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Christian Devotional – March 11, 2025
Wisdom Squandered, Day 6 All will be judged. Read Ecclesiastes 3:16-22. As we look at this chapter, we see that Solomon comes to a pretty grim conclusion. Everyone is going to die. He recognizes there’s no escaping this final piece of life. What’s more, Solomon understands that everyone will be judged for their actions. We will all have to answer for the choices that we’ve made and the decisions that have shaped our lives. We see this fact echoed in Revelation chapter 20, when we all face the white throne judgment and God reads from the books of deeds. It’s important to recognize that everyone is going to eventually be…
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Christian Devotional – March 10, 2025
Wisdom Squandered, Day 5 To everything, turn, turn, turn. Read Ecclesiastes 3:1-15. Some of you all may remember the famous song that was written about the first several verses from chapter 3 of Ecclesiastes. After all, there is a season for everything. As Solomon is evaluating his life and looking around him, he can see that there are certainly times for all of these practices that are listed here. As a king, he understands there’s time for war and a time for peace. He understands the importance of planting and harvesting. His wisdom recognizes the interconnected nature of everything that everyone does. There’s always impact to the actions that are…
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Christian Devotional – March 9, 2025
Wisdom Squandered, Day 4 We each have a role to play. Read Ecclesiastes 2:13-26. Yesterday, we saw how the pursuit of happiness does not lead to fulfilling purpose. But, if we are pursuing God’s purpose in our life, then he will provide us with happiness. Today, we see that spelled out even more clearly. Solomon continues to explain all the different ways in which he tried to attain happiness. He had so many different methods, and he thought that if he amassed wealth and projects, that would allow him to leave a profound legacy to his children. Unfortunately, he realized that his children were not going to do the same…
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Christian Devotional – March 8, 2025
Wisdom Squandered, Day 3 I want it all. Read Ecclesiastes 2:1-11. We live in such a materialistic and greedy society. It truly is amazing how much people want and, generally, even if they have a lot, they want more. We want more power. We want more money. We want more status. We want more of anything. Solomon went through the same thing. Solomon had the ability and the power to get more, so he did. These 11 verses give a quick overview of the fact that Solomon pretty much did whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted, as long as it made him happy. But Solomon learned an important truth, that…
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Christian Devotional – March 7, 2025
Wisdom Squandered, Day 2 Is ignorance bliss? Read Ecclesiastes 1:12-18. As we read through this second half of the first chapter, Solomon introduces himself to us and explains why he’s writing this book. We see that he feels his failure so keenly. Solomon understands that he has not been able to achieve everything that he thought he would with all of his wisdom. And because of his wisdom, he recognizes his failure even more acutely than someone who wouldn’t have been wise. It recalls to mind the idea that ignorance is bliss. However, Solomon is not ignorant, and he recognizes that the wisdom he has, has not been used to…
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Christian Devotional – March 6, 2025
Wisdom Squandered, Day 1 Lack of legacy. Read Ecclesiastes 1:1-11. Having just spent time studying an example of what we should do, we’re going to switch and take some time to study an example of what we should not do. The book of Ecclesiastes is written as a book of Solomon’s regrets. King Solomon had so much going for him, and yet he stumbled and fell in so many ways. He wrote the book of Ecclesiastes at the end of his life as he was evaluating what he could have or should have done differently. We can learn so much from his example of what not to do. He has…
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Christian Devotional – March 5, 2025
Ruth’s Example, Day 12 The legacy. Read Ruth 4:16-22. As we finish this book and wrap up the tremendous example of the woman Ruth, we actually see that Ruth fades into the distance and Naomi is center stage. While this story bears Ruth’s name in the title, we come to understand that Naomi and her journey of discovering God’s provision for her is actually the main focus of this small book. Sometimes, we need to be reminded that it’s not all about us. Instead, it is all about God. This book ends showing what amazing legacy is created through God moving in this story. The future king David and ultimately…
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Christian Devotional – March 4, 2025
Ruth’s Example, Day 11 Ruth becomes pregnant. Read Ruth 4:13-15. When we first read this section, the outcome of Ruth becoming pregnant seems obvious. That was the whole point of why they were getting married is so that they could raise up a next generation. But I love that this verse has the reminder that it is God who brings about pregnancy. If we remember, Ruth had been married before. We don’t know how long her marriage to Mahlon lasted until he died, but however long it was, she had not become pregnant and did not give birth to a child with him. Ultimately, God is the one who brings…
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Christian Devotional – March 3, 2025
Ruth’s Example, Day 10 Boaz’s wife. Read Ruth 4:9-12. The transaction is made and a deal is sealed. Boaz becomes the husband of Ruth. He is a husband with a purpose. However, he understands that the reason God has granted him this opportunity to be Ruth’s wife is so that he can raise up that family that had been through such destruction. His purpose was to provide the restoration of that family to the entire Israelite community. When we think about the purpose and plan that God has for us, usually one of two things happens. Either we don’t understand what that purpose would or could or should be, or…
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Christian Devotional – March 2, 2025
Ruth’s Example, Day 9 Not me. Read Ruth 4:8. Boaz is going to take care of the issue. He locates the other man who has the right of redemption and asks him about his interest. Initially, the man is very interested in purchasing and redeeming the land however, when he learned that it also included a wife, he changed his mind and said, “No, not me.” It makes me wonder, how often do we get presented with something that God is looking to do, and we say, “No, not me. That might hurt my own plans that might get in the way of what I’m doing.” We can be the…