“If God gives some people wealth, property, and the power to enjoy those things, they should enjoy them …that is a gift from God.” ~ Ecclesiastes 5:19 (ERV) REFERENCE: Ecclesiastes 5:18-20 (ERV) The conclusion drawn by king Solomon on wealth is an excellent way to end this series. The wise and wealthy king, having seen the brevity of life and the vanity of endless pursuit of wealth and material things, counsels, “Take it easy, enjoy, and be thankful to God for the things you have because He gave them to you.” If you have a job, food, drink, and a...
“Then I said: “Wisdom is better than strength. Nevertheless, the poor man’s Wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard.” ~ Ecclesiastes 9:16 REFERENCE: Ecclesiastes 9:13-16 Listening to King Solomon on wealth does confront one with uncomfortable truths, but they are truths nonetheless. In our text, Solomon describes how being poor can make you irrelevant or despised in society, no matter what you have to offer. It would be best if you resolved to pursue financial mastery and prosperity because wealth gives you a voice; money gives you a spot on the table, options in life, and the...
“Who is like a wise man? And who knows the interpretation of a thing? A man’s wisdom makes his face shine, and the sternness of his face is changed.” ~ Ecclesiastes 8:1 REFERENCE: Ecclesiastes 8:1 Listening to Solomon on wealth, today’s main text is essential. Solomon became what he was because of wisdom, and we are gleaning from it in this study. He said, “Wisdom makes a man’s face shine.” In other words, wisdom will beautify your life by enlightening your mind and expanding your capacity for understanding. Gaining money wisdom means you will start to see new ways and develop...
“Happy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gains understanding… Length of days is in her right hand, in her left hand riches and honor.” ~ Ecclesiastes 5:13&16 REFERENCE: Proverbs 3:13-16 Yesterday, we began to learn from Solomon, the wealthiest biblical figure with uncommon wisdom and wealth, the principles of gaining and keeping wealth. Some practices and mindsets can keep a person poor or rich. King Solomon has seen it all, and in his writings, he offers us wisdom tips to help our financial destiny. Let us again listen to Solomon on wealth: a. Reckless Spending...
“He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God.” – Romans 4:20 REFERENCE: Romans 4:16-21 The old song says, “You’ll never get Abraham’s blessing with the Thomas kind of faith. Your mountain will just stand there in the same old place. If you have to see it first, hear it, or touch it, or taste. You’ll never get Abraham’s blessing with the Thomas kind of faith.” Thomas doubted Jesus’ promise to rise from the dead. On the contrary, Abraham did not waver at God’s word. When Abraham was old and...
“To him who is afflicted, kindness should be shown by his friend, even though he forsakes the fear of the Almighty.” ~ Job 6:14 REFERENCE: Job 6:11-15 Nobody wishes to go through afflictions. These include emotional pain, lack, and ill health. Take a look at your network, and you will discover that someone is afflicted by troubles. They may be going through a divorce, job loss, bereavement, physical pain, miscarriage of a pregnancy, or a crucial marital crisis. What God expects is that you show kindness to the afflicted. Sadly, when people are afflicted, the people around them become ‘expert...
“Now Ahaziah fell through the lattice of his upper room in Samaria and was injured; so he sent messengers and said to them, “Go, inquire of Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron, whether I shall recover from this injury.” – II Kings 1:2 REFERENCE: II Kings 1:1-4 A man’s house is his castle; you would think he is safe in his house, but no, evil can befall him at home. Ahaziah succeeded his evil father, king Ahab, and continued in his wicked ways, fortified by his mother, Jezebel. Justice knocked him down through the lattice of his upper room. When...
“I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat. And if I send them away hungry to their own houses, they will faint on the way…” ~ Mark 8:2-3 REFERENCE: Mark 8:1-3 It is reassuring to know that we do not serve a God whose very thought strikes terror in our hearts, but we serve a God who is love; He is a Father and a friend. What distinguishes Him from others who claim the title ‘god’ is that He is gracious, compassionate, slow to anger, and abundant in...
“So, when the children of Israel saw it, they said to one another, “What is it?” …And Moses said to them, “This is the bread which the Lord has given you to eat.” ~ Exodus 16:15 REFERENCE: Exodus 16:4-15 When Israel saw the manna, they said, “What is it?” They unwittingly despised the provision God made available to them. It was bread from heaven – angelic food; yet, they said, "What is it?" They were saying, “What is the big deal about this?”, “What is so special about this?” or “What does this mean?” As humans, we are often...
“And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them?” ~ Luke 18:7 REFERENCE: Luke 18:1-8 This woman had a peculiar experience with this judge. By his admission, he had no fear of God nor regard for any man. He was a mean judge who was an authority over himself. He was determined to deny this woman justice, but she wore him out (the Greek suggests that she gave him a black eye) by her continual coming and forced him to attend to her matter. Jesus said, if this...