Author: David Short

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

Two are better than one
Because they have a good reward for their labor.
For if they fall, one will lift up his companion.
But woe to him who is alone when he falls,
For there is not a second one to help him up!
If two lie down together, both stay warm,
But how can one stay warm alone?
If one is added strength, two will stand before him,
And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

Personal Challenge

Another outcome of living in a culture that is built upon the worship of the self-made person is the belief that we don’t need anyone else in our lives. This has created a world filled with lonely people. We do need each other. Sometimes that other person just provides friendship, someone that we can share our successes and excitement with. Sometimes that person is a beacon in our lives showing us the right way to go. Sometimes they provide discipline and correction to shake us out of our error. We need each other and we need to stop going through life alone. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

Ecclesiastes 3:4-8, 11

A time to weep
And a time to laugh;
A time to mourn
And a time to dance.
A time to throw stones
And a time to gather stones;
A time to embrace
And a time to refrain from embracing.
A time to seek
And a time to lose;
A time to keep
And a time to throw away.
A time to tear
And a time to sew;
A time to keep silent
And a time to speak.
A time to love
And a time to hate;
A time of war
And a time of peace.
…
He made everything beautiful in its time, and He indeed put eternity in their hearts in such a way that man may not find out the work God made from the beginning to the end.

Personal Challenge

So many of us nowadays live in the moment, looking for instant gratification or recognition. We have become very short-sighted people by taking our eyes off of eternity. It is in eternity that our salvation will be worked out by our living God. This passage in Ecclesiastes is such a good reminder that life happens. Sometimes that life is exciting and wonderful. Sometimes it is hard and devastating. What stays wonderful through it all is that God still holds us in the palm of His hand and desires that we include Him in all aspects of our lives. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

Proverbs 29:23

Arrogance humbles a man,
But the Lord supports the humble-minded with glory.

Personal challenge

Living in the age of the self-made person has brought us to a place where arrogance is not only accepted but in many cases, it is revered. We are reminded in the Scriptures that God prefers that we be humble-minded. We cannot love Him and our neighbor without becoming humble in relation­ship to them. We must remember that if we choose to hold on to our arrogance and put ourselves first, then we are destined to be humbled by God or another person. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

Proverbs 27:17

Iron sharpens iron,
And a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.

Encouraging Words

We need others in our lives in order to grow. No person can become a better person in a vacuum. People around us teach us how to see God and grow in His image. But in order to be truly sharpened in our walk with Christ, we need one or more close friends that can speak the truth into our lives and sharpen us. Sometimes this can be painful, but it is always worth the pain. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

Proverbs 25:4

Beat drossy silver,
And it will be made entirely clean.

Personal Challenge

One of the challenges that many people have when reading the scriptures is not understanding some of the images that are used to explain the lessons that are being taught. This lesson comes from the silversmith and the practice of making silver clean and pristine before it is made into its final form of artwork. As silver goes through its process of refinement and preparation the impurities of the silver will come to the surface. The process of bringing these impurities, or dross, to the surface is pounding it with a hammer, over and over. Why is this here? This is a reminder for us that God allows trials and tribulations in our lives to pound on us and remove the impurities of our lives. This process will cleanse us and make us more like Christ. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

Proverbs 23:18

For if you keep these words, you shall have offspring,
And your hope will not depart from you.

Encouraging Words

As Christians, we put our hope in Jesus Christ, the living God. He is not an idol made of wood or clay. He is the Son of God with no beginning and no end. He is also truly and fully a human being, conceived through the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary. He lived a life like every one of the rest of us, except He lived His life without committing sin. This is who we put our hope in. That hope is not in vain and it leads us to do good works for God and to keep His words, which then feeds our hope in Him. Glory be to God!

Proverbs 22:20-22 (22:17-19)

Incline your ear to the words of the wise and hear my word,
And establish your heart, that you may know they are good.
And if you apply them to your heart,
They will gladden you and at the same time be upon your lips;
That your hope might be in the Lord,
And His way might be known to you.

Personal Challenge

All through the Scriptures, both Old Testament and New, it is clear that we are not meant to be alone. Even God as the trinity is a community. Unfortunately, we have become a people that think alone, act alone, and live as if we are all that we need. Nothing could be farther from the truth. We need each other. We need to be in community. It is from being involved with others that we gain the opportunity to incline our ears to the words of the wise. It is through others that God teaches and nurtures us. It is through others that we can grow in the image of Christ. If we want to receive wisdom then we need to be in fellowship with others. Glory be to God!

Proverbs 21:20 (21:21)

The way of righteousness and mercy shall find life and glory.

Encouraging Words

We live in an awesome country. We are blessed by much and yes, we have many challenges that are chipping away at that awesomeness. But we do have a way that we can make a difference. If we live our lives according to God’s righteousness and be merciful to those around us, we will find the life that is full of glory. It is not about the pursuit of happiness or the desire for self-satisfaction and self-fulfillment. It is about loving our God and our neighbor and meeting the needs of others. This is how to live, “the life”. Glory be to God!

Proverbs 21:3

To do righteous things and to speak the truth
Are more pleasing before God than the blood of sacrifices.

Personal Challenge

We live in a time and a culture where ritual sacrifices do not happen. There was a time when the sacrifice was a reminder, a foreshadowing, of what Jesus, the Son of God, would do someday for His creation. Sacrifices were done for both the redemption of sins and to show God our love for Him. They were an important part of the law. Even with all of that in place, God consistently told His people that doing righteous things, like loving our neighbor, giving alms to the poor, and taking care of those in need, as well as speaking the truth in love, was far more pleasing to Him than these sacrifices. It is the condition of our hearts and how that drives us that God cares about. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!