Frank's Bible Blog

Ecclesiastes 11-- Whose the Center of Your Universe?

 

Unfortunately we see it all the time. From athletes to Hollywood celebrities to the guy next door, we live amongst people whose worlds only revolve around themselves. They know little to nothing about generosity.

Then there are the politicians who say we need to look out for each other and stop being so greedy--but when their own finances are revealed, we discover that they made millions but only gave away a couple thousand dollars.

We each have a fundamental choice that we must make. Are we going to live for ourselves exclusively or are we going to live for God and others?

It is one thing to talk about being our brother's keeper; it is quite another thing to do it. This is the focus of Ecclesiastes 11 where we are told that we need to be generous to others (vv1-8) and not make excuses for not giving.

Solomon, who spent years acquiring things for himself, finally realizes the shallowness of stuff and the importance of helping others. God does reward us when we give (v1) but that reward is not always immediate. Solomon also encourages us to give when we have the opportunity to do so and not delay (v2) because we do not know what might come in the future that would prevent us from giving.

Self-focused living is not only about what we do with our money and possessions, but whether or not we allow God to direct us. "Walk in the ways of your heart, and in the sight of your eyes," Solomon says, "but know that for all these God will bring you into judgment" (v9). When we live for ourselves we only end up bringing grief upon ourselves (v10).

Today you have a choice. Who are you going to make the center of your universe?
_____________________
Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Unfortunately we see it all the time. From athletes to Hollywood celebrities to the guy next door, we live amongst people whose worlds only revolve around themselves. They know little to nothing about generosity.

Then there are the politicians who say we need to look out for each other and stop being so greedy--but when their own finances are revealed, we discover that they made millions but only gave away a couple thousand dollars.

We each have a fundamental choice that we must make. Are we going to live for ourselves exclusively or are we going to live for God and others?

It is one thing to talk about being our brother's keeper; it is quite another thing to do it. This is the focus of Ecclesiastes 11 where we are told that we need to be generous to others (vv1-8) and not make excuses for not giving.

Solomon, who spent years acquiring things for himself, finally realizes the shallowness of stuff and the importance of helping others. God does reward us when we give (v1) but that reward is not always immediate. Solomon also encourages us to give when we have the opportunity to do so and not delay (v2) because we do not know what might come in the future that would prevent us from giving.

Self-focused living is not only about what we do with our money and possessions, but whether or not we allow God to direct us. "Walk in the ways of your heart, and in the sight of your eyes," Solomon says, "but know that for all these God will bring you into judgment" (v9). When we live for ourselves we only end up bringing grief upon ourselves (v10).

Today you have a choice. Who are you going to make the center of your universe?
_____________________
Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Ecclesiastes 10-- Done in by the Little Things

 

The world watched with amazement as swimmer Michael Phelps took home a record eight gold medals at the 2008 Olympics. Before Phelps was even out of the pool, his agent's cell phone began to ring non-stop with endorsement offers for the 23-year old super star. Those endorsements evolved into what some estimate as $100 million or so in Phelps' pocket.

But a lot of that might have disappeared thanks to a moment of "folly" at a college house party when Phelps was photographed apparently using marijuana.

The words of Solomon in Ecclesiastes 10 ring loud: "Dead flies putrefy the perfumer's ointment, and cause it to give off a foul odor; so does a little folly to one respected for wisdom and honor" (v1).

One moment of "folly" can undo years of respect--not just for the super stars but for each one of us. So how do we avoid getting tripped up in life? Here are five areas in this chapter that may seem "small" but can come back to haunt us if we are not careful.

1) How we respond to authority and power, both ours and others (vv4-7).

2) How we respond to risks in life (vv8-11).

3) How we talk to others (vv 12-14).

4) How we view work and what we hold as our personal work ethic (vv15-19).

5) Whether or not we are engaged in gossip or negative discussion of others (v20).

While these may not seem like big issues, any one of these areas can entangle us. Let's be vigilant to protect our character, reputation, and most of all our Christian testimony. One careless moment can erase years of hard work.
_____________________
Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

The world watched with amazement as swimmer Michael Phelps took home a record eight gold medals at the 2008 Olympics. Before Phelps was even out of the pool, his agent's cell phone began to ring non-stop with endorsement offers for the 23-year old super star. Those endorsements evolved into what some estimate as $100 million or so in Phelps' pocket.

