Category: First Things First Devotional

This is an evil in all that is done under the sun: there is one fate for everyone. In addition, the hearts of people are full of evil, and madness is in their hearts while they live – after that they go to the dead. Ecclesiastes 9:3 HCSB

There is one sure thing in life – everyone is going to die. We don’t know when we will die, but death is a certainty for everyone. Only God knows the days of our lives. Psalm 139:16 says, “ All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” God is in control; He has a plan for each of our lives.

Solomon referred to death as an “evil”. He also saw the hearts of people as evil because they are filled with madness, foolishness, and insanity. Each of us is given a certain number of days to live. God is so in control that we will not live a day longer or shorter than what God has planned for us. The question is, “How will we use the days He has given us here on earth?” God knows what is best and has a perfect plan, but it is our choice to follow or reject Him and His plan for our lives.

Challenge: God is interested in details. He is interested in your life and its every detail. He knows the valleys and mountain top experiences of your life and He will be with you in every event if you will only yield to His plan for you. How will you use the time God has given you?

I observed all the work of God and concluded that man is unable to discover the work that is done under the sun. Even though a man labors hard to explore it, he cannot find it, even if the wise man claims to know it, he is unable to discover it. Ecclesiastes 8:17 HCSB

I remember visiting Southwestern Electric in Amarillo, Texas back in the 1980’s with a member of our church who worked there to view the computer room, then filled with gigantic computers. It was amazing, but I was even more amazed when a few years later I purchased a Commodore 128 computer for my home. At the time I was astonished at what it could do and believed it would have all of the capabilities my family would ever need. It had 128 kilobytes of memory. I am writing this devotional on an Apple computer that has 4 gigabytes of memory. That would be the equivalent to 4,194,304 kilobytes or 32,768 Commodore 128 computers. I do not completely understand how a computer works, but I am thankful for the ability to compose my devotions and send them out electronically each day.

Man will never fully understand the power and ability of God. It is beyond our comprehension or imagination. We do not have to completely understand God, but we must trust Him. God is in control and we do not have to worry about what is going to happen or why something happens. Just as we do not have to understand a computer to benefit from its power, we do not have to understand God’s ways to be able to tap into His awesome power and wisdom.

Challenge: The next time you use your computer, be reminded that God is more powerful and has more ability than any computer in the world. Our most powerful computer today would be like a Commodore 128 in comparison to the power and ability of God. Trust God with your life and direction. He knows what is best for you.

Although a sinner commits crime a hundred times and prolongs his life, yet I also know that it will go well with God-fearing people, for they are reverent before Him. Ecclesiastes 8:12 HCSB

Throughout my life I have observed godly people who seem to have one trouble after another, and I have also observed wicked people who seem to have many blessings. It seems that life is not fair. At times I have even questioned God’s sovereignty and asked why there seems to be a lack of justice in our world.

Solomon had observed the same injustice in his time. No one has all the answers to why things happen the way they do. Injustice is not the final outcome. Ultimately God is in control and will bring justice in every situation in His time. We must trust God, the One who has all the answers to life’s questions. God is working to bring good in every situation, even though we may not understand it.

Challenge: Trust God even when you do not understand. When you observe the injustices of the wicked being blessed and the godly suffering, tell God that you don’t understand but that you trust Him to bring good out of every situation. You may never fully understand the ways of God, but you can trust Him because He loves you and would not allow more on you than you can handle. Ask Him to use the difficulties you are experiencing to bring honor and glory to Him.

Don’t be excessively righteous, and don’t be overly wise. Why should you destroy yourself? Ecclesiastes 7:16 HCSB

Since I played competitive golf in college, I had to know and understand the rules of golf. Some rules can be very confusing, such as when a play requires a stroke penalty and when a play requires a stroke and distance penalty. It depends if the ball lands out of bounds or is just in a hazard. Where the ball crossed the hazard line also determines where one plays his next shot. It is important to play by the rules, especially in competitive golf. But there are times while playing informally with some friends we may take an extra shot or just count a penalty stroke instead of going back to the original location and playing again.

