Month: January 2015

Ecclesiastes, The Daily WordLeave a comment

Living with Limits (Ecclesiastes 6:10–12)

georgepwood

Greek mythology tells the story of Daedalus and Icarus, a father and his son who were imprisoned on the island of Crete. Daedalus fashioned a pair of wings for each of them from feathers and wax so that they could fly away and escape to home. He warned Icarcus not to fly too high, lest the heat of the sun melt the wax on the wings. But once in flight, Icarus became so enthralled with his newfound power that he soared higher and higher, until the wax melted, and he fell into the sea and drowned. Icarus failed to live … Continue reading Living with Limits (Ecclesiastes 6:10–12)

Ecclesiastes, The Daily WordLeave a comment

The Wandering Appetite (Ecclesiastes 6:1–12)

georgepwood

Some time ago, I was speaking with a friend about the men she works with. They all are very well educated, hard working, and successful, at least in monetary terms. Most of them are married, and although they do not spend much time with their wives, they compensate for their personal absence with monetary presents. Are they happy? Do they have the ability to enjoy the wealth they have accumulated so far? Could they call it quits today and take pleasure in their wives, children, and hobbies? Evidently not. They are too competitive. They feel too strongly a need to … Continue reading The Wandering Appetite (Ecclesiastes 6:1–12)

Ecclesiastes, The Daily WordLeave a comment

Wealth, the Problematic Gift of God (Ecclesiastes 5:8–20)

georgepwood

In Ecclesiastes 5.8–20, the Preacher lists three problems with wealth but then, surprisingly, concludes that it is nevertheless a gift from God.[1] The first problem with wealth the Preacher identifies is the unholy nexus between wealth and oppression. Verses 8–9 are notoriously difficult to interpret because the Hebrew underlying them is enigmatic. The English Standard Version translates them as referring to corrupt government officials who oppress the poor, but are protected in their injustice by their bureaucratic superiors. This is probably the best reading of the text, and it highlights a perennial problem with government. In the words of Lord … Continue reading Wealth, the Problematic Gift of God (Ecclesiastes 5:8–20)

Ecclesiastes, The Daily WordLeave a comment

Mean What You Say, Then Do It (Ecclesiastes 5:1–7)

georgepwood

One of the great things about being a minister is the ability to officiate at weddings. Over the years, I have had the opportunity to lead a young couple—and a few not so young—in vows of lifelong love. Of late, older married couples have begun to ask me to renew their vows as part of the celebration of their fiftieth anniversaries. Presiding over such ceremonies is both a joyous and solemn experience. The joy is self-evident; the solemnity requires some explanation. Marriage—if the vows are any guide—is a very serious commitment. I ask the bride: “Will you have this man … Continue reading Mean What You Say, Then Do It (Ecclesiastes 5:1–7)

Ecclesiastes, The Daily WordLeave a comment

Better Than (Ecclesiastes 4:1–16)

georgepwood

Ecclesiastes 3:22 declares, “there is nothing better than that a man should rejoice in his work, for that is his lot.”[1] We Americans bristle at the notion that we have been assigned some lot in life with which we must simply make do. If we do not like our current situation, we change it. Ours is a country of self-made men and women. And yet, there are some things that no amount of self-making can undo, such as the facts that everything under the sun eventually goes “Poof!” and that we all die. Admittedly, neither life’s ephemerality nor our personal … Continue reading Better Than (Ecclesiastes 4:1–16)

Ecclesiastes, The Daily WordLeave a comment

Using the Time God Has Given (Ecclesiastes 3:16–22)

georgepwood

If God is all-knowing, all-powerful, and all-good, then why is the world wracked by so much evil? Surely God knows what is going on down here. Certainly he has the power to change it. And we can be absolutely certain that he desires to do so. That being the case, why do we experience so much suffering and pain? Ecclesiastes 3.16–22 asks and answers this question, but its conclusions are surprising.[1] The Preacher opens with a simple observation: “I saw under the sun that in the place of justice, even there was wickedness, and in the place of righteousness, even … Continue reading Using the Time God Has Given (Ecclesiastes 3:16–22)

MinistryLeave a comment

George Barna & David Kinnaman on the Rise of the Churchless – Barna Group

georgepwood

From the article at Barna.org: In Churchless, their first collaborative effort, Barna Group founder and former president, George Barna, and current Barna president and owner, David Kinnaman, take a look at the rising population of adults who do not attend church. Based on two decades of Barna Group interviews with thousands of churchless men and women, the book outlines a profile of the unchurched and the cultural context that has led to the trend away from church. “It’s critical to recognize these trends have a huge impact on how our churches and faith organizations work,” says David Kinnaman in a joint … Continue reading George Barna & David Kinnaman on the Rise of the Churchless – Barna Group

Ecclesiastes, The Daily WordLeave a comment

What Do We Get from Our Toil? (Ecclesiastes 3:9–15)

georgepwood

What gain has the worker from his toil? Every Monday morning, millions of Americans ask themselves that very question as they once again start their workweek. It is a legitimate question. Day after day, week after week, month after month, year after year, what do we really gain by working hard? A paycheck, a sense of satisfaction at a job well done, a measure of self-esteem, slight changes in the way the world works? These are all good things, but they are not permanent things. They are hebel, “vanity,” things that go “Poof!” At the end of their lives, most … Continue reading What Do We Get from Our Toil? (Ecclesiastes 3:9–15)

Ecclesiastes, The Daily WordLeave a comment

Knowing How to Act, and When (Ecclesiastes 3:1–8)

georgepwood

Psalm 90:12[1] says, “Teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.” Acting on the psalmist’s advice, I have done the math, and it turns out that today—January 7, 2015—I am 16,680 days old. (You can calculate your age in days here.) I entered the world on May 8, 1969, in Springfield, Missouri, 73 shorts days before Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin made history by walking on the moon. I have lived in part or the whole of six decades; seen my nation engage in three major wars and eleven presidential elections, which of late … Continue reading Knowing How to Act, and When (Ecclesiastes 3:1–8)

Ecclesiastes, The Daily WordLeave a comment

Toiling Under the Sun (Ecclesiastes 2:18–26)

georgepwood

Today, I would like you to reflect with the Preacher and me for a few moments on the topic of work. Our text is Ecclesiastes 2:18–26.[1] What we do for a living is very important to us. For many people, work is central to their identity. It is so central, in fact, that one of the first questions we ask people when we meet them is, “What do you do?”—as if this tells us more about them than their family, education, hobbies, or driving passions in life. In traditional societies, what mattered most was whom you were related to. Did … Continue reading Toiling Under the Sun (Ecclesiastes 2:18–26)