Can't get no satisfaction

Eccles. 1:5-8

5 The sun rises, and the sun goes down,
and hastens [1] to the place where it rises.
6 The wind blows to the south
and goes around to the north;
around and around goes the wind,
and on its circuits the wind returns.
7 All streams run to the sea,
but the sea is not full;
to the place where the streams flow,
there they flow again.
8 All things are full of weariness;
a man cannot utter it;
the eye is not satisfied with seeing,
nor the ear filled with hearing.

Footnotes
[1] 1:5 Or and returns panting

• How many times have you said, "If I could just do/finish [fill in blank]"?
• What are you implying about satisfaction by your statement?
• How many times has the task been truly finished?
• How are the internal demands for time and energy like the sun rising or the wind blowing?
• How are the external demands for time and energy like the sun rising or the wind blowing?
• How many times have you said, "If I could just get/have [fill in blank]"?
• What are you implying about satisfaction by your statement?
• How many times have you been truly satisfied with your want?
• How much are you like the ocean?
• What song have you liked so much you wanted to hear it almost all the time?
• How often do you want to hear it now?
• What recipe have you liked so much that you wanted to eat it at every meal?
• How long did it take before you didn't want it for every meal?
• How often do you feel weary, not tired but weary?
• How is being weary different from being tired?
• What is your most common cause of weariness?
• Why are the things under the sun, the things of this world so appealing?
• How much satisfaction do the things under the sun provide?
• Where are you trying to find satisfaction?

Empty, It's all empty

Ecclesiastes 1:1-4

1:1 The words of the Preacher, [1] the son of David, king in Jerusalem.

2 Vanity [2] of vanities, says the Preacher,
vanity of vanities! All is vanity.
3 What does man gain by all the toil
at which he toils under the sun?
4 A generation goes, and a generation comes,
but the earth remains forever.

Footnotes
[1] 1:1 Or Convener, or Collector; Hebrew Qoheleth (so throughout Ecclesiastes)
[2] 1:2 Hebrew vapor (so throughout Ecclesiastes)

• How often have you staked your pride, identity, hopes, and dreams to something on earth?
  
• How much does your job mean to your pride, identity, hopes, and dreams?
  
• How much does your family mean to your pride, identity, hopes, and dreams?
  
• How much does your favorite sport mean to your pride, identity, hopes, and dreams?
  
• How much does your favorite entertainment mean to your pride, identity, hopes, and dreams?
  
• What has happened to the things that you have cherished the most over the years?
  
• Why would the richest, wisest, most famous, and most powerful king of Israel look back at his life and consider it futile, meaningless, vain, and empty?
  
• How many people today look back on their life and find it futile, meaningless, vain, and empty?
  
• A person works hard on the job for 25 years, contributed ideas that helped the organization, sacrificed hours with his family, considered church as a way to network with influential people, smoozed the bosses, and generally tried to advance himself. Suddenly the organization changes and he finds himself laid off or demoted. What advantage did he have in his work under the sun?
  
• A person has researched an area of study for 30 years. He has fought for funding, operated the lab, guided the graduate students, written paper after paper, and grown expert in this area of study. In his personal life, he has sacrificed hours with his family and considered spiritual matters unproductive. One day a new article is published that shakes the foundation of all his research and shows it to be inaccurate because of new and different research. What advantage did he have in his work under the sun?
  
• A person has been successful. She has fought her way through the glass ceiling. Along the way she has had to make choices. She gave up getting married. She gave up a family. She had no time for spiritual things, because she had to make it and she has. She is now wealthy, retired, and alone. Her fortune will be left to charities and her cats. What advantage did she have in her work under the sun?
  
• How many times over the centuries have these sorts of things happened?
  
• What word(s) would you use to describe these lives?
  

The Power of Prayer

James 5:13-20

13 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. [1] 17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. 18 Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.19 My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, 20 let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.

