Category Archives: Wise

All Knowing, Fear / Reverence for God, Teachable, Wise

The Marks of True Wisdom (Ecclesiastes 7)

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If someone observed your life every day, would they conclude that you are growing in biblical wisdom—or simply accumulating more knowledge?

Key Verse:

“The beginning of wisdom is: Acquire wisdom; and with all your acquiring, get understanding.” — Proverbs 4:7 (NASB)

Background Context:

Ecclesiastes 7 is one of the richest chapters in Solomon’s search for wisdom. Rather than focusing on life’s meaninglessness, as earlier chapters often do, Solomon pauses to describe what wisdom actually looks like in the life of someone who fears God. Through a series of observations, comparisons, and personal reflections, he paints a portrait of spiritual maturity.

As we step back from this chapter before continuing into Ecclesiastes 8, it is worth asking what all these individual lessons reveal about the heart of biblical wisdom.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

Ecclesiastes 7

Reflection on Ecclesiastes 7:

One of the first lessons Solomon teaches is that wisdom values an eternal perspective over temporary comfort. He tells us that it is better to spend time in the house of mourning than in the house of feasting because sorrow has a way of reminding us what truly matters. The wise person is willing to receive correction, reflect on life’s brevity, and allow difficult experiences to produce spiritual growth. Wisdom does not avoid reality; it learns from it.

Solomon also teaches that wisdom trusts God’s sovereignty. Life is filled with both joyful seasons and painful ones, and neither occurs outside of God’s knowledge. Rather than constantly longing for “the good old days” or becoming bitter during hardship, the wise person learns to receive both prosperity and adversity with humility, recognizing that the Lord remains sovereign over them all. Wisdom understands that God’s purposes are often greater than what we can immediately see.

Another mark of wisdom is humility. Solomon warns against both self-righteousness and reckless wickedness. He reminds us that none of us is perfectly righteous and that every one of us has spoken or acted in ways that fall short of God’s standard. The truly wise person is therefore slow to judge others and quick to examine his own heart. Wisdom replaces pride with humility because it understands our continual need for God’s mercy.

Finally, Solomon reminds us that wisdom has limits. Even after all his searching, he confessed that complete understanding remained beyond his reach. His conclusion was not that God had failed to provide enough wisdom, but that humanity continually seeks its own schemes instead of trusting God’s ways. True wisdom therefore begins by acknowledging that God’s understanding is infinitely greater than our own. Rather than leaning on our own reasoning, we learn to trust the One whose wisdom is perfect.

Taken together, these lessons reveal something important. Biblical wisdom is not measured by intelligence, education, or the ability to answer every difficult question. It is revealed in a life that increasingly reflects the character of God. The wise person gains an eternal perspective, trusts God’s sovereignty, walks humbly, receives correction, and depends upon the Lord rather than upon himself. Wisdom is not simply knowing what is true—it is allowing God’s truth to shape the way we think, speak, and live.

James describes this same kind of wisdom when he writes:

“But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy.” (James 3:17)

Notice that James does not define wisdom primarily by knowledge but by character. That is exactly what Solomon has been teaching throughout Ecclesiastes 7. The truly wise person is recognized not merely by what he knows, but by the kind of person he is becoming.

As we continue our journey through Ecclesiastes, this chapter leaves us with an encouraging reminder. God never promised that wisdom would remove every hardship or answer every mystery of life. Instead, He promises something even better. As we fear Him, trust Him, and walk in His ways, He shapes us into people who reflect His character even while living in a broken world. That is the heart of biblical wisdom.

Application:

  • Ask God to develop His wisdom in your character, not just your understanding.
  • Receive both joyful and difficult seasons as opportunities to grow in your trust of the Lord.
  • Welcome loving correction with humility rather than resisting it with pride.
  • Remember that fearing God is wiser than depending upon your own understanding.
  • Seek not only to know God’s truth but to live it faithfully each day.

Closing Prayer:

Father, thank You for the wisdom You have revealed throughout Your Word. Help me not to pursue knowledge alone, but the kind of wisdom that transforms my heart and reflects Your character. Teach me to trust You in every season, to receive correction with humility, and to depend upon Your understanding instead of my own. Continue shaping me into the person You desire me to become, so that my life will honor You in both word and deed. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

All Knowing, Humility, Wise

God’s Wisdom or Our Own? (Ecclesiastes 7:23-29)

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Why do we so often believe our way is better than God’s?

Key Verse:

“Behold, I have found only this, that God made men upright, but they have sought out many schemes.” — Ecclesiastes 7:29 (NASB)

Background Context:

As Solomon concludes Ecclesiastes 7, he reflects on the limits of human wisdom. Despite all his searching, observing, and learning, he honestly admits that some things remain beyond his understanding. Even the wisest man who ever lived recognized that human wisdom has its limits.

Yet after all his searching, Solomon arrives at one clear conclusion. The problem is not with God’s design or His wisdom. God created mankind upright, but humanity has continually chosen to pursue its own plans instead of trusting His.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

Ecclesiastes 7:23-29

   23I tested all this with wisdom, and I said, “I will be wise,” but it was far from me. 24What has been is remote and exceedingly mysterious. Who can discover it? 25I directed my mind to know, to investigate and to seek wisdom and an explanation, and to know the evil of folly and the foolishness of madness. 26And I discovered more bitter than death the woman whose heart is snares and nets, whose hands are chains. One who is pleasing to God will escape from her, but the sinner will be captured by her.

      27“Behold, I have discovered this,” says the Preacher, “adding one thing to another to find an explanation, 28which I am still seeking but have not found. I have found one man among a thousand, but I have not found a woman among all these. 29“Behold, I have found only this, that God made men upright, but they have sought out many devices.”

