Transcendent Wisdom: Words of Wisdom to Live By

By Donald C. Francis

The book of life has many wise instructions for our lives, but “How can it be practically applied to me in these modern times?” you may ask. Transcendent Wisdom answers this question. The book is a 365 day devotional that will be your guide and friend on days of joy and sadness, laughter and crying, confusion and direction. Find practical applications for your everyday life through the words of Solomon and the insights of DC. Francis. No matter your background, culture, age or status, you will find stories, insights and fresh perspectives that will transform your days and redirect your life’s destiny.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Dec 2, 2022
• ISBN: 9781664284814

Donald C. Francis

DC Francis (Donald Constantine Francis) is an international motivational speaker, chaplain and certified marriage counsellor. His personal philosophy is “If you cannot endure criticism, you will be destroyed by compliments”. He has earned a Bachelor of Arts in Religion and Theology and a Master of Divinity, both with honours, and is pursuing a Doctorate in Psychology from Northern Caribbean University, Andrews Theological Seminary and California Southern University respectively. He has a passion to assist people to identify, cultivate and maximize their full potential.Pastor DC Francis has been married to the love of his life and best friend Popsann Latoya for over a decade, and together they enjoy ministry.

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CONTENTS

Reviews

Dedication

Acknowledgement

Foreword

Help! I Can’t Pass My Past

Back To Basics

The Sea Is Never Full

Treadmill Of Life

Lest We Forget

The Greatest Wise Man

Can You Fix The Crooked? Part 1

Can You Fix The Crooked? Part 2

Something For Nothing

Been There. Done That.

The Futility Of Frivolity

Monkey Pleasure

Joy Is Vanity

Good Works Are Vanity

The Snare Of Pleasure

Wisdom Is Vanity: Part 1

Wisdom Is Vanity: Part 2

Theology Of Work

Hate And Despair Over Life’s Work: Part 1

Hate And Despair Over Life’s Work: Part 2

Rest Forever

Danger! Stay Clear!

Joy – God’s Gift

Joy In My Soul!

More Beyond

The Gift Of Work: Part 1

The Gift Of Work: Part 2

THE GIFT OF WISDOM

Moments

Absence Of Freedom

Appointment Of Times

Exigencies Of Life

Born To Die

Pluck It Up

The Mystery Of Life In Vanity: Part 1

The Mystery Of Life In Vanity: Part 2

Twists And Turns

Throwing Stones

Power Of Embrace

To Gain To Lose: Part 1

To Gain To Lose: Part 2

Brokenness: The Pathway To Healing

Brokenness Facilitates Recreation

Screaming Silence: Part 1

Screaming Silence: Part 2

Picture Perfect Love

Still Standing

The Fixity Of Time

Fighting Against God

Overcoming The Pain Of Loneliness

The Commissioned Tasks

Beauty All Around

The Beauty Of Meeting God

Restless

Eternity Within Our Grasp

Eternity In Our Hearts

God’s Incentive

The Better Way

Always In Need

Wisdom From A Donkey

What Goes Around Comes Around

The Distortion Of Justice

When Bad Things Happen To Good People

Wickedness In The Streets

Hope Beyond The Grave

Oppression In The Marketplace

The Eclipse Of God

Rat Race

The Serenity In Balance

Oppression Through Compulsiveness

Coping With Stress: Nobler Way

Two Are Better Than One

No Person Is An Island

Chains To Crown

The Vanity Of Popularity

The Pain Of Leadership

The Positives Of Criticism

Heart Prayer

Guarded Worship

Worship Gone Stale

Melody From The Heart

Promise Is A Comfort To A…

Life–changing Word

The Vanity Of Power

Misappropriation

The Vanity Of Money

Greed Found Empty

Wisdom Is Better Than Folly

When Religion Goes Sour

The Search For Wealth

The Risks Of The Wealthy

Joy From The Fire

Whatever You Want: Part 1

Whatever You Want: Part 2

Enjoy

Full But Not Satisfied: Part 1

Full But Not Satisfied: Part 2

The Thirst Of The Soul

Belly Full But Still Hungry

Hungry No More

Satisfied

Too Short To Box With God: Part 1

Too Short To Box With God: Part 2

Significant Life

No Hope

NOT FOR SALE

More Precious

Cannot Get Better

Sweetness Into My Life

The Heart Of The Matter

Wisdom From Death

Wisdom From Unexpected Places

The Death Of Death

The Medicine Of Sadness

The Balance

Blessing From Unexpected Places

Spiritual Anesthetic

A Wise Man’s Rebuke

The Song Of Fools

Feather Your Own Nest

Caution Is Better Than Rashness

A Better End

Let It Rain

Reflecting The Image Of God

Anger And Fools

Fools No Longer

The Former Days

Bring Back The Glory Days

Secret Of Power

Wisdom And An Inheritance

FOREVER SECURE

Wisdom: A Preservative

The Good, The Bad, And The Unforeseen

Consider This!

Two Important Considerations

The Shape And Texture

The Crook In The Lot

Prosperity And Adversity

Always Smiling

God In Adversity

The Crooks Of The Matter

The Pathway To Straightness

Plowing A Rock

The Crooks In Our Lots

‘TIS NO SWEET…

When Life Is Unfair

Why Do The Heathens Reign?

Righteousness Is…

Pursue Righteousness

Putting Wisdom To Work: Part 1

Putting Wisdom To Work: Part 2

Wisdom To Discern

Science Of Enduring Criticism: Part 1

Science Of Enduring Criticism: Part 2

Legendary Wisdom

Limitations Of Human Wisdom

Remote And Exceedingly Mysterious

Ask The Man

Loosed!