Footnotes
[1] 5:16 Or The effective prayer of a righteous person has great power

• In what situations does James recommend prayer?
  
• Why might you be reluctant to confess your sins to another person?
  
• How does it help when both parties confess their sins to each other?
  
• Which seems more powerful to you: prayer that stops rain for over 3 years or prayer that asks for forgiveness from God?
  
• Why might you be reluctant to try to turn a straying Christian back to the truth?
• What is the benefit of turning back a straying Christian?
  
• How does your relationship with other Christians determine how fully you will obey this passage?

Harold's Musings:
This passage says so much to me about the type of relationships that a Christian should have. The level of openness and interdependence is hard to grasp. Running throughout is the thread of prayer for one another. While I struggle with v. 15 and whether saving is eternal or physical and whether the lifting up is out of bed or into heaven, the point is clear: we need to be praying for each other and we need to share our needs with each other. The most difficult but perhaps the most important is the confessing sins to each other and the corresponding prayer. Some groups expect confession to be unidirectional, which is not what James says. We need to be open with each other, even to sharing our flaws. Tough stuff for poor old Harold.

Don't Swear

James 5:12

12 But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.

• Why does James consider this command to be above all the others that he has stated?
  
• How does this command impact "swearing in a witness", "swearing into an office", etc.?
  
• How does this command impact "taking the oath of office"?
  
• In what way does swearing or taking an oath put you at risk of judgement?
  
• Why has this little admonition been seemingly ignored in the recent past?

Harold's Musings:
Interesting little verse tucked in among the "big" topics. Very similar to Jesus' teaching on the mountain (Matt. 5:33-36). James puts the essence of Jesus' teaching between "above all" and "condemnation". It seems that James considered swearing something to be extremely risky. Swearing or taking an oath connects your well being with the anchor of the oath. Breaking your oath carried a cost. Here the cost seems to be condemnation. The only one who can condemn is God; thus it seems that God considers oaths and swearing something special as well. While we are seldom "sworn" into office, we probably promise stuff all the time. From my perspective a promise is very much the same as an oath. "Cross my heart and hope to die" is a common swearing/oath that kids say. What do you think? Are promises and oaths the same? Should we be cautioning our children about their oaths?

Patient Endurance

James 5:7-11

7 Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. 8 You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. 9 Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door. 10 As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.

• How does the coming of the Lord influence you daily life?
  
• Why is it often easier to be patient about the big things than it is about the small thing?
  
• What does grumbling about one another have to do with patience and endurance?
  
• Which would you rather do: patiently endure suffering or receive comfort?
  
• How frequently are you impatient with God?
  
• What is usually the circumstance when you are impatient with God?
  
• If Christ is full of compassion, why are you having to endure the hurts in your life?
  
• When will the hurts of your daily life be over?

Harold's Musings:
My life is full of deadlines, projects, long-range goals, and tactical plans. While I am very aware of the power of a clear long-term vision, results are accomplished in the "now". I find I don't get impatient about the long-term stuff, but I am most certainly impatient about the "now" stuff. I change my impatience by focusing on the long-term plan.
I think my spiritual view is the same. I'm patient about the Lord's coming, but impatient that things are not going my way now. Somewhere I think we have grown to believe that the Declaration of Independence statement "pursuit of happiness" is a Biblical teaching. Even though I know I shouldn't, I want my happiness, and I want it now. I don't want to endure hurts and struggles. But I find that I need to focus on the long-term fact of Christ's coming in order to endure the "now". Jesus is coming, folks. Hang on to that hope.

Woe to the Rich

James 5:1-6

5:1 Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you. 2 Your riches have rotted and your garments are moth-eaten. 3 Your gold and silver have corroded, and their corrosion will be evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure in the last days. 4 Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, are crying out against you, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. 5 You have lived on the earth in luxury and in self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned and murdered the righteous person. He does not resist you.

• Why would James include this passage in a book to Christians?
  
• Do you consider yourself rich?
  
