The Burden of Folly

 

 

 

September 23, 2020

 

Ecclesiastes 10:1-7

 

 

The Burden of Folly

 

Dead flies make the perfumer's ointment give off a stench; so, a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.   A wise man's heart inclines him to the right, but a fool's heart to the left.   Even when the fool walks on the road, he lacks sense, and he says to everyone that he is a fool.  If the anger of the ruler rises against you, do not leave your place, for calmness will lay great offenses to rest.

There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, as it were an error proceeding from the ruler: folly is set in many high places and the rich sit in a low place.   I have seen slaves on horses and princes walking on the ground like slaves.

 

How often have you played the fool?  Before answering this go with me to Proverbs 1:7, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despites wisdom and discipline.”  I grew up in a home, with a mother who was not well, she got better later when we were older, lots of hospital bills, and a dad who worked shift work and also sold uniforms to anyone in the service industries to keep bills paid and food on the table.  We always had clean clothes and food, dad had bad knees from playing football in college till getting hurt and dropping out of college before graduating.  My dad was a deacon at the little Baptist church and a man of integrity.  We as a family walked a long way to go to church or anywhere else, we went.  My older brother and sister enjoyed school, but I found it to be way too restrictive with all kinds of rules and you had to just sit and listen.

 

What does that have to do with dead flies making the perfume bad?  As I reflect on that I allowed my rebellion against authority to steal my ability to be teachable at a very young age.  I have paid a very high price for playing the fool and if God had not shown mercy, I would have stayed a fool.  For it only takes one fool in an administration, and often one mistake is all that is required to ruin a career.

 

Today we use the left as people who are political, we use to say very liberal and today we say at the best many on the left or socialist, but that was not true in the time of Solomon, they were thought to be inept and clumsy, whereas on the right was were skillful.  (Taken from the HCSB).

 

Most of the people I worked with at 3M in middle management knew their stuff, but a few should have never had that job.  My next to the last boss was that kind of man, and I will never forget his first interview with me.  His words: “I do not like you, if I could fire you I would, but I can’t.”  My reply was that great Bob, anything else on your mind you like to share.”  I did my job, and he was successful after a while of getting me demoted, and I would like to say I handle that with class, but in my heart, I became a bitter person until once more the LORD convicted me of not being an example to the ones I work with.  But God once more showed mercy and had one of my bosses I had worked for ask for my help in his group and reinstated me.  My two favorite words or “But God”.

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice

 

Note: For years I would play the I'm just dumb or stupid card, anytime I was not able to do something right.  I refer to my mother above, as she became healthy, she became one of the best grandmothers on this earth,  an amazing lady.

Wisdom Better Than Folly

 

September 22, 2020

 

Ecclesiastes 9:13-18

 

Wisdom Better Than Folly

I have also seen this example of wisdom under the sun, and it seemed great to me.   There was a little city with few men in it, and a great king came against it and besieged it, building great siegeworks against it.   But there was found in it a poor, wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city. Yet no one remembered that poor man.   But I say that wisdom is better than might, though the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard.

The words of the wise heard in quiet are better than the shouting of a ruler among fools.   Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.

 

If the beginning of Wisdom is the Fear of the Lord, why does a culture that lives on fear not fear God?  Why does the Church not fear God?  Why do people who go by the name of Christian not fear a holy God?  I’ve pondered on these questions, and the only answer I come up with is there or only a few that fear God, and that equates to only a few having Godly wisdom.

 

Now you should not be misinformed, wisdom is not acquired in high learning, that is knowledge, it is my personal belief that Godly wisdom begins with an understanding of who you are a (finite) human and God is (infinite).  Often we forget that God is pure, we are sinful, God is endless, we are time critters, we have limits God has none, the good news is you are not God, but you need God to live life on planet earth with peace and joy.

 

It’s a wonderful insight that wisdom does not come with wealth, a poor man in Solomon account saved a city against all odds because he had wisdom, and yet no one remembers his name or anything about him later, we do not know the timeline, and they were not teaching revisionary history, as are our school and colleges.

 

The other insight is the world is not big on the poor, nor do they believe they can learn from anyone that is not polished and well educated, with a lot of money.  It was true in Solomon's days and it’s more true today.