Sheltered

When Fetters Fall…

Two Questions, One Observation

Wisdom In The Face

Practical, Political Wisdom

Crossless Christianity

Let It Flow

Flames

When God Burns

Take It Slow

Stand Up

All Inclusive

He Am

When Power Becomes Powerful

When Accusing Voices Are Silenced

Kingdom People

I Hate You, For Every Time I Meet You, You Let Me See What I Am.

Proper Time And Place

Man Is A Mixture Of Importance And Impotence

Man’s Impotence

When The Unexpected Become Expected

Powerless Control

Do You See The Wind?

Retain By The Spirit

The Great Equalizer

Greater Than Death

The Voice That Wakes The Dead

Discharged From Death

Long Run, Short Catch

The Way Of Fellowship And Revelation

Mystery And Mortality

Mills Of God

The Wicked Man And Divine Justice

Fading Memories

World Book Of Record

When Mercy Kisses Justice: Part 1

When Mercy Kisses Justice: Part 2

When Faith Becomes Sight

The Fruit Of Your Life?

Hold On

Inaccessibility: The Mystery Of Divine Activity

Fully Covered: Part 1

Fully Covered: Part

Holy Calmness And Security

A More Perfect Understanding

The Undiscovered Country

He Knows Best

Great Mystery

Beyond Reach

The Providence Of God

In God’s Hands: Part 1

In God’s Hands: Part 2

In Good Hands

God Is In Charge

From Death To Life

One Fate For All

The Perplexity Of Life

Heart Danger

Insane Pursuit

Let’s Celebrate

Live Dogs And Dead Lions

Wisdom From Death

Have Fun! Part 1

Have Fun! Part 2

Go, Live And Do!

White Clothes And Oily Head

Live!

Sex: Enjoy It To The Fullest

Learning Happiness

Refreshing Our Memories

Up In The Face Of God!

Swiftness…

The Master Of Chance

It Is Well With My Soul

If Only…

Time, The Fish And The Bird Business

Nonsense…

The Heart Of Wisdom

Memory Lapse

Wisdom In Unexpected Vessels

First Things First

Wisdom’s Decibel Meter

The Foolishness Of Wisdom

The Greatest Wise Man

Dead Flies And Foolish Fools

Fools In The School

The Right Heart Man

The Ways Of Fool

Tempered Temper

Overview Of The Wisdom In Ecclesiastes 10

Misinformed Leadership

Wisdom That Transforms

Trapology

Fools In The Workplace

Be Thou Loosed!

Sharpened Wisdom

When You Cannot Forgive

The Venom Of Anger

Treasured Love

The Foolish Man’s Talk

Well Seasoned!

The Combustible Talker

New Again

Something Greater

The Childish King

Brighten Your Corner

Money! Money! Money!

Controlled Wisdom

Fools, Folly And Foolishness

Let Us Begin Again

Broken Houses

Wellspring Of Wealth

Last Question For Last Moments

Kneeology

The Ultimate Wise Man

He Is My Certainty

The Path And The Road…

Faith Commitment

The Risk Of Giving

The Risk Of Faith

The Divine Nature

What Are You Committing?

GOD’S DEBIT CARD

Everything!

No Excuse

Simply Faith

Windology

Impossible Necessity

Faith Risk Factor

Larger Than Ever

Supreme Brilliance

I Believe In You

Saved By A Song

Reflections…

Press On

The Greatest Sweetener

Falling Water

Sadness Mingled With Joy

Christ, The Endless Hope

Heaven’s Perfect Peace

All The Way My Savior Leads Me

Youthful Joys

Beautiful Paradox

The Joy Of Judgment

There Is A Hero…

Joy, A Mark Of Maturity: Part 1

Joy, A Mark Of Maturity: Part 2

The Tower Of Silence

Great Possibility

Joy Seeks Us

Joy Makes Us Immune

Materialism: An Enemy Alien

Ego – Willingly Crucified, Or Unwillingly?

Existing Or Living?

Morality Rooted In The Nature Of God

Treasury Of God

But

Two Sides Of One Coin

The Gravity Of Joy

Misconnected

Rescue From The Sky

Wisdom From The Moken

Gentleness Personified

Revived!

Eternity Conscious!

Continual Abandonment

Flames Of Prayer

Reformation Of Heart

When God Is Sad

Spring Cleaning

Discriminating Obliviousness

Heart Transplant

Tyranny Of The Urgent

Thanksgiving!

Evil Demystified

Touched By The Master’s Hand: Part 1

Touched By The Master’s Hand: Part 2

Shipwrecked Upon God

Making The Connection

The Wise Woman’s Stone

I Will Trust Him

Greater Measure

A Heart For Worship

Have Your Eyes Been Opened?

He Leadeth Me

Depression Into Delight

When Old Age…

A Look At Wisdom

Wisdom To Be Developed

Maturing Not Aging

Wisdom

Positive Thinking

The Potency Of Word

The Shepherd’s Voice

The Quietest Friend

Sum And Substance Of The Whole Matter

FEAR GOD!

Appearance And Sincerity

The Search

From Muslim To Christian

A Child

The Old, Old Story

On Jordan’s Stormy Banks

Longing For Judgment

I Know The Shepherd

Change Course

Keep Your Fork

REVIEWS

Our spiritual journey requires a fresh anointing each day. Arise each morning and experience the dew drops of God’s faithfulness through these inspiring daily messages. Pastor D.C. Francis takes us on an intentional path to a closer connection with God, with spiritual wisdom nuggets, while recognizing the practicality of our day-to-day lives. Grow intimacy with God by daily absorbing these messages of hope, love and more importantly God’s grace.