But a lot of that might have disappeared thanks to a moment of "folly" at a college house party when Phelps was photographed apparently using marijuana.

The words of Solomon in Ecclesiastes 10 ring loud: "Dead flies putrefy the perfumer's ointment, and cause it to give off a foul odor; so does a little folly to one respected for wisdom and honor" (v1).

One moment of "folly" can undo years of respect--not just for the super stars but for each one of us. So how do we avoid getting tripped up in life? Here are five areas in this chapter that may seem "small" but can come back to haunt us if we are not careful.

1) How we respond to authority and power, both ours and others (vv4-7).

2) How we respond to risks in life (vv8-11).

3) How we talk to others (vv 12-14).

4) How we view work and what we hold as our personal work ethic (vv15-19).

5) Whether or not we are engaged in gossip or negative discussion of others (v20).

While these may not seem like big issues, any one of these areas can entangle us. Let's be vigilant to protect our character, reputation, and most of all our Christian testimony. One careless moment can erase years of hard work.
_____________________
Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Ecclesiastes 5-- Your Money and Your Mouth

 

There are two things that can get us into quick trouble--our mouth and a love for "stuff."

Everyday I hear or see numerous advertisements either encouraging credit card applications or telling how they can fix your credit card problems. Here in the U.S. many people have taken the "I have to have it now" approach to things rather than asking if they can afford it or not. Materialism has led to all kinds of social and political ills.

And then there is our mouth.

Every one of us knows what it is like for our mouths to get us into trouble! Ecclesiastes 5 provides an important lesson on the need to control both our mouth and desire for "stuff." So many times we are quick to speak but we don't listen--and we miss out. Even when we go to church we often don't listen. Solomon encourages us that when we go to God's house we should "draw near to hear" (v1). Guarding our mouth is important every day. We should not be so quick to speak that we don't think through what we are saying (v2). Rather, we should fulfill our promises (vv4-5) and not make excuses when we do say things we shouldn't.

The other subject this chapter explores is that of materialism. One of the most misquoted verses in the Bible is the verse in James that says "the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil." Many say that "money is the root of all evil." Solomon makes it clear here, just as James did in his epistle, that the issue isn't money or material things, rather it is our hearts and where we place our love and focus.

When we love things we will never be satisfied (vv10-11) and we will spend our lives laboring in vain (vv12-17). When our focus is on the Lord and pleasing Him with our work, then we can be satisfied with what God brings our way because we see it as "the gift of God" (v19). We have a promise that our work will have significance "for he will not dwell unduly on the days of his life because God keeps him busy with the joy of his heart." Our work becomes our joy because we are doing it for the Lord.

Let's take to heart the two great teachings of this chapter--be careful with our words and keep our hearts focused on God rather than the "stuff" around us.

_____________________

Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

There are two things that can get us into quick trouble--our mouth and a love for "stuff."

Everyday I hear or see numerous advertisements either encouraging credit card applications or telling how they can fix your credit card problems. Here in the U.S. many people have taken the "I have to have it now" approach to things rather than asking if they can afford it or not. Materialism has led to all kinds of social and political ills.

And then there is our mouth.

Every one of us knows what it is like for our mouths to get us into trouble! Ecclesiastes 5 provides an important lesson on the need to control both our mouth and desire for "stuff." So many times we are quick to speak but we don't listen--and we miss out. Even when we go to church we often don't listen. Solomon encourages us that when we go to God's house we should "draw near to hear" (v1). Guarding our mouth is important every day. We should not be so quick to speak that we don't think through what we are saying (v2). Rather, we should fulfill our promises (vv4-5) and not make excuses when we do say things we shouldn't.

The other subject this chapter explores is that of materialism. One of the most misquoted verses in the Bible is the verse in James that says "the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil." Many say that "money is the root of all evil." Solomon makes it clear here, just as James did in his epistle, that the issue isn't money or material things, rather it is our hearts and where we place our love and focus.

When we love things we will never be satisfied (vv10-11) and we will spend our lives laboring in vain (vv12-17). When our focus is on the Lord and pleasing Him with our work, then we can be satisfied with what God brings our way because we see it as "the gift of God" (v19). We have a promise that our work will have significance "for he will not dwell unduly on the days of his life because God keeps him busy with the joy of his heart." Our work becomes our joy because we are doing it for the Lord.