Reflection on Ecclesiastes 7:23–29:

Solomon begins this passage with a remarkable confession:

“I said, ‘I will be wise,’ but it was far from me. What has been is remote and exceedingly mysterious. Who can discover it?” (Ecclesiastes 7:23–24)

These words remind us that no matter how much knowledge we gain, there will always be things that belong to God alone. Human wisdom is valuable, but it is not limitless. There are questions only the Creator can answer and truths that can only be understood as He reveals them.

That realization should produce humility rather than frustration. We live in a culture that often assumes every problem can be solved through human intelligence, scientific advancement, or personal insight. Solomon certainly valued wisdom, yet he recognized that human understanding can never replace dependence upon God.

After describing his diligent search for wisdom, Solomon reaches this conclusion:

“God made men upright, but they have sought out many schemes.”

The contrast is striking. God created humanity to walk in His ways. His design was good, His wisdom was perfect, and His instructions were given for our good. The problem is not that God failed to provide what we needed. The problem is that people continually seek their own way instead of His.

This pattern began in the Garden of Eden. God gave Adam and Eve everything they needed and one simple command to obey. Yet the serpent tempted them to believe that God’s wisdom was somehow lacking and that they could determine good and evil for themselves. Ever since then, humanity has repeated the same mistake—trusting our own understanding above God’s.

Proverbs echoes this truth:

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5–6)

Notice the contrast. Solomon says humanity has sought out its own schemes, while Proverbs calls us to trust the Lord instead of leaning on our own understanding. One path leads away from God’s wisdom; the other leads us back to it.

Isaiah likewise reminds us:

“‘For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,’ declares the Lord. ‘For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.'” (Isaiah 55:8–9)

Following God requires humility. It means acknowledging that His wisdom is greater than ours, even when we do not fully understand His ways.

As followers of Yeshua, we are called to that same humble trust. Jesus did not come merely to give us more information or better philosophy. He calls us to follow Him, to deny ourselves, and to walk in the ways of our heavenly Father. Rather than inventing our own path, we are invited to walk in the one God has already established.

Ecclesiastes reminds us that wisdom does not begin with believing we have all the answers. It begins with recognizing that God does. The more we trust His wisdom above our own, the straighter our path becomes.

Application:

  • Humbly acknowledge that God’s wisdom is greater than your own.
  • Examine areas where you may be relying on your own understanding instead of God’s Word.
  • Ask the Lord to help you recognize and abandon your own “schemes” in favor of His ways.
  • Trust God’s direction even when you cannot see the whole picture.
  • Seek wisdom with humility, knowing that true understanding begins with trusting the Lord.

Closing Prayer:

Father, thank You for Your perfect wisdom and for creating us to walk in Your ways. Forgive me for the times I have relied on my own understanding instead of trusting You. Help me to lay aside my own plans whenever they conflict with Your will and to walk humbly in the path You have prepared for me. Give me a teachable heart that seeks Your wisdom above my own, and strengthen my faith to trust You even when I do not understand everything You are doing. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

All Knowing, Repenting from Sin, Seeking God, Submitted / Servant, Wise

God Made Us Upright (Ecclesiastes 7:23–29)

Where does the brokenness we see in ourselves and in the world come from?

Key Verse:

“Behold, I have found only this, that God made mankind upright, but they have sought out many schemes.” —Ecclesiastes 7:29 NASB

Background Context:

As Solomon concludes Ecclesiastes 7, he reflects on the limits of human wisdom and the reality of mankind’s sinful condition. Although he has devoted himself to seeking wisdom and understanding, he recognizes that there are mysteries only God fully comprehends. His search ultimately leads him to a profound conclusion: God created humanity upright, but people have continually chosen their own paths instead of God’s.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

Ecclesiastes 7

      23I tested all this with wisdom, and I said, “I will be wise,” but it was far from me. 24What has been is remote and exceedingly mysterious. Who can discover it? 25I directed my mind to know, to investigate, and to seek wisdom and an explanation, and to know the evil of folly and the foolishness of madness. 26And I discovered more bitter than death the woman whose heart is snares and nets, whose hands are chains. One who is pleasing to God will escape from her, but the sinner will be captured by her.

      27“Behold, I have discovered this,” says the Preacher, “adding one thing to another to find an explanation, 28which I am still seeking but have not found. I have found one man among a thousand, but I have not found a woman among all these. 29“Behold, I have found only this, that God made men upright, but they have sought out many devices.”

Reflection on Ecclesiastes 7:23–29:

Throughout Ecclesiastes, Solomon repeatedly reminds us that human wisdom has limits. In this closing section of chapter seven, he admits that despite all his searching, some things remained beyond his understanding. This is a refreshing reminder that even the wisest man who ever lived recognized that God’s wisdom is infinitely greater than his own.

There is great humility in admitting that we do not have all the answers. Our culture often celebrates self-confidence and independence, encouraging us to trust our own understanding. Yet Scripture consistently points us in the opposite direction. Proverbs 3:5–6 tells us:

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”

The more we grow in our knowledge of God, the more we recognize how much we still have to learn.

Solomon’s search eventually brings him to one of the most important conclusions in the entire book:

“God made mankind upright, but they have sought out many schemes.”

This verse beautifully summarizes the story of Scripture. In the beginning, God created mankind in His image and declared His creation to be “very good” (Genesis 1:31). Humanity was designed to live in fellowship with God, reflecting His character and walking in His ways.

The brokenness we experience today did not originate with God.

It originated when mankind chose to depart from His design.

Beginning with Adam and Eve in the garden, people have continually pursued their own wisdom instead of trusting God’s. We devise our own plans, redefine right and wrong according to our preferences, and convince ourselves that our way is better than His. Solomon describes these pursuits as “many schemes”—countless attempts to find fulfillment, purpose, and wisdom apart from the One who created us.

