“Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour…and, behold all was vanity…and there was not profit under the sun.” (Ecclesiastes 2:11 KJV) Reading the book of Ecclesiastes helps me understand that the things we obtain in life don’t bring true happiness. In chapter 2,…
“But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee.” I Chronicles 29:14, KJV
David desired to build a house for God, but the Lord showed him that he was not to be the one, but that his son Solomon would build the house. But David did everything he could to prepare the materials that would be needed. Even though it would be built after his death, he wanted to be part of it
Not only, did he gather materials, the Scriptures tell us he gave much from his own resources, and he also presented the need to the people, giving them an opportunity to donate as well. They offered willingly in response. In this verse, he expresses that everything he owns has been given to him by God, and he is only offering back what is God’s own.
God has given us so much, everything we have belongs to Him, so when we present our offerings and gifts to Him, we are just giving back what is His already. It is a privilege to be able to give to God. We may not be able to go to another country, but we can give to support those who are doing so. The Bible tells us that God loves a cheerful giver. Giving to the work of God is part of our worship, and the Lord blesses us abundantly in return.
Prayer: Jesus, we thank you for all the blessings you have bestowed upon us and we cheerfully and willingly present our offerings to you.
Devotion by: Anne Johnston
“Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.”
“Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long.”
(Scriptures from Psalm 37:1 and Proverbs 23:17, Holy Bible, King James Version)
Solomon repeats a message he learned from his father, King David. Don’t be envious or troubled by unpunished actions of the ungodly. Fretting, a consistent uneasiness in comparisons to others, can cause erosion in your soul. Don’t concentrate on the actions of others or envy those who seem to prosper in their wickedness. Focus on God’s plans for your life.
Prayer: Lord, keep my mind focused on Your goodness and not on the evils of others. Don’t let me be consumed with worries about wrong doers. Remind me that You are in control of the ups and downs of my life. Amen.
Devotion by Violet Carr Moore
Extracted from In the Right Place: A Gallery of Treasured Moments © 2006, Violet Carr Moore
“Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these,” (Luke 12:27, Holy Bible, New King James).
The disciples worried about how to cover living expenses after they abandoned full-time careers, many of them commercial fishermen, to follow Jesus. In the past, they estimated their daily living by the weight of the full fish nets. Now, they walked with Jesus and worried. Jesus chose the simplicity of nature to ease their concerns. He compared the beauty of the lilies to King Solomon’s royal robes. They lilies won the contest.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, When I worry about tomorrow, remind me of this lesson among the lilies. Amen
Devotion by Violet Carr Moore