BIBLE REFLECTIONS, DECEMBER 1-16, 2021
All beautiful, special, and cared for... Just as our country is once again gripped by fear as another very strong typhoon comes our way, we pray and not forget; that just as the Shulamite is special among the many wives, concubines, and virgins, to the eyes of the King, so too each of us are special and cared for in the eyes of our God, especially when we heed His call and align ourselves with His will (2 Peter 3:9)... May we make Him our shelter now and always (Psalm 91), that we might have hope, joy and confidence herein and for all time...
Even the most perfect
love can still have misunderstandings, particularly in timing; such as one
could be impatient to go to a certain level (the lover who knocked, but went
away when the door was not immediately opened), while one takes their sweet
time (the beloved who delayed opening because she beautified, perfumed and
primped herself up)... When we attempt to bridge such gap or hope to change
each other with our own efforts, without God's will and leading, the beloved
illustrated for us that though it may not be physically, but emotionally, we
will be bruised, battered, even ridiculed, slandered, and abused... The lover
may be the most beautiful person in the world to our eyes, but toxic and
abusive relationships negate whatever beauty that person has, externally, or
inside... It's cliché, but we often hear from our elders and predecessors, as
they amplify and live the Word, that if something could be easily gotten, then
it may not be that worth keeping at all... And so it is in our life journey;
because patience is not just a virtue, but an actual gift from God's Holy
Spirit, a fruit borne out of a life made difficult by trials and sufferings,
but made joyful by hope and faith in God's sustenance and grace... May we learn
this humility and patience, so that no matter the differences in our upbringing
and background, in God's family, there will be no pretense, no projecting of a
primped and made up demeanor but with a real rotten and bitter core, and we may
be able to see eye to eye...
Celebrating nature and
celebrating love... Here is one passage that, depending on a person's
perspective and time frame of mind, may have strong sexual interpretations, and
even implications of incest, or not... But it shows us that truly, passionate
love between spouses should be like this: looking at each other's beauty, not
according to the standards of other people, through brand and pop culture
marketing, or even suggestions and norms of prevailing culture... But instead,
true beauty is likened to the natural environment, beautiful as they are in
their natural form, and more worthy because of their function... If we can
ascribe such beauty to each other, not only to our significant others, where,
the eyes see beyond physical looks, but deep into each other's person, to time,
effort and connections built on love and sacrifice, wisdom and understanding;
we would rise above the shallow thinking and motivations that pervade across
many of today's sad relationships and associations... May we learn to open our
eyes and see the real beauty and worth in others, as our God sees and knows our
real beauty and worth...
If we must marry, we
have to choose somebody whom our mothers will accept and agree with... And, in
this passage, whether ordinary herdsman or king, the singer/narrator points to
the mother's blessing in both cases, as a sign of the other person's worthiness
and ultimate acceptance into the family, community, and throne or position of
authority and power... Difficult to achieve for some maybe, especially those
who reason out that they choose whom they love, even if it goes against their
parent's wishes... But isn't it that because our mothers and/or fathers both,
since they are God's instruments to bring us into being and brought us to life,
should have a say in whom we want to spend the rest of our lives with, or until
irreconcilable disagreements and unavoidable circumstances arise to end it,
whichever comes first?... And by necessary extension too, regardless of what we
feel and wish for, doesn't our Heavenly Father deserve more of the same respect
and honor?... May we learn to make the wise and right choices, so that we might
not have too many regrets later on...
The deer and the dove,
the flowers and their love... This passage shows that there is a proper time
for love and desire, and that it should not be aroused prematurely... Much like
in many areas of our life, whether for our own personal endeavours, our
relationship with God, and connection with other people... It also shows us
that love is natural and nature-inspired, that whatever expressions and
manifestations of it are affected by and have connection to the rest of
creation... For indeed, humanity's first parents are first tasked to be
nature's stewards... And so, may we learn that love and life is not all emotion
nor attraction, nor all about us; but that any union or meeting of minds must
be made in full awareness of our responsibility as stewards of God's creation,
His work in it and in each of us personally...
