Treasures in Ecclesiastes - Part 7: Morning Musing Over Coffee

credit: Michelle Meiklejohn

Ship your grain across the sea;

after many days you may receive a return.

Invest in seven ventures, yes, in eight;

you do not know what disaster may come upon the land.

If clouds are full of water,

they pour rain upon the earth.

Whether a tree falls to the south or to the north,

in the place where it falls there it will lie.

Whoever watches the wind will not plant;

Whoever looks at the clouds will not reap.

As you do not know the path of the wind, 

or how the body is formed in a mother's womb,

so you cannot understand the works of God,

the Maker of all things.

Sow your seed in the morning,

and at evening let your hands not be idle,

for you do not know which will succeed,

whether this or that, 

or whether both will do equally well.

Ecclesiastes 11:1-6

This is such a beautifully written and yet so very practical portion of Ecclesiastes! I love how much God cares about the down to earth matters of our lives.

Basically it seems like these verses can be summed up in just a few points.

1. Diversify or as the saying goes "Don't put all your eggs in the same basket." 

2. Be wise but don't spend so much time analyzing the pros and cons that you don't get anything done at all.

3. Work hard.

4. And having done these things leave it all in God's hands, knowing that His ways are far above ours and we can trust Him with the outcome.

This is the last post in the Treasures in Ecclesiastes series. I hope you have enjoyed it.

Here are the links to the entire series.

Treasures in Ecclesiastes Part 1
Treasures in Ecclesiastes Part 2
Treasures in Ecclesiastes Part 3
Treasures in Ecclesiastes Part 4
Treasures in Ecclesiastes Part 5
Treasures in Ecclesiastes Part 6
Treasures in Ecclesiastes Part 7

SUNDAY - Sunday's Best SATURDAY -TGI Saturdays

Treasures in Ecclesiastes -Part 6: Morning Musing Over Coffee

credit: Michelle Meiklejohn

If the ax is dull

and it's edge unsharpened,

more strength is needed, 

but skill will bring success.

Ecclesiastes 10:10

There are a number of verses in Ecclesiastes that speak of work and of finding joy and fulfillment in the work God has given us. But just as a woodcutter with a dull ax must work harder to accomplish his task so it is with whatever work we find before us. If we do not care for our tools (including our minds and bodies) and develop our skills we will find ourselves struggling so much harder than necessary to accomplish even the simplest of goals. 

Ecclesiastes is such a practical, down to earth, common sense book!  I hope you are enjoying these little forays into Ecclesiastes as much as I am.

Here are the links to the entire series.

Treasures in Ecclesiastes Part 1
Treasures in Ecclesiastes Part 2
Treasures in Ecclesiastes Part 3
Treasures in Ecclesiastes Part 4
Treasures in Ecclesiastes Part 5
Treasures in Ecclesiastes Part 6
Treasures in Ecclesiastes Part 7

Treasures in Ecclesiastes - Part 5: Morning Musing Over Coffee

credit: Michelle Meiklejohn

Today's passage is one that has long somewhat amused and somewhat puzzled me. It is such a contrast to how many people (myself included) often view life. 

Do not be overrighteous, 

neither be overwise-

why destroy yourself?

Do not be overwicked,

and do not be a fool-

why die before your time?

It is good to grasp the one

and not let going of the other.

Whoever fears God will avoid all extremes.

Ecclesiastes 7:16-18

I would love to hear your thoughts on these verses.

Here are the links to the entire series.

Treasures in Ecclesiastes Part 1
Treasures in Ecclesiastes Part 2
Treasures in Ecclesiastes Part 3
Treasures in Ecclesiastes Part 4
Treasures in Ecclesiastes Part 5
Treasures in Ecclesiastes Part 6
Treasures in Ecclesiastes Part 7

Treasures in Ecclesiastes -Part 4: Morning Musing Over Coffee

credit: Michelle Meiklejohn

A good name is better than fine perfume.

Ecclesiastes 7:1

I am reminded of this verse often when making decisions. The value of a good name cannot be discounted as I have learned (sometimes the hard way) and a good reputation often makes life much smoother! Of course, there are times when what others look favorably on and what we know God is asking of us are two different things. In those times it is much more important to do what we know He is asking and we can be sure He will handle the outcome. But other times it is up to us to be wise in how we conduct ourselves and the decisions we make, knowing that our name is at stake. This is not to say that we live in fear of what others think, but simply that we use wisdom in each moment.

Character is much easier kept than recovered. ~ Thomas Paine

Here are the links to the entire series.

