The sentence against an evil deed

When there is a delay between action and consequence, we don’t get the feedback we need to act appropriately. For instance, you jump into the shower and the water is too cold so you turn up the heat and it’s still too cool and you turn up the heat ... and all of a sudden you’re in hot water. Check out this passage from my reading this week:

Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed speedily, the heart of the children of man is fully set to do evil. Though a sinner does evil a hundred times and prolongs his life, yet I know that it will be well with those who fear God, because they fear before him. But it will not be well with the wicked, neither will he prolong his days like a shadow, because he does not fear before God. (Ecclesiastes 8:11-13; ESV)

So, why would God set things up like this? Doesn't it seem like stacking the deck against us for Him to delay punishing the wicked? Not really. If God were to smite every sinner as soon as we needed it and as much as we needed there would be no remnant. There would be no one left, and we know God can’t confound his own plans to work his will out through men.

So, be grateful for God’s mercy.

Here's a preview of Ecclesiastes 7 (I got mixed up and did Chapter 7 today instead of Chapter 6).

Say not, "Why were the former days better than these?" For it is not from wisdom that you ask this. (Ecclesiastes 7:10 ; ESV)

This verse reminds me of my mom telling me as far back as I can remember, "There were no good old days. The old days were hard and painful and sad." Be grateful that you live in the good old days. It also reminds me of this old Carly Simon song - the lyrics are very Ecclesiastes:

We can never know about the days to come, but we think about them anyway...

Does excellence cause envy?

Ecclesiastes 4:4 is one of those interesting verses that is rendered very differently in different translations. Look at the difference between ESV and NKJV:

Then I saw that all toil and all skill in work come from a man’s envy of his eighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind. (Ecclesiastes 4:4; ESV)

Again, I saw that for all toil and every skillful work a man is envied by his neighbor. This also is vanity and grasping for the wind. (Ecclesiastes 4:4; NKJV)

In the first sense of the verse, envy of one’s neighbor is the cause of one’s toil and skill. In the second sense of the verse, one’s skill and toil causes the neighbor to envy. Which translation is better? Which is right? Certainly toil and skill may spring from envy and it may also create envy. This is one of those verses where the 1611 KJV seems to make more sense:

Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit.

In any case, this difference in meaning seems important in the light of Philippians 4:8 and Romans 14:13:

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. (Philippians 4:8; ESV)

Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother. (Romans 14:13; ESV)

Do we cause our brothers to stumble through our devotion to skillful toil and excellence?

You can't take it with you

This week is Ecclesiastes 6 week. I'm behind on my commentary for Ecc 4-5 but I have found a lot of cool things there - I will get around to posting that soon. Ecclesiastes 6 is very brief...

There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, and it lies heavy on mankind: a man to whom God gives wealth, possessions, and honor, so that he lacks nothing of all that he desires, yet God does not give him power to enjoy them, but a stranger enjoys them. This is vanity; it is a grievous evil.

If a man fathers a hundred children and lives many years, so that the days of his years are many, but his soul is not satisfied with life's good things, and he also has no burial, I say that a stillborn child is better off than he.

For it comes in vanity and goes in darkness, and in darkness its name is covered. Moreover, it has not seen the sun or known anything, yet it finds rest rather than he.

Even though he should live a thousand years twice over, yet enjoy no good--do not all go to the one place?

All the toil of man is for his mouth, yet his appetite is not satisfied. For what advantage has the wise man over the fool? And what does the poor man have who knows how to conduct himself before the living? Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the appetite: this also is vanity and a striving after wind.

Whatever has come to be has already been named, and it is known what man is, and that he is not able to dispute with one stronger than he. The more words, the more vanity, and what is the advantage to man? For who knows what is good for man while he lives the few days of his vain life, which he passes like a shadow? For who can tell man what will be after him under the sun?

Defense for the Elderly

Ecclesiastes 4-5

Last week was Ecclesiastes 4 week:

Again I saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun. And behold, the tears of the oppressed, and they had no one to comfort them! On the side of their oppressors there was power, and there was no one to comfort them. And I thought the dead who are already dead more fortunate than the living who are still alive. But better than both is he who has not yet been and has not seen the evil deeds that are done under the sun.

Then I saw that all toil and all skill in work come from a man's envy of his neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind. The fool folds his hands and eats his own flesh. Better is a handful of quietness than two hands full of toil and a striving after wind. Again, I saw vanity under the sun: one person who has no other, either son or brother, yet there is no end to all his toil, and his eyes are never satisfied with riches, so that he never asks, "For whom am I toiling and depriving myself of pleasure?" This also is vanity and an unhappy business.

Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him--a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

Better was a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who no longer knew how to take advice. For he went from prison to the throne, though in his own kingdom he had been born poor. I saw all the living who move about under the sun, along with that youth who was to stand in the king's place. There was no end of all the people, all of whom he led. Yet those who come later will not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a striving after wind.

And this week is Ecclesiastes 5 week:

Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. To draw near to listen is better than to offer the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they are doing evil. Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth. Therefore let your words be few. For a dream comes with much business, and a fool's voice with many words. When you vow a vow to God, do not delay paying it, for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you vow. It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay. Let not your mouth lead you into sin, and do not say before the messenger that it was a mistake. Why should God be angry at your voice and destroy the work of your hands? For when dreams increase and words grow many, there is vanity; but God is the one you must fear.

If you see in a province the oppression of the poor and the violation of justice and righteousness, do not be amazed at the matter, for the high official is watched by a higher, and there are yet higher ones over them. But this is gain for a land in every way: a king committed to cultivated fields. He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity. When goods increase, they increase who eat them, and what advantage has their owner but to see them with his eyes?

Sweet is the sleep of a laborer, whether he eats little or much, but the full stomach of the rich will not let him sleep. There is a grievous evil that I have seen under the sun: riches were kept by their owner to his hurt, and those riches were lost in a bad venture. And he is father of a son, but he has nothing in his hand. As he came from his mother's womb he shall go again, naked as he came, and shall take nothing for his toil that he may carry away in his hand. This also is a grievous evil: just as he came, so shall he go, and what gain is there to him who toils for the wind? Moreover, all his days he eats in darkness in much vexation and sickness and anger.

Behold, what I have seen to be good and fitting is to eat and drink and find enjoyment in all the toil with which one toils under the sun the few days of his life that God has given him, for this is his lot. Everyone also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil--this is the gift of God. For he will not much remember the days of his life because God keeps him occupied with joy in his heart.

Myrtle Emerson (Parker) Carter

Myrtle Emerson (Parker) Carter, 73 of Big Point passed away April 20, 2008 in Mobile, AL. She was born August 31, 1934 in George County, MS. She is preceded in death by her parents Ivey Emerson and Isabell (Bell) Parker Emerson; grandparents Willey Parker and Martha (McInnis) Parker of Agricola, MS who raised her from birth; her twin sister Margaret Emerson (Parker) Baxter. Also, an uncle Mack Parker of Kingsville, TX; an aunt Myrtle Emerson of Harleston, MS who lived with her for several years. She is survived by her husband William Manuel Carter of Big Point; two daughters Carol Carter (Allen) Elmore of Harleston, Cheryl Ann Carter (Cecil) Miller of Dallas, TX; a son William Levis (Rita) Carter of Agricola, MS; two half sisters Janice Mason of Harleston and Patsy Ruth (Bobby) Broadway of Mobile, AL; a half brother, Gilbert (Freda) Emerson of Escatawpa; six grandchildren Nicholas (Kristy ) Elmore, Susan Elmore( Bud) Stewart, Christie Elmore, Devin Blake Carter, Haley Danielle Carter and Austin William Miller, two step grandchildren, Darren and Sean Spears, two great grandchildren Cole Bryant Stewart and Kenley Paige Stewart; an uncle Claude (Wylene) Parker of McComb, MS; an aunt Mary Alice Parker Trehern of Escatawpa, "we were raised up as sisters." An aunt Agnes Parker of Kingsville, TX. She has been a faithful member of Big Point United Methodist Church for 50 years. She was treasurer of the church for 19 years. He is so faithful in his promises.

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She learned at an early age to "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths." Prov. 3:5-6. Casting all your cares upon Him for he careth for you. I Peter 5:7 "But my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory by Jesus Christ" Phil 4:19. She also sang in the choir. She loved music and singing God's messages praying it would touch others and their lives would be changed. Her life was changed by reading the words of a song "Have Thine Own Way Lord" and she gave her life over to God to do with it whatever His will was. She has held fast to this promises knowing that one day God would be calling her home to be with Him in heaven.

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Visitation will be Wednesday, April 23rd from 6:00 until 9:00 p.m. at Holder-Wells Funeral Home in Moss Point, MS. Funeral services are 10:00 a.m. Thursday, April 24th at Big Point United Methodist Church with Rev. Kevin Bradley, Dr. Bryce Evans and Dr. Charlotte Mansfield officiating. Friends may call one hour prior to service time. Interment will be at Agricola Cemetery. Arrangements by Holder-Wells Funeral Home, Moss Point, MS family owned and operated.