Tonight we begin
re-reading what would probably be the Word's most sensual and R-rated book, the
Songs of the wise king with a thousand wives and concubines... And yet, we are
reminded and corrected with what is true biblical beauty, contrary to modern
society's standards: Black and brown due to exposure to nature and the
elements, not fair from bleaches and lotions or cosmetics and filters; muscled
and sinewy due to harsh field and manual labor and housework, not slim and
slender and delicate; raw and pure, yet full of life and love; contrary to
externally demure, measured and prim, but actually sensually wild or untamed,
unhinged when drunk or stoned, and shamelessly uninhibited... These are frank
and honest admissions by the beauty narrating this passage, but it also shows
us a glimpse of her insecurities and inferiorities, much like the many of our
women in the modern day, especially as exacerbated by social media filters, the
objectification of men's and women's bodies by brands and media, and the
commercialization of sex by pop culture and rejection of what is good, pure,
holy and sacred... This is also an awakening for all of us, since size is not
mentioned here, probably because the composer believes we understand that a
shepherdess like her would not be frail, but tough and strong, for those of us
who aim for the impossible, unlivable, and suicidal negative or zero sizes...
May we learn to see ourselves as God sees us, herein symbolized by the
composer's lover: He who made each of us wonderfully and perfectly, regardless
of color, size, hair type, and facial symmetries... Between beliefs and
cultures that force us to accept the unnatural, versus the kind that lovingly
admonishes us to accept our God-given natural gifts as they are, may we have the
wisdom to choose the better, wiser, and more godly way...
Real youth
empowerment... Is to encourage and inspire them to the highest cause of all: to
remember their Creator, and to develop a personal connection and relationship
with Him, uninfluenced by other people--in leadership position or not, who
might distract or misinform or lie to them... For this will surely accompany
them the rest of their days... It is just unfortunate and sad that too many
people mislead the youth, take advantage of their gullibility, impressionism
and vulnerability by forcing or coercing them to do things that are falsely
labelled for a godly or worthy cause, but only use their energy, time and
talent for profit, personal and even physical gratification of their abuser and
influencer... I believe a harsher reward are reserved for those kinds of people
even in the afterlife; but for those who truly care about the youth, their
wellbeing, their physical, mental and spiritual development, they are God-given
guides, mentors and nurturers, whom young people would do best to associate
with... May our youths be blessed with such, with more wisdom, more awareness,
more love and compassion... So that in their twilight years in the future,
their lives would have been well-lived...
Risk-taking in faith
and awareness... The teacher reminds us in this passage that while it is good
to be cautious in our affairs, but not good to overdo it... For by the natural
order of things, youth have the passion and energy to give all they've got to a
good and worthy cause, even if the outcome is unclear... For, like casting
bread upon the waters and miraculously finding it again after many days, (which
is just a figure of speech, but actually) so is giving our best, honest,
earnest and diligent effort in anything--school, work, business, relationships,
ministry... When we do and give our best, even if others judge it as not so and
look upon it as lacking, personally, we are already rewarded with the
satisfaction that comes with sincere effort and pure motives... Our God is not
blind and deaf, and because such efforts, which should be more pronounced, more
assertive, more compelling in youth, (because in old age we become more sober,
refined and introspective) is tantamount to an earnest seeking for His will, in
living out His purpose for each of us, and which He rewards well (Matthew 6:33
& 7:7-8, Hebrews 11:6)... May we learn to use our time well, before we run
out of it...
One mistake can undo a
ton of good... I believe most of us can remember examples such as this
realization from the teacher... And may we learn to be circumspect and control
ourselves well; so that whatever good we do may not be erased or cancelled by
anything to the contrary...
A living dog is better
than a dead lion... And so the wise teacher reminds us that in all we do, we
need to do it with wisdom; in order that we may preserve peace, uphold justice
and right, and preserve life... Because no matter how great, how famous, how
rich a person is in life, or how poor, miserable and lonely, we all die
physically... Yet rather than fear and anxiety over the wealth we leave behind,
or the consequences of our injustices and oppression on others, or maybe the
ghosts of such that continue to haunt and consume the mind and soul of a wicked
and evil person; to the one who does good, and who respects and does well unto
others, death and life beyond is a welcome victory... May we be grounded, may
we be always accountable and responsible, may we remain humble and wise...