Let's take to heart the two great teachings of this chapter--be careful with our words and keep our hearts focused on God rather than the "stuff" around us.

_____________________

Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Ecclesiastes 4-- Championship Living

 

You see it every so often in professional sports--the hotshot rookie who thinks he is God's gift to the sport and who thinks he knows it all.

It usually doesn't take long, however, for these athletes to get a rude awakening and a heavy dose of reality. They quickly discover that they are one among many on the team and that their coaches actually do know more than they do. If they don't make this discovery, they usually don't last long.

The legendary basketball coach of the UCLA Bruins, John Wooden, said "Individuals win trophies but teams win championships."

There are two fundamental necessities to winning both in sports and in life--teamwork and teachability. Ecclesiastes 4 drives these points home. There are those who labor alone and only for their personal gain (v8) but this brings exceptional emptiness. When we connect with others, however, there is synergy, encouragement, support and strength. We are stronger as an individual when we connect with a team (vv9-12).

Someone who is teachable, even though he or she may not have the experience of some who are older, is in a much better position (vv13-14). We must never get to the point in our lives where we "will be admonished no more" (v13). All of us have more to learn. None of us have arrived yet.

So, if you want a rich and fulfilled life, become a team player who never stops learning and who consistently allows others to speak into your life. That's the formula that wins championships!

_____________________

Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

You see it every so often in professional sports--the hotshot rookie who thinks he is God's gift to the sport and who thinks he knows it all.

It usually doesn't take long, however, for these athletes to get a rude awakening and a heavy dose of reality. They quickly discover that they are one among many on the team and that their coaches actually do know more than they do. If they don't make this discovery, they usually don't last long.

The legendary basketball coach of the UCLA Bruins, John Wooden, said "Individuals win trophies but teams win championships."

There are two fundamental necessities to winning both in sports and in life--teamwork and teachability. Ecclesiastes 4 drives these points home. There are those who labor alone and only for their personal gain (v8) but this brings exceptional emptiness. When we connect with others, however, there is synergy, encouragement, support and strength. We are stronger as an individual when we connect with a team (vv9-12).

Someone who is teachable, even though he or she may not have the experience of some who are older, is in a much better position (vv13-14). We must never get to the point in our lives where we "will be admonished no more" (v13). All of us have more to learn. None of us have arrived yet.

So, if you want a rich and fulfilled life, become a team player who never stops learning and who consistently allows others to speak into your life. That's the formula that wins championships!

_____________________

Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Ecclesiastes 1-- When Having It All Just Isn't Enough

 

Thanks to the advent of reality television, we now get insights into all kinds of people's lives, including famous ones. Now, I'm not a big reality TV fan by any means, but I do catch some segments of different shows every once in a while.

I remember one that followed the day in and day out life of a certain celebrity. As I watched the clips from a couple different episodes, I remember thinking, "Boy, she sure seems empty. She has money and people at her beckoned call to do whatever she wants, but she looks lost and alone." 

A couple years later she turned up dead in a hotel room, the result of a bad combination of prescription drugs. Apparently she was going to multiple doctors to get more and more kinds of medicine to help with her emotional pain.

You don't have to be rich and famous to feel like your life is trapped in a never ending rut. It can, and does, happen to anyone.

That is the message of Ecclesiastes chapter one, and really the entire book of Ecclesiastes. Solomon, who definitely "had it all," exclaimed, "Look, I have attained greatness, and have gained more wisdom than all who were before me in Jerusalem" (v16). Even that, however, was not enough as he went on to say, "For in much wisdom is much grief, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow" (v18).

This is what happens when our pursuits are shallow.

When we pursue money, or knowledge or even wisdom just for the sake of getting it, we are left empty. There is more to life than these because we were created for a higher purpose. We were created to bring glory to God. If we can focus on that reality, it will help us avoid that trapped feeling and keep our lives out of a mind-numbing rut.

_____________________

Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Thanks to the advent of reality television, we now get insights into all kinds of people's lives, including famous ones. Now, I'm not a big reality TV fan by any means, but I do catch some segments of different shows every once in a while.