• How much of your energy and thought goes toward your possessions?
  (Consider getting, maintaining, enjoying, etc)
  
• How much of your energy and thought goes toward your pleasure?
  
• When have you mistreated someone in order to make or keep money?
  
• When have you hurt a relationship over money?

Harold's Musings:
There was obviously some rich Christians among James' readers else he would not have included this. James comments are much like Jesus' in Matthew 6:19-21. This passage comes immediately after he addressed quarrels with others over desired things, warnings about being friends with the world, pride and judging others, and making plans to make money. The lead-in for this passage indicates just how dangerous our wealth can be. One of the major areas of conflict in marriages is money. Worries about money are probably among the most common worries of people in the US. So who is your god? The everlasting God or temporary stuff? That is a lot to think about.

Planning and Boasting

James 4:13-17

13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— 14 yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. 15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” 16 As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. 17 So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.

• How frequently do you make plans without considering God?
  
• What might change in your routine plans if you considered God first?
  
• How would your plans change if you knew you only had a fixed time to live?
  
• Why is planning without God considered boasting and arrogance?
  
• How does v. 17 fit into the passage?
  
• Why is it so easy for you to plan so much of your life without considering God's will first?

Harold's Musings:
This passage puts me to shame. It is my nature/personality to be looking at the future and making plans to achieve something. Usually this is at work where it is a major part of my job. The problem is not the planning. It is the leaving God out of the plans. I read about Nehemiah and his in-front-of-the-king prayer before presenting his request and I am ashamed. I make my plans and maybe remember to ask God to bless this one before I go to the next plan. I have been told by others (and my self) that God gave me the ability and that using the ability is enough. That is not what this passage says. This passage also does not say that merely taking on "Lord willing" covers the plan. I've got some plans to make today. I need to start praying now.

Judging One Another

James 4:11-12

11 Do not speak evil [1] against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. 12 There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?

Footnotes
[1] 4:11 NAS: speak against one another; NIV: slander one another; NKJ: speak evil of one another

• In light of the previous warnings about the tongue, what sort of fires are started by speaking against a brother?
  
• What does a judge do?
  
• How do you pass judgment against others?
  
• Why would slandering or judging a brother be considered speaking or judging God's word?
  
• What is said about the one who judges God's law/word?
  
• When are you most tempted to speak evil of others? (Consider circumstances, feelings, physical condition, etc.)
  
• Who do are you most tempted to speak against and why?

Harold's Musings:
I've blogged about this passage before. I want to look at it today in its bigger context. So far in this letter, we've seen that partiality is wrong. Isn't common for us to overlook a fault in a friend but speak against another for doing it? Sounds like partiality. He talked about only looking at God's Word and not doing what God wants. James has addressed the good old tongue, which is the match that we use to burn others with our words when we speak against them. Quarreling commonly is just me judging you and eventually speaking against you. It comes down to this: we believe that we are the correct judge of people in oh so many ways. Even if we do not say a word, but in our hearts we judge them we are telling God that His word is inadequate, that your new rule should be added to his, and that He should deal with the situation now. Boy, are we ugly when we do that?!? May God have more mercy on us than we do on others.

Draw Near

James 4:4-10

4 You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? 6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.

• How is God's grace connected to your humility?
• What is necessary to be close to God?
• Which of the actions listed are the hardest for you to do?
  
• What are the rewards for being close to God?

Harold's Musings:
No, I did not just copy yesterday's blog. I want to focus on the last four verses. I have heard for much of my life to resist Satan. That is definitely in this passage. What I have not heard so much is the requirement to submit to God as a key to resisting Satan. What I have perceived is that it is just between Satan and me, but as I read this, it starts with my humility before God. Our pride of life is a foothold for Satan. Our pride of life allows Satan to blind us to our sins and wrong attitudes. Our pride of life results in a lack of trust in God. Drawing near to God means to draw near on His terms, not walking up to Him with our heads held high. When you are being tempted today, ask God to show your prideful heart and then humble yourself. I'm not sure the arrogant fallen angel can deal with a truly humble heart. I think he will run.