Dr. Rohann D. Wellington, Director, Professional Services,

North American Division of Seventh-day Adventist

Transcendent Wisdom: Words Of Wisdom To Live By is a profound commentary on spiritual intellect and morality as described in the book of Ecclesiastes. It expounds on issues such as work, money and how people should approach life from a biblical perspective. This timely piece of work is life-changing and especially relevant to those of us who are mindfully navigating away from secularism and spiritual indifference.

Juliet Ann Jackson, Publishing Consultant & Educator

Open your eyes and heart to the new dimensions of true wisdom through 365 days of short, but powerful ‘wizbits’ of meditative words in Transcendent Wisdom: Words Of Wisdom To Live By. This daily devotional was designed specifically for persons like you who have high ideals, ambitions of success and are striving for wealth and wisdom. This devotional has been creatively crafted by author, DC Francis, and inspired by the book of Ecclesiastes. It invites you to go on a journey to discover more practical wisdom through scripture. The author creatively uses novel but relevant anecdotal experiences to pique interest while aiming to empower and enhance your life and Christian journey. Transcendent Wisdom: Words Of Wisdom To Live By also points out the limitations to human ambitions and lauds Ecclesiastical wisdom as more desirable. This book can also be credited for its use and promotion of reflective practices which will help you to self-assess, grow and adapt in this world of challenges, in order to thrive.

Jovanie Burke-Redwood, English Specialist & Educator

From where do we gain our wisdom? Reading the excerpts from this devotional will surely elevate the reader to a richer outlook on life. The daily devotionals give strong object lessons from each biblical passage. Pastor D.C. has exhausted the book of Ecclesiastes with intentional and purposeful explanations which afford every reader to not only participate, but to gain wisdom for the journey they may be on. The daily postings of this book are definitely Words To Live By. You may never see Ecclesiastes or more importantly, your life the same.

Paul Graham D. Min, Associate Pastoral Ministries

Director Potomac Conference of SDA

DEDICATION

This book is dedicated to Popsann Latoya, my personal editor, best friend, loving wife and companion in ministry, who daily encourages me to pursue and reach for the highest levels of usefulness in Christ.

Also, this book is dedicated to all seekers of intimacy with God, all those who yearn for transcendent wisdom so that they can live daily with joy and peace. This book is dedicated to you.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Writing a book that is to be of substance takes hard work and dedication. As a result, I am indebted to a number of people for their contribution.

Most importantly, I thank God for His sustaining grace and power, for inspiring my mind and for revealing concepts of wisdom in the Book of Ecclesiastes. There were many times He woke me at midnight to speak to me. Jesus, thank you!

Second, I express heartfelt gratitude to my wife and best friend, Popsann Latoya, for her willingness to stay up with me as I wrote. Thanks for encouraging me to press to the end when I became discouraged and for spending time reading and editing the manuscript.

Third, I express gratitude to my undergrad professors, Drs. Paul and Helena Gregor, for seeing, nurturing and developing the potential in me. I am grateful for your invaluable counsel.

Also, thanks to Pastor Everett Brown, President, Jamaica Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, for your encouragement and excitement surrounding this book. Thanks also to Pastor Nevail Barrett who was my senior pastor when I started ministry and who currently serves as President of the Central Jamaica Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. Thank you for your support.

Finally, special thanks to Mrs. Juliet Ann Jackson, my friend, who also assisted with editing. Thanks to all who encouraged and assisted me in some way.

FOREWORD

They are the grimmest words we ever hear... the pediatrician hovers over the incubator, her stethoscope glued to a tiny chest. The parents press their faces against the window of the cubicle in sheer dismay, as the physician slowly straightens up, drapes the stethoscope around her neck, and shakes her head with fearful finality: No hope. The words bombard the ears and addle the brain. They are heard in hundreds of hospitals, but we never get used to them. Life without hope carries more trauma than the human spirit can bear. That is one reason Solomon’s message hits with such shock. Like a master internist, he fingered humanity’s wrist, listening to the chest, checking the white of the eyes, reviewed the medical charts, and uttered the solemn pronouncement: No hope. At least not where you are looking for it. Donald C. Francis

In this devotional that provides daily inspiration for an entire year, Donald C. Francis touches the familiar chords of human experiences distilled from the book of Ecclesiastes, to demonstrate that only wisdom that is centered in God can provide enduring joy, satisfaction and purpose to human life. Following the outline of the book of Ecclesiastes, the author weaves a slew of personal life lessons with well selected quotations, stories and even hilarious anecdotes to give contemporary applicability to the ancient book of wisdom. He addresses subjects that include loneliness, tragedy, fear, folly, wisdom, economics, faith, healing, hope, pleasure and a host of other relevant issues.

Francis uses an easy-to-read writing style to express profound wisdom garnered from Solomon’s analyses of nature, human behaviors, human experiences, proverbial sayings, and spiritual counsels. He sometimes carries the reader into the mind of Solomon through well placed explanations of the historical context and linguistic insights about the text of the day. At other times, the message of the day emerges from the contemporary application of the text, often elucidated with supporting New Testament passages and particularly, related teachings of Jesus.

Transcendent Wisdom: Words Of Wisdom To Live By takes what seems to be a depressing treatise on human life, and uses it to show the bright silver lining behind the dark clouds of human experiences that we know all too well. This makes the devotional so relevant, so uplifting and so important to life in the twenty-first century. Francis’ devotional is a must-read for all who seek daily inspiration from God to successfully navigate the real challenges of life.

