ESOCS Devotional 28 December
TEXT: ECCLESIASTES 4:1-16
MEMORY VERSE: “And moreover, I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there; and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there.” Ecclesiastes 3:16 KJV
As the writer of the Book of Ecclesiastes continues his inquiry into the complexities of life on planet earth, he appears here to conclude that life’s contradictions will remain, as much as there are inconsistencies in moral behaviour. These are manifested in the fact that where there should have been justice and fair play, wickedness abounds, and where righteousness was expected to reign supreme, iniquity prevails.
Helplessly watching all the oppression that goes on under the sun, he saw the tears of the oppressed, with no one to comfort them. Most disappointingly, the oppressors have enormous powers economically, socially, or politically, so their victims are helpless. In the writer’s view, the present social and political environment most times produces a society wherein is no freedom. He goes ahead to opine that those who are dead are better off, as they no longer struggle to grapple with the oppressive regimes of the wicked. He further concludes that the yet to be born are even most fortunate (vs. 3-4). What a paradox?
In such a world, envy and jealousy reign, as one person antagonizes the skills of another. There is no peace of mind at work, due to inherent rivalries amongst colleagues (v 4). Yet, in the midst of this, the wisdom of cooperative effort cannot be overemphasized, as one person necessarily complements the efforts of another, while the one working or operating alone wallows in loneliness – to his detriment (vs. 7-12).
All in all, and however we look at it, two is always better than one, despite inherent atrocities.
Read yesterday’s ESOCS Devotional here
CHALLENGES
In a social world that is full of atrocities, can one justifiably operate alone?
PRAYER POINT
Lord, give us the grace of divine wisdom, to weather through the odds of this life. Amen.
FURTHER READING: Ecclesiastes 6:1-12; Luke 4:21-27; 4:28-36
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ESOCS Devotional 28 December
