Ecclesiastes 4:4 (AMP) 4Then I saw that all painful effort in labor and all skill in work comes from man's rivalry with his neighbor. This is also vanity, a vain striving after the wind and a feeding on it.
Pastor Bob referenced this verse last Sunday in his current series "Is There an App for That". I was following along in my Amplified Bible and a few words jumped out at me. First, the "painful effort" in labor, what word picture, ladies can identify with it better than us guys can.
We can pour so much of ourselves into our work, that there isn't much left for the family, let alone, God. And what does this come from? It can be "keeping up with the Jones's or the desire to be number one in some area of your life. To be noticed and envied.
The second portion of the verse is Solomon's commentary on such striving, it is chasing after the wind and feeding on it. How many people you know are "feeding" on this chase. In today's society with multi -million dollar cars and other extravagances there is a veritable feeding frenzy going on, that will still leave the pursuer hungry, empty and unfilled.
God's Word and an old hymn point us to where we should find our strength and what we should pursue.
Did we in our own strength confide,
our striving would be losing,
were not the right man on our side,
the man of God's own choosing.
Dost ask who that may be?
Christ Jesus, it is he;
Lord Sabaoth, his name,
from age to age the same,
and he must win the battle. (from A Mighty Fortress - Martin Luther)
our striving would be losing,
were not the right man on our side,
the man of God's own choosing.
Dost ask who that may be?
Christ Jesus, it is he;
Lord Sabaoth, his name,
from age to age the same,
and he must win the battle. (from A Mighty Fortress - Martin Luther)
God must win the battle to save our souls and to satisfy our hearts deepest longings. Spend time alone with Him and His Word each day, He must win the battle for your heart.
Mike
Follow the verse of the day at www.mikesvotd.blogspot.com
Ecclesiastes 4 Amplified Bible (AMP)
1THEN I returned and considered all the oppressions that are practiced under the sun: And I beheld the tears of the oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors was power, but they [too] had no comforter.
2So I praised and thought more fortunate those who have been long dead than the living, who are still alive.
3But better than them both [I thought] is he who has not yet been born, who has not seen the evil deeds that are done under the sun.
4Then I saw that all painful effort in labor and all skill in work comes from man's rivalry with his neighbor. This is also vanity, a vain striving after the wind and a feeding on it.
5The fool folds his hands together and eats his own flesh [destroying himself by indolence].
6Better is a handful with quietness than both hands full with painful effort, a vain striving after the wind and a feeding on it.
No comments:
Post a Comment