For Reading and Meditation:      Ecclesiastes 9:7-10"Go, eat your food with gladness," Solomon says, "and drink your wine with a joyful heart" (v. 7). Hedonists reading these words might think: "Just what I want ... freedom to go out and indulge myself." But hold on, read the next line: "Always be clothed in white, and always anoint your head with oil" (v. 8). That is a symbolic statement meaning - keep yourself clean. Solomon is not giving us permission to gorge ourselves, but to focus on one day at a time and enjoy every day as it comes. A paraphrase of what he is saying here which might be helpful is this: "The arguments for the meaninglessness of life are powerful - injustice, suffering, sudden death, criminals getting away with murder while the good die in penury and shame. My mind tells me to give up the search for meaning because there isn't any. But as I reflect on God, I find my heart beating again with the hope that I shall spend eternity with Him. Because of that I can go on, eating my food with gladness and drinking my wine with a joyful heart." Solomon's counsel continues: husbands, enjoy your wives (v. 9). Enjoy, not put up with. You have a wife? Love her. Live it up and have fun in your marriage. Don't wait until you retire to enjoy life. Then Solomon adds: "Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might" (v. 10). The only thing some people throw themselves into is their beds at night - weary, and utterly spent. They don't enjoy life; they simply endure it. You enjoy God; enjoy living too.Gracious loving heavenly Father, save me from thinking that I must wait until I die before I live. I will live more fully then, but help me to throw myself fully into life in the here and now also. In Jesus' Name I ask it. Amen.

Let a little light into your soul every day with this wonderful devotional from English pastor Selwyn Hughes.

Every Day Light with Selwyn Hughes

"Always be clothed in white, and always anoint your head with oil." (v. 8)

"Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do," refers to works that are possible. There are many things which our heart findeth to do which we never shall do. It is well it is in our heart; but if we would be eminently useful, we must not be content with forming schemes in our heart, and talking of them; we must practically carry out "whatsoever our hand findeth to do." One good deed is more worth than a thousand brilliant theories. Let us not wait for large opportunities, or for a different kind of work, but do just the things we "find to do" day by day. We have no other time in which to live. The past is gone; the future has not arrived; we never shall have any time but time present. Then do not wait until your experience has ripened into maturity before you attempt to serve God. Endeavour now to bring forth fruit. Serve God now, but be careful as to the way in which you perform what you find to do-"do it with thy might." Do it promptly; do not fritter away your life in thinking of what you intend to do to-morrow as if that could recompense for the idleness of to-day. No man ever served God by doing things to-morrow. If we honour Christ and are blessed, it is by the things which we do to-day. Whatever you do for Christ throw your whole soul into it. Do not give Christ a little slurred labour, done as a matter of course now and then; but when you do serve him, do it with heart, and soul, and strength. But where is the might of a Christian? It is not in himself, for he is perfect weakness. His might lieth in the Lord of Hosts. Then let us seek his help; let us proceed with prayer and faith, and when we have done what our "hand findeth to do," let us wait upon the Lord for his blessing. What we do thus will be well done, and will not fail in its effect.

This timeless classic from Charles Spurgeon will help to both start and end your day with wonderful insight into God's Word.

Charles Spurgeon's Morning & Evening

"Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might." - Ecclesiastes 9:10

Morning Devotional

The work of the Lord is so important, pressing, sublime and awebegetting that a curse rests upon anyone who does it negligently. The God who wants and deserves the best cannot bear with sloth, delays, halfheartedness, or slipshod methods. When we think of the tremendous issues involved, we are not surprised.During the latter part of 1968 a young Christian in Prague, Czechoslovakia witnessed to another young Czech named Jan Palach. There seemed to be a genuine interest on Jan's part, and so the Christian promised to deliver a New Testament to him. He was filled with good intentions but he let weeks pass before he even obtained the New Testament. Then he kept delaying its actual delivery.On January 16, 1969, Jan Palach stood in St. Wencelas Square, poured gasoline over his body and set himself afire. He never lived to see the New Testament that had been promised to him.Good intentions are not enough. It has been said that the streets of hell are paved with good intentions. But they don't get the work done. They must be translated into action. And here are a few ways to do it.First, never refuse when the Lord directs you to do some act of service for Him. If He is Lord, then it is ours to obey without question.Second, don't procrastinate. Delays are deadly. They rob others of needed help and blessing, and fill us with guilt and remorse.Third, do it diligently. "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might" (Ecclesiastes 9:10). If it's worth doing at all, it's worth doing well.Finally, do it for God's glory. "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God," (1 Corinthians 10:31).We should all have the spirit of Amy Carmichael, who wrote, "The vows of God are upon me. I may not stay to play with shadows or pluck earthly flowers till I my work have done and rendered up an account."

With reverence, humor and skill, William MacDonald wove a daily devotional tapestry that challenges the reader to think deeply and Biblically, and apply God's Word to their lives.

Truths to Live By - One Day at a Time

"Cursed be he that doeth the work of Jehovah negligently." (Jeremiah 48:10 ASV)

Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going. § Whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. § Whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord. § I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. § Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business? § Zeal for Your house has eaten Me up. Brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble. § We desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. § Run in such a way that you may obtain it.

Daily Light on the Daily Path or Daily Light is a Christian daily devotional scripture reading published by Bagster & Sons about 1875. It has been reprinted continually since then. It consists of brief groupings of scripture passages which speak to prominent Biblical themes—two themes (morning and evening) for each day of the year. It appends no commentary, but simply allows scripture to speak for itself.

Morning Daily Light

 Not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord. 

Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on. They may rest from their labors, and their works follow them. § There the wicked cease from troubling, and there the weary are at rest.  § Now Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?” Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going. § The dead do not praise the Lord, nor any who go down into silence. I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day. There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.

Evening Daily Light

 The night is coming when no one can work. 

In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread till you return to the ground. § We commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. § Aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands. Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going. § The night is coming when no one can work. Let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. § Always [abound] in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. There remains … a rest for the people of God. § To us who have borne the burden and the heat of the day. § “This is the rest with which you may cause the weary to rest,” and, “This is the refreshing.”

 Man goes out to his work and tohis labor until the evening. 

10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the realm of the dead, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom.

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Ecclesiastes 9:10

 10 Whatever   your hand finds to do, do it with all your might,   for in the realm of the dead,   where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom.  

From Wikipedia: 

The New International Version (NIV) is an English translation of the Bible first published in 1978 by Biblica (formerly the International Bible Society). The NIV was published to meet the need for a modern translation done by Bible scholars using the earliest, highest quality manuscripts available. Of equal importance was that the Bible be expressed in broadly understood modern English.

The NIV is published by Zondervan in the United States and Hodder & Stoughton in the UK. The NIV was updated in 1984 and 2011 and has become one of the most popular and best-selling modern translations.

OT: Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia; additional sources;
NT: UBS Greek New Testament; Novum Testamentum Graece; additional sources;

New International Version

 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the realm of the dead, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom.

Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the realm of the dead, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom.

 Whatever   your hand finds to do, do it with all your might,   for in the realm of the dead,   where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom.  

Bible Verse of the Day

April 28, 2022

Ecclesiastes 9:10 NIV

Verse by Verse Bible Study

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