Divine Jealousy

James 4:4-5

4 You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”?

• When have you been jealous of someone?
• What is it like to be a friend of the world?
  
• When are you more likely to be tempted to be a friend of the world?
  
• How does God feel when you are friends with the world?
  

Harold's Musings:
I've had my moments of jealousy. Generally these have occurred when a close friend was friendly with someone else. On a few occasions this involved a girl and then the feelings were even stronger. I knew the jealousy was wrong, but the feelings were real. Sometimes I forget that God has feelings. I have an underlying image of God as a cold, dispassionate judge in white robes. I intellectually know better but... It is hard for me to think that God is jealous of me when I snuggle up close to the world and the sin connected to it. It is hard to think that I am God's enemy all over again because I am a friend of the world. God loves you and me. He wants what is best for you and me. He knows that our friendship with the world will hurt us very badly and He does not want to see that. Perhaps I should be thinking more of God's feelings and how I don't want to hurt Him.

You Started It!

James 4:1-3

4:1 What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions [1] are at war within you? [2] 2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.

Footnotes
[1] 4:1 Greek pleasures; also verse 3
[2] 4:1 Greek in your members

• What are you most likely to quarrel or have conflicts about?
  
• Which pleasures wage war within you and result in conflict?
  
• What sort of murder is he talking about here? (look at Mat 5:21-22)
  
• What are the reasons you might not have the things you desire?
  
• What portion of your prayers are requests for physical things for you?
  
• What portion are requests for physical things for others?
  
• How might the tongue play a role here?

Harold's Musings:
Pretty condemning passage. Definitely boot camp material. One of the first things that jumps out is the concept of passions/pleasures within us. Very reminiscent of James 1:12-15. Our selfish nature is the root of most of our spiritual problems. Small wonder Jesus taught so much about dying to self. We do not have because we do not ask and when we do we ask for the things that are causing quarrel, i.e. our pleasures. In the heat of a quarrel, we say things with the tongue that kill relationships or at least wound them because we want to win. We want the stuff we want more than we want what is best for others. Our prayers are more focused on our physical wants than on our spritual needs. Ouch! I thank God for His mercy and grace, because reading this makes me realize just how far I have to go in my walk.

What True Wisdom Looks Like

James 3:13-18

13 Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. 15 This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. 18 And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

• Which "wisdom" in this passage would you want to ask God for?
• What is likely in the heart of a "know-it-all" person?
  
• How often do you struggle with jealousy and selfish ambition?
  
• What is society's opinion of jealousy and selfish ambition?
  
• What is God's opinion of jealousy and selfish ambition?
  
• What does the wisdom from above sound like to you? (Gal 5:22-23)
  
• What appears necessary to have peace?

Harold's Musings:
Bitter jealousy and selfish ambition is demonic and unspiritual. Wow! What a condemning statement about the culture we swim in. I mean, isn't it just smart to try to get ahead, even at the expense of my fellow worker? As I reflect, I think that phrase, "isn't it just smart", should be a warning siren that what comes next probably is not God's wisdom. The world around us considers it dumb to be merciful, peaceable, and gentle. The person striving to get ahead is always striving and that is not peaceful. The world's wisdom cannot compare to God's wisdom (1 Co. 1:20-24) so why do we seek it over God's wisdom. Sorta shows we are not wise, huh?

Beast Taming

James 3:7-12

7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. 10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? 12 Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.

• Why would James state that no one can tame the tongue?
  
• Why are you more likely to say bad things about your fellow man than about God?
  
• When are you more likely to lash out, put down, or otherwise say bad about others?
  
• What prompts your tongue to get out of control?
  
• What is the real source of "tongue" problems?
  
• How does focusing on the outside problem (tongue) keep us from dealing with the inside problem (self-oriented, self-protection)?