I remember one that followed the day in and day out life of a certain celebrity. As I watched the clips from a couple different episodes, I remember thinking, "Boy, she sure seems empty. She has money and people at her beckoned call to do whatever she wants, but she looks lost and alone." 

A couple years later she turned up dead in a hotel room, the result of a bad combination of prescription drugs. Apparently she was going to multiple doctors to get more and more kinds of medicine to help with her emotional pain.

You don't have to be rich and famous to feel like your life is trapped in a never ending rut. It can, and does, happen to anyone.

That is the message of Ecclesiastes chapter one, and really the entire book of Ecclesiastes. Solomon, who definitely "had it all," exclaimed, "Look, I have attained greatness, and have gained more wisdom than all who were before me in Jerusalem" (v16). Even that, however, was not enough as he went on to say, "For in much wisdom is much grief, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow" (v18).

This is what happens when our pursuits are shallow.

When we pursue money, or knowledge or even wisdom just for the sake of getting it, we are left empty. There is more to life than these because we were created for a higher purpose. We were created to bring glory to God. If we can focus on that reality, it will help us avoid that trapped feeling and keep our lives out of a mind-numbing rut.

_____________________

Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Ecclesiastes 12-- The Ghost of Christmas Future

Do you remember the classic tale A Christmas Story? Ebeneezer Scrooge lost perspective on life. That impacted his priorities and how he treated others. It took the Ghost of Christmas Future to help Scrooge see how he would waste his life if he continued living like he was living. In a sense, Solomon is our "Ghost of Christmas Future" as he in Ecclesiastes 12 walks us to the edge of the end of our lives and invites us to look back. The time for procrastination will end. There will be no more "I'll get serious about this tomorrow" because the days of being able to do anything will have ended. Let me encourage you to carefully read Solomon's description of what it is like when we get older (vv 2-8). As he entered his later years, Solomon realized how much of his life he had wasted pursuing temporary things. Every day we spend focused on our own priorities and living for ourselves is a day that is wasted--and a day that can never be recovered. And it is a day that we one day will regret. So how can we live our lives without regret? How can we maximize our lives and live them to their fullest? Three things. First, start now (v1). Don't delay! No matter what age you are, this is the time to put God first in your life. Don't wait another day. Second, pursue wisdom throughout your life and not just knowledge (vv9-12). Learning is good and we should be life-long students, but knowledge for the sake of knowledge is shallow. Wisdom, however, will enable us to successfully navigate life and help others to do the same. Finally, do what God says to do (v13). It is just that simple. Have enough fear, appreciation, reverence, love, etc. for God that you follow what He says to do. That is our purpose. That is what life is all about. That is what will give our life meaning, fullness, and true joy. There is no such thing as the Ghost of Christmas Future, so if you are waiting for him to show up, you are out of luck. Learn from the mistakes of Solomon--don't waste any day of your life.
_____________________
Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at www.maxpoint.org/message_board.

Ecclesiastes 11-- Whose the Center of Your Universe?

Unfortunately we see it all the time. From athletes to Hollywood celebrities to the guy next door, we live amidst people whose worlds only revolve around themselves. They know little to nothing about generosity. Then there are the politicians who say we need to look out for each other and stop being so greedy--but when their own finances are revealed we discover that they made millions but only gave away a couple thousand dollars. We each have a fundamental choice that we must make. Are we going to live for ourselves exclusively or are we going to live for God and others? It is one thing to talk about being our brother's keeper; it is quite another thing to do it. This is the focus of Ecclesiastes 11 where we are told that we need to be generous to others (vv1-8) and not make excuses for not giving. Solomon, who spent years acquiring things for himself, finally realizes the shallowness of stuff and the importance of helping others. God does reward us when we give (v1) but that reward is not always immediate. Solomon also encourages us to give when we have the opportunity to do so and not delay (v2) because we do not know what might come in the future that would keep us from being able to give. Self-focused living is not only about what we do with our money and possessions, but whether or not we allow God to direct us. "Walk in the ways of your heart, and in the sight of your eyes," Solomon says, "but know that for all these God will bring you into judgment" (v9). When we live for ourselves we only end up bringing grief upon ourselves (v10). So today you have a choice. Who are you going to make the center of your universe?
_____________________
Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at www.maxpoint.org/message_board.

