Eric When God ask solomon what do you want he didn't ask for riches or glory he ask for wisdom to Lead Gods people the Book of Ecclesiastes is his observation after having wealth honor riches and glory solomon boils life down to Ecclesiastes 12: 13 + 14.
It's as if Solomon knows the meaning of life and what indeed makes us happy. That which we already have. Rich or poor will not make a difference. Treasure what you have and make the most of it is the message I got.
Thank you again for your reply. Excuse me, I did not explain myself well when I quoted Ecclesiastes 6:11. The NIV Bible reads "The more the words, the less the meaning, and how does that profit anyone?". My point was just that we should keep our words few to enhance the meaning and be clear.
Your second paragraph, which begins with "I realize...", I agree with completely. But why do we have to cut God up into different pieces and say They are different Persons in the Godhead. Why can we not see it as one Person just having different jobs. For example, I am a father, a son, a husband, etc., but still I am just one person. Is it not possible that God is expressing Himself in the same way? And we misunderstand it as being different Persons in the Godhead?
In your 3rd paragraph you wrote "So we see the Father in Heaven, His Son (Word made flesh) at the Father's right Hand & His Spirit who indwells the believer & convicts men". This appears to show different Persons, but look at what the apostle John saw in Revelations 4:2 - And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. / ONE sat on the throne and no other deity next to It or at Its right Hand. And concerning the Spirit indwelling the believer: Was it not God's purpose from the beginning to have intimate fellowship with His children; God in His fulness, not a third of the fulness.
I am not so familiar with Jesus Only ideas so I cannot comment on that.
And last; you asked: "If Jesus was just a created Being, what difference is there between Him & the pure, spotless sacrificial animal?" Answer: Jesus is a spiritual sacrifice which can touch our spirits, making us repent, filling us with God's Spirit, making us sinless and not needing any more sacrifice for sins. (1John3:9 - Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.) Hallelujah!
Yes, dear Hugo, I was referring to our conversation on 'prophets'. Re: Ecclesiastes 6:11, I think you have the wrong reference; possibly Proverbs 10:19, though this too doesn't apply.
I realize that you're not denying the deity of Christ in one sense, but I would advise you that 'Trinitarians' likewise don't deny it either. A Trinitarian understanding of the Scriptures as you know, is that there is One God & that God has expressed Himself (& revealed to us) His Being. God shows us Himself also by His Word & His Spirit - you know the Scriptures that support this. Then at the appointed time ( Romans 5:6), God sent His Word ( John 1:14) to be clothed with flesh so that a full & permanent sacrifice could be made for sin unlike animal sacrifices.
After Christ's death, resurrection & ascension, He went to sit at the Father's right Hand ( Luke 22:69; Romans 8:34) where He "ever lives to make intercession for us" ( Hebrews 7:25; Romans 8:34). So we see the Father in Heaven, His Son (Word made flesh) at the Father's right Hand & His Spirit who indwells the believer ( John 14:17; Ephesians 1:13,14) & convicts men ( John 16:8). There is no such teaching from the Bible that Jesus only exists in Heaven & that the Father & Holy Spirit are now existing in Jesus. I know this is the teaching of the "Jesus Only" movement. The Father, the Son & the Spirit are still there & all three remain part of the Eternal Godhead (& yes, by all means, level your accusation at me), for the Bible is clear. If you have Scriptures to show that this is not the case, then I welcome your further input & my study.
Thank you for taking the effort to reply to my comment. Everything else aside, I appreciate your time. (You mentioned a previous conversation; perhaps you are confusing me with someone else, unless you mean that one comment about whether there are still prophets.)
Let us just be careful: Ecclesiastes 6:11 The more words, the less meaning. You wrote a lot but I do not see much which is relevant to the topic at hand. I never denied Jesus Christ His deity. In contrast, I think Trinitarians deny His deity. I clearly said that Jesus Christ is the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Trinitarians say He is not the Father or the Holy Ghost. Actually I should level the denying deity accusation at YOU!
