The Daily Fountain Devotional Saturday, October 29, 2022
The Daily Fountain Devotional Saturday, October 29, 2022
Saturday, October 29, 2022
TOPIC: MODERATION: A KEY TO GOOD LIVING
TEXT: Ecclesiastes 5
1 Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil. 2 Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few. 3 For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool's voice is known by multitude of words.
4 When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed. 5 Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay. 6 Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands?
7 For in the multitude of dreams and many words there are also divers vanities: but fear thou God. 8 If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter: for he that is higher than the highest regardeth; and there be higher than they. 9 Moreover the profit of the earth is for all: the king himself is served by the field. 10 He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity. 11 When goods increase, they are increased that eat them: and what good is there to the owners thereof, saving the beholding of them with their eyes?
12 The sleep of a labouring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep. 13 There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt. 14 But those riches perish by evil travail: and he begetteth a son, and there is nothing in his hand. 15 As he came forth of his mother's womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labour, which he may carry away in his hand. 16 And this also is a sore evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go: and what profit hath he that hath laboured for the wind? 17 All his days also he eateth in darkness, and he hath much sorrow and wrath with his sickness.
18 Behold that which I have seen: it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him: for it is his portion. 19 Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God. 20 For he shall not much remember the days of his life; because God answereth him in the joy of his heart.
The Daily Fountain Devotional Saturday, October 29, 2022
INTRODUCTION TEXT
Solomon continued in his words of wisdom to address human relationship, God and fellow humans. First, he addressed his readers on how to relate with God while in His presence. It is expected of every one to fear and reverence God in their acts of worship. One should guard his/her steps n approaching God, draw near to listen to Him, avoid the sacrifices of B, avoid uttering rash and hasty words, and pay whatever he/she vows Him (vv. 1-7). Second, verses 8-20 summaries the vanity of much possessions. From life's experiences, Solomon viewed amassing of wealth as dangerous to livelihood (w. 10&13). The summary of Solomon's teaching in this passage is for people to be contented and this can only be achieved through living a moderate life.
Christians that must live good need the key of moderation; we should live moderately in every aspect of our lives. In the presence of God before fellow humans, we should be careful of our manner of approach. We should learn how to be concise with our words. We must f in mind that whatever possession we have is by the grace of God, thus, it is the gift of God'(v.19).
Prayer: O God, give me the grace to be contented and live moderately for f glory in Jesus' Name. Amen