Pastor Jeff Jefferson,

Senior Pastor & Church Strategist, Greater New York Conference of Seventh-day Adventists

HELP! I CAN’T PASS MY PAST

JANUARY 1

The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem. Vanity of vanities,

says the Preacher; Vanity of vanities, all is vanity. What profit has a man from

all his labor in which he toils under the sun? — Ecclesiastes 1:1-3 NKJV*

M any people have come to the place in their lives where all they can see are the dark clouds of past mistakes, disappointments, abuse, and dissatisfaction. They look back with pain and sorrow. They blame everyone — parents for having them in adulterous relationships or God for allowing their birth. They are bitter because they do not have what others have.

The wisest man, Solomon, did not have a proper beginning either. In fact, he was the result of one of the most deadly crimes against God and the ancient society: adultery (2 Samuel 12:1-25). Many would say that he was the product of a curse. As a result, he was torn between two cultures. He knew he was the product of an adulterous relationship and had to live with the mocking of other Jewish boys and girls. Reading from his reflection in the book of Ecclesiastes, we see he was haunted by the past and frightened by the future. It was in these moments of uncertainty that the God of creation and new beginning created good out of chaos and disorder.

Solomon looked back at the unfairness of the past as children paid for what their parents did. He calls this vanity of vanities. Many of us have skeletons in our pasts that have been placed there either by others or ourselves; either way, we have them. This year, if you submit to Him like Solomon, He will make you the sage of your generation. He can bring cure out of curse and blessings out of disasters.

If you submit to Him, like Solomon, He will make you the wise person of your generation.

* All scripture verses are taken from the NKJV unless otherwise noted.

BACK TO BASICS

JANUARY 2

The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem. "Vanity of

vanities, says the Preacher; Vanity of vanities, all is vanity." What profit has a

man from all his labor In which he toils under the sun. — Ecclesiastes 1:1-3

S olomon is now an older man, retired and settled. He has time to truly use his wisdom to leave a legacy of instruction to those who might succeed him. As he gazed into the horizon and examined the heavenly bodies with the telescope of his eyes, his mind went back to the beginning; precreation. There was void and formlessness— what Solomon refers to as vanity of vanities; all [is] vanity. His life now represents this as he retrospects.

Solomon looks back at his achievements and concludes that even though people and generations have tried to make good of what they have come to see as reality, when all is said and done, it is as though creation had not taken place because it still amounts to vapor (vanity). Even when all the generations have passed the earth will still be around and it will remain the same as we have been seeing it.

We will always be building and acquiring possessions, but will these bring ultimate satisfaction? This disorganization is the reality of our lives and character. We try all our days to be what we think is good and we are still the same. The only lasting thing is a relationship with the Creator who can create order out of our disorder and chaos.

We spend endless time working tirelessly to acquire that which we think will make us happy and fill the void in our lives. The truth is, vanity can never fill that; only Jesus can.

THE SEA IS NEVER FULL

JANUARY 3

All the rivers run into the sea, Yet the sea is not full; To the place from

which the rivers come, There they return again. — Ecclesiastes 1:7

H ave you ever noticed the sea or at least tried to understand what is happening with it? Though the rivers consistently pour into the sea, it is never full and the waters never leak. Middle Eastern tradition indicates that the earth is surrounded by the great primordial ocean into which the rivers deposit their content.

This testifies to the vanity of life. In spite of our busy schedules, we sometimes do not make headway. Regardless of our pains to do and have, we still return to the beginning. Interestingly, this earth was covered with water in the chaos of precreation. It was at that time that the Creator called land out of the waters and gathered the waters into one place and called it sea. Therefore, the rivers are always hopeless because they will eventually return to the sea from whence they came.

This is the human quandary. There will always be information, concepts, words and ideas like the continuous pouring of the rivers into the sea are ad infinitum. Concepts will always be emerging and yet the human ears, like the sea, want more and are never filled. In other words, nothing about life under the sun ultimately satisfies – if it did, we would not have to do the same things over and again, nor would we want to! Even the most pleasurable experiences in life need to be repeated because once is never enough! You told your spouse you love them– so why do they need to hear it again? –because the ear is never filled with hearing! (Eccl. 1:8 ESV) Or, once you have seen your grandchildren, why would you want to see them again? –because the eye is never satisfied with seeing (Eccl. 1:8)!

This is like science. Everyday new concepts and new ways of explaining the same phenomenon emerge. New medicines come to fix one problem but with them come innumerable diseases. Never filled! As the rivers cannot be distinguished upon entrance into the sea, the different concepts and medicines disappear as though they did not exist. The only words that will remain will be the creative Word of God: Jesus Himself who speaks and it is done. He will speak lasting fulfillment into your heart even now.

TREADMILL OF LIFE

JANUARY 4

That which has been is what will be, that which is done is what will

be done, And there is nothing new under the sun. — Ecclesiastes 1:9

I assume you know what a treadmill is. Today, most people probably associate it with an exercise machine that enables a person to walk and climb without actually going anywhere. Historically, the word refers to a mill powered by an animal or a human being (often a prisoner) that walked in an endless circle or climbed a never-ending set of steps. You may have seen pictures of donkeys or oxen powering such mills by walking. No doubt, that is part of the imagery behind the biblical verse that says, You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain, (Deut. 25:4) and, The laborer is worthy of his wages. (1 Tim. 5:18)

This idea of a treadmill has become a metaphor to describe any kind of activity that is boring and purposeless. Hence, when Solomon said, That which has been is that which will be, that which is done is what will be done (Ecc. 1:9), he was saying life under the sun — life apart from fearing God and keeping His commandments — (Eccl. 12:13) is like a treadmill. It keeps repeating itself, without ever accomplishing anything that truly matters and is worthwhile!