You say that the man Jesus could not be a sacrifice for sins. You say it has to be God that is the sacrifice. I do not understand your reasoning. The reason why the animal sacrifice had to be done yearly is because the sinner is not cleaned of his sin. He is still a sinner. He will walk away and sin again. The animal was a yearly covering for the sin. So the important thing is not the sacrifice. The important thing it that the sinner should not be a sinner any more. That is what the Holy Ghost does for us. We are washed once in the blood of Jesus, and then we can be filled with the Holy Spirit. I do not see why you say it is of no use that God create a human being to be the sacrifice. Sinlessness is the key.
Peace & Love to you. May God allow us all to know Him intimately.
Two Bible verses the Lord brought to my attention a while back that gives me hope concerning the events in our time:
If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter: for he that is higher than the highest regardeth; and there be higher than they. Ecclesiastes 6:8 KJV
Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee; hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast.
For, behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain. Isaiah 26:20-21 KJV
The Lord WILL punish ALL sin, wickedness, blasphemy, abominations. We must pray for those committing such evil to repent and be TRULY saved. We also must pray for ourselves AND REPENT, CONFESS our sins to Jesus, beg His FORGIVENESS, be TRULY SAVED, OBEY HIM, and ENDURE to the end in Him, NEVER WAVERING.
I must confess that I am having difficulty living in this world. I feel many times like the man of God who was hiding in a cave thousands of years ago from Jezebel who wanted to kill him. She had already killed all the Lords faithful. He was sure that he was the only one left who loved and obeyed God, but God told him that He still had (I think it was 7,000) faithful in hiding. Before God told him that, he was intentionally starving himself to death due to recent events throwing him into a deep depression. Until God encouraged and reassured him, he did not want to live anymore. Please forgive me, I don't remember where in the Old Testament it is. If you type in your browser "Who was the prophet that hid in a cave from Jezebel?" it should come up.
WE - MUST - REMAIN - STRONG- IN - THE - LORD.
HE - IS - STILL - IN - CONTROL - NO - MATTER - WHAT.
The question that James E. asks is a wonderful question. When I viewed his question, i immediately went to Romans 1:18-19. I reference Old Testament (The Book of Deuteronomy), when It comes to how God's free will gives us the ability to recognize HIM as KING, yet when we allow ignorance in, and become puffed up, HE turns us over to our self will, for a time. I believe when people ARE NOT in the Word of God, they can make up false statements.
As Christians,we follow Christ Jesus, to him even those filled with Leprosy were precious souls, so please make sure your heart is right with Jesus and the father before you set examples, keep in mind there is only one righteous judge and that is Christ King and high Priest to the Father. If I have mistaken your phrase, I will humbly ask the the Father to forgive me, you also.
Do you have a Scripture verse that says this? I realize that some people might say it, but there are many people that say that some don't have it. So, just wondering what you are referring to specifically.
Most guys may not tell about their weaknesses for women or admit their true feelings for them...but Solomon had a real weakness for those beautiful unsaved foreign women. Over time he had nearly 300 concubines...that's a lot of women to be intimate with...and he let his desires over take his mind and his emotions. He was a king so he felt powerful enuf to live on levels others could only dream of.
Truly wise people who happen to be rich - are very seldom - joyful. To keep their wealth they have lots of 'concerns', and it's HARD to trust people with their business, embezzlers, bad advice, etc. Oh, they can laugh at a party, but it's not in their eyes. Earthly riches does not bring happiness. Many of their children die from drugs, and other bad judgment.
Delores - Solomon began good, but because he was blessed of God, above all men, in wisdom 'n riches - he gradually turned from God. He was lifted up in pride. His many women turned him to idol worship; he sacrificed children (pass through the fire) to the idols of Chemosh, Molech, etc - in the 'high places'. 1 Kgs. 3:3; 11:10; Deut.17:14-20. No, he never repented or God's word would say so.
