InPerspective

Ecclesiastes 10
Ecclesiastes 10:12 says, “The words of a wise man's mouth win him favor, but the lips of a fool consume him.” Our foolish and futile attempts to live by our fatally flawed moral compass will only lead to destruction and misery. Instead, we must seek to reorder our steps according to the wisdom of God's Word as we follow our Lord Jesus Christ.

Ecclesiastes 10
Just like one bad apple spoils the barrel, Ecclesiastes 10:1 says, “Dead flies make the perfumer's ointment give off a stench; so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.” We can live in the freedom of wisdom and righteousness when we rid ourselves of the self-centered, self-reliant foolishness that characterizes life without God under the sun.

Ecclesiastes 9
Ecclesiastes 9:7 says, “Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart, for God has already approved what you do.” When you are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, you can celebrate a life of contentment in the Lord, the comforts of life that the Lord gives to you, the blessings of marriage and friendship, and the satisfaction of honest labor done to the glory of God.

Ecclesiastes 9
After one preaching engagement, 18th century evangelist George Whitfield said, “I was convinced I had made a mistake and was preaching in a cemetery instead of an assembly of God’s people.” Some people may see Christians as joyless and mirthless – but God's people are to be a people of joy and the house of God is to be a place of joy, due to our union with God in Jesus Christ.

Ecclesiastes 8
The redeeming grace that came to our nation in the 18th century Gospel Awakening brought the rich blessings of common grace to countless unbelievers. Yet God's judgment upon a nation for sin and unbelief can bring collateral damage to the lives of God’s people. We must be ready to negotiate these ups and downs in life as we live in the fear of the Lord during our earthly pilgrimage.

Colossians 1:19-23
The Apostle Paul reminded the Colossians what they were like before they came to know Jesus Christ – and it's not a pretty picture. Join Dr. Harry Reeder on InPerspective as he gives the biblical profile of a Christian with a transformed life.

Puritan preacher and theologian John Owen said that the fear of God in the life of a believer is when the smile of God is that which you most desire in life, and the frown of God is that which you most want to avoid. The one who does not fear God may seem like he is prolonging his days, but he is really enjoying the patience of God while the fearsome Day of Judgment is inevitable.

Ecclesiastes 8
Benjamin Franklin once wrote, "In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes." Every person, whether rich or poor, wise or simple, powerful or humble, faces the same grim certainty of death. It's a subject we would rather avoid, but the book of Ecclesiastes wrestles honestly with this stark truth. What insights can we glean from Ecclesiastes 8 about the reality of death?

Ecclesiastes 8
Skeptics tend to view any type of religious belief as blind faith – a leap into the dark, in the face of all reason, logic, and scientific evidence. Others define faith as mere wishful thinking, or an uncertain hope that everything will somehow work out in the end. But Ecclesiastes shows us that faith in the Lord is not a leap in the dark – it is a leap into the LIGHT, firmly rooted in the truth of God's Word.

Ecclesiastes 8
The epistle of James says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him” – and that wisdom from God will impact the way you relate to those in authority over you. What does the example of Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego teach us about the relationship of God's people with civil magistrates and governing authorities?