Daily Devotional for Friday, November 7

God Gives Wisdom

“For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit,” Ecclesiastes 2:26.

The world is in chaos. The preacher in Ecclesiastes recognized this. He used the word “vanity” dozens of times. To be vain is to be useless. It seems life is vain and without purpose at times. The idea that life is futile is a worldview with a name. Nihilism is a philosophical viewpoint that rejects the fundamental aspects of human existence, such as morality, knowledge or meaning. It is often associated with extreme pessimism, radical skepticism and a belief that existence is senseless and useless. Can you imagine feeling that way as a lifestyle? Yet, many do.

I can even now personally attest to feeling this way occasionally. A Christian who loses sight of God can quickly descend into a pit. We might say the great prophet Elijah was a nihilist for a while; after Jezebel threatened him, he ran and hid in a cave. It happens to the best of us. If children of God can fall prey to this, imagine what it must feel like for those without hope for eternity. If here and now is all you have, and your here and now is horrible, of what use is it, and what can we do?

God provides us answers and gives us wisdom and knowledge in His Word. Jesus shed His blood for us to provide us with the wisdom and good things that make life worth living.

JUST A THOUGHT

You look in the wrong place if you seek wisdom anywhere other than God.

Wally Fry