Paul describes this same reality in Romans 3:23:

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

The problem is not that God’s design was flawed.

The problem is that humanity has repeatedly rejected it.

Yet the good news of Scripture is that God did not abandon His creation. Through Yeshua, He has made a way to restore what sin has broken. Paul writes:

“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, this person is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

The Gospel is not merely about forgiveness.

It is about restoration.

God is transforming His people into the likeness of His Son and restoring us to the purpose for which we were created.

As Ecclesiastes 7 comes to a close, Solomon leaves us with both a warning and a hope. The warning is not to trust our own schemes or imagine that we can improve upon God’s design. The hope is that our Creator has not given up on us. His wisdom remains perfect, His ways remain good, and through Christ He invites us back into the life He intended from the beginning.

The wisest path we can take is not creating our own way.

It is humbly walking in His.

Application:

  • Trust God’s wisdom even when you do not fully understand His ways.
  • Examine your life for areas where you may be following your own plans instead of God’s.
  • Remember that sin originates from humanity’s rebellion, not from God’s design.
  • Rejoice that through Yeshua, God is restoring His people to Himself.
  • Commit yourself to walking in God’s ways rather than pursuing your own schemes.

Closing Prayer:

Father, thank You for creating me with purpose and for never giving up on Your creation. Forgive me for the times I have trusted my own understanding instead of Your perfect wisdom. Help me to reject my own schemes and to walk faithfully in the path You have set before me. Thank You for the restoration You offer through Yeshua and for continuing to transform me into His likeness. May my life reflect Your wisdom and bring glory to Your name. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Wise

Walk Humbly Before God (Ecclesiastes 7:15-22)

How do we pursue righteousness without becoming self-righteous?

Key Verse:
“Indeed, there is not a righteous person on earth who continually does good and who never sins.” —Ecclesiastes 7:20 NASB

Background Context:
After teaching that sorrow can produce wisdom and encouraging us to trust God’s sovereignty through every season of life, Solomon now addresses another danger—the tendency toward pride and self-righteousness. He reminds us that while we should pursue righteousness, we must also recognize our own sinful nature and our continual need for God’s grace. Wisdom walks humbly before the Lord, neither trusting in its own goodness nor excusing sinful living.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

Ecclesiastes 7:15–22

    15I have seen everything during my lifetime of futility; there is a righteous man who perishes in his righteousness and there is a wicked man who prolongs his life in his wickedness. 16Do not be excessively righteous and do not be overly wise. Why should you ruin yourself? 17Do not be excessively wicked and do not be a fool. Why should you die before your time? 18It is good that you grasp one thing and also not let go of the other; for the one who fears God comes forth with both of them.

      19Wisdom strengthens a wise man more than ten rulers who are in a city. 20Indeed, there is not a righteous man on earth who continually does good and who never sins. 21Also, do not take seriously all words which are spoken, so that you will not hear your servant cursing you. 22For you also have realized that you likewise have many times cursed others.

Reflection:

One of the more difficult verses in Ecclesiastes is verse 16:

“Do not be excessively righteous and do not be overly wise. Why should you ruin yourself?”

At first glance, it almost sounds as though Solomon is telling us not to pursue righteousness. Yet that cannot be his meaning. Throughout Scripture, God repeatedly calls His people to pursue holiness and obedience.

Instead, Solomon is warning against self-righteousness.

There is a great difference between pursuing God’s righteousness and trusting in our own.

Self-righteousness measures itself against other people.

God’s righteousness measures us against God’s perfect standard.

The Pharisees in Yeshua’s day provide a clear example. They outwardly appeared righteous and carefully observed countless religious traditions, yet Jesus repeatedly rebuked them because their hearts were far from God. They trusted in their own goodness instead of humbly recognizing their need for God’s mercy.

Likewise, Solomon warns against the opposite extreme:

“Do not be excessively wicked, and do not be a fool. Why should you die before your time?” (Ecclesiastes 7:17)

Wisdom rejects both extremes.

It neither boasts in its own righteousness nor embraces sinful living.

Instead, it walks humbly with God.

The heart of this passage comes in verse 20:

“Indeed, there is not a righteous person on earth who continually does good and who never sins.”

This truth echoes throughout Scripture.

Paul writes:

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)

James likewise reminds us:

“For we all stumble in many ways.” (James 3:2)

Recognizing our own weakness should produce humility, not despair.

It reminds us that every one of us depends completely upon God’s grace.

This humility also changes the way we treat others.

Solomon continues by advising us not to take every careless word to heart because we ourselves have spoken hurtful words about others (Ecclesiastes 7:21–22). How easy it is to become offended by someone else’s failures while forgetting our own.

Yeshua taught this same principle when He said:

“Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?” (Matthew 7:3)

Humility enables us to extend grace because we remember how much grace God has shown us.

This does not mean we ignore sin or abandon God’s standards.

Rather, we approach both ourselves and others with the understanding that all of us are continually dependent upon God’s mercy.

The prophet Micah beautifully summarizes this balance:

“He has told you, O man, what is good… to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8)

That is the path of wisdom.

Pursue righteousness.

Reject wickedness.

But never forget that every step you take is possible only because of God’s grace.

As we grow in Christ, we should become increasingly holy—but also increasingly humble.

The closer we draw to God, the more clearly we recognize both His holiness and our need for Him.

Application:

  • Pursue God’s righteousness without becoming self-righteous.
  • Remember that every believer depends daily upon God’s grace.
  • Be quick to extend grace to others, recognizing your own need for mercy.
  • Resist both pride and compromise, walking humbly with God instead.
  • Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal areas where self-righteousness may have taken root in your heart.

