Loving Jesus Style

  Scripture: Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 (ESV) 9  Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their toil. 10  For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Devotion:             The wisdom of the author of Ecclesiastes resonated with me deeply in an incident that occurred about 12 years ago. I was walking with my dog and loyal companion, Marcy, on a chilly winter morning. A patch of ice sent me tumbling, and I lost consciousness upon impact. Marcy, sensing the urgency, dashed back to our apartment building and found someone to assist me. Thanks to the timely help of a dog and some kind strangers, I made a full recovery after a brief hospital stay.             The wisdom of this ancient writer continues to hold true in our modern society, manifesting in various ways. We...

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 8:15 (ESV) 15  And I commend joy, for man has nothing better under the sun but to eat and drink and be joyful, for this will go with him in his toil through the days of his life that God has given him under the sun. Devotion:             The writer of Ecclesiastes offers real, down-to-earth wisdom. Today, we see him extolling the virtues of joy and contentment. The writer seems to be saying that these are God-given gifts to all people if they will receive them. The writer admits that we have to toil in perhaps not the most pleasant tasks. At the end of the day, however, God rewards all His children with joy and contentment in their eating, drinking, and relaxing.             In the 21st century, however, we are told that joy and contentment are for fools. Meaning is to be found not in passive enjoyment but in activities of all kinds. Eating...