Ecclesiastes 10-- Done in by the Little Things

The world watched with amazement as swimmer Michael Phelps took home a record eight gold medals at the 2008 Olympics. Before Phelps was even out of the pool, his agent's cell phone began to ring non-stop with endorsement offers for the 23-year old super star. Those endorsements evolved into what some estimate as $100 million or so in Phelps' pocket. But all of that may disappear thanks to a moment of "folly" at a college house party when Phelps was photographed apparently using marijuana. The words of Solomon in Ecclesiastes 10 ring loud: "Dead flies putrefy the perfumer's ointment, and cause it to give off a foul odor; so does a little folly to one respected for wisdom and honor" (v1). One moment of "folly" can undue years of respect--not just for the super stars but for each one of us. So how do we avoid getting tripped up in life? Here are five areas in this chapter that may seem "small" but can come back to haunt us if we are not careful. 1) How we respond to authority and power, both ours and others (vv4-7). 2) How we respond to risks in life (vv8-11). 3) How we talk to others (vv 12-14). 4) How we view work and what we hold as our personal work ethic (vv15-19). Finally, whether or not we are engaged in gossip or negative discussion of others (v20). While these may not seem like big issues, any one of these areas can entangle us. Let's be vigilant to protect our character, reputation, and most of all our Christian testimony. One careless moment can erase years of hard work.
_____________________
Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at www.maxpoint.org/message_board.

Ecclesiastes 9-- Getting the Most Out of Life

John was a tall, distinguished looking man who joined us for one of our staff chapels. Looking at John you didn't notice anything different or out of the ordinary. John, however, was dying. We all are dying--but John had been given a time frame for it. He shared his remarkable journey with the staff and how the news of his impending death had changed how he lived. What if you knew the month that you would enter into eternity? What if that time was much sooner than the time you have in the back of your mind? What would you do different? Most of us will not be given a significant advance warning of our death. So, according to Ecclesiastes 9, we need to maximize every day that we have. How do we do that? First, place your work in God's hand (v1). This includes not only your vocational work but the service "work" that you do for your family, church, etc. Allow God to take control of it all. Second, recognize that life happens to everyone--there are ups and downs for both the evil and the righteous alike (v2). Don't be discouraged when it seems that those who reject Christ are doing better than you. Third, have hope. Even if you have wasted a large portion of your life, there is hope for the future. As long as there is life there is the opportunity to give God control of our lives and allow Him to make them matter (vv3-6). Don't live in the past but instead allow God to make the most of the moment. Fourth, live holy with works that are acceptable to God (v7-8). Fifth, enjoy your marriage (v9)! Yes, marriage is one of the wonderful gifts that God gives us to maximize our lives. Unfortunately, many couples allow the joy to leave and their marriage becomes a drain. Don't let this happen to you if you are married! Next, give it your all!Work with all your might at those things that God leads you to do because there is "no work...in the grave where you are going." Finally, walk in wisdom (vv13-18) and make the most of every day that you have. These seven steps will enable all of us to live truly fulfilled and meaningful lives.
_____________________
Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at www.maxpoint.org/message_board.

Ecclesiastes 7-- Protecting Your Reputation

He saved potentially hundreds of lives, but for a period of time Richard Jewell was wrongly labeled a domestic terrorist by news media. Jewell was a security guard on duty for a late-night concert in Atlanta's Centennial Olympic Park during the 1996 Summer Olympics. Jewell discovered a suspicious knapsack at the park and alerted authorities before beginning to clear the area of people. The knapsack contained a bomb which exploded killing one and injuring 111 others. The casualty count surely would have been significantly higher if Jewell had not acted. Four days later, however, speculation began to surface that Jewell must have been the one to have planted the bomb. His reputation was trashed. Later he was exonerated, as the real bomber, Eric Robert Rudolph, was captured and plead guilty. Ecclesiastes 7:1 reminds us that "a good name is better than precious ointment." Richard Jewell discovered this first-hand. While most of us will never find ourselves in a situation like Jewell's, all of us to have to protect our reputations. We do that by protecting our character, and this chapter gives us four ways that we can do that. First, by having regular times of "soul searching" (vv2-7). We can't just laugh our way through life and only listen to the positive. It is good to have times of seriousness and reflection. It is also good to hear the occasional rebuke rather than everyone always singing your praises (v5). We protect our character by taking regular, serious, and hard looks at ourselves as we seek to identify areas needed for improvement. Second, we protect our character by living in the present with an eye to the future (vv8-10, 13-14). Too many people are living in the past which only damages their ability to effectively live in the present. Third, we need to walk in wisdom (vv11-12, 19-29) as we ask God to enable us to make good decisions. Finally, we need to be balanced in our living (vv15-18). There is a saying that goes "he is so heavenly minded that he is of no earthly value," meaning that we have to balance the spiritual with practical living. We are called to keep our focus on heaven while we live out our lives. Proper balances in life are critical to maintaining our character and finishing well our life race. Let's protect our good name by guarding our character as we search our souls, live in the present, walk in wisdom, and maintain balance in our lives.

