Thursday, January 24, 2008

Cannot discover all that has been done

Eccles. 8:16-17
16 When I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done on earth, how neither day nor night do one's eyes see sleep, 17 then I saw all the work of God, that man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun. However much man may toil in seeking, he will not find it out. Even though a wise man claims to know, he cannot find it out.
  • Why is it impossible to know everything that happens?
    - How much time would it require just to truly know everything your family did yesterday?
    - What would be happening during the time you were learning about yesterday?
    - How does considering the struggle of knowing just one day influence your view of God who does know all that happens?
  • Why does mankind strive to know and understand everything that God has done?
    - What are some good motives for seeking to understand what God has done?
    - What are some not so good motives for seeking to understand what God has done?
    - Why do people want to take away God's credit for doing what He has done?
    - How many different scientific disciplines are there?
    - How many scientists are involved with each discipline?
    - How does knowing that they cannot learn all that God has done influence your view of God who knows all and has created it all?
  • Why might someone say that s/he knows something?
    - Why would someone want to know everything that is going on around them?
    - How is faith involved in not striving to know everything that happens?
Harold's Musings:
God through Solomon said that we cannot do it, but in today's world many of us try. Once upon a time, I received a number of work related publications each week. I diligently tried to read the pertinent articles. Eventually I diligently tried to read the headlines. Now they stack up on my desk. Along the way, I subscribed to eZines to get the information in my email. I spamed myself. I now use RSS readers to control when I check the news. All of this is just so I can feel like I know what is going on. On the other side, putting my head in the proverbial sand and knowing nothing is neither wise nor healthy. The problem lies within me and within the world that expects us to know. I see some more wind to chase.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

yes it's hard to control the flow of information and what to do with it...the world expects too much or too little, depending on what one is reading or watching, it's easy to feel either overwhelmed and hopeless or insulted and superior--no wonder some people just don't want to know...but i guess it's up to us to use our better judgment as we sift through all the incoming stuff--and to ask for the grace and compassion to aid us along the way

p.s. I haven't been by in a long time, isn't that typical? when the going is good--i forget about god's message...but look here, the going is good right now as i walk this path i've been staying, so maybe i'm learning slowly how to remember even when times are good...thanks as always