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- Apr 25, 2006
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18 April 2007
Ecclesiastes 1:12-15
I, the Teacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem. I decided to use my wisdom to learn about everything that happens on earth. I learned that God has given us terrible things to face. I looked at everything done on earth and saw that it is all useless, like chasing the wind. If something is crooked, you can't make it straight. If something is missing, you can't say it is there.
I have a postcard which says:
The more I study
The more I know
*
The more I know
The more I forget
*
The more I forget
The less I know
*
So why study?
I'm sure many of you identify with this sentiment! Personally I seemed to have accumulated quite a lot of ticks in my eye-spy book of qualifications, but if there's one thing my learning has taught me it's that there is no end to the things I know nothing about! The Teacher begins today's reading in a similar way. He alludes to the fact that even with the wisdom of Solomon (and he may even be Solomon!) he, in reality, knows nothing. Wealth, wisdom and position do not guarantee that you'll understand life or understand God!
We live in a complex and rapidly changing world so we need to be constantly learning. But if you ever reach the point when you think you know all you need to know then make sure you have a good friend who'll tell you to wise up! One of the dangers of being a Christian for a few years is that you can think you know all there is to know about God and your faith. Let me assure you - you don't! You can never fathom the depths of God, and if you think you can know all there is to know about God, then the thing you call God is not the God of the Christian faith - if you see what I mean?!
Life will always contain those things that are beyond our understanding - but that should not faze us. Life should always have areas of mystery, things that make us gaze in wonder; things that make us go "wow"! Not least of which should be God.
Father God, forgive me for those times when I have thought that I know all there is to know about You and Your world. Help me never to lose the wonder and the "wow factor" when I contemplate all that You have created - including myself! Please give me the faith to live with mystery, and the wisdom I need to live for You in this messy and complicated world. Amen
Written by Christine Gore.
Ecclesiastes 1:12-15
I, the Teacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem. I decided to use my wisdom to learn about everything that happens on earth. I learned that God has given us terrible things to face. I looked at everything done on earth and saw that it is all useless, like chasing the wind. If something is crooked, you can't make it straight. If something is missing, you can't say it is there.
I have a postcard which says:
The more I study
The more I know
*
The more I know
The more I forget
*
The more I forget
The less I know
*
So why study?
I'm sure many of you identify with this sentiment! Personally I seemed to have accumulated quite a lot of ticks in my eye-spy book of qualifications, but if there's one thing my learning has taught me it's that there is no end to the things I know nothing about! The Teacher begins today's reading in a similar way. He alludes to the fact that even with the wisdom of Solomon (and he may even be Solomon!) he, in reality, knows nothing. Wealth, wisdom and position do not guarantee that you'll understand life or understand God!
We live in a complex and rapidly changing world so we need to be constantly learning. But if you ever reach the point when you think you know all you need to know then make sure you have a good friend who'll tell you to wise up! One of the dangers of being a Christian for a few years is that you can think you know all there is to know about God and your faith. Let me assure you - you don't! You can never fathom the depths of God, and if you think you can know all there is to know about God, then the thing you call God is not the God of the Christian faith - if you see what I mean?!
Life will always contain those things that are beyond our understanding - but that should not faze us. Life should always have areas of mystery, things that make us gaze in wonder; things that make us go "wow"! Not least of which should be God.
Father God, forgive me for those times when I have thought that I know all there is to know about You and Your world. Help me never to lose the wonder and the "wow factor" when I contemplate all that You have created - including myself! Please give me the faith to live with mystery, and the wisdom I need to live for You in this messy and complicated world. Amen
Written by Christine Gore.
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