Closing Prayer:

Father, thank You for Your incredible grace and mercy toward me. Forgive me for the times I have compared myself to others instead of looking to Your perfect standard. Help me to pursue holiness with humility, recognizing my continual need for Your forgiveness and strength. Teach me to extend grace to others just as You have shown grace to me. May my life reflect both a desire to obey You and a humble dependence upon You each day. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Humility, Purposeful / Intentional, Teachable, Wise

Wise Leaders Welcome Godly Counsel (Exodus 18:13-27)

Are we humble enough to receive wise counsel, even when it means changing the way we have always done things?

Key Verse:
“Now listen to me: I will give you counsel, and God be with you.” —Exodus 18:19a NASB

Background Context:
After rejoicing over God’s faithfulness to Israel, Jethro observed Moses carrying the enormous responsibility of judging every dispute among the people. From morning until evening, Moses alone listened to every case. Seeing the burden this placed on Moses and the people alike, Jethro lovingly offered wise counsel. Rather than becoming defensive, Moses listened, sought God’s will, and implemented a better system of leadership.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

Exodus 18:13-27

      13It came about the next day that Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood about Moses from the morning until the evening. 14Now when Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, “What is this thing that you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge and all the people stand about you from morning until evening?” 15Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God. 16“When they have a dispute, it comes to me, and I judge between a man and his neighbor and make known the statutes of God and His laws.”

Jethro Counsels Moses

      17Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “The thing that you are doing is not good. 18“You will surely wear out, both yourself and these people who are with you, for the task is too heavy for you; you cannot do it alone. 19“Now listen to me: I will give you counsel, and God be with you. You be the people’s representative before God, and you bring the disputes to God, 20then teach them the statutes and the laws, and make known to them the way in which they are to walk and the work they are to do. 21“Furthermore, you shall select out of all the people able men who fear God, men of truth, those who hate dishonest gain; and you shall place these over them as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens. 22“Let them judge the people at all times; and let it be that every major dispute they will bring to you, but every minor dispute they themselves will judge. So it will be easier for you, and they will bear the burden with you. 23“If you do this thing and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure, and all these people also will go to their place in peace.”

      24So Moses listened to his father-in-law and did all that he had said. 25Moses chose able men out of all Israel and made them heads over the people, leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens. 26They judged the people at all times; the difficult dispute they would bring to Moses, but every minor dispute they themselves would judge. 27Then Moses bade his father-in-law farewell, and he went his way into his own land.

Reflection:

One of the most remarkable qualities of Moses in this passage is not his leadership—it is his humility.

Moses was God’s chosen leader. He had witnessed the burning bush, confronted Pharaoh, led Israel through the Red Sea, and spoken directly with the Lord. Yet when Jethro observed his leadership and said, “The thing that you are doing is not good” (Exodus 18:17), Moses did not become offended or defensive.

Instead, he listened.

That takes humility.

Sometimes the hardest advice to receive is not criticism from an enemy, but loving correction from someone who genuinely cares about us. Pride resists correction because it assumes we already know the best way. Humility recognizes that God often uses other people to help us grow.

The book of Proverbs repeatedly teaches this principle.

“Where there is no guidance the people fall, but in abundance of counselors there is victory.” (Proverbs 11:14)

And again:

“Without consultation, plans are frustrated, but with many counselors they succeed.” (Proverbs 15:22)

Wise counsel is one of God’s gifts. It protects us from unnecessary burdens, blind spots, and poor decisions.

Jethro also recognized something Moses did not fully appreciate: no one person is meant to carry every burden alone.

He warned Moses:

“You will surely wear out, both yourself and these people who are with you, for the task is too heavy for you; you cannot do it alone.” (Exodus 18:18)

God never intended healthy leadership to depend upon one exhausted individual doing everything. Instead, Jethro advised Moses to appoint capable, trustworthy men to share the responsibility, while Moses focused on teaching God’s statutes and seeking the Lord on behalf of the people.

This was not abandoning responsibility.

It was stewarding responsibility wisely.

Many of us struggle with this lesson. Sometimes we hesitate to delegate because we think no one else can do the job as well. Other times we simply find it easier to continue carrying every responsibility ourselves. Yet refusing to share responsibilities often leads to exhaustion, frustration, and even discouragement.

The New Testament echoes this same principle. Paul describes the church as one body with many members, each gifted differently for the work God has given them (1 Corinthians 12:12–27). No single believer possesses every gift or carries every responsibility. God designed His people to work together.

Likewise, Galatians 6:2 encourages us:

“Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.”

Healthy leadership is not about doing everything ourselves.

It is about equipping others to serve alongside us.

Notice also that Jethro’s counsel was deeply rooted in God’s priorities. Moses was not simply told to reduce his workload. He was instructed to devote himself to the tasks only he could fulfill—teaching God’s Word, representing the people before God, and helping them understand how to walk according to His instruction.

The same principle applies today. God has entrusted each of us with unique responsibilities. While we should faithfully fulfill those responsibilities, we should also recognize that He often accomplishes His work through the gifts and service of others.

Finally, Moses provides a wonderful example for every leader.

He listened.

He learned.

He changed.

Exodus simply tells us:

“So Moses listened to his father-in-law and did all that he had said.” (Exodus 18:24)

What a beautiful testimony.

May we have hearts that are just as teachable.

Application:

  • Welcome wise, biblical counsel instead of becoming defensive.
  • Recognize that humility is a strength, not a weakness.
  • Ask God to reveal responsibilities that should be shared with others.
  • Encourage and equip others to use the gifts God has given them.
  • Remember that healthy leadership seeks God’s wisdom and works together with His people.

