Reading: Isaiah 3 - 5
My Verse: "Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes,
and shrewd in their own sight! (Isaiah 5:21)
The book of Ecclesiasties illustrates this folly of man - this delusion that we can be wise in our own eyes. Sadly, Solomon, gifted by You, LORD God to be the wisest man ever chose to know and pursue the "wisdom" of the world rather than pursue YOU. I have often wondered at this story of Solomon, why did this happen. Why are we provided this story of a man who had so much going for him, only to squander that life on worldly pleasures? Is it because this is such a strong draw for all of us? We desperately need to be warned of the folly of being "wise in (our) own eyes?"
We all of us have this gnawing need deep within for "something." We pursue many things in myriad ways, constantly chasing after this "something." Nothing ever satisfies this longing.
I read David Brooks NYT article on "The Moral Bucket List" in which he recognizes this need. He speaks of how if we only pursue the kind of achievements the "world" deems as success;
"years pass and the deepest parts of you go unexplored and unstructured.
You lack a moral vocabulary. . . . slip into a self-satisfied moral mediocrity."
He goes on; "you live with an unconscious boredom, separated from the deepest meaning of life and the highest moral joys."
Brook outlines some good things one can do become a better person, but he prefaces this outline of his with these words. "I realized that . . . I was going to have to work harder to save my own soul. I was going to have to have the sort of moral adventures that produce that kind of goodness."
Throughout Your word You tell us that if we seek You first then and only then will our lives be fulfilling and complete.
"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you" - Matthew 6:33.
You also tell us that only You will suffice, only You, LORD God can satisfy this thirst. As Jesus told the woman at the well in John 4. Brooks alluded to this when he said. "But people on the road to character understand that no person can achieve self-mastery on his or her own. Individual will, reason and compassion are not strong enough to consistently defeat selfishness, pride and self-deception. We all need redemptive assistance from outside."
Jesus makes it clear this outside help can only come from Him! "but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." - John 4:14
Thank You for this teaching, LORD God. We cannot depend on our own devices - we need You.
"Therefore, as the tongue of fire devours the stubble,
and as dry grass sinks down in the flame,
so their root will be as rottenness,
and their blossom go up like dust;
for they have rejected the law of the LORD of hosts,
and have despised the word of the Holy One of Israel" (Isaiah 5:24).
Ditat Deus - God Enriches!
My Verse: "Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes,
and shrewd in their own sight! (Isaiah 5:21)
The book of Ecclesiasties illustrates this folly of man - this delusion that we can be wise in our own eyes. Sadly, Solomon, gifted by You, LORD God to be the wisest man ever chose to know and pursue the "wisdom" of the world rather than pursue YOU. I have often wondered at this story of Solomon, why did this happen. Why are we provided this story of a man who had so much going for him, only to squander that life on worldly pleasures? Is it because this is such a strong draw for all of us? We desperately need to be warned of the folly of being "wise in (our) own eyes?"
We all of us have this gnawing need deep within for "something." We pursue many things in myriad ways, constantly chasing after this "something." Nothing ever satisfies this longing.
I read David Brooks NYT article on "The Moral Bucket List" in which he recognizes this need. He speaks of how if we only pursue the kind of achievements the "world" deems as success;
"years pass and the deepest parts of you go unexplored and unstructured.
You lack a moral vocabulary. . . . slip into a self-satisfied moral mediocrity."
He goes on; "you live with an unconscious boredom, separated from the deepest meaning of life and the highest moral joys."
Brook outlines some good things one can do become a better person, but he prefaces this outline of his with these words. "I realized that . . . I was going to have to work harder to save my own soul. I was going to have to have the sort of moral adventures that produce that kind of goodness."
Throughout Your word You tell us that if we seek You first then and only then will our lives be fulfilling and complete.
"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you" - Matthew 6:33.
You also tell us that only You will suffice, only You, LORD God can satisfy this thirst. As Jesus told the woman at the well in John 4. Brooks alluded to this when he said. "But people on the road to character understand that no person can achieve self-mastery on his or her own. Individual will, reason and compassion are not strong enough to consistently defeat selfishness, pride and self-deception. We all need redemptive assistance from outside."
Jesus makes it clear this outside help can only come from Him! "but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." - John 4:14
Thank You for this teaching, LORD God. We cannot depend on our own devices - we need You.
"Therefore, as the tongue of fire devours the stubble,
and as dry grass sinks down in the flame,
so their root will be as rottenness,
and their blossom go up like dust;
for they have rejected the law of the LORD of hosts,
and have despised the word of the Holy One of Israel" (Isaiah 5:24).
Ditat Deus - God Enriches!
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