Ecclesiastes 1 Devotions by Stephen Taylor

Ecclesiastes 1:18

For with much wisdom comes much sorrow; the more knowledge, the more grief.

This verse seems backward to us, right? It would appear to us that the more we know, the happier we would be. The more we can understand things, the greater our joy would be. But as I have pondered this verse for about a day or so, I think the Holy Spirit has helped me to understand where the writer of Ecclesiastes is coming from. The closer and longer I walk with Christ, the more He teaches me and reveals to me what still lives in me. The more I know who I am and what still lurks inside of me, the more sorrow I have over my sin. How even though I have been bought with the blood of Christ, I still have a fallen sin nature running wild inside of me. My heart is the Lord’s, but parts of me still struggle with sin.

It breaks my heart – the depravity that lives inside of me and how it rears its ugly head at times. I long for the day when there is no more sin living inside of me, and I get to rejoice and worship my God in perfect purity of heart! The more I understand about the world and the travesties committed in it, the more sorrowful I become. People abusing each other for profit, turning on each other for gain. Denying the living God for the dying world. It’s sad and heartbreaking watching so many run headlong into destruction. The world rushes and swirls about us, moving ever closer to complete annihilation; all the while, there is a God in Heaven stretching out His hand to save them. How sad it is to know that many will never even realize He is there or that He wants to save them and call them His own.

So yes, the more we know, the heavier the burden is, but also the greater the opportunity to share Jesus with those around us. If we know the truth and the truth has set us free, then let us muster up the courage and boldness to share our faith in ways that glorify God. The Light is shining in the darkness, and the darkness has not, will not, and cannot overcome it! Though I still have sin lurking inside me, there is One who is greater than that living in there too, and He will not be consumed nor defeated! Thank You, Jesus!

John 1:1-5- In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made. In Him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

God bless! I love you all, but His love means the world to me, does it to you? Glory, honor, and praise now and forever to Papa God, Jesus Christ our King, and the Holy Spirit!