The best interpretation I can put on this verse is that if a man works hard and overcomes adversity to create benefits for himself and his successors, what he creates, including monetary wealth, should be available to him to enjoy, not to some other person who has done nothing towards the creation of the benefits, e.g., immigrants ('strangers').
This book in the Bible teaches one how to live, think, speak, act...in God's perfect wisdom, not human errored and sin-filled way of living. Praise almighty Jesus.
Solomon has got to be the most depressing author in the scriptures. With all his riches, his wisdom and a united kingdom laid at his by his father David, he seems to lack any joy.
From the book of Ecclesiates I gathered that un guided life is calamity and destructive ,things should be done with God,s directive and guide line, He created the earth and knows how you can savely live on it without blame.
Praise the Lord,through Christ our Saviour . Ecclesiastes is a wonderful chapter, as it teaches to be seeking the spiritual part of out life on earth for the soul to prosper for life hereafter, But To seek material wealth and filled with all its glory is never satisfied or contend. Seek thee the kingdom of God.
I think that Solomon is trying to explain how wealth,and richness can lead us to condamnation if we do not make use of it wisely.Making us understand that being under the sun,where the supposed "good life " is known to be "swell ",will make us lose reason the purpose of our creation which is to bless the Lord with what he gives to us , making us realize that in the end Wealth,glory power are materialist things vanities we should be focusing on our relationship with Christ,rather than trying to become rich instantly.
Ecclesiastes teaches us how to be patient and wait on the lord. In his word he said he will give us our heart desire and that more. Let's not always look for the blessing but seek the blesser--- from which the blessings come from.
Its gud 2 serve him with our wealth. He is the Jehovah jireh; our provider. Why do we want blessings and not the blesser? I will serve him with all my wealth!
God gives you everything we desire but he lets us to decide what to do with it wheather we want to serve him with ourwealth or we spend in acorvous way but it is wise and accepting to serve God with our wealth
Thank you again for your reply. Excuse me, I did not explain myself well when I quoted Ecclesiastes 6:11. The NIV Bible reads "The more the words, the less the meaning, and how does that profit anyone?". My point was just that we should keep our words few to enhance the meaning and be clear.
Your second paragraph, which begins with "I realize...", I agree with completely. But why do we have to cut God up into different pieces and say They are different Persons in the Godhead. Why can we not see it as one Person just having different jobs. For example, I am a father, a son, a husband, etc., but still I am just one person. Is it not possible that God is expressing Himself in the same way? And we misunderstand it as being different Persons in the Godhead?
In your 3rd paragraph you wrote "So we see the Father in Heaven, His Son (Word made flesh) at the Father's right Hand & His Spirit who indwells the believer & convicts men". This appears to show different Persons, but look at what the apostle John saw in Revelations 4:2 - And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. / ONE sat on the throne and no other deity next to It or at Its right Hand. And concerning the Spirit indwelling the believer: Was it not God's purpose from the beginning to have intimate fellowship with His children; God in His fulness, not a third of the fulness.
I am not so familiar with Jesus Only ideas so I cannot comment on that.
And last; you asked: "If Jesus was just a created Being, what difference is there between Him & the pure, spotless sacrificial animal?" Answer: Jesus is a spiritual sacrifice which can touch our spirits, making us repent, filling us with God's Spirit, making us sinless and not needing any more sacrifice for sins. (1John3:9 - Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.) Hallelujah!
Peace & Love in Christ
Yes, dear Hugo, I was referring to our conversation on 'prophets'. Re: Ecclesiastes 6:11, I think you have the wrong reference; possibly Proverbs 10:19, though this too doesn't apply.
I realize that you're not denying the deity of Christ in one sense, but I would advise you that 'Trinitarians' likewise don't deny it either. A Trinitarian understanding of the Scriptures as you know, is that there is One God & that God has expressed Himself (& revealed to us) His Being. God shows us Himself also by His Word & His Spirit - you know the Scriptures that support this. Then at the appointed time ( Romans 5:6), God sent His Word ( John 1:14) to be clothed with flesh so that a full & permanent sacrifice could be made for sin unlike animal sacrifices.