Closing Prayer:

Father, thank You for placing wise people in my life who encourage, challenge, and strengthen me. Give me a humble heart that welcomes godly counsel and is willing to change when needed. Help me not to carry burdens You intended to be shared, and teach me to trust others as we work together for Your kingdom. May my leadership always reflect humility, wisdom, and dependence upon You. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Hope, Humility, Purposeful / Intentional, Unteachable / Foolish, Wise

Seeing God’s Hand in Every Season (Ecclesiastes 7:7–14)

How often do we find ourselves wishing we could go back to the “good old days” instead of trusting God with the season we are in today?

Key Verse:
“In the day of prosperity be happy, but in the day of adversity consider—God has made the one as well as the other so that man will not discover anything that will be after him.” —Ecclesiastes 7:14 NASB

Background Context:
In Ecclesiastes 7:1–6, Solomon taught that wisdom is often gained through difficulty and sorrow rather than comfort and ease. Now he continues developing that theme by addressing patience, pride, adversity, prosperity, and our tendency to long for the past.

Rather than teaching us how to avoid difficult seasons, Solomon teaches us how to respond to them with wisdom and trust in God.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

Ecclesiastes 7:7–14

   7For oppression makes a wise man mad,
And a bribe corrupts the heart.

      8The end of a matter is better than its beginning;
Patience of spirit is better than haughtiness of spirit.

      9Do not be eager in your heart to be angry,
For anger resides in the bosom of fools.

      10Do not say, “Why is it that the former days were better than these?”
For it is not from wisdom that you ask about this.

      11Wisdom along with an inheritance is good
And an advantage to those who see the sun.

      12For wisdom is protection just as money is protection,
But the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the lives of its possessors.

      13Consider the work of God,
For who is able to straighten what He has bent?

      14In the day of prosperity be happy,
But in the day of adversity consider—
God has made the one as well as the other
So that man will not discover anything that will be after him.

Reflection on Ecclesiastes 7:7–14:

Solomon begins this section by warning about attitudes that can lead us away from wisdom. He cautions against corruption, impatience, and pride. These are often revealed most clearly when life does not go according to our plans.

One of the most practical verses in this passage is Ecclesiastes 7:10:

“Do not say, ‘Why is it that the former days were better than these?’ For it is not from wisdom that you ask about this.”

Most of us have probably fallen into this trap at some point. We look back on an earlier season of life and remember the good parts while forgetting many of the challenges that existed at the time. We convince ourselves that things used to be better and that our best days are behind us.

Solomon calls this perspective unwise.

The problem is not that the past contained blessings. The problem is that constantly longing for the past can prevent us from seeing what God is doing in the present. When our focus is fixed on yesterday, we often miss the opportunities and blessings God has placed before us today.

This does not mean every season of life is equally enjoyable. Some seasons are marked by prosperity, while others bring hardship, loss, or uncertainty. Yet Solomon reminds us that God remains sovereign through them all.

Verse 14 tells us, “In the day of prosperity be happy, but in the day of adversity consider—God has made the one as well as the other.”

That can be a difficult truth to accept. We naturally welcome prosperity and resist adversity. Yet Scripture repeatedly teaches that God can use both for His purposes.

James 1:2–4 encourages believers to consider it joy when facing trials because those trials produce endurance and spiritual maturity. Likewise, Romans 8:28 reminds us that God works all things together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.

Prosperity often teaches us gratitude.

Adversity often teaches us dependence.

Both can draw us closer to God if we respond with faith.

Solomon is not suggesting that we enjoy suffering or seek hardship. Rather, he is encouraging us to recognize that God remains at work regardless of our circumstances. We may not always understand His purposes, but we can trust His character.

This perspective leads to contentment. The Apostle Paul expressed a similar lesson when he wrote that he had learned to be content in whatever circumstances he faced (Philippians 4:11–13). Whether experiencing abundance or need, Paul trusted the Lord.

Ecclesiastes 7 reminds us that wisdom does not come from controlling every circumstance. Wisdom comes from trusting God in every circumstance.

When life is going well, we should thank God and rejoice in His blessings.

When life is difficult, we should seek God, learn from what He is teaching us, and trust that He remains in control.

The same God who walks with us through seasons of prosperity is also present during seasons of adversity.

Rather than longing for the past or fearing the future, wisdom calls us to trust Him today.

Application:

  • Thank God for the blessings of your current season.
  • Resist the temptation to dwell on an idealized version of the past.
  • Trust that God can use both prosperity and adversity for His purposes.
  • Seek wisdom and spiritual growth during difficult seasons.
  • Focus on God’s faithfulness today rather than worrying about tomorrow.

Closing Prayer:

Father, thank You for being faithful in every season of life. Help me to trust You not only during times of prosperity but also during times of adversity. Guard me from constantly longing for the past or worrying about the future. Give me wisdom to see Your hand at work in my current circumstances and faith to trust Your purposes even when I do not fully understand them. Thank You for Your constant presence and care. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Unteachable / Foolish, Wise

Sorrow Can Make Us Wiser (Ecclesiastes 7:1-6)

Why do some of life’s most valuable lessons often come through seasons we would never choose for ourselves?

Key Verse:
“It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, because that is the end of every person, and the living takes it to heart.” —Ecclesiastes 7:2 NASB

Background Context:
In Ecclesiastes 6, Solomon reflected on the emptiness of pursuing satisfaction apart from God. Wealth, success, honor, and long life cannot fill the deepest needs of the human heart.

Now in Ecclesiastes 7:1–6, Solomon presents a series of statements that seem surprising at first. He compares sorrow to laughter, mourning to feasting, and even speaks of the value of reflecting on death. Yet beneath these difficult sayings lies an important lesson about wisdom, character, and spiritual growth.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

Ecclesiastes 7:1-6

Wisdom and Folly Contrasted

      1A good name is better than a good ointment,
And the day of one’s death is better than the day of one’s birth.