The words of the wise heard in quiet are better than the shouting of a ruler among fools.   Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.  I see this being played by both parties in this election, both think money raise equals winning, that just foolish, for God has spoken, in Romans 13:1, “Every Christian ought to obey the civil authorities, for all legitimate authority is derived from God’s authority, and the existing authority is appointed under God. To oppose authority then is to oppose God, and such opposition is bound to be punished.”  Phillips Translation and I want to also give you the English Standard Version translation; “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.”

 

It is also clear that God will allow bad leaders to bring about his judgment and we have not been immune from such leaders in the USA.  God’s heart desire is for none to perish and that’s why He sent His only Son, Jesus Christ to earth, to show all of us that we must look to the Father for everything, that is what Jesus did, and He was God.  In conclusion, if you want to be wise, you must begin with a healthy Fear of God.

 

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Enjoy Life with the One You Love

 

Ecclesiastes 9:7-18

 

 Enjoy Life with the One You Love

Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart, for God has already approved what you do.

Let your garments be always white. Let not oil be lacking on your head.

Enjoy life with the wife whom you love, all the days of your vain life that he has given you under the sun because that is your portion in life and in your toil at which you toil under the sun.   Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might, for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going.

 

My friend Gary was going to enjoy a game of golf, he loved Sandy his wife and if he would have known that was his last day on earth, his plans would have been very different.  He would have wanted his sons with him and the grandchildren and Sandy to all be together on that day of his homecoming.  But God has withheld that information from each of us, and yet He has told us to enjoy each day as if it were our last.  To find joy in the blessing He has given you on earth for in death you have no toil, nor joy.

 

Physical death is on the docket for each and everyone, and we have that in common with the wicket, and that is what Solomon is referring to.  God has assigned a day, and it's firm, how you live life on planet Earth is your choice.  But your eternal destiny has nothing to do with how good or bad you live this life, but what you did with Jesus Christ.  Not one thing to do with religion, but as a person, have you received the gift of redemption, that only Jesus Christ can offer.  If not you would be very wise to do as I did many years ago and open your Bible to Romans 10:9-10, “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.   For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.” 

 

I am compelled to share with you that God desires a relationship with you, and that is why Jesus died and shed His blood to cover all your sins and all sins that have been or will be.  He loves sinners and desires all to come to Him through His only Son, Jesus Christ.  So today is the day, don’t pass up this day without asking Christ into your heart.

 

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice 

Death Comes to All

 

 

Ecclesiastes 9:1-6

 

Death Comes to All

But all this I laid to heart, examining it all, how the righteous and the wise and their deeds are in the hand of God. Whether it is love or hate, man does not know; both are before him.   It is the same for all, since the same event happens to the righteous and the wicked, to the good and the evil, to the clean and the unclean, to him who sacrifices and him who does not sacrifice. As the good one is, so is the sinner, and he who swears is as he who shuns an oath.   This is an evil in all that is done under the sun, that the same event happens to all. Also, the hearts of the children of man are full of evil, and madness is in their hearts while they live, and after that, they go to the dead.   But he who is joined with all the living has hope, for a living dog is better than a dead lion.   For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing, and they have no more reward, for the memory of them is forgotten.  Their love and their hate and their envy have already perished, and forever they have no more share in all that is done under the sun.

What we do know about our Father in heaven is that He alone is the giver of life and that He saw us before we were and number the days on planet earth.  We also know that God desires all people to repent and turn to Him for forgiveness, and yet though He desires that no one perish, the heart of man is evil and desires to not have authority over them; God calls that person wicked.  We understand these things about the wicked; The wicked despise wisdom and instruction.  Proverbs 1:7 says, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.”  The wicked despise the commands of Scripture. Proverbs 13:13 says, “The one who despises the word will be in debt to it, But the one who fears the commandment will be rewarded.”  The wicked despise God Himself.  Proverbs 14:2 says, “He who walks in his uprightness fears the LORD, But he who is devious in his ways despises Him.”  The wicked despise their fellow man.  Proverbs 14:21 says, “He who despises his neighbor sins, But happy is he who is gracious to the poor.”  The wicked despise family.  Proverbs 15:20 says, “A wise son makes a father glad, But a foolish man despises his mother.”   The wicked despise discipline.  Proverbs 15:32 says, “He who neglects discipline despises himself, But he who listens to reproof acquires understanding.”  The wicked despise authority.  2 Peter 2:9-10 says, “Then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from temptation, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment, and especially those who indulge the flesh in its corrupt desires and despise authority.  Daring, self-willed, they do not tremble when they revile angelic majesties.”   The wicked despise Jesus Christ.  Isaiah 53:3 says, “He was despised and forsaken of men, A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; And like one from whom men hide their face He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.”  (This portion was taken from Relevant Bible Teaching, not in the whole but in part.)

