More Word to the World

Eccl 11:5 As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child: even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all.

Eccl 11:5 God’s ways are as mysterious as the pathway of the wind and as the manner in which a human spirit is infused into the little body of a baby while it is yet in its mother’s womb. TLB

In the middle of the subject of kingdom investment principles, Solomon adds a journal entry that appears to be out of place. How do mysteries like the unseen wind movements and the unseen developments in the womb have to do with the subject? The point of this verse is that although we may not see the workings behind the processes that affect and even determine our lives, we know that God is the Author and Designer of them. We do not know “the works of God who maketh all” but we do know that God makes it all happen. Should I give my tithe to the Lord when I cannot see how I will be able to make ends meet? Should I place the outcome of my career into the hands of God in an unstable economy? Can I trust God to work in my children’s lives to keep them safe and on the right path? Yes. Invest confidently in God and His kingdom. He will create order out of what looks like disorder. Trust Him. He has been in the business a lot longer than you and has a failure percent of zero. Can you compete with that?

Ecclesiastes 8:15 Then I commended mirth, because a man hath no better thing under the sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry: for that shall abide with him of his labour the days of his life, which God giveth him under the sun.

We have discussed the first two of the three mysteries that Solomon addressed in the last part of chapter 8: Why do the wicked seem to triumph? And, Why do bad things happen to good people? The third one is, How can you find joy in trouble? When you read verse 15 you may think that Solomon is returning to his under-the-sun, humanistic perspective that shows up from time to time in Ecclesiastes. However, keep in mind that verse 15 follows verses 11-14 where we have discussed some situations where evil appears to be thriving over good. Of course there is more to those circumstances than how they appear as we have discussed, but the point of verse 15 must be taken in light of the trouble associated with the first two mysteries. Ok, so it seems that some hard-to-explain things are happening in your life—regardless, just continue moving on anyway. Trust God for those greater mysteries and enjoy what God has placed before you. You do not have to understand all things around you to enjoy what God has placed before you. “A man should enjoy himself” with an above-the-sun (God-given) kind of joy with the under-the-sun kind of circumstances you are living in. Are you struggling with some things in life you do not understand? Entrust those things to God and go on with life taking pleasure in what God has given to you. You do not have to wait until you have figured out all the mysteries of life before enjoying life.

Let us return to Titus 2:6 and talk about what follows the admonition to have a “sober mind”.

Titus 2:6 Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded. In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary partmay be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.

Next is:  show a pattern of good works–not a pattern of empty promises. It is good works and not good words alone that produce a successful marriage.  It takes demonstrating a pattern, showing by example, modeling, developing regular habits that demonstrate your love.  This is how trust is built. One cannot demand trust without providing a series of examples of trustworthy conduct.

One who has had marital failures that resulted in lost trust can only regain that trust through a pattern of good works. And a pattern is more than a single occurrence of doing well. It takes some time to develop a pattern. Just keep at it—it is worth it.

Eccl 7:14 In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: God also hath set the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him.

Eccl 7:14 When things are going well for you, be glad, and when trouble comes, just remember: God sends both happiness and trouble; you never know what is going to happen next. TEV

Here again is another verse on the sovereignty of God. When times are good, we should rejoice for the prosperity the Lord has provided to us. It is appropriate to do so. However, how do we approach adversity? This verse brings us another reminder to “consider,” (which means to observe and learn) that God is the one who sends the circumstances that bring adversity and trouble our way. We can learn from adversity and we can rejoice in prosperity. Both times are beneficial to us as they come from the hand of God. This is another reminder that we are to walk by faith. We do not know what is going to happen in the future, whether a day will be prosperous or adverse, but the point to remember is that whatever it is, God’s design for our lives is not a mistake but perfect. Go ahead and rejoice and learn.

Eccl 6:12 For who knoweth what is good for man in this life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?

Eccl 6:12 For who [limited to human wisdom] knows what is good for man in his life, all the days of his vain life which he spends as a shadow [going through the motions but accomplishing nothing]? For who can tell a man what will happen [to his work, his treasure, his plans] under the sun after he is gone? AMP

Solomon asks two questions for us to ponder today. In essence he asks: Who knows what is good for your life? And, after you leave this earth, what will remain of all you have done? Man with his limited ability to see into the future may think he knows what is good for him, but we must trust the only One who knows the future. Charles Swindoll shows man’s limited knowledge in his commentary on this verse. Swindoll told of a young man prayed: “Lord, if I could just marry that woman, I’d be so happy!” After being married to her for a few years he prayed again: “Lord, if I could just get rid of that woman, I’d be the happiest man alive!” The point is, we do not know into the future and we must place our trust in God for our future, regardless of how things appear on the surface. And if we build our lives on God’s Word, that is what will remain after we are gone (Matthew 7:24-27).

The miracle

Then Jesus organized the crowd to make counting the crowd easier and to make food distribution more efficient.

Mark 6:39-40
39 And he commanded them to make all sit down by companies upon the green grass.
40 And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds, and by fifties.

We have already mentioned that this was a desert place but here we see that it did have green grass, so this was not a rocky or sandy place. John 6:10 adds that there was “much grass in the place.”

I also notice that he commanded them to sit down. Have you ever seen pictures of food distributions to the hungry and how the people in disorder crowd around the food distribution trucks or tables? Not with Jesus’ crowd. John 6:11 points out that the disciples gave to those who were sitting.

At this point, the crowds did not know exactly what was happening but no doubt the level of wonder and expectation was high. What this Messiah-like man going to do with that little meal? Jesus did three things:

Luke 9:16 Then he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he [1] blessed them, and [2] brake, and [3] gave to the disciples to set before the multitude.

Everyone ate and everyone was filled and they gathered up the leftovers. No leftovers were wasted.

John 6:12-13
12 When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.
13 Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten.

How does the quantity of leftovers compare to what they had started with? My little and insufficient bundle will be made much greater if I do not lean on my own understanding with the managing of it but acknowledge that it is His and then entrust it to the hands of Jesus.

Proverbs 17:3 The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts.

 Prov 17:3 The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold,
But the LORD tests the hearts. NKJV

The last time we looked at this verse and spoke about the sort of conflict that comes our way due to our bad choices or attitudes. The Lord uses the “refining pot” and fire to separate and cleanse us from those. We need to take responsibility for such actions and correct them with God’s help. Today we will focus more on the “trying of the heart” that occurs when we are experiencing conflict that comes around that is unrelated to our choices. Situations like the loss of a job, terminal or debilitating illness, loss of a loved one, and the like, are all sources of conflict. Just because our heart is being tried does not mean that is due to something we have done. Sometimes we focus so much time blaming ourselves or trying to figure our all the “whys” of the situation. The Lord also tries the heart of those whose heart is “perfect toward him” so in such situations allow your trust and patience to grow. This the Lord’s doing and He is just. Wait on Him.