For example, Solomon says in verse 4 that One generation passes away, and another generation comes; But the earth abides forever. (Eccl. 1:4). In one sense, it is similar to a college or university, in that every year a class of students graduates in the spring, only to be replaced by a new class in the fall — which means (theoretically) that every four years, the student body is entirely different. Yet, the school itself continues, doing the same things it has always done. It is said, Put your finger in a bucket of water, and then pull it out and see how much of an impression you have left. After we are gone, most people will not even know we were here! So, what was the point?! After all, we just did the same things generations before us did. We were born, we grew up, we went to school, we got married, we had children, we worked, we paid our bills, we had a little fun, and then we died — and those who follow us will repeat this treadmill of human existence.

Even people who make contributions and are seen as significant have their five minutes of fame, and then pass from the scene to be replaced by the next generation, forgotten and ultimately unknown. Hence, David prayed,

Lord, make me to know my end, And what is the measure of my days, That I may know how frail I am. Indeed, You have made my days as handbreadths, And my age is as nothing before You; … Surely every man walks about like a shadow; Surely they busy themselves in vain… (Ps. 39:4-6).

LEST WE FORGET

JANUARY 5

Is there anything of which it may be said, ‘See, this is new’? It has

already been in ancient times before us. There is no remembrance of

former things, nor will there be any remembrance of things that are

to come by those who will come after. — Ecclesiastes 1: 10-11

T he twenty-first century generation is said to be the most spiritually illiterate in the history of religion. They have no regard for the past. They are convinced they are the smartest and the most advanced, but how can we be more advanced when we are not inspired by past successes and cautioned by past failures?

Now that you have crossed the Jordans of yesteryears; do not forget them. The people of Israel set up twelve stones, one for each of the twelve tribes, from the riverbed. They did this as a memorial of thankfulness to God. (Josh. 3: 7-9)

Remembering the moment and reflecting on the past is a great part of Christian worship. It is through remembering and celebrating weekly that Christianity has been passed down to us for these two thousand years. If transmission of knowledge does not take place, we are doomed to wallow in the same quagmire of our predecessors. This is striving after the wind. One of the reasons for crime and injustice in society is that we have not learned from the mistakes of our ancestors.

It is only as we reflect on the past that we see God’s leading and His faithfulness to us. Because of this, we can be confident that when troubles come, He will be faithful. We can only make sense of our future when we are conscious of our past. So, as we come to the edge of Jordan, we must remember that the stones are set for a memorial to show who God has been. Take a moment and look back at God’s leading in your life and celebrate. This is the recipe for long life and success.

THE GREATEST WISE MAN

JANUARY 6

Is there anything of which it may be said, ‘See, this is new’? It has

already been in ancient times before us. There is no remembrance of

former things, nor will there be any remembrance of things that are

to come by those who will come after. — Ecclesiastes 1: 10-11

C onvenient memory lapse is one of the things that plagues humanity. We often seek to remember the wrong things and forget the right ones. Solomon encourages us to remember what God has done for us in the past and to live in light of these victories. The word for memory (Hebrew zikkaron meaning remember ) marks memorable events in Israel’s history: The Exodus and entrance into Canaan.

The depths of the spiritual crises we face today have hidden the joys of the memories and stifled the hope of God’s news-making interventions in our lives. Without the twin anchors of our past and future, Solomon had to do his best to help us stay on a steady course. It is the mission of the Greatest Wise Man, Jesus, to call us back to magnificent and victorious memories.

We are heirs of the glorious history of God’s revelation and His redemption. We should desire to remember this history and hope for new encounters to be etched on the walls of our hearts. The good news of the gospel is that our works do not have to be tedious and routine because Jesus’ redemption transforms our work from futility to significance.

Jesus linked His daily work with doing the Father’s will and trusting in the Father’s power. We too can trust Jesus to rescue us from sin, to guide our lives, and to give us power for His service. This is the meaningful work in which all other work finds its profitability and meaning.

What about history? Nothing new, right? Is history headed nowhere? History still has its surprises — like when Jesus appeared in human flesh. New covenant, new commandment, new people, new heavens, and the new earth are all yet to come. Jesus entered our history to teach us to hope. In His death and resurrection, He calls us to history worth remembering, and through His return, we have a future worth anticipating.

Futile days and weeks, we may have as life can lose its glue and become leaky at the seams. But, a futile life is not our destiny. Christ’s news is too good to let that happen. Life is filled with meaning because He is making all things new — beginning in us.

CAN YOU FIX THE CROOKED? PART 1

JANUARY 7

What is crooked cannot be made straight, And what is lacking cannot be numbered.

— Ecclesiastes 1:15

A s Solomon reflected on his life and all he did to make things better — or so he thought— his heart ached. Even Solomon with all his wisdom could not make the crooked straight. It appears as though not even wisdom could help. There appeared a dark cloud of hopelessness.

Solomon’s experience mirrors ours. We think that our wisdom and effort will fix our characters and the world, but our mere human attempts to fix ourselves lead nowhere. Life remains empty and filled with disappointments. Solomon says I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and indeed, all is vanity and grasping for the wind (Eccl. 1:14).

So, does this mean that the New Year’s resolution you made to invest in the reformation of your character is vanity? Does this mean that all that you have been doing to help the poor and needy is vanity? Is it that all the money spent to spread the gospel to unentered areas is vanity? Solomon is discouraging us from these projects. Instead, his point is to help us realize that we deceive ourselves in thinking that our wisdom can help solve the problems that are deep rooted in our characters, our character flaws. As far as character reformation goes, our wisdom is useless. Only God can recreate that which has been broken in us. Who can fix our crooked minds and characters? God alone can.

Pray with me: Dear Lord, I now give you my marred and crooked character. In your wisdom and power, recreate me to reflect your love, in the powerful name of Jesus Christ.