 

It seems to this writer that Solomon, is giving each of us some great information, the life God has given you on planet earth, choices, and you get to choose in fact, we have Joshua 24:14-15 to direct us.  “Now, therefore, fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. ¹⁵ And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”  And in case you missed it, no redoes, it's your time to make that choice, and for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

 

From the Back Porch, 

 

Bob Rice

Often people believe they understand God's Ways and Thoughts

 

Ecclesiastic 8:14-17

 

Man Cannot Know God's Ways

There is a vanity that takes place on earth, that there are righteous people to whom it happens according to the deeds of the wicked, and there are wicked people to whom it happens according to the deeds of the righteous. I said that this also is vanity.   And I commend joy, for man has nothing better under the sun but to eat and drink and be joyful, for this will go with him in his toil through the days of his life that God has given him under the sun.

When I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done on earth, how neither day nor night do one's eyes see sleep, then I saw all the work of God, that man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun. However, much man may toil in seeking, he will not find it out. Even though a wise man claims to know, he cannot find it out.

 

I’ve come to have a great appreciation for the writing of Solomon, and especially for a time such as this, where it seems evil people are getting by with crimes and that in our nation people are not able to share a different view on a matter, still, have respect for the other.  We see evil men honor, a group in our government that is paying no attention to the authority God has put over them and ignoring the authority out of hate and fear of the man.  It seems as once more we are repeating history, our foundation is being attacked.  

 

And what insight does Solomon offer; to find joy, not to allow what seems like a disaster to steal your joy.  ^“And I commend joy, for man has nothing better under the sun but to eat and drink and be joyful, for this will go with him in his toil through the days of his life that God has given him under the sun.”

 

Now the real question is what brings joy to your life, my hope is your relationship with Jesus Christ, and knowing that God loves you for the Bible tells you so.  Also, I hope you find joy in your family, and your only desire for each member is that they learn God loves them and is very fond of them.  I also pray you​ will​ find joy in your work for God has designed you in such a way to do so.  And last that you share the hope you have in your Creator and Redeemer, and all that Jesus Christ has done for you.

 

From the fall of man, they have tried to understand the ways of God, and why he allows evil to seem to do so well in some people's lives.  God has made very clear in Isaiah 55:8,9, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, ”declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice

Those Who Fear God Will Do Well

 

Ecclesiastic 8:10-13

 

Those Who Fear God Will Do Well

 Then I saw the wicked buried. They used to go in and out of the holy place and were praised in the city where they had done such things. This also is vanity.   Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed speedily, the heart of the children of man is fully set to do evil.  Though a sinner does evil a hundred times and prolongs his life, yet I know that it will be well with those who fear God, because they fear before him.   But it will not be well with the wicked, neither will he prolong his days like a shadow, because he does not fear before God.

 

I had to read this twice before it hit me that many of us who are followers of Christ, get upset, angry, and cannot understand the reason someone who is a criminal and a really bad person, gets anyone to protest the police action until they have observed all the evidence.  I also do not understand how anyone can support a political party that supports the taking of a baby's life as if they were God.  I also do not understand anyone that would support a politician that has no source of income and goes into office poorer than a church mouse and leaves office with millions.  I do not understand, and it makes me mad when it becomes clear that people in the FBI and CIA have lied and tried to remove a president because their handlers fear the man, bringing to light their evil deeds.  Everything in me wants them to be punished as any other American citizen that breaks the law.

 

Judgment day is coming, a great day for those who are righteous because they fear God, and not a good day when the wicked that have no fear in this life stand in judgment.  God will on that day turn light on the darkness of their hearts, every evil deed will be exposed, that will be worse than any earthly court could imagine.