Still, it is better to
be good and wise... The teacher points out a fact still real in our present
times: that evil and wicked people with their evil deeds proliferate and have
their way, because there is always delay in the administration of justice... But
like the people they victimize and oppress, they die too, although in many
cases derided and maligned even after death... Still, some of their offspring
may continue such behavior, believe themselves entitled and privileged and
often continue to have the upper hand in things, but there is no denying a kind
of a lifelong insecurity, pretentiousness and fear that pervade their bring,
and can even be perceived in their words and actions... And so, we learn the
lesson imparted by the teacher: to continue to do good and right, be just and
fair, and live our lives in humility and wisdom; for this lifestyle makes our
"faces shine", that is, this reflects an inner confidence, courage,
understanding, faith, hope and love; that we may get oppressed or abused, but
someday, in a proper time, justice will be served, if not within our lifetimes,
but after, and that will last for all time... May we always make the better
choice...
Reflect often, and be
better each time... In this passage, the teacher shares with us some timeless
truths: that a person who reflects upon his actions and experiences, is better
off than one who only craves to experience many things, but does not learn from
his mistakes and failures... He too shares some misogynistic views like some
people today, a few even in positions of spiritual leadership, that women are
shallow, flighty, not circumspect, and not think about their actions because
they are ruled by their emotions... But if we observe the people around us,
being a deep or reflective person, or being shallow and clueless, actually can
be seen in all kinds of gender... We realize then, that life will only just be
a meaningless pursuit of ever higher pay and wealth, corporate, social,
economic or political status; unless the person realizes early on that he has
nothing before God, and that one needs to be humble in order to gain wisdom and
be self-actualized... We reject biased and prejudiced views against women, but
we acknowledge that each one of us are all accountable to our Maker for our
words and actions... May we therefore put ourselves in our proper places,
especially in our ministry and service to our God and fellowman, and our
perspectives through the right lenses of His love and Word; so that no matter
our weaknesses and failures, even in the joy of success and accomplishments, we
remain grounded and vertically aligned... In that way, no moment is wasted, no
effort eternally unrewarded, and each experience spurs us on to become
better...
Better than
experience... A popular adage in our times is that, "true wealth lies in
experiences"; so that many people try to go to and explore many places and
adventures, because more than wealth, they would try to build on fun and
enriching experiences... But the wise teacher have been there before us, in
telling us that both material wealth, and experiences may be good measures of
how far a person has gone on in life, but these are never enough... He often
repeats that the eye has never enough, to show us that whatever inputs our
senses may have received: new places to see, new sounds to hear, new food to
eat, new things to touch or wear or use--all is vanity, all go through the same
consumption and destruction or breaking down process as anything on earth...
And so, we might try to accumulate miles, photos, records, souvenirs, but these
could not give us lasting joy and happiness, nor could they bring real impact
on others except that they remain good memories only for ourselves... For the
real source of joy is something intangible, vertical and beyond our spheres,
real and eternal; and that is, a relationship with our God and Maker, a desire
to honor Him in everything we do and achieve, and a welcoming hope in His
return and reward... Even then, we continue to live our days in sobriety and
awareness, that wherever we are, wherever we may go and whatever we may do, we
give thanks for the life and energy He has given, and we resolve to give Him
glory and honor in everything, so that as the acknowledgment we all long to
hear, in the here and now, everything we do may be, "well done"...
Pragmatic faith... The
teacher reminds us in this chapter not to overdo things, particularly in what
we say, and in how we worship and make promises to God and others... Our Savior
said something similar (Matthew 5:37); to reiterate the message that we should
all speak with tact, and act with sobriety; speaking and doing more than is
necessary would be useless, for we are not in control of, and cannot know or do
everything... And, logically too, forensic analysts say that one identifying
mark of liars is they talk too much, or speak more words than is necessary to
convey the true message... Yes, our love of God is highest, our praise of Him
boundless, but these are personal issues, not a performance for other people to
see and admire us for... May we learn to be self-controlled, even though our
worship may be extravagant, yet, not in a way that brings embarrassment,
ridicule and derision to the name of our God, by which the faith we profess is
called...