CAN YOU FIX THE CROOKED? PART 2

JANUARY 8

I communed with my heart, saying, ‘Look, I have attained greatness, and have gained

more wisdom than all who were before me in Jerusalem. My heart has understood great

wisdom and knowledge.’ And I set my heart to know wisdom and to know madness

and folly. I perceived that this also is grasping for the wind. — Ecclesiastes 1:16-17

I n today’s verse, Solomon consolidated the question he asked us yesterday. He did this by highlighting his own wisdom, which he presents as superior to the wisdom of those who lived before him and those who came after him. This commands the reader’s attention. It was as if he were saying, I am a man of authority. Listen to me!

Imagine Solomon saying. If I, Solomon, being the wisest of all before me and after me and have still not been able to solve the problem, do not even conceptualize the thought that your wisdom can do any better.

The more we try to fix ourselves using our own wisdom, the more problems we create. Lucius Williams told the story of a man who was sick. The doctor claimed that he needed immediate surgery and argued that he had to use his latest invention to perform it. After hours in the operating theater, the doctor came out with a disturbed countenance. The family members, not seeing his countenance, were hopeful and began to ask the doctor for a report. The doctor exclaimed, The surgery was successful, but the patient died!

That story illustrates the products of our wisdom: grief, sorrow and death. Intellectual pursuits are great and should be vigorously pursued, but they will not make us spiritually happy. It does not matter how many degrees we have. In fact, the more information we have about our world and ourselves seems to result in more sorrow. With all the information we pursue, we cannot fix ourselves. The danger of knowing more is that our knowledge becomes our God. True knowledge, however, propels our dependence upon God rather than our independence from Him. When we are dependent upon God, this indicates the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10). If you have not yet learned the secret to a hope-filled life, pursue Jesus with all your heart. Start today by talking with Him.

SOMETHING FOR NOTHING

JANUARY 9

And I set my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived

that this also is grasping for the wind. For in much wisdom is much grief, and

he who increases knowledge increases sorrow. — Ecclesiastes 1:17-18

T he theme of the book of Ecclesiastes is underscored by certain key words or phrases that often reappear. For example, various forms of the word vanity appear over thirty times while forms of the word futility appear over ten times. The phrase, striving after the wind appears roughly ten times – while the idea that what human beings do is of no profit appears at least three times.

We encounter verses like, … the work that was done under the sun was distressing to me, for all is vanity and grasping for the wind (Eccl. 2:17). It is important to realize where Solomon is coming from when he talks about vanity, and futility, and striving after the wind. He is speaking from the perspective of the natural person, the lost person, and/or the person without Christ.

The whole perspective is of this world. The natural person, who has never taken God seriously, falls into the delusion that this world is all there is. Well then, the Preacher may have said, if this world is all there is, let’s find out if there is anything ultimately worthwhile in it. Let’s find out if there is anything in it that yields real, lasting satisfaction.

Solomon had an engaging life under the most ideal and favorable conditions, yet it resulted in vanity. This proves that nothing but meaninglessness and profound disappointment await the secularist and materialist. All of Solomon’s ambitions, though fully achieved; all his lusts, though fully indulged ultimately lead to revulsion and nausea. For him, life is, as William Shakespeare wrote, a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing. Apart from God, this is the only conclusion that the materialist can ultimately arrive at! Only when one fears God enough to obey Him does life have any meaning.

The message is clear. True meaning in life is found only in a relationship with God (through faith in Jesus Christ). Unless there is a sincere regard for the will of God, and an earnest desire to carry out His purposes, a person’s life will end up being a meaningless tragedy, regardless of whether they realize it before they die or not. Life is nothing without Christ.

BEEN THERE. DONE THAT.

JANUARY 10

I said in my heart, "Come now, I will test you with mirth; [a]therefore

enjoy pleasure"; but surely, this also was vanity. — Ecclesiastes 2:1

I t began as a radio program in 1945, and was first seen on television in the Los Angeles area in 1952. For eight years, from 1956 through 1964, it was one of the most popular daytime game shows on television. I heard somewhere that it was [a]n exploitation of human misery wrapped in commercial plugs.

Every day, through a keen process of elimination, four women were chosen from the studio audience. Each woman shared some great tragedy or misfortune in her life. At the end of the show, the studio audience chose the winner by the loudest applause. The lucky woman was draped in a sable-trimmed red velvet robe, had a jewel crown placed on her head, and was proclaimed Queen For A Day!

The Queen was then showered with many wonderful gifts – like new appliances, new furniture, new dishes, and new toys for her children. Best of all, her special wish (written down on a card before the show) was also fulfilled. There was never a shortage of women willing to compete to become Queen for a Day.

Many people believe that if they were a queen or king, all their worries would disappear. If they could have it all, they would be happy. If they could accomplish something great, if they had more cars, or houses, or land, if they could throw off all moral restraints and indulge their passions to the fullest, life would be meaningful and exciting. Solomon had been there and done all that. The Bible says that King Solomon surpassed all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom (1 Kings 10:23) God put Solomon in a position to have all the things people dream of, and to do all the things people wish they could. If he liked it, he got it.

So, he should have been the happiest, most satisfied person who ever lived, right? Like prisoners trying to live vicariously through someone else’s experience, we want Solomon to give us the answer, and he does. Solomon says, Then I looked on all the works that my hands had done and on the labor in which I had toiled; and indeed all was vanity and grasping for the wind. There was no profit under the sun. (Eccl. 2:11). All these things that we are anxious to get are packaged in the person of Jesus. He is all that we will ever need. Listen carefully even now and you will hear the still small voice saying, But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. (Matt. 6:33).

