked, nor be foolish: Why should you die before your time? It is good that you grasp this, and not remove your hand from the other; for he who fears God will escape them all. Wisdom strengthens the wise more than ten rulers of the city. For there is not a just man on earth who does good and does not sin. Also do not take to heart everything people say, lest you hear your servant cursing you. For many times, also, your own heart has known that you have cursed others. Are you wise? Nobody is wise all the time. Nor is anyone foolish all the time. You do not know what will come after you. Solomon counted his life as vanity. He saw righteous people die young and wicked people live long lives. He said when prosperity comes you need to be joyful because you do not know when adversity will come against you. No one is without sin, not even the most righteous person because even they will act foolish and curse others. What can you do? As Christians, you have one hope—Jesus Christ. When you do things, and you will, that offend others either by your mouth or your actions, you can confess your sin and God will forgive you. Let wisdom rule your heart. Then you will prolong your life and wickedness will not rule over you. You can live a joyful life knowing God will take care of you even when you sin against Him. Consider what Paul said. (Romans 3:1-18) What advantage then has the Jew, or what is the profit of circumcision? Much in every way! Chiefly because to them were committed the oracles of God. For what if some did not believe? Will their unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect? Certainly not! Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar. As it is written: “That you may be justified in your words and may overcome when you are judged.” But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unjust who inflicts wrath? (I speak as a man.) Certainly not! For then how will God judge the world? For if the truth of God has increased through my lie to His glory, why am I also still judged as a sinner? And why not say, “Let us do evil so that good may come”? —as we are slanderously reported and as some affirm what we say. Their condemnation is just. What then? Are we better than them? Not at all. For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin. As it is written: “There is none righteous, no, not one. There is none who understands. There is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside. They have together become unprofitable. There is none who does good, no, not one. Their throat is an open tomb. With their tongues, they have practiced deceit. The poison of asps is under their lips; whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood. Destruction and misery are in their ways; and the way of peace they have not known. There is no fear of God before their eyes. No one is without sin. Yet, when you confess your sin, He is faithful and forgives your sin, and cleanses you from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9) If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (NKJV) Without Jesus Christ, there is no reconciliation, no justification, no salvation. But when you live your life with wisdom and knowledge, even the vain things of this world will not leave you hopeless. Your faith in Jesus Christ reconciles you with God the Father. This is your hope. In this, you can be joyful. Let’s pray: Father, forgive me when I sin. Let me live my life with wisdom and knowledge, knowing that in my moments of weakness, You will forgive me when I sin against You. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen. Copyright © 21 May 2023 by Valerie Routhieaux Image courtesy of Pixabay