Bible In One Year-Day 204 (Tuesday, July 23, 2013)

Commentary: Ecclestiases1-3. The preacher is thought to be King Solomon going by Eccl1:1&12. His messages in these three chapters focus on VANITY and TIME. Vanity in the sense that nothing is new under the Sun. Whatever we experience or see now had at one time or the other happened before.

Ecclesiastes 1:10 “Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old (i.e. ancient) time, which was before us.”

This is why the Bible touches all aspects of life. There is no experience outside of the Bible; therefore, it is called the BOOK OF LIFE, i.e. it cannot expire.

Matthew 24:35 “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.”

With this understanding, we should hold every bit of the word of God seriously. It is vanity to aspire to be the greatest man on earth, best preacher on earth, best prophet on earth, the richest on earth, or even be the wisest and most knowledgeable man on earth. This is why sorrow, grief, rivalry and jealousy increase.

Ecclesiastes 1:18 “For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.”

Solomon appropriated his gift of wisdom. Any gift, talent or blessing you have is not new but had in time past been and you are only privileged to have it in this present time. And for the mere fact that you have it now does not mean there is not somebody, somewhere not equally privileged, if not better. Therefore, every aspiration to be the best is vanity and it amounts to foolishness. What you need is to meet the time God has given you to carry out the task given.

Ecclesiastes 2:15-16 “Then said I in my heart, As it happeneth to the fool, so it happeneth even to me; and why was I then more wise? Then I said in my heart, that this also is vanity. For there is no remembrance of the wise more than of the fool for ever; seeing that which now is in the days to come shall all be forgotten. And how dieth the wise man? as the fool.”

The simple translation of these two verses is that if the person endowed with wisdom changes focus to be the best rather than be conscious of time, he eventually has taken the path of foolishness, because when another comes the present will be done away with. The great men of God with wonderful endowment of our time have been given spiritual blessings and gifts to work for our time. In years to come, if the Lord tarries, it will become stories but those who will be living then will only seek for the gift available for them. God gives according to the need in time. When we study the work of great men of God that are gone to glory, we are acquiring knowledge. But our contact with those living now will release life of the Spirit into us. Knowledge is good, but having understanding is better; understanding is having the light of the Holy Spirit, just as Jesus unlocked the understanding of those with Him, Luke 24:44-45. For instance, I could study to teach the Holy Spirit very well, but the power and experience of the Holy Spirit is of God and Him only. We could study the works of John Wesley and others in his ilk very well and become Professors (professionals) in it, the power of God is only given by GOD, i.e. what Wesley experienced for him to do those works is of God; the disciples had to wait at the upper chamber for that experience. This is why we need to be more conscious of time and not to seek for praises of men. Time will not wait for anyone. Whatever gift you have, seek not self appraisal but quickly make use of it because the body is perishing everyday. The wise is that person who realizes his spiritual gift and set at work immediately just as Jesus said;

John 9:4 “I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.”

Such seeks to get the divine assignment done and does not seek for position, rank, place or unnecessary recognition; it is all about HIM who sent. Many of us have wasted time but now living a life of regret. There is hope, beloved. You could pray to God to rekindle the fire, bring revival and renew the covenant. If Moses entered a new agreement with God at age 80, you have hope. If Apostle Paul could be considered without the merit of his own, there is hope for you. The best is yet to come, beloved. The hope could only be found in Christ Jesus. Remember, He said to Peter “I will make you …” To be great in God, you must have the understanding of time like the children of Issachar, 1Ch12:32. Move in accordance with God’s timing and not in the dictates of men. What He has given you is for you to function in His economy and if you don’t move along, He changes hands. God’s time is the best. Any task given you, do it with the whole of your heart to please Him and not any man. When you align your labor in carrying out the given task with His time, it becomes beautiful.

Ecclesiastes 3:9-11 “What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth? I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it. He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.”

What you make yourself look like is not the issue in God’s economy, but what HE makes out of you in His time; this is what stays forever.

Ecclesiastes 3:14-15 “I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him. That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past (i.e. give account).”

Whoever works within God’s timing is the one that fulfills destiny. We shall all return to the dust.

Ecclesiastes 3:18-20 “I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts. For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity. All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.”

We all love putting on wristwatches (time counter), not knowing that we are putting on a witness against us. The bitter part of it is that many read the time wrongly. Wasting time is wasting life. Church politics is waste of time. Eye service and evil errand is waste of time. Keeping record of offenses is waste of time. Breeding strife where love is supposed to be is waste of time. Eccl3:15 says God requires giving of account, i.e. account of life. You shall not be wasted in the name of Jesus Christ.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:”

The important thing about life is that it becomes substantive if you understand “Time”.

Let us seek for the old path where we could find rest. Let us listen to the trumpet’s sound, wherewith we could escape the calamity to come. Our reading for today is Ecclestiaste4-6. Keep the fire burning and alive.

Pastor Supo Abayode

+1-302-230-6792

Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries

Delaware, USA