June 21, 2021
Scripture: If the clouds are full of rain, they empty themselves on the earth, and if a tree falls to the south or to the north, in the place where the tree falls, there it will lie. He who observes the wind will not sow, and he who regards the clouds will not reap. Ecclesiastes 11:3-4 ESV
Observation: In Chapter 11, Solomon exhorts his readers to ground their lives in the present with one eye on the future (death). None of us can escape it, so stop trying to “beat the system” to gain an advantage when we can’t take our spoils with us.
Takeaway: So how do we ground ourselves in the present? By refraining from the endless pursuit of predicting outcomes that are ultimately beyond our control (verses 3-4). When we obsess about the future we miss out on opportunities at hand. What’s the balance? Invest for the long term (verse 1), diversify risk (verse 2), and live in the moment (verses 6-7). Sound advice from a King who seemingly had it all.
Prayer: Father God, help us to live in the moment with one eye on the future. Amen.
Rev. Gordon Green, M.Div., M.A. Counseling
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