It seems odd that Solomon would issue a warning about being excessively righteous and overly wise. He previously said that wisdom was to be valued like an inheritance and everyone should strive to be righteous. Solomon in this reference was describing the person who was so caught up in keeping the rules and regulations that he failed to understand the importance of having a relationship with God, much like the Pharisees in Jesus’ time. Someone might be wise and have factual knowledge but lack common sense and understanding of the importance of having a relationship with God. It is important to be righteous and wise but not to the point of failing to live a godly life.

Challenge: Do not fall into the trap of trying to be “good enough” to get to heaven by abiding by a strict set of laws and regulations. Salvation and forgiveness are acquired by grace, which is a free gift from God that we cannot earn. No one can be righteous or wise outside of God. Seek God and His ways in everything you do. Ask God to help you to be a righteous and wise person by His standards.

Consider the work of God for who can straighten out what He has made crooked? In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity, consider: God has made the one as well as the other, so that man cannot discover anything that will come after him. Ecclesiastes 7:13-14 HCSB

I am on vacation this week and enjoying some time at the beach with family. It is always amazing to see how beautiful and vast the ocean is. It is relaxing to walk along the beach and feel the sand between my toes and listen to the waves crashing in on the beach. I really enjoy watching the sunrise or sunset over the ocean. The beauty of the rays breaking through the clouds and the graduated shades of blue and pink glowing on the clouds is breath-taking. God has put everything in place and order. If I wanted to stop the waves or the sunrise, I could not. God is in control.

Solomon asks us to consider the work of God. We cannot change what He has done. There are days when everything goes well and other days when it seems that problems are around every corner. Life is filled with uncertainty, but God is in control and knows what is best for us. Many times we do not understand the ways of God but we must trust Him because He is a loving God and will always bring good out of the bad. We may never have a full understanding until we get to heaven and see things from God’s perspective.

Challenge: Enjoy the beauty of God’s creation and know that just as God has put everything in order in creation, He has also put everything in order in your life – both the good and the bad. Trust Him even when you don’t understand. He is in control.

Wisdom is as good as an inheritance and an advantage to those who see the sun, because wisdom is protection as money is protection, and the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of its owner. Ecclesiastes 7:11-12 HCSB

Some people hope for a large inheritance from a family member and others hope they will be able to leave a sizable inheritance to their children or family members. One of my favorite movies is called “The Ultimate Gift”. It tells a story of a rich man who died and how his inheritance was split among his relatives who subsequently quarreled over it. The bulk of the story is about one young man and what was required of him in order to earn his inheritance. It is an excellent movie I would highly recommend.

Solomon said that wisdom was just as great as an inheritance. In Solomon’s time the possessions of someone who died were always passed down to family members with the oldest son getting the bulk of the inheritance. Many generations lived together, so it was important to the livelihood of the family to receive an inheritance. It is equally important to receive wisdom. It is as vital as money. Wisdom will protect one and give him life.

Challenge: Seek the “Ultimate Gift” – wisdom instead of an inheritance or money. It will provide direction and purpose for your life. Rent or purchase the movie, “The Ultimate Gift” to view.

For when there are many words, they increase futility. What is the advantage for man?Ecclesiastes 5:11

I tend to be talkative and have been told I occasionally repeat myself. You would not know that growing up I was very shy and did not talk much. As a young teenager I had one friend with whom I cut yards and socialized. As I grew older I started to come out of my shell and resolved to become outgoing. Thereafter as a student pastor, I was seldom at a loss for words.

This Scripture reminds us that too many words can be futile. A sound communication tip is that one should say what needs to be said and then grow quiet. As a minister I have tried to follow this principle when preaching. When a sermon is longer than 30 minutes, I have observed that I begin to lose the congregation’s attention. I once served with a pastor who felt that if he could not deliver his message in 20 minutes, it was not worth preaching. Generally speaking, more words are not necessarily more effective than fewer words.