Of oppression,
struggle, companionship and succession... The wise teacher is telling us in
this passage, that the prevailing cultures and norms that most people have
maintained, are actually meaningless; illustrating for us his own
disillusionment of the very system, tradition, and the way of life that put him
in position and brought him much of the privilege, along with the avarice and
power; as he deconstructs what it means to live, and as he seeks to understand
life's purpose... Even until today, the same beliefs, systems, traditions and
norms pervade across cultures, regardless of race and faith: there are
oppressors, and greedy people who want to get more and more out of life,
believing themselves entitled, even at the expense of others... There are also
those that work so hard, invest so much, yet, are never truly satisfied or are
deprived of the necessary rest and peace... Then, there are those who, though
they might have relations and relationships, yet, whose much effort are
actually all only dedicated for their benefit, without investing real
connection with other people--friend or stranger, whom, in their moments of
failure, sorrow or downfall, would be willing to help and accompany them...
Then, there are those like him, now an old and foolish king, who will no more
be respected, nor his ideas and admonishment no more be heard, considered and
obeyed; but instead people follow even poor but brilliant kids, those of the
new generation with their new and refreshing ideas, systems and theories... And
these are the realities of life: we work to survive and thrive, and prepare for
the next generation; but we must learn to be humble and give way to those who
will take the reins after us, without taking such displacements personally...
For if we have invested much in our earlier years, living rightly, just and
fair, there will always be people who will reach out, listen to, help and
accompany us in the twilight of our years; as we too impart on them the wisdom
of our years... May we have the eyes, ears, and hearts to conduct ourselves
right, and to stay humble and open to change, through the rest of our days...
Never in a hurry...
Many people are afraid of growing old, especially since associated with it are
the aches and pains, the difficulties in mobility, the lesser physical and
mental ability to do things... Because of such fear, they try to live life to
the fullest while young, get married early and have kids, as a kind of
insurance that when they grow old, they will not be alone... But in this
passage, the wise teacher is reminding us that there is a time for everything,
and there is no need to rush for anything or to anywhere; that no matter how
much we try to stop or delay it, we all grow old, go weak and die--often, the
way we came, that is, we were born alone, and most probably die alone too; and
that regardless of how many relationships we enter into, how many children we
have, or how successful or how high in life they can go, that there is no
assurance they will be there for us in our last moments (to comfort us, mourn
for us, and ease "the passage", that is)... And so, the teacher is
telling us that we must take things in stride; for worrying and plotting, and
following our own course and plans will not assure a truly successful and
satisfying life; for it is only God who knows our future, and it is only by His
grace and timing that things will fall into perfect order... It is cliché to
say this, but yes, wherever in life we are right now, and wherever in the
future we will be, there is no need to fear, to worry, to be in a hurry; for
our God has and He will, make everything beautiful in His time...
Catholics revere her,
Protestants, Evangelicals and other religions do not, and to a great extent,
even minimize her leadership role in the Christian church... But no matter our
stance or position on her person, we cannot deny that Mary, the wife of Joseph
the carpenter-builder, and the human mother of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, was
the first disciple of her son (Luke 2:40-52), was the first among the women who
ministered unto Him until His death and resurrection (along with Mary
Magdalene, and Mary the mother of Cleopas--Matthew 28:1-10), and was shown by
Jesus how much He loved her by entrusting her to the disciple who was closest
to His heart (John 19:25-27)... We must worship God only with all our being
(Matthew 22:37), and have our Savior Jesus Christ as our only mediator (John
14:6), but even if not mentioned in name in the Hall of Faith (Hebrews 11),
other than "women received their dead raised to life again (v. 35)",
there is much to learn in the young Mary's obedience (Luke 1:38), and the
mature Mary's sacrifice (Luke 2:34-35)... May we also have her humility and
faith, so that no matter what happens or comes, we do not attempt to control or
hold our lives and futures, but rather to say to our God and King,
"behold, (in faith, regardless of gender and social role) we are handmaids
of the Lord, be it unto us according to His Word"...