 

Maybe all of us should read this more often, and come to an understanding of what Galatians 6:7-9 is telling us; “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.   For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.   And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Keep the King's Command

 Ecclesiastic 8:1-9

 

Keep the King's Command

Who is like the wise?  And who knows the interpretation of a thing?  A man's wisdom makes his face shine, and the hardness of his face is changed.

I say: Keep the king's command, because of God's oath to him.   Be not hasty to go from his presence. Do not take your stand in an evil cause, for he does whatever he pleases.   For the word of the king is supreme, and who may say to him, “What are you doing?”   Whoever keeps a command will know no evil thing, and the wise heart will know the proper time and the just way.  For there is a time and a way for everything, although man's trouble lies heavy on him.   For he does not know what is to be, for who can tell him how it will be?   No man has power to retain the spirit, or power over the day of death.  There is no discharge from war, nor will wickedness deliver those who are given to it.   All this I observed while applying my heart to all that is done under the sun when man had power over man to his hurt.

Who is like the wise?  That is a great question, and God has given us a clear understanding of Proverbs 1:1-7 on that subject.  “The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:  For learning what wisdom and discipline are; for understanding insightful sayings; for receiving wise instruction in righteousness, justice, and integrity; for teaching shrewdness to the inexperienced, knowledge and discretion to a young man— a wise man will listen and increase his learning, and a discerning man will obtain guidance—for understanding a proverb or a parable, the words of the wise, and their riddles.  The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and discipline.”  Anyone who has no fear of God is not wise, no matter what their status is in this life.

 

A wise person shows respect for authority and has the discernment to know when the time is right to approach the king or leader.  Did you also notice, the wise person has been given a task by God to mentor the young person?  First, the man must teach and instruct his family, and then a man is to pour his life into younger men.

 

A wise man is a listener, and he always is learning from those he encounters.  There is no greater authority than God, and a wise person will learn to wait for His direction and leadership.  He has told us to study to show ourselves a workman that needed not be afraid.

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice

Prosperity & Adversity in ones life

 

Ecclesiastic 7:14-29

 

 

In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider: God has made the one as well as the other, so that man may not find out anything that will be after him.

 

Bless is the person that receives both blessing and trials, knowing they both had to go through your Father's hands before reaching you.  One may wonder why God allows a righteous person to suffer and die and an evil person seems to have all the blessing of God.  But have no doubt God is the righteous Judge, and this life is like a wind that blows for a while and is no more, but eternity is endless, and it is that world where the righteous will have a life in the presents of the Lord, and the wicked will be judged and end up in a place of torment that is endless.  Totally apart from God and all others, for eternity, but very much alive.

`

In my vain life, I have seen everything. There is a righteous man who perishes in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man who prolongs his life in his evildoing.   Be not overly righteous, and do not make yourself too wise. Why should you destroy yourself?   Be not overly wicked, neither be a fool. Why should you die before your time?   It is good that you should take hold of this, and from that withhold not your hand, for the one who fears God shall come out from both of them.

Wisdom gives strength to the wise man more than ten rulers who are in a city.

 

Wisdom is a gift only God can give to us, education is a good thing but look at the many college professors that claim there is no God, no Creator, no high authority, and God calls them fools. 

 

Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins

Yes, we have all sinned and the person that says they have not, is a liar and the truth is not in them.

 

 Do not take to heart all the things that people say, lest you hear your servant cursing you.   Your heart knows that many times you yourself have cursed others.  

How true, so be very careful, guard your heart, for out of the mouth the heart speaks.

 

All this I have tested by wisdom. I said, “I will be wise,” but it was far from me.  That which has been is far off, and deep, very deep; who can find it out?

I turned my heart to know and to search out and to seek wisdom and the scheme of things, and to know the wickedness of folly and the foolishness that is madness.   And I find something more bitter than death: the woman whose heart is snares and nets, and whose hands are fetters. He who pleases God escapes her, but the sinner is taken by her.   Behold, this is what I found, says the Preacher, while adding one thing to another to find the scheme of things— which my soul has sought repeatedly, but I have not found. One man among a thousand I found, but a woman among all these I have not found.   See, this alone I found, that God made man upright, but they have sought out many schemes.