THE FUTILITY OF FRIVOLITY

JANUARY 11

I said in my heart, "Come now, I will test you with mirth; therefore

enjoy pleasure"; but surely, this also was vanity. — Ecclesiastes 2:1

W e have already discovered that wisdom and knowledge, in and of themselves, cannot bring true happiness or lasting satisfaction. They ultimately result in much grief and increasing pain (Eccl. 1:13-18). The king, recognizing this, decided to try a different approach. This time he would see what the various pleasures of life had to offer. This time he would focus on enjoying himself, indulging his desires and doing whatever he wanted. He would eat dessert first, grab for the gusto and test the party scene. Solomon had tried rationalism and found it wanting, so he tried hedonism. Can indulging the senses really bring true happiness and peace to a person’s soul?

Solomon experimented with sin. He wandered into idolatry later in life, and even had 700 wives and 300 concubines (I Kings 11:1-8). Solomon shows us that when it comes to lasting contentment or real happiness, life’s pleasures, in and of themselves, are empty delusions, fleeting fraud and vanishing wisps of smoke. Life’s pleasure, just like every other idol that people pursue, are useless and worthless (2 Cor. 8:4).

Almost everyone enjoys a good laugh. Physicians and psychologists agree with the Book of Proverbs (which Solomon also wrote) when it says, A merry heart does good, like medicine (17:22). Doctors claim laughter is good for our physical health because it exercises our muscles and helps oxygenate our blood. Psychologists assert that laughter is good for a person’s mind and character. They suggest that people with a good sense of humor tend to live longer, happier, and healthier lives, in part, because they are able to laugh at life’s problems and bounce back from disappointments quicker.

As far as laughter and merriment are concerned, people should remember that they are superficial and short-lived. Laughing is also used to disguise true feelings. Some laugh, but they are weeping on the inside. Even in laughter there may be pain, and underneath the joy, there may be grief. This is where true peace and joy are found: Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them (Ps. 119:165).

Jesus still gives beauty for ashes, strength for fear, hope for despair and joy for sadness. He invites you to accept His peace today.

MONKEY PLEASURE

JANUARY 12

I said in my heart, "Come now, I will test you with mirth; therefore

enjoy pleasure"; but surely, this also was vanity. — Ecclesiastes 2:1

R esearchers of one of the most renowned eastern universities conducted an investigation to discover the motivation for monkeys. Intriguingly, a male monkey was used for the experiment. He was placed in a cage with careful recorded observation underway. The monkey’s eating, sleeping, and mating patterns and how he cared for his young were observed.

An electrode was hooked to the monkey’s brain which when stimulated gave the monkey a sensation of pleasure. Researchers taught the monkey how to push the pleasure button, and with it the key to happiness.

The monkey soon became obsessed with pleasure. It began ignoring its food, sleep, infants and even its mate. Its goal became pleasure as its nerve endings became stimulated doing what makes it feel good. The monkey finally killed itself with excessive pleasure. Does this remind you of anything? Sin is dangerous like the monkey’s pleasure button. It produces momentary pleasure. But, this pleasure is not only momentary; it is destructive. It gives you wings then takes them back mid flight. Your altitude becomes the reason for your crashed life.

The hall of fame in Hebrews 11:25 bears the testimonies of Moses’ choice: Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season. The pleasure of this world passes without notice and leaves emptiness. The pleasure that is at Jesus’ right hand is eternal. It is internal, deep and lasting. Jesus assures us that He wants to make our pleasure full. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full (John 15:11).

When Jesus returns, these golden and precious words will escape His lips, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord (Matt. 25:21 KJV). Additionally, He says, count it all joy when ye fall into diverse temptations. (James 1:2). Trials, temptations and disappointments cannot quench the joy and pleasure that come from knowing and having intimacy with God.

Jesus offers you deeper, purer, lasting pleasure with Him in this messy world and greater pleasure in eternity with Him.

JOY IS VANITY

JANUARY 13

Whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I did not

withhold my heart from any pleasure — Ecclesiastes 2:10

S olomon concluded that all pleasures are vanity (Eccl. 2:1). Laughter is madness (Eccl. 2:2); and mirth and wine are folly (Eccl. 2:2-3). He even concluded that joy is vanity. The joy referred to was not the product of an external factor. It was Solomon who was the source of his own joy. He engaged in all sorts of pleasure. Yet, he was telling us that even healthy laughter is not the key to happiness nor is it the source of lasting joy

We do not need to be a king to concur with Solomon. In our democratic society and in our pleasure-centered civilization, all kinds of pleasures are at our disposal. All kinds of pleasures are included: the innocent or the dangerous, the lawful or the unlawful, the painful or the sophisticated. We can enjoy the pleasure of a good meal or an evening in front of the TV set. We immerse ourselves in the exciting pleasure of a dangerous sport, the honorable joy of reading an edifying book, the spiritual pleasure of singing a hymn, the aesthetic joy of listening to great music or completing a piece of art and the sensual joy of sex or smelling a flower.

All these self-made pleasures are vanity. Solomon was saying that our joys are the product of our inner experiences and mindsets. Joy has no reality except what is given to it. It is of the same nature as a dream or mirage. It could be an illusion, the product of imagination or self-deception.

Joy is also vanity because of the time element. It does not last. It is an enjoyment for the moment. Indeed, the experience of joy is short. Very soon, we regress to the sad and ordinary reality of life. The void that comes after pleasure is all the more painful because the experience of joy was so intense.

