[Faith-talk] Daily Thought for Saturday, August 30, 2014

[Paul]

Hello and good day to most of you who are still in your Saturday as this is being written, although for you in Australia and New Zealand it's already Sunday.  You in New Zealand, at least as this is being written, will be going to your respective houses of worship in about six or seven hours, whereas you in Australia have a few more to go.  At any rate, whatever time of day it is in your locale, I hope that this finds you well, by God's matchless grace and His providential care.

Joyce A. Felske contributed today's article written several years ago entitled "Be Wise," rendered as follows:

We all want to know all the answers and understand all that is going on.  How we shine when we give out wise counsel from God! A Christian ought to be humbled when he knows that all his wisdom comes from God.

If you are wise, you will take God's advice.  In Ecclesiastes 8, Solomon talked about obeying the government.  A wise person will vote, pay taxes, and obey the laws of the land.  We are not wise if we break the law unless that law goes against God's Word.  There is always a right (wise) way to do things, and we should seek that way.

We do not know the future, nor can we influence its direction.  We have to watch things develop as they happen.  We cannot escape what is going to happen to us--even death--so we would be wise to do right and let the future take care of itself.

We must be prepared for the suddenness of events in our life.  If we fear God and trust in Him, we need not fear our future.  That is being wise.

Solomon thought about how people have the power to hurt each other.  He had seen that the wicked were given honor upon their deaths and often were praised at their funerals.  Even today people often ignore those who committed crimes if they have not been punished quickly.  A wise person, however, will fear God.  He will have peace and forgiveness in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Many people think they are wise and are doing the right thing when they persecute Christians today.  They call them bigots, unloving and intolerant for speaking out against homosexuals and false religions.  Those who do wrong against the Bible and God are considered good people and worthy of all honor today.  False religions are considered just different ways to God.  Where do you stand this day--as a wise man in God's sight, or do you tolerate the new ways of the world and think that is being wise?

Solomon concluded by recommending that if all you have is what the world offers, you might as well eat, drink, and party, and have some happiness in this life.

In Solomon's search for wisdom, he tried to observe all that is going on in the world.  We also should try to observe what is going on in the world without God.  It is wise to admit that some things are left to God alone; so relax, God is in control!

Wise words from Solomon and a godly writer, in my opinion.  The only thing I will add is that, before we criticize anyone for his/her behavior, that we take a good hard look at our own life.  I'm not perfect and neither are you.  Only after taking a good hard look at ourselves then, and only then, can we address the inappropriate behavior and actions of another person, be it in false religion, alternative lifestyle or whatever that may happen to be.

And now may the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob just keep us safe, individually and collectively, in these last days in which we live.  Lord willing, tomorrow there will be the weekly Bible trivia game.  Your Christian friend and brother, Paul