Harold's Musings:
It is tempting to spend our energy on controlling our tongue without addressing the source of the fire that your tongue can produce. Jesus said in Matthew 15:18-20 that what was in the heart determined what came from the mouth. So we are back to our self-serving, self-reliant, easily tempted self. Should you think before you speak? Absolutely! Should you look deep inside (or maybe not so deep in some cases) and find the unloving, unbelieving attitudes that generated the desire to say something beastly? Absolutely! I think I need to go look down my mouth using a mirror.

Tongue the Terrible

James 3:1-6

3:1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. 2 For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. 3 If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. 4 Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. 5 So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell.

• Why did James jump immediately from being a teacher to controlling the tongue?
  
• How does this discourse on the tongue relate to the previous passage on claiming to have faith?
  
• In what areas do you have to struggle with your tongue?
  
• Why is the tongue so difficult to control?
  
• When has your tongue been like the fire in verse 6?
• When have you made disparaging remarks about someone because of their life situation?
  

Harold's Musings:
Yeah, I know I covered this before, but it is the next passage in line and, hey, it is an important issue to discuss. When I look at this passage in its context, something pops out. Earlier James talked about partiality and how we treat others. He then went to faith and works with an example of the needs of the poor not being met by words alone. Now he looks at teachers and tongue. Could he be considering the teacher who proclaims their faith and understanding of scripture but doesn't show it by action? Could it be that a teacher, who has a position of influence, is making remarks that show partiality and thereby teaches partiality? I've heard preachers and teachers make "humorous" remarks about groups of people. Doesn't that say to their audience that it is OK to think poorly of that group? What are you going to teach with your actions and tongue today? Partiality or God's love?

The Value of Works

James 2:21-26

21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; 23 and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. 24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25 And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? 26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.

• When you are shopping for something and believe that what you have just found is the best combination of quality and price, what do you do? If you decide not to buy it, why not?
• How do faith and action work together?
  
• Which is more important to you, faith or works? Why?
  
• Why do you resist doing some things that God tells you to do? Is it a faith or a works problem?
  
• What would a stranger think of your faith from only looking at your life?
  
• What can you do to increase your faith?
  
• What can you do to increase your works?

Harold's Musings:
The works vs faith struggle continues, and yet it seems to be a fake battle. This passage points out that true faith with always be manifested by works. Granted it is possible to do the works for the wrong reason (the Pharisees were apparent masters of this), but most of the true challenges to action in my life start with my trust in God. Do I really trust God enough to give up my favorite sin? Do I believe in my heart that God wants me to tell others about Jesus? Am I assembling with other Christians to encourage them the way God wants or just because it is my lifelong habit? Choosing between faith and works is like choosing between your lungs and your heart. You really need both to survive.

What faith?

James 2:14-20

14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! 20 Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless?

• What is the main topic of this passage: faith or works?
• Why is it easier to say you believe something than to fully live it?
• Why is it easier to believe that you believe something than to fully believe it?
• How do works demonstrate faith?
• When might works not demonstrate faith?
• Which comes first: faith or works?
• What things do you believe that you are not living fully? Do you really believe them?
• How does knowing that God might use you to answer your prayers change your prayers?

Harold's Musings:
The faith versus works battle has been raging since the first century. James is believed to be the earliest New Testament books. He has been leading up to this point from early in chapter 1. Things are going to happen in your life. Pray and don't doubt. Study God's word and do it. Now we see the argument clearly stated, but when you have already taken sides it is difficult to see clearly. James is addressing those people who say they believe but are not living a life that shows their faith. People are showing partiality to rich people and ignoring the poor that God has elevated. This passage does not say that works are better than faith or that you can work your way to heaven. It does say that true faith is demonstrated, not just felt. True faith passes on the love and mercy that God has shown you, regardless of the costs. Why do we want faith and works to be an either/or situation? Because conflict seems to let us off the hook of obeying.