Even the man who had
everything... Wouldn't really be truly happy even if you bring some love on
Christmas day; for as he said in this personal testimony, wise King Solomon had
everything, lived life to the fullest, accumulated much and the best, but
realized with despair and disillusionment, that the simplest and smallest joys of
everyday, not in great occasions or celebrations--being alive, able to eat and
drink even though how small and simple the fare, working just as much to
survive, giving time to thank and praise his Maker--are what give substance to
life... May this be a lesson for the many of us who constantly strive for
promotion and advancement, more wealth and material possessions; because
whatever we have achieved will not give us happiness; but the daily burdens and
struggles--particularly how we have become as we respond to the challenges of
life, and the good impact we bring to the people around us--truly give us joy,
contentment and satisfaction... Even if we participate in the rat race, or
strive to climb ever higher in the career, social, political, intellectual or
economic ladder, we will soon realize at the sunset of our days, like King
Solomon, that real happiness lies at the foot of where we begin; and true joy
can only be found in the journey that is properly aligned to the will of our
God, and in fellowship and peace with fellowman, rather than in the
destination...
When retirement seems
dull and boring... So that like wise King Solomon, who grew up and lived in the
highest luxury and honor, but in old age realized that everything was all for
nothing; there is only one thing that brings clarity and settlement... And that
is a life lived in sobriety and wisdom, in contentment and peace... For no
matter how much effort, intellect and skill, time and passion we invest in
careers, in wealth, in fame and reputation, even in relationships, at the time
when our lives our reckoned and weighed--regardless of the age--what remains is
the naked us, stripped bare and down to our truest character, to the deepest of
our souls and beings... And so, may we be circumspect in all matters; for we
can never own or top over everything, there is a limit to how high or how long
in life we can go, and we can never bring anything with us beyond the grave...
Even whatever material wealth we leave to the next generation, we are not sure
if they can take care well, or that our legacy be remembered and further passed
on... May we learn to make each moment count, and each minute pass in full
awareness and accountability to our Lord and Maker; in order that however
simple, humble, difficult or miserable by human needs and standards, our lives
will be well-lived, with significance and impact no matter how small, and not
become useless or a vanity...
Behind every man... In
a time and culture where women are denigrated second class, a prophecy by
mythical King Lemuel's mother is scripturally revolutionary... The passage
records her giving prophecy; and prophecy, in biblical terms, most often speaks
of the future, with a warning on repentance and reformation of character now,
in order that however dire or tragic might the future be, if people reform
their ways now, they might be able to better and wisely handle the consequences
later; or, if given divine grace and mercy, might be able to avoid it
altogether... And so, although many scholars could not agree on the identity of
King Lemuel and his mother, almost all agree that it is a warning against
giving in to temptation; that one becomes or acts like a foolish person because
of greed, lust, and drunkenness and addiction, and commits injustice, crime,
offense, and corruption... And throughout the history of humanity especially
now, such is a reality in any culture; which is why this passage never ceases
relevance... The second half is most famously titled, the virtuous woman--a
kind of perfect wonder woman, who can be a stand in for any woman whose life is
ruled by godly wisdom... She could be married or single, working for others or
in the home, a leader to others or working independently... It might seem
stereotypical, but this profile of the virtuous woman holds up half of humanity
in her hands; it might seem too ideal and lofty, but it is a lifetime cause
worth emulating and working for; for as any of us know, without the influence
of mothers, grandmothers and female elders, wives and significant others,
teachers and guardians and mentors, a person's development is incomplete and
absent many of the good virtues and character necessary for a godly and proper
life... May we all uphold the rights of and empower all women, that we may
fulfill the will and intent of our Creator since the day she was made (Genesis
2:18)...
