Day 226

Ecclesiastes 9:13-12:14, 1 Corinthians 9:1-18, Psalms 96:1-13

Over the years I have done a fair bit of study. They seemed to want me to do a load to be a lawyer and then I had to do some more to become a minister. One of the things that I did learn along the way, when you are writing an essay, is that you don’t need to read the whole article or book. Check the introduction and the conclusion first and then look for the rest if it is relevant.

There has been a lot of random snippets in the middle of Ecclesiastes but, like studying, it is the conclusion that tells us the real wisdom that the teacher found – “fear God and keep his commandments”. Compared to God, all of those things that he found foolishness and meaningless are indeed folly, all that matters is for us to put God first.

Paul, quite oddly, seems to be focusing on money a little more than God as he talks about how preachers and leaders are paid and where their next meal is going to come from. At one point he seems to be asking for money but again the conclusion sums it up, all he wants to do is preach the Gospel, free.

Both of these are about motive. Why is it that we do what we do? The teacher talked about every deed coming before God and Paul pins everything on the Gospel. What about us, do we work because it pays the bills or because it is what God calls us to do. What about the rest of our actions, where does God sit in them?

The challenge is to put God first today, not matter what it is that we are doing.