As the earth cries out from the pains of human affliction, I
look around and see people crying out with pains from self-affliction and those
oppressing others. It is like an endless finger pointing and hammering of words
meant to hurt and destroy the soul of man.
Much of history is about the pains we caused each other. By now one
would think we could have learned valuable lessons and grown immensely, but the
blind continue to lead the blind. If
love covers a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8) and not one of us righteous of
our own doing (Romans 3:10 and Ecclesiastes 7:20); why do we keep going around the
same mountain generation after generation? Why can't we love another and treat
each other the way we want to be treated?
After all, hurt people, hurt people. When does the hurting stop and we
look in the mirror and seek healing for the person we see in the reflection. If we pursued healing ourselves over hurting
others, we might see a world change and faith ignited.
Ecclesiastes 4 New
International Version (NIV)
Oppression, Toil,
Friendlessness
Again I looked and saw all the oppression that
was taking place under the sun: I saw the tears of the oppressed— and
they have no comforter; power was on the side of their oppressors — and they
have no comforter.
2 And I declared that the dead, who had already died, are happier than the living, who
are still alive.
3 But better than both is the one who has never been born, who has not seen the evil that is done under the sun.
3 But better than both is the one who has never been born, who has not seen the evil that is done under the sun.
4 And I saw that all toil and all
achievement spring from one person’s envy of another. This too is meaningless,
a chasing after the wind.
5 Fools fold their hands and ruin
themselves.
6 Better one handful with tranquility than two handfuls
with toil and chasing after the wind.
7 Again I saw something meaningless
under the sun:
8 There was a man all alone; he had
neither son nor brother. There was no end to his toil, yet his eyes were not content with his
wealth. “For whom am I toiling,” he asked, “and why am I depriving myself of
enjoyment?” This too is meaningless— a miserable business!
9 Two are better than one, because
they have a good return for their labor:
10 If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.
11 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone?
12 Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves.
10 If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.
11 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone?
12 Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
Lord, set our hearts on a mission to change ourselves and our spheres of influence. Show us how to join together and go out two by two, as You sent the disciples out among the people. Grant us Your companionship to form a cord of three strands. In this union, help us to understand our power come through a divine union with the Almighty one who has already defeated the enemies of our souls. With this revelation Lord, we declare we are overcomers by the Blood of the Lamb and the Word of our testimony. It is in Jesus' mighty name we pray, Amen!