A compilation... This
chapter was credited to Agur, son of Jakeh, an Arab sage most probably well
respected by King Solomon, for the former's sayings were included towards the
last part of the book... Agur directs our attention to the one great truth that
seemed to have been lost in today's Christianity (which in many cases have
become modern-day scribes and pharisees) and that cherry pick only those
passages that market their denomination, beautify their outward images and
impressions, and omit the often difficult yet most important gospel of our
Lord--repentance--for His kingdom (read: His lifestyle) is at hand (Mark
1:15)... Agur emphatically tells and warns us that God's words should be
respected, neither deducted from nor added to (v. 5-6, Mark 7:1-23, Matthew
23:1-39), nor should they be regarded less than apostolic epistles, rabbinic
and scholarly interpretations... And this same standard was invoked in the last
part of Revelation (22:18-19)... And so therefore, that we may not commit a
mistake in observing and following the Word (because oftentimes the Bible seem
to contradict itself)--being not written by just one author in one lifetime,
but a library, a collection and repository of God's recorded relation with
Israel and the Gentile (collective term for non-Israelite) converts up until
the ascension of Christ--we realize that more than quoting or spouting the
epistles, we should take more careful heed of the words uttered by our God
Himself in the law and prophetic books, and especially the very words of our
Savior in the gospels... More important than anything though should be the
lifestyle that fits and conforms to such calling (Matthew 10:39, 16:25)... When
our Creator says we are not to worship idols and tangible images and figures in
lieu or as representations of Him whom we cannot see, we need to obey; for such
obedience is a matter of life and death for our souls and our succeeding
generations to whom we pass on such traditions and heritage (Exodus 20:3-6)...
Likewise, when our Savior said to believe Him (John 3:16), to love God above
all, and others (including spouse, children, family, friends, neighbors,
enemies) as we love ourselves (Matthew 22:37-39), however degrading or humbling
it may be, our eternal destiny is at stake in our obedience... May we listen to
the crux of the matter as emphasized by the compiler, as we learn from the ways
of even the smallest of creatures; and may we have the wisdom and humility to
follow...
The enemy of wisdom is
pride... And in this chapter, the wise teacher shows us very real and practical
illustrations of who these people are, and what becomes of them for their
choices... Pride is a hold out; no matter the urging of those around them and
those in authority, that we must all cooperate in order to save the lives and
livelihoods of all, they refuse to obey, and instead remain stiff-necked, and
even feel privileged and exempt... Proud people range along a spectrum of
entitlement, selfishness, greed, corruption, malice, materiality, lies--both
believers and propagators of it, denial, scornful, bloodthirsty, speaking their
minds without knowing facts and reason, angry and stirs up strife, petty and
resentful, partners with thieves and swindlers, fools and unjust... For a time
these may prosper, but the realities of life will soon catch up, and they will
encounter difficulties, pushing them to do more evil and make wrong decisions
that burden them and their families... While those whom God's favor truly are
poured on are first of all humble, teachable and willing to learn, willing to
be set free from old beliefs and practices that do not conform to God's will
and words, honest, wise, considers and helps the poor, concerned with the welfare
of others, willing to cooperate to ensure everyone gets to enjoy good health
and peace and prosperity, generous and selfless, just, circumspect with his
words and controls his tongue, temperate and self-controlled with his desires
and urges, just, fair, patient and enduring, perseveres against hardships and
difficulties because he has confidence in a God who sustains and delivers...
May we take the words of this passage to heart, so that from childhood to
maturity, our lives will be built up like God's servants who becomes His heirs
as we grow and come of spiritual age; and reflect the power and love, grace and
mercy, salvation and work of a God who rules through a heavenly, eternal,
life-changing and life-giving kingdom...
Neither complacent nor
paranoid... And in this passage, the wise teacher warns us against either
extremes... One has blind faith, absent of knowledge and even wisdom,
understanding and acceptance of God's will, laws and words; in that, without
pondering on their ways, and repenting upon conforming to the thoughts and
standards of the world, they thought they can twist God's hands, by providing
for them, and saving them from sickness, pain and suffering every time; not
considering that God wants us all to be more like Him each day, that our characters,
endurance, self-control, patience and humility are built up by the sufferings,
doubts, failures, and mistakes we make and go through (Luke 9:23)... While the
other is the height of unbelief, not considering that God is always at work in
our lives each moment of every day; and that trials and tribulations may come
and affect even God's people, so that many times we grow weary, confused, and
depressed; yet the One who gave us life also gives us strength; that in spite
of despair we can trust and hope in Someone eternally sure and secure (Isaiah
40:28-31)... Then, while we acknowledge that times of difficulties will worsen
and even negatively impact our livelihood and ways of living; but as we endure
every beating, as we remain firm and steadfast, even subjecting our physical
bodies and freedoms to the control and constraints of this world's secular
authorities, we know that with endurance and perseverance, there will be
salvation, and there will be deliverance (Matthew 24:3-51)... And so, we go through
the rest of our days in the narrow path (Matthew 7:13-14), neither complacent
and blind (Isaiah 32:9-20, Matthew 15:13-14), nor paranoid, fearful, and
without faith (John 14:1)...