 

God has told us if we lack wisdom ask but make sure we are asking in a manner that pleases God, and not for a selfish reason.  The wises man born of earthly parents has shown and display by his life how easy wisdom can be a god that is never satisfied and want to have understanding in all things, and Solomon came to this conclusion that also is vain.  No man understands the thoughts and ways of God, they are high than ours, no one can contain Him, we are flawed He is Pure and Holy.

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice

 

Rebuke of the Wise

 

Ecclesiastes 7:5-13

 

It is better for a man to hear the rebuke of the wise than to hear the song of fools.  For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fools; this also is vanity. 
Surely oppression drives the wise into madness, and a bribe corrupts the heart.  Better is the end of a thing than its beginning, and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.  Be not quick in your spirit to become angry, for anger lodges in the heart of fools.  Say not, “Why were the former days better than these?”  For it is not from wisdom that you ask this.  Wisdom is good with an inheritance, an advantage to those who see the sun.  For the protection of wisdom is like the protection of money, and the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of him who has it.  Consider the work of God: who can make straight what he has made crooked?

 

Rebuke is defined by Webster as:(express sharp disapproval or criticism of (someone) because of their behavior or actions).  I know of no one that has not to experience rebuke, but when it is your best friend that is doing so, it is like the pouring of ice water on your head on a very cold day.  As a young person, I received a lot of that, from my parents, and I needed it, from my older brother because I was not trying or was embarrassing him, from teachers, because of my desire to be anywhere but at school, and most of the vice principals who seemed to see me in their office on a weekly basis.  Most of that I could reason with, I needed to be more careful and not get caught, for I did not desire to change.  As I got older, when a person I considered a good friend would point out areas of my life that need to change, at that time it seemed like a betrayal.

 

As a follower of Christ, my best friend at that time was Johnny Anderson, a man my age who loved God and cared for my growth as a new believer, he began to tell me I was off base when it came to the way I treaded my wife.  I knew he was right and that as a fellow brother in Christ, he desired for me to be like Christ, He was the first brother that rebuked me, but not the last, and I’m thankful for everyone.

 

Better is the end of a thing than its beginning, and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.  Be not quick in your spirit to become angry, for anger lodges in the heart of fools.  Say not, “Why were the former days better than these?”  I believe many a pastor and leader in the church and outside the church, have a proud spirit, and not a patient spirit, in my life when I believe I’ve overcome that proud spirit and finely arrived with patience, all I have to do is get behind the wheel of my car, and go ten miles and I find that old man that wants all people to obey the laws of driving and not run red lights, not exceed the speed limit more than ten miles an hour, and not sit still when the light turns green for what seems like minutes.  Yes, it does not take much to expose my flesh.

 

“Why were the former days better than these?”  For it is not from wisdom that you ask this.  Wisdom is good with an inheritance, an advantage to those who see the sun.  For the protection of wisdom is like the protection of money, and the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of him who has it.  Consider the work of God: who can make straight what he has made crooked?

 

I get from my Christian friends all this stuff about the good old days, and how they would like to go back to that time.  Lots of great memories, but that is history, learn from it but live in the present, for you will find God has a good plan for you, now not in the future or past, but today.

 

Wisdom is a gift that God has been offering to those who seek Him with a pure heart.  In James 1:5, a follower of Christ has this promise; “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”  Each of us needs this gift, no matter how many degrees one has on your wall.  One of the sadist things is an educated fool.

 

 Consider the work of God: who can make straight what he has made crooked?  I am a witness to this truth; it is absolute, yet many have tried to do so.

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice

The Contrast of Wisdom and Folly

 

Ecclesiastes 7:1-4

 

The Contrast of Wisdom and Folly

A good name is better than precious ointment, and the day of death than the day of birth.   It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting,
for this is the end of all mankind, and the living will lay it to heart.   Sorrow is better than laughter, for by sadness of face the heart is made glad.  The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.

 

In our culture in the USA, we make a lot of the birth of a child, and yet very often death is not given much notice.  In fact, often it is about a couple of lines in the obituary.  Solomon tells us that death is better than birth, but let me share this insight if a person has not addressed this one important thing while on planet earth, death is not a good thing.