      2It is better to go to a house of mourning
Than to go to a house of feasting,
Because that is the end of every man,
And the living takes it to heart.

      3Sorrow is better than laughter,
For when a face is sad a heart may be happy.

      4The mind of the wise is in the house of mourning,
While the mind of fools is in the house of pleasure.

      5It is better to listen to the rebuke of a wise man
Than for one to listen to the song of fools.

      6For as the crackling of thorn bushes under a pot,
So is the laughter of the fool;
And this too is futility.

Reflection on Ecclesiastes 7:1–6:
At first glance, this passage can feel uncomfortable.

Solomon says:

  • a good name is better than costly perfume
  • the day of death is better than the day of birth
  • mourning is better than feasting
  • sorrow is better than laughter

These statements seem completely opposite to how most people naturally think.

But Solomon is not teaching that joy is bad or that sadness is inherently good.

Rather, he is teaching that difficult experiences often teach lessons that comfort and celebration cannot.

Consider the contrast between a funeral and a party.

A party is enjoyable.
A funeral is painful.

Yet Solomon says it is better to go to a house of mourning because it causes people to reflect on what truly matters.

Funerals remind us:

  • life is temporary
  • time is limited
  • relationships matter
  • eternity is real

They force us to ask questions that are easy to avoid during seasons of comfort.

In this sense, sorrow can become a teacher.

Many believers can look back and identify seasons of loss, disappointment, or hardship that ultimately drew them closer to God.

The experience itself was not pleasant.

But the spiritual growth that came from it was valuable.

This theme appears throughout Scripture.

Romans 5:3–4 teaches that suffering produces perseverance, character, and hope.

James 1:2–4 reminds believers that trials help develop spiritual maturity.

God often uses difficult seasons to shape us in ways that comfort never could.

Solomon also warns about the danger of surrounding ourselves only with voices that tell us what we want to hear.

“The rebuke of a wise man is better than the song of fools.”

Most people prefer praise over correction.

Yet loving correction often provides more benefit than empty compliments.

A wise friend who speaks truth may help us grow more than a hundred people who simply tell us what we want to hear.

Solomon compares the laughter of fools to the crackling of thorns under a pot.

It makes noise.
It flares briefly.

But it produces little lasting value.

In contrast, wisdom may sometimes come through uncomfortable conversations, painful experiences, and difficult truths.

This passage challenges a common assumption.

We often assume that the best seasons of life are the easiest ones.

Yet many of the qualities God values most:

  • humility
  • perseverance
  • compassion
  • dependence on Him
  • wisdom

are often developed through adversity.

That does not mean we should seek suffering.

Nor does it mean we should celebrate pain for its own sake.

Rather, it means we can trust that God is able to use even difficult seasons for our good and His purposes.

Solomon reminds us that wisdom often grows in places where comfort would rather not go.

And when we allow God to teach us through those seasons, hardship can become a tool He uses to shape us into the people He desires us to be.

Application:

  • Allow difficult seasons to draw you closer to God rather than away from Him.
  • Reflect regularly on what truly matters in light of eternity.
  • Receive wise correction with humility rather than resisting it.
  • Remember that spiritual growth often comes through challenges and trials.
  • Trust that God can use hardship to develop wisdom and character in your life.

Closing Prayer:
Father, help me to trust You during difficult seasons and to learn the lessons You desire to teach me. Give me wisdom to see beyond temporary circumstances and to focus on what truly matters. Help me receive correction with humility and grow through every trial I face. Thank You for using both joyful and difficult seasons to shape me into the person You are calling me to be. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Disobeying, Rebelling Against, Ignoring God, Psalms, Submitted / Servant, Wise

The Beginning of Wisdom (Psalm 53)

What happens when people choose to live as though God does not exist?

Key Verse:
“The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God.’” —Psalm 53:1 NASB

Background Context:
Psalms 53 closely parallels Psalm 14 and presents a sobering assessment of humanity apart from God. David reflects on the condition of people who reject God’s authority and choose their own path rather than His.

This psalm is not merely addressing intellectual disbelief. It is describing the practical consequences of living as though God has no rightful place in our lives.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

Psalm 53

Folly and Wickedness of Men.

For the choir director; according to Mahalath. A Maskil of David.

1The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God,”
They are corrupt, and have committed abominable injustice;
There is no one who does good.

      2God has looked down from heaven upon the sons of men
To see if there is anyone who understands,
Who seeks after God.

      3Every one of them has turned aside; together they have become corrupt;
There is no one who does good, not even one.

      4Have the workers of wickedness no knowledge,
Who eat up My people as though they ate bread
And have not called upon God?

      5There they were in great fear where no fear had been;
For God scattered the bones of him who encamped against you;
You put them to shame, because God had rejected them.

      6Oh, that the salvation of Israel would come out of Zion!
When God restores His captive people,
Let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad.

Reflection on Psalm 53:
David begins with one of the most well-known statements in Scripture:

“The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God.’”

This verse is often applied only to atheism, but David’s point reaches further than intellectual belief.

The fool is not merely someone who claims God does not exist.

The fool is someone who lives as though God does not matter.

A person may acknowledge God with their lips while rejecting His authority through their choices.

Throughout Scripture, wisdom begins with reverence for God. Conversely, folly begins when people place themselves at the center instead of their Creator.

David describes the result:

“They are corrupt, and have committed abominable injustice; there is no one who does good.”

This does not mean every person is as evil as possible. Rather, it highlights the universal problem of sin.

When humanity turns away from God, corruption follows.

Why?

Because God is the source of truth, righteousness, and moral authority.

When people reject Him, they are left to define right and wrong according to their own desires.

This is exactly what we see throughout history.

When people abandon God’s standards, selfishness and sin inevitably grow.

The problem is not complicated.

