What kind of pleasure do you seek in order to gratify your desires? Pleasure is defined as “enjoyment, delight, amusement, or happiness.” Too often, we seek happiness apart from God. Solomon sought pleasure from wine, women, and song: “I thought in my heart, ‘Come now, I will test you with pleasure to find out what […]
Solomon Pursued Pleasure for the Sake of Gratification (Ecclesiastes 2:1)
Solomon Pursued Money for the Sake of Security (Ecclesiastes 5:10; 7:12)
Where do you turn for security? Is it a person, a place, or a thing? Security connotes “safety, refuge, or a sanctuary.” Oftentimes, we seek security from money. Solomon was wealthier than any other king on the planet (see 1 Kings 10:23). “The weight of the gold that Solomon received yearly was 666 talents” (1 […]
Solomon Pursued Military Might for the Sake of Control (Ecclesiastes 4:13-16; 8:2-10)
Do you ever abuse control? When given more responsibility, do you exercise more and more authority over those around you? Control means “to roll against.” When seeking control, we roll our will against others. Pursuing the development of his own mighty hand, Solomon experienced control issues. Israel’s king ruled over God’s people (see 1 Kings […]
Solomon Pursued Possessions for the Sake of Significance (Ecclesiastes 2:4-8a, 11)
Have you ever pursued the accumulation of possessions for significance? Significance includes the word, “sign.” In essence, significance says, “Hey, look at me.” Sometimes, we think possessions will bring us the attention and meaning we seek. No one has attempted this at the level of Solomon. The King of Israel constructed the temple in seven […]
Solomon Pursued Earthly Knowledge for the Sake of Contentment (Ecclesiastes 1:12-18)
Have you ever encountered God, yet pursued knowledge, possessions, might, money, or pleasure apart from Him to satisfy your desires? No one in history did this like Solomon. Solomon was the Son of David and Bathsheba; named Jedidiah, which meant “loved by the Lord” (see 2 Samuel 12:24-25). He became Israel’s third King who led […]
In Christ to Instruct – Connect with the Heart of Others (2 Timothy 2:22-26)
Have you ever tried to debate someone into the kingdom of heaven? Perhaps, what started out as a healthy exchange of different experiences led to a foolish argument that didn’t honor the heart of Christ. Paul taught we connect with the heart of others by avoiding stupid arguments that produce quarrels (see 2 Timothy 2:23). […]
In Christ to Instruct – Heart to Heart (2 Timothy 2:22-26)
When you communicate with others, do they connect with God’s heart? When we are in Christ to instruct, we connect heart to heart. We engage with God’s heart to reach the hearts of others. God’s heart is the vertical component of the cross; the hearts of others represents the horizontal component. What is the spiritual […]
In Christ to Instruct – Getting the Word into Our Words (2 Timothy 2:14-21)
How often does the wisdom of the Bible flow into your words? When we are in Christ to instruct, we get the Word into our words. The Word represents the vertical, our words the horizontal. We are to keep reminding others of what we glean from the Word, warning them before God against quarreling words […]
In Christ to Instruct – Learn to Teach (2 Timothy 2:1-13)
When we are in Christ to instruct, we learn to teach. Learning is the vertical component of the cross; teaching is the horizontal. In order to learn, we must engage in the grace of Christ. Paul wrote: “You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 2:1). There […]
In Christ to Instruct – 4 Barriers to Evangelism and Discipleship (2 Timothy 2:1-2)
How do you plan to equip and release future generations with the gospel of Christ? Rarely is this question addressed because we remove ourselves from the responsibility for at least four reasons captured in the following statements: “I’m not worthy;” “I’ll create conflict;” “I don’t have time;” or “I don’t know enough.” First, we feel […]
Pray or Prey? (1 Peter 5:7-10)
How do you respond when you are stressed? There is something about worry or anxiety that screams our need for God. When conflict in our hearts arise, our response is either to pray or become prey of the enemy. The Apostle Peter clearly understood this internal battle. Peter wrote: “Cast all your anxiety on him […]
House of Leadership – Four Walls That Disconnect Us From Others (Proverbs 24:5b)
Are you building walls or bridges in your interpersonal conflict? Left unchecked in conflict, we build four walls that disconnect us from others. First, we hold on to conflict, mulling over our selfish perspective of the two objects attempting to occupy the same space at the same time. Second, we foolishly seek the satisfaction of […]
House of Leadership – The Furnishings are Knowledge (Proverbs 24:4)
How well do you know the opposing person in your conflict? Once our house is built, it is time to furnish it. Solomon concluded: “Through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures” (Proverbs 24:4). Knowledge is the connection of the innermost part of two or more persons through the Spirit of God. […]
House of Leadership – The Framework is Understanding (Proverbs 24:3b)
Are you experiencing a conflict where your relationship is falling apart due to a misunderstanding? After digging our footer and laying our foundation, God builds our framework. Solomon continued: “And through understanding it is established” (Proverbs 24:3b). Understanding is insight that occurs through the Holy Spirit (Proverbs 9:10). Established means “to build up.” In order […]
Online with God – 30 Day Experiment (Matthew 6:6)
When and where do you pray most frequently? Jesus taught: “When you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret will reward you” (Matthew 6:6). Two thousand years ago in Palestine, the only room with a door […]
Surrender to be Spirit-Led (Psalm 145:18-21)
Where do you place your trust when you are tempted? We have an innate tendency to trust in our own strength, often falling prey to the temptation, rather than surrendering to the power of God who is present with us, ready, willing, and able to deliver us. David was so in tune with the closeness […]
Yield (Psalm 145:17)
Are you holding on to a past hurt by someone who has wronged you? If so, how is it affecting your relationship with God? David recognized God’s unlimited righteousness and love: “The Lord is righteous in all His ways and loving toward all He has made” (Psalm 145:17). Righteousness and love are two components of […]
Ask (Psalm 145:13b-16; Matthew 6:11)
What do you ask of God when you pray? Because David depended on God, he asked Him to supply his needs. He recognized God as faithful, loving, restoring, giving, and satisfying (see Psalm 145: 13b-16). Today, we are offered the same opportunity to ask God to supply all our needs in Christ (see Philippians 4:19). […]
Renew (Psalm 145:8-13a; Romans 12:1-2)
How often do you renew your mind from the toxic thoughts that enter it? David renewed his mind to be focused on God’s kingdom rather than his own. A kingdom is the effective reach of one’s will. In a monarchy, a king’s will reached to the ends of his kingdom. However, atypical of an eastern […]
Praise (Psalm 145:1-7)
How frequently do you take time to praise God? Praise means “to bend down and to lift up.” David bent the knees of his heart and lifted up the name of God daily: “I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name for ever and ever. Every day I will praise […]