Challenge: Be careful to K.I.S.S – Keep It Short and Simple. Watch what you say before God who is in heaven. Ask Him to help you choose your words wisely so you communicate effectively. Listen to “Let My Words Be Few” by Matt Redman on Youtube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpcxxIBUIzo

Proclaim the message; persist in it whether convenient or not; rebuke, correct, and encourage with great patience and teaching. 2 Timothy 4:2 HCSB

As a parent I have had to give instruction and correction to all four of my children over the years. At the same time all of my children also needed to hear encouraging words and praise. We all want to hear our parents say, “Good Job”. The same is true in the work force. As I have conducted annual reviews for employees, I have always tried to provide some positive words while also giving words of guidance if needed.

Paul encouraged Timothy to fulfill his ministry, to be persistent in proclaiming the message even when it was not easy. Timothy was to rebuke, correct, and teach the people with a spirit of patience and encouragement. There must be a balance between rebuking and and encouraging people who need direction. It is sometimes difficult to be patient when we understand what people should be doing and it appears they aren’t making the necessary effort to succeed. Paul admonishes that we are to have great patience.

Challenge – As a believer you should proclaim the Good News to those with whom you have contact every day. It should be done with gentleness and patience. If you must rebuke and correct, be sure to include a word of encouragement.

There is a sickening tragedy I have seen under the sun: wealth kept by its owner to his harm. That wealth was lost in a bad venture, so when he fathered a son, he was empty-handed. As he came from his mother’s womb, so he will go again, naked as he came; he will take nothing for his efforts that he can carry in his hands. This too is a sickening tragedy: exactly as he comes, so he will go. What does the one gain who struggles for the wind? Ecclesiastes 5:13-16 HCSB

When Debbie and I were looking for a home in Shepherdsville, Kentucky, we went to see a home where a lady lived who was a hoarder. Every room was filled with different items. She had Christmas decorations, Halloween decorations, clothes in the closets, clothes on the bed and even clothes on the chairs. Obviously, we could not really see the house for all of the “stuff” she was hoarding.

Solomon recognized the dangers of hoarding. He referred to it as a sickening tragedy. Someone who attains wealth and just holds on to it and pursues getting even more is a hoarder. Jesus provided the same warning when He told the parable of the rich fool who built larger barns to store his possessions and then thought he would take it easy and enjoy life. Suddenly that very night the man died and did not benefit from any of his hoarding of possessions.

I have heard it said, “You can’t take it with you”. There are no trailers behind a hearse. Accumulating more and more does not accomplish anything. If God has blessed a person with many possessions, he should look for ways to bless others.
Challenge: The Bible says, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). Look for ways to use the many blessings God has provided to be a blessing to others. Try paying for the person’s meal who is in the drive-thru lane behind you or do some other unexpected blessing for someone today. Watch the video “Trailers Behind the Hearse” at http://www.stewardshipministries.org/chet-and-diana-stewart-trailers-behind-the-hearse/

The one who loves money is never satisfied with money, and whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with income. This too is futile. Ecclesiastes 5:10 HCSB

Everyone needs money. We may need money to pay an electric bill, water bill, garbage bill, cable television bill, a house mortgage, a car payment, gas for a car, clothes, and last but not least, food. These may be some of our basic needs. Additionally, we may believe we need money for a boat, hunting gun, golf clubs, or other recreational interests or hobbies. The list of ways we can spend money could be endless. Some people have more money than others due to the jobs they have, the culture they live in, or a sum inherited from relatives. Although money is certainly necessary, it seems that too many people have made money their god. They relentlessly pursue earning more money often at the cost of relationships and health. No matter how much money a person has, he seems never to be satisfied; there is always a desire for more.

Solomon was the wealthiest man alive and had everything anyone could possibly want, but he came to realize that money and wealth did not satisfy. No matter how much he gained, it did not bring any true happiness or satisfaction. He understood that the pursuit of money was futile. There is nothing wrong with having money. Often God blesses people with money so they can bless others. We need to be careful however, that we maintain our priorities and that money does not become a god in our lives.
Challenge: Make a list of the things you value most. Surely you will include your family, God, and your church, but what you spend your money on is usually what you really hold in high esteem. You will spend money on those things you value. Examine your heart and determine if you pursue the acquisition of wealth more than you pursue God. Paul warned us in 1 Timothy 6:10 that the love of money is the root of all evil. Pray that God will help you keep your priorities straight and to use your money wisely to bless others when you have an opportunity.