God created the world.
God established what is good and what is evil.
God gave His instruction so that people could walk in His ways.

Yeshua summarized God’s instruction in Matthew 22:37–40 by teaching that the greatest commandments are to love God and love our neighbor.

When people reject God, they eventually reject His definition of love as well.

The result is a world increasingly shaped by self-interest rather than obedience.

David then says that God looks down from heaven to see whether anyone understands or seeks after Him.

His conclusion is sobering:

“Every one of them has turned aside.”

This theme appears again in Romans 3:10–12, where Paul quotes this psalm to emphasize humanity’s need for salvation.

The message is clear:

None of us can claim righteousness on our own.

All have sinned.
All need God’s grace.

Yet Psalm 53 does not end in despair.

David looks forward to God’s salvation:

“Oh, that the salvation of Israel would come out of Zion!”

This points toward hope.

Humanity’s problem is real.

But God has provided an answer.

The salvation David longed for ultimately finds its fulfillment in Yeshua the Messiah.

Psalm 53 reminds us that every person must choose a path.

Scripture repeatedly presents this choice.

Deuteronomy 11:26–28 describes a choice between blessing and curse.

Matthew 7:13–14 describes a broad road leading to destruction and a narrow path leading to life.

The question is not simply whether we acknowledge God’s existence.

The question is whether we are willing to follow Him.

And that choice is not made only once.

Every day we decide whether we will walk in His ways or pursue our own.

The good news is that God continues to call people to Himself.

He offers forgiveness, restoration, and life through Messiah.

The fool rejects God and follows his own way.

The wise person trusts God and walks in His.

Application:

  • Examine whether your daily choices reflect submission to God’s authority.
  • Remember that wisdom begins with reverence for God.
  • Guard against defining right and wrong according to personal preference.
  • Choose God’s path even when the world’s path appears easier or more popular.
  • Thank God for the salvation He provides through Yeshua.

Closing Prayer:
Father, thank You for revealing Your truth and showing us the path that leads to life. Help me not only to acknowledge You with my words, but to follow You with my life. Guard me from the folly of trusting my own wisdom above Yours. Give me a heart that seeks You daily and walks faithfully in Your ways. Thank You for the salvation You provide through Yeshua. In His name, Amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Contentment, Purposeful / Intentional, Seeking God, Submitted / Servant, Wise

Nothing Satisfies Apart from God (Ecclesiastes 6)

What if you achieved everything you ever wanted and still felt empty inside?

Key Verse:
“There is an evil which I have seen under the sun and it is prevalent among men—a man to whom God has given riches and wealth and honor so that his soul lacks nothing of all that he desires; yet God has not empowered him to eat from them…” —Ecclesiastes 6:1–2 NASB

Background Context:
In Ecclesiastes 5, Solomon warned about the love of money and concluded by encouraging contentment in God’s provision. He reminded us that the ability to enjoy life and receive daily blessings is itself a gift from God.

Now in Ecclesiastes 6, Solomon takes that lesson a step further. He examines the tragedy of a person who possesses wealth, honor, success, and even long life, yet never experiences true satisfaction.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

Ecclesiastes 6

The Futility of Life

     1There is an evil which I have seen under the sun and it is prevalent among men— 2a man to whom God has given riches and wealth and honor so that his soul lacks nothing of all that he desires; yet God has not empowered him to eat from them, for a foreigner enjoys them. This is vanity and a severe affliction. 3If a man fathers a hundred children and lives many years, however many they be, but his soul is not satisfied with good things and he does not even have a proper burial, then I say, “Better the miscarriage than he, 4for it comes in futility and goes into obscurity; and its name is covered in obscurity. 5“It never sees the sun and it never knows anything; it is better off than he. 6“Even if the other man lives a thousand years twice and does not enjoy good things—do not all go to one place?”

      7All a man’s labor is for his mouth and yet the appetite is not satisfied. 8For what advantage does the wise man have over the fool? What advantage does the poor man have, knowing how to walk before the living? 9What the eyes see is better than what the soul desires. This too is futility and a striving after wind.

      10Whatever exists has already been named, and it is known what man is; for he cannot dispute with him who is stronger than he is. 11For there are many words which increase futility. What then is the advantage to a man? 12For who knows what is good for a man during his lifetime, during the few years of his futile life? He will spend them like a shadow. For who can tell a man what will be after him under the sun?

Reflection on Ecclesiastes 6:
One of the greatest lies people believe is that satisfaction is always just beyond the next achievement.

If only:

  • I had a little more money.
  • I received that promotion.
  • I owned that house.
  • I achieved that goal.
  • I gained that recognition.

Then I would finally be satisfied.

Solomon had the opportunity to test that theory more thoroughly than perhaps anyone else who ever lived.

He possessed:

  • wealth
  • power
  • influence
  • honor
  • opportunity

Yet his conclusion is sobering.

A person may possess everything the world values and still be unable to enjoy it.

This is the tragedy Solomon describes.

The problem is not the blessings themselves.

Wealth is not evil.
Long life is not evil.
Success is not evil.

The problem is that none of these things were ever designed to satisfy the deepest needs of the human heart.

Solomon describes a man who lacks nothing that he desires, yet still does not enjoy what he possesses.

In a sense, he has everything.

Yet he has nothing.

This reminds us that possessing blessings is not the same as enjoying blessings.

Earlier Solomon taught that the ability to enjoy God’s gifts is itself a gift from God. Here he shows the opposite reality: a person can spend a lifetime accumulating and never truly experience contentment.

The chapter then becomes even more striking.

Solomon suggests that a person could live many years, have many children, and enjoy every outward sign of success, yet still remain unsatisfied.

Why?

Because the human heart was created for something greater than earthly abundance.

God created us for relationship with Him.

This is why material success cannot fill a spiritual need.

The appetite always wants more.

The desire always wanders toward the next thing.

Ecclesiastes 6:9 says:

“What the eyes see is better than what the soul desires.”

In other words, constantly chasing what we do not have often prevents us from appreciating what God has already given.

This theme appears throughout Scripture.

Philippians 4:11–13 teaches contentment in every circumstance.

Psalm 16:11 declares that fullness of joy is found in God’s presence.

Yeshua asks in Matthew 16:26:

“What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?”

The answer is obvious.

Nothing.

Because nothing in this world can replace what is found in God.

The chapter concludes by reminding us of human limitations.

We do not fully know the future.
We do not control tomorrow.
We cannot determine what will ultimately satisfy us apart from the One who created us.

This is where Solomon’s observations point us.

The answer is not:

  • more possessions
  • more accomplishments
  • more status

The answer is God.

Without Him, even abundance can feel empty.

With Him, even ordinary blessings can become a source of joy, gratitude, and contentment.

Ecclesiastes 6 reminds us that the deepest longing of the human heart is not for more things.

It is for the God who made us.

Application:

  • Examine whether you are looking to earthly success for satisfaction that only God can provide.
  • Practice gratitude for the blessings God has already placed in your life.
  • Guard against the constant pursuit of “more.”
  • Remember that blessings are gifts, but God Himself is the greatest gift.
  • Seek your fulfillment first in your relationship with God.

Closing Prayer:
Father, help me not to look to possessions, accomplishments, or success for the satisfaction that only You can provide. Teach me to find my joy and contentment in You. Thank You for every blessing You have given, but even more for Your presence in my life. Help me to seek You above all else and to trust that true fulfillment is found in You alone. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Contentment, Greed, Money / Finances / Wealth, Peace / Rest, Unteachable / Foolish, Wise

Be Content with What God Provides (Ecclesiastes 5:18-20)

Are you so focused on what you do not have that you forget to enjoy what God has already given?

Key Verse:
“Here is what I have seen to be good and fitting: to eat, to drink and enjoy oneself in all one’s labor…” —Ecclesiastes 5:18 NASB

Background Context:
In Ecclesiastes 5:8–17, Solomon reflects on the emptiness of loving money and the endless striving that often accompanies wealth and possessions. He observes that earthly gain alone cannot provide lasting peace or satisfaction.

Now in Ecclesiastes 5:18–20, Solomon shifts toward a more hopeful conclusion, emphasizing that true enjoyment and contentment come not from endless accumulation, but from receiving life and daily blessings as gifts from God.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

Ecclesiastes 5:18–20

      18Here is what I have seen to be good and fitting: to eat, to drink and enjoy oneself in all one’s labor in which he toils under the sun during the few years of his life which God has given him; for this is his reward. 19Furthermore, as for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, He has also empowered him to eat from them and to receive his reward and rejoice in his labor; this is the gift of God. 20For he will not often consider the years of his life, because God keeps him occupied with the gladness of his heart.

Reflection on Ecclesiastes 5:18–20:
After describing the frustration and anxiety tied to wealth, Solomon pauses and says:

“Here is what I have seen to be good and fitting…”

This marks an important shift.

Instead of continuing to focus on what is empty “under the sun,” Solomon points toward something good:
receiving life as a gift from God.

He mentions simple things:

  • eating
  • drinking
  • enjoying one’s labor

These are ordinary parts of life.

And that is exactly the point.

Contentment is often not found in extraordinary achievement or endless accumulation, but in gratefully receiving the daily blessings God already provides.

This is deeply important because the human heart naturally drifts toward dissatisfaction.

People often believe:

  • “I’ll be content when…”
  • “I’ll enjoy life once I achieve…”
  • “I’ll finally have peace when I possess more…”

But Solomon repeatedly shows that endless striving does not satisfy.

Instead, he says that the ability to enjoy life itself is a gift from God.

This is a major theme in Ecclesiastes.

Not everyone who possesses wealth actually enjoys it. Some spend their lives accumulating while remaining anxious, restless, or discontent.

But the person who receives life gratefully from God experiences something different.

This does not mean life becomes perfect or free from hardship.

Rather, it means that joy is no longer dependent entirely on circumstances.

Solomon says:
“For he will not often consider the years of his life, because God keeps him occupied with the gladness of his heart.”

This is a beautiful picture.

A grateful heart is not consumed constantly with frustration, comparison, regret, or endless striving. Instead, it learns to enjoy the gifts God gives in the present season.

This connects closely with other Scriptures.

Philippians 4:11–13 speaks of learning contentment in every circumstance.

James 1:17 reminds us that every good and perfect gift comes from God.

True contentment is not rooted in having everything we want.

It is rooted in trusting God and gratefully receiving what He provides.

This passage challenges us to slow down and ask:

Are we constantly chasing what is next?
Or are we learning to thank God for what He has already given?

Because a life consumed by striving will rarely experience peace.

But a life centered on gratitude can find joy even in ordinary moments.

Solomon reminds us that:

  • work can be meaningful
  • daily provision can be joyful
  • and life itself can be received as a gift

when it is viewed through the perspective of God’s goodness.

Application:

  • Practice gratitude for the daily blessings God has already given you.
  • Guard your heart against endless striving and comparison.
  • Learn to enjoy simple gifts and ordinary moments.
  • Remember that true contentment comes from God, not possessions.
  • Trust God to provide what you truly need for each season of life.

Closing Prayer:
Father, thank You for the many gifts and blessings You provide each day. Teach me to live with gratitude and contentment rather than endless striving. Help me to enjoy the life You have given and to trust You fully in every season. Guard my heart from comparison and dissatisfaction, and fill me with joy rooted in Your goodness. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.