On this side of
heaven... Where the wise teacher is telling us to know our real state, that we
are mere mortals, we do not and can not know or understand everything no matter
how knowledgeable we claim ourselves to be, that we are dependent on God's
provision and sustenance, that we must not be greedy and selfish for we need
help from each other, that we must not cling on to material and earthly wealth,
and that we are accountable for every word and deed... May we realize that
although salvation is free and eternal, repentance and the development of our
characters are lifelong processes, and ultimate redemption comes at the end
when we have lived out our beliefs and principles, when we have shown the world
we are who we claim to be, when we have been proven faithful and consistent and
true stewards and responsible servants, and when we hear our Maker say,
"well done!"...
Hitting the right
spot... The wise teacher tells us through this chapter that foolish people (the
ungodly, immoral, fearful, believer in and propagater of lies, selfish, greedy,
lazy, complainer, discontented, materialistic, envious, narrow-minded,
ignorant, and proud) always miss in doing the right things, and in responding
properly to any situation; and to cover up, make do and make things up, but
sadly, are always found lacking and embarrassing... And so we are encouraged to
always live seeking the will of God in our lives; especially when our Savior
put it so plainly, that if we love Him, we obey His commands (John 14:15),
particularly in loving God above all, and our neighbor as ourselves (Matthew
22:37-40)... May we be circumspect in all our ways; may we ponder our
motivations well, and not waste time arguing with others to show who knows
better; but rather, in love and humility, listen well, care and support much,
and encourage people to do what's right, good, just and fair, and to defend
such virtues with all that we got...
The refined life... Is
not--as marketed by high-end, luxury brands--one that enjoys the newest,
shiniest, most expensive things, or the most luxurious and aesthetically pleasing
conditions and accommodations; but one that--despite all odds, even through
suffering and want, persecutions and distress, mistakes and failures--have its
character and values remained firm and aligned with God's will, words and
commands... There is contentment, temperance, awareness, humility, wisdom and
discernment, unfathomable peace, and unspeakable joy... For after all, life
does not consist in the accumulation and hoarding of physical things that we
cannot bring beyond the grave, nor our heirs be able to manage and divide
peacefully and well when we die... But life is about connections and
relationships: with God and our fellowman... Have we positioned ourselves in a
proper standing with our Maker? Have we done all our best to ensure that we bring
life, peace, health and sustenance to kin, community, and country?... It is
cliché, but let's think about these; and better still, choose and do what's
right, proper, just and fair...
Wisdom and love compel
us to never stop learning, to never cease trying to become better people...
Because the moment that we do, we become poor--mentally, emotionally,
spiritually... When we think that since we are already done with school, and
have earned our honors and degrees, and just bank on experience and practice to
lead us through, we become stagnant, ill-informed, ignorant in our pride...
Yet, the wise teacher reminds us there is much to learn--from various
disciplines, from exposure to and connections with all kinds of people, from
our own responses to the challenges of life, and from humanity's reckoning and
deconstruction of man's beliefs, traditions, philosophies and theories... Yet,
our God never changes; He is ever ready to grant wisdom and understanding to
those who humbly and earnestly seek Him, His ways, and His revelations in
creation... May we learn and take to heart His lessons; so that we may have
awareness, logical consciousness and sense, hope and confidence through the
rest of our days...
Everything in
moderation... The wise teacher once again reminds us a timeless truth: it is
not good to consume or to accumulate everything excessively--food, drink,
looks, clothes, gadgets, wealth, career, opportunities, relationships,
entertainment, even fanatical beliefs and principles... For indeed, just as our
lives are short and fleeting across the whole history and breath of creation,
so should be our attachment to it and all its joys... When marketers say,
"drink moderately", but entice people to do more and more of it it by
objectifying women or alluding to culture and tradition; when doctors and
health experts warn people against eating too much of anything, yet cooks
prettify food, or influencers incite people to do "mukbang", even if
in reality many of them pretend to eat a lot in front of the camera yet vomit
what they have eaten, or have many others eat them in between takes; when
fashion designers continually market clothes for stick-thin people, and quacks
who advocate unhealthy diets to cater to the zero sizes they prefer
proliferate; we see a world addicted only to fame and attention, to looking
physically good, to mindless consumption and unbridled appetites... And so, may
we gain the wisdom taught in this passage, to consider that physical life is
short, but our souls will face a reckoning for eternity; and that reckoning
must be unburdened by worldliness and materiality... May we have eyes, ears,
and hearts to perceive, and courage to do right and well...
