This, That, & the Other: 11/14-11/20/2021

A Truth that is Impacting Me

Say not, “Why were the former days better than these?” For it is not from wisdom that you ask this.

Ecclesiastes 7:10, ESV

What I find interesting is this verse is not concerned with whether the former days were objectively better than the present day. The verse is instead focused on your perspective and whether it is wise or not. I think all of us can look back to some kind of “golden season” of life where everything was easy and enjoyable. The Preacher in Ecclesiastes 7:10 is not saying that your “golden season” and the times of great difficulty are the same. Rather, the Preacher is concerned with an unwise attitude that is always comparing the present to some “better past” or the “good ole days.”

In fact, a few verses later, the Preacher in Ecclesiastes makes a complementary point:

In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider: God has made the one as well as the other, so that man may not find out anything that will be after him.

Ecclesiastes 7:14, ESV

Notice the perspective here: God has sovereignty ordained both days of prosperity and days of adversity for your life. But God’s purpose in ordaining these days is not always clear to you. Therefore, to ask “why are these present days worse than the former days?” is unwise for two reasons:

• You end up forgetting God is sovereign over all days and all seasons of life. Therefore, He has a purpose for your present
• You are asking a question that is impossible to answer in this life. To spend time asking and/or trying to figure out why “former days were better” ends up wasting your time and emotional energy.

So what is the wise response? When God does lead you through a time of joy and peace and pleasure, enjoy it and give Him the glory and thanks for it. But when you are in a darker, more difficult place, remind yourself God is sovereign and trust Him to guide you through it. Sitting around and asking questions God never promises to answer ends up taking you away from simply trusting Him. Instead, embrace the present season God has given you and pray He would empower you to live faithfully.

A Question for Reflection

What good things in your life are you using as a distraction?

Once when I was in college, a Professor said something I will never forget. He looked at us up-and-coming Engineers and said “In your life, family, and career, the hardest decisions you will make won’t be between the good and the bad. The hardest decisions will be choosing between the good and the great.” I would venture to say this quote is true not just in the big life decisions you make. Every day you choose between good things, and great or more important things.

Furthermore, even the good things you have in your life can end up distracting you from better things or more important things. For example, you might have an amazing job you love. That is a good thing. But perhaps you use that job as a way to distract yourself from dealing with difficult things at home. Or maybe there is a TV show you enjoy watching. But if you choose to watch that TV show instead of performing other necessary responsibilities, you are using a good thing as a distraction.

Don’t fall into the trap of thinking just because something is enjoyable that it is the right think to be doing. A common way of avoiding difficult things or keeping ourselves from honest reflection is distraction. Constant busyness. Using good gifts from the Lord to excuse ourselves from doing hard things He calls us to. Take stock of your life and examine whether you are using any good gifts as distractions from things you need to get done.

An Article to Read

Deacons: Shock-Absorbers and Servants

I recently taught a Sunday School on the role of Deacons in the Church. This article was helpful both when I first became a Deacon and as I was preparing to teach on the subject. Jamie Dunlop conveys a lot of wisdom in a very short article and the titles “shock absorber” and “servant” are memorable and thought-provoking. Give it a read to remind yourself about this important but often misunderstood Church office.

A Quote to Consider

In all other matters I will yield to any man whatsoever; but I have neither the power nor the will to deny the Word of God.

Martin Luther from “On Christian Liberty”

A Product to Buy

How Do You Read the Bible? By J. C. Ryle

This new release from the Banner of Truth is actually an excerpt from the longer J. C. Ryle book “Practical Religion”. That said, having a separate volume on this topic is a great idea and it makes a perfect gift for loved ones this Christmas. J. C. Ryle is without a doubt my favorite Christian thinker to read. He has a gift for communicating profound truth in a memorable way. You and anyone else you give this book to will be both challenged and blessed with it’s contents.

This post is part of an ongoing series “This, That, & the Other.” For other tools I have created to aid you in Bible Study and Church life, visit the “Tools” page. If you found this post helpful, share it below and subscribe to get resources like this delivered into your inbox. Follow The Average Churchman on Instagram to get more curated resources.