After Christ's death, resurrection & ascension, He went to sit at the Father's right Hand ( Luke 22:69; Romans 8:34) where He "ever lives to make intercession for us" ( Hebrews 7:25; Romans 8:34). So we see the Father in Heaven, His Son (Word made flesh) at the Father's right Hand & His Spirit who indwells the believer ( John 14:17; Ephesians 1:13,14) & convicts men ( John 16:8). There is no such teaching from the Bible that Jesus only exists in Heaven & that the Father & Holy Spirit are now existing in Jesus. I know this is the teaching of the "Jesus Only" movement. The Father, the Son & the Spirit are still there & all three remain part of the Eternal Godhead (& yes, by all means, level your accusation at me), for the Bible is clear. If you have Scriptures to show that this is not the case, then I welcome your further input & my study.
Thank you for taking the effort to reply to my comment. Everything else aside, I appreciate your time. (You mentioned a previous conversation; perhaps you are confusing me with someone else, unless you mean that one comment about whether there are still prophets.)
Let us just be careful: Ecclesiastes 6:11 The more words, the less meaning. You wrote a lot but I do not see much which is relevant to the topic at hand. I never denied Jesus Christ His deity. In contrast, I think Trinitarians deny His deity. I clearly said that Jesus Christ is the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Trinitarians say He is not the Father or the Holy Ghost. Actually I should level the denying deity accusation at YOU!
You say that the man Jesus could not be a sacrifice for sins. You say it has to be God that is the sacrifice. I do not understand your reasoning. The reason why the animal sacrifice had to be done yearly is because the sinner is not cleaned of his sin. He is still a sinner. He will walk away and sin again. The animal was a yearly covering for the sin. So the important thing is not the sacrifice. The important thing it that the sinner should not be a sinner any more. That is what the Holy Ghost does for us. We are washed once in the blood of Jesus, and then we can be filled with the Holy Spirit. I do not see why you say it is of no use that God create a human being to be the sacrifice. Sinlessness is the key.
Peace & Love to you. May God allow us all to know Him intimately.
If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter: for he that is higher than the highest regardeth; and there be higher than they. Ecclesiastes 6:8 KJV
Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee; hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast.
For, behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain. Isaiah 26:20-21 KJV
The Lord WILL punish ALL sin, wickedness, blasphemy, abominations. We must pray for those committing such evil to repent and be TRULY saved. We also must pray for ourselves AND REPENT, CONFESS our sins to Jesus, beg His FORGIVENESS, be TRULY SAVED, OBEY HIM, and ENDURE to the end in Him, NEVER WAVERING.
I must confess that I am having difficulty living in this world. I feel many times like the man of God who was hiding in a cave thousands of years ago from Jezebel who wanted to kill him. She had already killed all the Lords faithful. He was sure that he was the only one left who loved and obeyed God, but God told him that He still had (I think it was 7,000) faithful in hiding. Before God told him that, he was intentionally starving himself to death due to recent events throwing him into a deep depression. Until God encouraged and reassured him, he did not want to live anymore. Please forgive me, I don't remember where in the Old Testament it is. If you type in your browser "Who was the prophet that hid in a cave from Jezebel?" it should come up.
WE - MUST - REMAIN - STRONG- IN - THE - LORD.
HE - IS - STILL - IN - CONTROL - NO - MATTER - WHAT.
Dear Kabarie,,
The best interpretation I can put on this verse is that if a man works hard and overcomes adversity to create benefits for himself and his successors, what he creates, including monetary wealth, should be available to him to enjoy, not to some other person who has done nothing towards the creation of the benefits, e.g., immigrants ('strangers').
Do you have a Bible comment or question?
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