 

I was hoping you would ask, what is that one thing that changes death to a good thing, and it is called death to self, being willing to bow your knee to a Holy God and receive His love gift to you.  More questions: what is His love gift, and the answer is found in the gospel of John, chapter three verse 16.  You may want to begin in chapter one and get a clearer picture of the gift God has for you.

 

A good name is of great value, and a man who values integrity will be the kind of husband and dad to lead his family in the way they should go.  Let me end this paper with a note from my Study Bible.  “Funerals should sober us to the reality of death and encourage us to live well and happily.”

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice

The Desire for Riches and Knowledge

 

 

Ecclesiastic 6:7-12

 

All the toil of man is for his mouth, yet his appetite is not satisfied.   For what advantage has the wise man over the fool? And what does the poor man have who knows how to conduct himself before the living?   Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the appetite: this also is vanity and a striving after wind.

 

Whatever has come to be has already been named, and it is known what man is and that he is not able to dispute with one stronger than he.   The more words, the more vanity, and what is the advantage to man?  For who knows what is good for man while he lives the few days of his vain life, which he passes like a shadow?  For who can tell man what will be after him under the sun?

 

I’m taking this insight from the HCSB notes on verses 7-9, they tell us this passage contains three proverbs and make the transition from a major discussion of wealth to a major discussion on wisdom and death.  The proverbs teach that appetite is the thing that drives us, but it is never satisfied, that wisdom cannot save us from our appetite or from poverty, and that it is important to be satisfied with what we have.  These proverbs can relate equally well to the desire for riches or knowledge.  Both are important in their place, but neither is the key to life.

 

For who can tell man what will be after him under the sun?  Only God has the answer to our prayers that has not been yet answered in regard to and awaking of the Church or a great movement of God’s Spirit in the world.  Yet all who will read the New Testament will find the answer to what is next for all men.  Hebrews 9:27, 28, “And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.”

 

From The Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice

Living in Joy because you are in Christ

Ecclesiastes 6: 1-6

 

There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, and it lies heavy on mankind: a man to whom God gives wealth, possessions, and honor so that he lacks nothing of all that he desires, yet God does not give him power to enjoy them, but a stranger enjoys them. This is vanity; it is a grievous evil.   If a man fathers a hundred children and lives many years, so that the days of his years are many, but his soul is not satisfied with life's good things, and he also has no burial, I say that a stillborn child is better off than he.   For it comes in vanity and goes in darkness, and in darkness, its name is covered.   Moreover, it has not seen the sun or known anything, yet it finds rest rather than he.   Even though he should live a thousand years twice over, yet enjoy no good—do not all go to the one place?

 

For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?  For what can a man give in return for his soul?  Great questions, that require one to give thought to why he is spending so much time acquiring wealth, who is going to end up with it, and will they use it wisely, or foolishly?  Labor and hard work is a good thing, but if it is all a person has in life, it is a pity for they missed the blessing of God.  It matters not if a man stays single and has a personal relationship with the Lord, he has the most important thing in life.

 

I found great pleasure in reading Brennan Manning's “The Ragamuffin Gospel” and he tells the story of an older man on a bridge praying.  A priest is passing over the bridge and seeing the man, stops to see what he is doing and see that he was praying in earnest to the Father.  “MY son you must be close to the Lord, the man answered, yes He is very fond of me.”

 

If you think other than the old man about your relationship with the Lord, could it be you have a performance-based religion?  Not on grace, not on mercy, and not on the Love for you that was required to allow His Son, His only Son to take your punishment?

 

 

From the Back porch,

 

Bob Rice 

Money is not Evil

 

Ecclesiastic 5:10-20

 

He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity.   When goods increase, they increase who eat them, and what advantage has their owner but to see them with his eyes?   Sweet is the sleep of a laborer, whether he eats little or much, but the full stomach of the rich will not let him sleep.

There is a grievous evil that I have seen under the sun: riches were kept by their owner to his hurt, and those riches were lost in a bad venture. And he is father of a son, but he has nothing in his hand.   As he came from his mother's womb he shall go again, naked as he came, and shall take nothing for his toil that he may carry away in his hand.  This also is a grievous evil: just as he came, so shall he go, and what gain is there to him who toils for the wind?   Moreover, all his days he eats in darkness in much vexation and sickness and anger.

