24 June 2020 - Ecclesiastes 10:10-20

24 June 2020 - Ecclesiastes 10:10-20

Today’s passage: Ecclesiastes 10:10-20

Solomon reflects on the meaning of life in Chapter 10. His attention now turns to the wise and the foolish. In this chapter Solomon gives a tribute to wisdom’s excellence and warning of folly’s danger.

Watch your tongue!

Vs 11 If a snake bites before it is charmed, the charmer receives no fee.

UNTAMED/UNDISCIPLINED TONGUE  In Solomon’s court he may have had “snake charmers”. if the charmer is unwisely slack in exercising his craft, he will be bitten like other people. It is obvious that the charmer is untrained. So, is the one who talks unwisely– like a fool, and brings harm upon oneself.  Unwilling to be disciplined by God or godly people can be dangerous to spiritual life.

UNGRACIOUS TONGUE Vs 12 Words from the mouth of the wise are gracious, but fools are consumed by their own lips. – God has given us the power of the spoken word. Use them for the glory of God; be kind and compassionate not hurting and vindictive.

BABBLING OR MURMURING TONGUE Vs 13-14 words are folly; at the end they are wicked with multiplied words-talk is raving madness. A whining tongue is a sign of a bitter heart. Murmuring is always a godless pastime; a habit that thwarts our potential in God. It refuses to believe that God can conquer any problem or condition and refuses to recognize that God may use negative circumstances to accomplish His best in our lives and demonstrate His glory. Paul reminds us that “it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13), he then challenges us to, “Do all things without grumbling or disputing” (2:14)

Watch your leadership style

MATURE AND COMPETENT

Verse 16 speaks of an adult who behaves like a child, he lacks maturity and self-control. A leader that lacks good character often resorts to pleasure-seeking and drunkenness, and will surround himself with others who are just as immature and indulgent as himself.

verse 17 speaks of the blessing when being ruled by a mature leader who is marked by discipline and self-control. This man will be a “son of nobles,”  as in the case of Josiah, the child king. 1 Kings 22:1-2, “Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign…and he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, and walked in all the way of David his father, and turned not aside to the right hand or to the left.” Israel prospered greatly under his leadership.

 

The government, the church or the family is at a disadvantage when leaders do not do what is right in the sight of the Lord.

ACTIVE AND A FAITHFUL STEWARDSHIP

 Vs18 Through laziness, the rafters sag; because of idle hands, the house leaks.

Being lazy or procrastinating is failing to take advantage of God-given opportunities and abilities. Because we are born of God, we should emulate His example from creation to return and also be diligent workers ourselves. 1 Cor. 15:58, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.”

Vs19 A feast is made for laughter, and wine makes merry; But money answers everything.

There is a place for feasting, for rejoicing and being glad as we consume the good things the Lord has brought our way, Solomon’s statement that “money answers everything” (Eccl. 10:19) is a simple practical observation that wealth is a tool that can meet the need for food, clothing, shelter, and so on. It can meet the things of the corruptible world but in Ecc 12:4 he writes “the fear of the Lord as the heart of life” (Eccl. 12:13–14) it will not procure the pardon of sin, the favor of God, or salvation.

PRUDENT and TRUSTWORTHY

Vs 20 Do not curse the king, even in your thought; Do not curse the rich, even in your bedroom; For a bird of the air may carry your voice, and a bird in flight may tell the matter.

This is where the expression “a little bird told me” comes from.  Solomon is saying--a wise person doesn’t say in private something that he or she doesn’t want heard in public. Our inner intentions are weighed by the Lord. When we lose control of our tongue, our whole life can spiral out of control, and what’s worse, is we can misrepresent God.

Question to ponder and pray about

     1.       Our tongues, together with our sinful human nature, can tear down and destroy. But if we center our lives on Christ, our tongues can build up and edify others, and glorify God. What kind of signals are we sending to others around us?

     2.       If you are a leader in church, at work or the head of your home, what is your leadership style?