_____________________

Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at www.maxpoint.org/message_board.

Ecclesiastes 6-- I Can't Get No Satisfaction

It is considered to be one of the top rock songs of all-time. The Rolling Stones' (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction could be considered an anthem, not only to the generation of the 60s when the song was released, but really to every generation. Every generation looks for satisfaction in a myriad of things but ultimately comes up short if they don't have God in their lives. In a sense, Solomon was singing this song long before the Rolling Stones when he wrote in Ecclesiastes 6 "All the labor of man is for his mouth, and yet the soul is not satisfied" (v7). God has placed within every person a longing for Him. No matter how hard we work or how much we attain, we can never have true satisfaction as long as that God-void exists. Life is uncertain (v12) but death is assured for all (v6). The only answer to life's uncertainty, death's certainty, and mankind's desire for satisfaction is to embrace Christ and fill our lives with God's goodness (v3). Do that and you can get satisfaction!

_____________________

Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at www.maxpoint.org/message_board.

Ecclesiastes 5-- Your Money and Your Mouth

There are two things that can get us into quick trouble--our mouth and a love for material possessions. Every day I hear or see numerous advertisements either encouraging applying for credit cards or telling how they can fix your credit card problems. Here in the U.S. many people have taken the "I have to have it now" approach to things rather than asking if they can afford it or not. Materialism has led to all kinds of social and even political ills. And then there is our mouth. Every one of us knows what it is like for our mouths to get us into trouble! Ecclesiastes 5 provides an important lesson on the need to control both of these. So many times we are quick to speak but we don't listen--and we miss out. Even when we go to church we often don't listen. Solomon encourages us that when we go to God's house we should "draw near to hear" (v1). Guarding our mouth is important every day. We should not be so quick to speak that we don't think through what we are saying (v2). Rather, we should fulfill our promises (vv4-5) and not make excuses when we do say things we shouldn't. The other subject this chapter explores is that of materialism. One of the most misquoted verses in the Bible is the verse in James that says "the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil." Many say that "money is the root of all evil." Solomon makes it clear here, just as James did in his epistle, that the issue isn't money or material things, rather it is our hearts and where we place our love and focus. When we love things we will never be satisfied (vv10-11) and we will spend our lives laboring in vain (vv12-17). When our focus is on the Lord and pleasing Him with our work, then we can be satisfied with what God brings our way because we see it as "the gift of God" (v19). We have a promise that our work will have significance "for he will not dwell unduly on the days of his life because God keeps him busy with the joy of his heart." Our work becomes our joy because we are doing it for the Lord. Let's take to heart the two great teachings of this chapter--let's be careful with our words and let's keep our hearts focused on God and not the "stuff" around us.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at www.maxpoint.org/message_board.

Ecclesiastes 4-- Championship Living

You see it every so often in professional sports--the hotshot rookie who thinks he is God's gift to the sport and who thinks he knows it all. It usually doesn't take long, however, for these athletes to get a rude awakening and a heavy dose of reality. They quickly discover that they are one among many on the team and that their coaches actually do know more than they do. If they don't make this discovery, they usually don't last long. The legendary basketball coach of the UCLA Bruins, John Wooden, said "Individuals win trophies but teams win championships." There are two fundamental necessities to winning both in sports and in life--teamwork and being teachable. Ecclesiastes 4 drives these points home. There are those who labor alone and only for their personal gain (v8) but this brings exceptional emptiness. When we connect with others, however, there is synergy, encouragement, support and strength. We are stronger as an individual when we connect with a team (vv9-12). Someone who is teachable, even though he or she may not have the experience of some who are older, is in a much better position (vv13-14). We must never get to the point in our lives where we "will be admonished no more" (v13). All of us have more to learn. None of us have arrived yet. So if you want a rich and fulfilled life become a team player who never stops learning and who consistently allows others to speak into your life. That's the formula that wins championships.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at www.maxpoint.org/message_board.