Life conditioning...
According to the wise teacher, this seems to be what our Creator meant for us,
as we do them to our children... No matter the age, I bet we all could use some
conditioning, particularly as many of us seem to be so keen on following the
latest trends in everything, as dictated by mass and social media, and product
marketers... But what never goes out of style though, and what seems to be
lacking in many people today, are the right values and priorities--that upholds
integrity and diligence over duplicity, just to make a good impression;
generosity even if we are left with less, rather than mindlessly and greedily
accumulating wealth; humility and patience, rather than an ever-growing need
for fame and attention and validation... For the former things are what
substantiate our character, while the latter ones are fleeting and vain... May
we always have our priorities aligned well...
Righteousness and
mercy, life and honor... So goes what a person who upholds truth and justice
receives, as the Wise teacher said... Though many times in real life, there are
difficulties and challenges, but the motivation to do good and right with God
and our fellowman should prevail; because yes, no matter what we have achieved
in life, if gained in dishonest, contentious, dishonorable means, are useless
without a heart of mercy and love, attuned to the Maker and at every moment
thankful to the Giver of all; and no matter how perfect life seems to be, but
if we are greedy and selfish, covetous and full of envy, thinking ourselves
better and more entitled than others, life will still be unfulfilling and
unsatisfactory... But a selfless person will spend the rest of life unburdened;
the generous and understanding one will have their lives open to more grace and
goodness, and more manifestation of God's love, power and sustenance...
Gutted and punched
drunk... Because of the scare of a new CoViD variant, governments around the
world have once again closed borders and imposed strict protocols, and business
establishments are once again plunged into crisis mode; prompting one article
to state that it seems the world is suffering from Post traumatic stress
disorder... Even on a personal level, PTSD is a serious matter, as it has even
claimed the lives of many; how much more when the whole of humanity suffers
from it... It is like what the wise teacher is telling us in this passage,
about wine being a mocker, and strong drink a "raging"--or that which
influences the person to go on homicidal, murderous rampage... And we see what
happens in the life of a person drunk, or suffering from high distress,
depression, lethargy, and misery: priorities are misaligned, values are
trampled, rights are abused, and lives and resources are wasted... Yet, there
is hope for the sober-minded; for, in humility and wisdom, God enlightens us
with the right thing to do, to maintain respect for others, to practice
generosity and understanding, and to always uphold justice, fairness and equity
for all... Such clear-headedness also aligns our thoughts to Truth, to the
right priorities, lifestyles and practices that ensure we do our part to keep
everyone safe and healthy, that bureaucratic administrations continue running
efficiently, and that we constantly learn and improve; to enable us to survive
in the present, and thrive in the future... May we remain sober-minded and level-headed
in order not to panic, but to praise and pray, to the God who will never
abandon us; and for our sake, will always preserve a remnant that would
proclaim His glory, and be a shining light to all...
From the ground up...
In pretty much many things in life, it is always good to start from the
bottom--whether building a house, a career or building a character; because the
bottom is where the foundation is at... In this passage, the wise teacher is
even telling us that working honestly and diligently, as we climb not just the
corporate, but the economic and social ladder, may be painful and difficult;
but it develops wisdom, integrity, independence, patience, persistence,
humility and faith... One added bonus in working from the ground up also, is
that we discover who are our true friends and supporters; and we realize that,
in the times of our deepest sorrow and want, God is all we need, and the people
He blesses and touches to come our way... When we build our lives with these
good foundations, we can be sure that no matter what comes--want or plenty,
then loss again, so that at times, we might have to start over--we are whole
and complete as a person, we will be content and happy... For our joy rests not
on what we have at the moment, nor what we expect to have in the future, but in
a God unseen but real, ever present and dynamic, yet stable and eternal...
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