This is precisely the reason many people use artificial means to prolong their joy. Some drink. They claim that strong reason and meditation is achieved from drinking. These joys are false, full of deception and death. These joys epitomize vanity at best. All these joys, initiated and shaped by our own hands, do not deserve respect or attention for they do not have value nor can they give hope by themselves. David praised God in Psalm 16:11. In Your presence is fullness of joy; in Your right hand there are pleasures forever. Jesus once told His disciples, These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full (John 15:11).

For God’s people, Jesus Christ is the source of joy and laughter because of the things He has done for us (Psalm 126:1-3)! We may not be laughing all the time because we do live in a fallen world, but we are going to get the last laugh and that laugh of joy will last for eternity!

GOOD WORKS ARE VANITY

JANUARY 14

Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the

labor that I had labored to do: and, behold, all [was] vanity and vexation of

spirit, and [there was] no profit under the sun. — Ecclesiastes 2: 11

T he thought that all our accumulations of wealth and experience will benefit someone else plagues many people. As Solomon sat on his balcony, the problem of succession troubled him. He examined his achievements, the grandeur of his works (Eccl. 2:4,9), his silver, his gold, his acquisitions, and his many women. In the midst of the autobiographical notes is the truth that we cannot take any of our prized possessions to the grave. This is precisely the reason Jesus says that we should lay up treasures in heaven (Matt. 12:21).

Solomon also indicated the fear of having his amassed wealth enjoyed by others who would squander his wealth. There was the chance that all his hard work would be demolished in a matter of minutes, and then he would be at ground zero again. Amassing wealth is like vapor because it can vanish. Even the work we do is vanity.

The phrase meaning to make in Eccl. 2:11 was a key word in the Creation story (Gen. 1:11, 12, 16, 25 etc). God was the subject in the making-process, but Solomon replaced God as the subject. Solomon said, I built for myself (Eccl. 2:4). The text indicates that even the building of the temple of God is included in the list of vanities. Religious and spiritual works can be vanities because they are oftentimes self-centered instead of Christ-centered. Human beings use their work to show their own glory and not God’s.

The secret intent of our work is what makes it vanity. Many have spent all the days of their lives working for the Lord, yet their works are mere vanity because they want to promote self. All efforts to promote self are in vain because someone else will ultimately benefit.

Suppose we work all our lives for an earthly future, striving to succeed at a career? What if after all of this, we realized that our lives, reputations, wealth and future have been jeopardized? Not only would our work be shaken, but the very foundation of our lives as well. If all this hard work is in vain, we have wasted this present life.

Being consumed with achieving success, may result in you failing at the very life you desired. You work so hard to acquire happiness that you lost it. In the process, you missed out on the quality of life: your sleep, the enjoyment of the beautiful sunset, the sublime taste of home-cooked meals and the opportunities for deep meditation with God. The quality of your relationships also suffered simply because you were committed to the holy-work. This failure to enjoy life because of work is precisely what makes your work nothing more than mere vanity. Only a relationship with Jesus will bring sweet flavor to life.

THE SNARE OF PLEASURE

JANUARY 15

Then I looked on all the works that my hands had done

and on the labor in which I had toiled;

And indeed all was vanity and grasping for the wind. There was no profit under the sun.

— Ecclesiastes 2: 11

S olomon admitted that his heart found pleasure in all [his] toils, yet all was vanity (Eccl. 2:10 NRSV). He knew the lures of pleasure and he knew its snares. He found that pleasure promises more than it produces. Its advertising agency is better than its manufacturing department. It holds out the possibility of exquisite delight, but the best it gives is titillation. It seeks to tickle the human spirit but cannot probe its depths. It daubs iodine on the human wounds when what is needed is surgery. It may distract us from our problems, but it cannot free us from them.

Living for pleasure has yet another snare. Pleasure satisfies only during the act. Repetition is the key to pleasure. One drink, one sexual fling, one contest won, one project accomplished, one wild party, yet there is no lasting satisfaction. The quest for pleasure is like playing video games. It is impossible to stop after the first round. The first begs for the gratification of the second. Instead of comforting us, each act of pleasure leaves us thirsty for the next. Donald Trump confessed, My attention span is short, and probably my least favorite thing to do is to maintain the status quo. Instead of being content when everything is fine, I start getting impatient and irritable. For me the important thing is getting, not having.

The pursuit of pleasure results in either boredom or frustration. If we gain the pleasure we seek, we soon become tired. If we do not get it, we are filled with disappointments. Those who give themselves to pleasure are often dissatisfied. Those who wish they could, but cannot are often bitter. If you are looking for a foundation on which to build your life, do not count on pleasure. Notice that on holidays, we take our trips to the amusement parks, but what a hollow and futile life it would be to be locked in that place permanently.

Jesus promised pleasure when He said, Seek first….God. (Matt. 6:33). The true pleasure that Jesus promises will be ours when we love Him. When all is said and done, what gives fullest pleasure is not recreation, entertainment, or accomplishment. It is fellowship with God and people. Pleasure of God or pleasure of the world? Jesus asks, Do you love Me more than these? Only the right answer will determine our future. The wrong answer is like a married man who sits over a beer at a bar when his wife is waiting at home with the promise of intimate and satisfying love.

WISDOM IS VANITY: PART 1

JANUARY 16

Then I turned myself to consider wisdom and madness and folly; For what can

the man do who succeeds the king?— Only what he has already done. Then I

saw that wisdom excels folly as light excels darkness. — Ecclesiastes 2:12-13

O ne of the ironies in the Book of Ecclesiastes – and perhaps one of its major lessons – is that, even wisdom as great as Solomon’s cannot bring a person lasting happiness when it’s used for purposes that do not fit under the umbrella of fear[ing] God and keep[ing] His commandments (Eccl. 12:13). In another book, Solomon wrote, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Prov. 9:10). He found that by themselves,