Ecclesiastes 3-- Seeing Beyond the Season

The telephone rang the other night. It was a dear friend who had been a member at the church I had pastored. He called to tell me his beloved wife of 52 years had died. My heart ached for him as I knew how close and deep their relationship had been. In that moment in time, as his dear wife went to be with the Lord, my friend was ushered into a dark season of life. A season of death. A season of weeping. A season of mourning. There had been other seasons in his life, much more pleasant than now. Like the days when his grandchildren were born, or the day he said "I do" to his bride. But those are not the seasons he is in now. Ecclesiastes 3 reminds us that life is cyclical. There are good seasons in life but there are also the unpleasant seasons. There are ups, and downs, and everything in between. In this well know chapter where Solomon gives his contrasting list of "a time to...and a time to..." we are reminded to look beyond the immediate season of life and view the big picture. We are reminded that God "has set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end" (v11). Seasons come and seasons go and "God does it so that men will revere Him" (v14). Here are three truths that can help us see beyond our immediate season. First, keep in perspective that life is short--especially when measured against eternity. Second, you get the most out of life when you life it for eternity (v12). Third, there is a natural cycle to life that in the end, God works together for good for those who fear Him and follow Him. Whatever season of life you find yourself in right now, make the most of it by living it for God's glory.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at www.maxpoint.org/message_board.

Ecclesiastes 2-- Work, Work, Work

For almost the entire seven years that I lived near "Bob" he worked two jobs. His wife also often worked two jobs. His life was consumed with work. No time to maintain his house, and little time for his then teenage children. Finally "Bob" had reached the point where he could retire from one of his jobs. In a reflective moment, "Bob" told me "I worked and worked, but now I realize how little I have for all that work, especially when I think about all I missed out on." When he finally reached what he was working towards--retirement (or at least partial retirement)--it wasn't what he thought it would be. Like "Bob," no one could ever accuse Solomon of being lazy. The litany of projects that he was involved in, as outlined in Ecclesiastes 2, would make even Donald Trump stop and take notice. On top of that, Solomon was "successful" at everything he did. Yet when he realized that one day he would leave it all behind--all to someone who didn't work for it (v18)--he became very discouraged. His conclusion was that work without a bigger, eternal purpose, is meaningless. But if we live our lives focused on pleasing God, then work and the benefits of it become joyous (vv24-26). It isn't work just for the sake of work, but it is work in the context of purpose--and that makes all the difference!

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at www.maxpoint.org/message_board.

Ecclesiastes 1-- When Having It All Just Isn't Enough

Thanks to the advent of reality television, we now get insights into all kinds of people's lives, including famous ones. Now, I'm not a big reality TV fan by any means, but I do catch some segments of different shows every once in a while. I remember one that followed the day in and day out life of a certain celebrity. As I watched the clips from a couple different episodes, I remember thinking "boy, she sure seems empty. She has money and people at her beckoned call to do whatever she wants, but she looks lost and alone."  A couple years later she turned up dead in a hotel room, the result of a bad combination of prescription drugs. Apparently she was going to multiple doctors to get more and more kinds medicine to help with her emotional pain. But you don't have to be rich and famous to feel like your life is trapped in a never ending rut. It can, and does, happen to anyone. This is the message of Ecclesiastes chapter one, and really the entire book of Ecclesiastes. Solomon, who definitely "had it all," exclaimed "Look, I have attained greatness, and have gained more wisdom than all who were before me in Jerusalem" (v16). Even that, however, was not enough as he went on to say "For in much wisdom is much grief, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow" (v18). This is what happens when our pursuits are shallow. When we pursue money, or knowledge or even wisdom just for the sake of getting it, we are left empty. There is more to life than these because we were created for a higher purpose. We were created to bring glory to God. If we can focus on that reality, it will help us avoid that trapped feeling and keep our lives out of a mind-numbing rut.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at www.maxpoint.org/message_board.