Such a thought can be daunting, but for those in Christ it should be liberating! Consider that by God’s grace through faith in Christ, you stand not in your own but the righteousness of Christ. Consider that all who are in Christ have been given the guarantee of his Spirit; we are in the presence of God, indeed. Consider that “those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified” (Rom. 8:29-30). Therefore, remove the weight of your worry and cast off the cares of sin: give generously, work diligently, walk wisely, and trust willingly. Embrace the life God has given you, with its sunrises and dark nights, for the light of our life is the light of the world, and “in him is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5).
Tag Archives: Wisdom
God Only Knows
The bulk of the tenth chapter of Ecclesiastes consists of individual proverbs, poetically-structured truisms, varying by subject, interconnected by theme. What can seem repetitive to modern ears is intentionally reinforcing these themes, repetitively engaging the reader’s imagination, and leading to greater insight. But all of these varying proverbs flow into one general theme: Wisdom is better than folly. And who would disagree? But when we look at real life, in everything that is happening in this life under the sun, we often see folly in abundance.
We Do Not Know Our Time
In our daily Bible reading schedule, we recently finished the book of Job, and though I have gained much from Job, it can at times be a feat of endurance to finish. Our English translations don’t help much, rendering the Hebrew poetry wordy. And after the beginning of the story from the supernatural realm to the devastating tragedy that is Job’s life, we can get lost in Job’s dialogue with his so-called friends. On and on, back and forth, one is struck by their lack of mercy but also Job’s candor. But what Job and his friends are both guilty of is what I call “karma Christianity,” or theologians call the “retribution principle,” “the idea that God blesses those who are righteous and punishes those who are wicked in this life. If a person is blessed, that is proof that he is righteous. If a person suffers hardship, that is proof of sin in his life.”[2] Such teaching was popularized in the last century in a movement called the “prosperity gospel,” but it was nothing new. What charismatics were selling on television is the same thing Job and his friends believed.
Trust Him for His Grace
The crook in our lot is often not plain to our sight, because we live here, under the sun: “For now we see in a mirror dimly,” Paul explains, “but then face to face.” Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known” (1 Cor. 13:12). This side of glory, we do not, we will not, we cannot see God’s sovereign purpose in what he has ordained. And if we interpret this through the folly of unbelief, we will wallow in vanity and dive deeper in despair. But if we trust the Lord, for our good and his glory, we will rest contented in his loving provision, even in adversity.
God knows what is to come because he has ordained it. God knows what is good for us because he ordained that too. Let us trust him for his grace.
What Does It Profit?
What Solomon faced is not unique but common to us all. How often do we look for significance in the wisdom and ways of this world, when all that we need we have in Christ. How often are we frustrated with this life, because it’s not heaven? How often do we pursue gain in this world forgetting that the way of the world is death but the way of the cross is life? Jesus said,
If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? (Mark 8:34-36).
Indeed, the greatest gain is given: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
Doxology
If there is a pinnacle to Paul’s epistle to the Romans, perhaps this is it. Surely this is the exclamation point on what has been revealed up to this point. Considering just the previous several chapters, who can hear of the doctrine of predestination and not praise God for his sovereign grace? Who can read of the gift of the gospel and the necessity of evangelism and not rejoice that God commissioned and mobilized his church into all the world? Who can learn of God’s kindness to Gentiles like you and me and not respond with humble gratitude that God grafted us in?
True Rest
Worldly wisdom touts freedom from the shackles of Christianity, liberty from religious conformity. But to those children to whom the truth has been revealed, we know the yoke of Christ to be easy and His burden light.
Founded on the Rock
All that we need to know, all that we need to mature, all that we need for “every good work” is given to us in the Word.
Living Graciously
Living graciously is a gospel-centered life, a joyful life lived in light of the grace we have received in Christ.
Planter, Pastor, Preacher 