Behold, what I have seen to be good and fitting is to eat and drink and find enjoyment in all the toil with which one toils under the sun the few days of his life that God has given him, for this is his lot.   Everyone also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil—this is the gift of God.   For he will not much remember the days of his life because God keeps him occupied with joy in his heart.

 

Once more we come to understand that there is not much new under the sun, the love of money and the desire for wealth, has been since the fall of man by going against God’s Commands.  Wealth is a hard taskmaster, it is never satisfied, always craving for more.  We find this 1 Timothy 6:10,  ^“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”  Money is not evil, only the love of it, for you cannot have two Masters, you love one, and end up hating the other.  The poorest laborer in the USA may at times go to bed hungry, but his sleep would not be because of his worrying about his many investments.

 

We also have witnessed how greed and thirst for more have led many a person to make foolish investments, and lose all their wealth.  I witnessed this in a family that lost all because a son talked the dad into a venture that his banker and others told him was too risky.  I witness the displaced anger he had for the ones who talked his son into the venture.

 

Be satisfied, with the blessing of God, observe His blessings in your life, and find the joy of where you are, with much or with little.

 

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

The Vanity of Wealth and Honor

 

Ecclesiastic 5:8-9

 

The Vanity of Wealth and Honor

If you see in a province the oppression of the poor and the violation of justice and righteousness, do not be amazed at the matter, for the high official is watched by a higher, and there are yet higher ones over them.  But this is gain for a land in every way: a king committed to cultivated fields. 

On December 15, 1791, the Congress of  The United States of America added amendments to the Constitution, they titled the “Bill of Rights.  There were 10 amendments, at that time, and today I’m only addressing the 1st and 2nd Amendments.

Amendment I “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of  religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

The Constitution and those 10 Bill of Rights have been the foundation of our Nation that has been used by God to bless many Nations and defeat evil governments, such as Germany under Adolf Hitler, and set free the nations grabbed by Soviet Russia after WWII.

Solomon hit the nail on the head in his assessment of government, and that is why we have the Second Amendment.  “A well-regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”

In 2020, we have seen the mayors, governors and some in Congress both state and federal want to do and doing in regard to the freedom to Worship as Solomon has stated.  Nowhere in our Constitution does it give any government leader the right to stop worship in public or private homes for any reason, yet those haters of good and God, have done so.

Now we have a political party that has stated they will ignore the Second Amendment and take away our rights to own guns, just like Hitler and Russia, and other governments have done.

But we have weapons that are more powerful than guns, they are offensive weapons, and they are the Word of God, and Prayer, it is time to choose whom you will serve Government or God?

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Fear God

 

Ecclesiastes 5:1-7

 

Fear God

Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. To draw near to listen is better than to offer the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they are doing evil.   Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth. Therefore, let your words be few.   For a dream comes with much business, and a fool's voice with many words.

 When you vow a vow to God, do not delay paying it, for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you vow.   It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay.   Let not your mouth lead you^[c] into sin, and do not say before the messenger that it was a mistake. Why should God be angry at your voice and destroy the work of your hands?   For when dreams increase and words grow many, there is vanity; but God is the one you must fear.

 

Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Why, because God not looking at the amount of money you are giving as the plate is being passed, or who you sit by, not even the services you have rendered, such as teaching, no it is your heart attitude. His desire is for each of us to come ready to listen, and learn, and to apply those teaching in our daily lives.  Church, we must as the people of God hear what God is saying in this verse; “Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth. Therefore, let your words be few.   For a dream comes with much business, and a fool's voice with many words.  In our public prayers be careful that you are talking to God and not those who folks around you!

 

I believe a pastor or leader who tells his people to make a  pledge but if their circumstances change God will not hold them to the vow they made, has led many a person to sin.  God is very clear in the Scriptures on it is better not to make a vow, (pledge) unless you know you have the resources to meet the amount.  “When you vow a vow to God, do not delay paying it, for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you vow.   It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay.”  Let me close with this word from the teacher; God is the one you must fear.

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice