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Posts Tagged ‘Ecclesiastes 04’

O God, thou hast taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works. Now also when I am old and greyheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come. – Psalm 71:17-18

Discovering many strong desires turn out not so desirable, finding when all is said and done more is said than done, a new pain here, a lack of energy there, and there’s a tendency to sit out, turn inward, lose interest.

Even Solomon, wisest man ever, said in his later years,

Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished.(Eccl 4:13).

But King David discovered a task and a cause that kept him going even through old age — showing God’s strength to the next generation.

Turning attention from our puny little goals to God’s plan provides an unending source of drive and energy!

As a young man I met an elderly couple (at the time I thought they were elderly but not so much now ) who inspired me. They were passing through to the mission field at age 60 — they had discovered the fountain of life, Jesus, and purposed to re-fire instead of retire.

Sound bite: Re-Fire instead of Re-Tire
Prayer: “Father, yours is a Lifetime calling — enjoying you, showing your strength and power. Thank you for that wonderful calling and grace to live it! Amen!”

— fritz@langgang.com

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At a local scooter club I heard a safety saying, “Dress for the fall, not the ride”. I took it to advise being prepared for difficulties not just the enjoyment. Today my daily Bible reading surfaced a scripture with a similar message but in a larger context.

Two are better than one … if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up … and a threefold cord is not quickly broken. — Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

My culture values independence and, certainly, we all are sometimes forced to stand alone in difficulty but all too often we do so unnecessarily and to our peril.

We dress our lives, so to speak, for the ride and don’t consider the fall. This is why it is essential to pick (and be) a good spouse, one with godly character who will follow through with the vow to love for better and for worse. This is why it is important to actively seek a good church and a good pastor, people who can say the hard things without offending. This is why it is essential to be and actively seek friends with godly character, who can give the right kind of encouragement. All three (spouse, community, friends) together should be sought for strength like a three strand cord, holding should any single strand fail. Going it alone easily ends in disaster!

Anyone can follow Christ when living is easy. Don’t wait for a storm, take the easy times to prepare for when it gets hard — “Dress for the fall not the ride.”

— fritz@langgang.com

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