Treasures in Ecclesiastes Part 1
Treasures in Ecclesiastes Part 2
Treasures in Ecclesiastes Part 3
Treasures in Ecclesiastes Part 4
Treasures in Ecclesiastes Part 5
Treasures in Ecclesiastes Part 6
Treasures in Ecclesiastes Part 7


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Friday - Fellowship Fridays, Friendship Friday, Friday Feature Linky Party

Treasures in Ecclesiastes - Part 3: Morning Musing Over Coffee

credit: Michelle Meiklejohn

Today's passage in Ecclesiastes is similar to the one we looked at in Part 1 , although there is a little more too it. Here it is.

He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. I know there is nothing better for people than to be happy and do good while they live. That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil - this is the gift of God.

Ecclesiastes 3:11-14

There's a lot packed into these three verses! I think my favorite part may be the first sentence. It makes me realize that no matter what I think of present circumstances He has a plan for it and it is beautiful. It reminds me of Romans 8:28 -

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him.

The next part is really interesting as well. Although many see themselves as mere mortals God has placed eternity in our hearts. I think there's a part of us that knows and reaches toward that eternal adventure with Him. Even though He has placed eternity in our hearts we cannot as yet fathom that eternal plan He has for us, but in time we will.

The rest of this passage reiterates what we looked at in Part 1. God wants us to take joy in the blessings of today and to find satisfaction in the work at hand. He wants us to enjoy the gift of now! The present is a present from Him and He is making it beautiful!

Here are the links to the entire series.

Treasures in Ecclesiastes Part 1
Treasures in Ecclesiastes Part 2
Treasures in Ecclesiastes Part 3
Treasures in Ecclesiastes Part 4
Treasures in Ecclesiastes Part 5
Treasures in Ecclesiastes Part 6
Treasures in Ecclesiastes Part 7

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WEDNESDAY - Raising Homemakers

Treasures in Ecclesiastes - Part 2:Morning Musing Over Coffee

credit: Michelle MeiklejohnYesterday 

I posted a little about Ecclesiastes and shared one of the treasures found there. Today I'm sharing another passage from Ecclesiastes that I've always liked. This one may be familiar to many people as it is used oftener than most passages in Ecclesiastes.

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven.

A time to be born and a time to die,

a time to plant and a time to uproot,

a time to kill and a time to heal, 

a time to tear down and a time to build,

a time to weep and a time to laugh,

a time to mourn and a time to dance, 

a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,

a time to embrace and a time to refrain,

a time to searched and a time to give up,

a time to keep and a time to throw away, 

a time to tear and a time to mend,

a time to be silent and a time to speak,

a time to love and a time to hate, 

a time for war and a time for peace.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

I've always loved these verses. I'm the type of person who lives by what time it is and so it makes sense to me that each of these passages of life have their time. It's also comforting to know that the hard days are only for a time and then their time will be gone. 

Here are the links to the entire series.

Treasures in Ecclesiastes Part 1
Treasures in Ecclesiastes Part 2
Treasures in Ecclesiastes Part 3
Treasures in Ecclesiastes Part 4
Treasures in Ecclesiastes Part 5
Treasures in Ecclesiastes Part 6
Treasures in Ecclesiastes Part 7

Treasures in Ecclesiastes - Part 1: Morning Musing Over Coffee

credit: Michelle Meiklejohn

At small group Friday evening someone shared some verses from Ecclesiastes. listening to those verses reminded me again how much I enjoy this (I think) underused book of the Bible. I've heard it said that Ecclesiastes is depressing and some parts can be. Like this verse in the beginning of the book. 

"Meaningless! Meaningless!" says the Teacher. Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless! " Ecclesiastes 1:2

Yikes! It sounds like someone needs some Prozac. Or a glass of wine. Or a hug. Something!!!

But there is also a wealth of interesting, encouraging words in this somewhat unusual book. And for the next few days I'm going to be sharing some of them.

Here is one for today.

A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work. This too, I see is from the hand of God. Ecclesiastes 2:24

Sometime as I go through my daily routine I wonder what the point is, or if there's really any value in the (sometimes seemingly mundane) work that I'm doing. But here it seems like He's telling us that it's OK to find satisfaction in the everyday work. And I'm reminded that even in the mundane His hand is there. 

This is not take away from the fact that He gives us dreams and works in our lives for even greater good but while we are on that journey we should not forget to see see the beauty and take satisfaction in today.

Here are the links to the entire series.

Treasures in Ecclesiastes Part 1
Treasures in Ecclesiastes Part 2
Treasures in Ecclesiastes Part 3
Treasures in Ecclesiastes Part 4
Treasures in Ecclesiastes Part 5
Treasures in Ecclesiastes Part 6
Treasures in Ecclesiastes Part 7