Thursday 14 November 2013

Read Ecclesiastes 10:4-7

A little folly can very quickly and very easily destroy a lot of hard work.

The higher a person’s position in society the greater havoc a little folly can wreak. Solomon considers the folly of a nation’s ruler. Perhaps he saw this in his own kingdom or the kingdom of his son, Rehoboam. This son foolishly refused to listen to wise counsel. He adopted the unwise counsel of young men and everyone suffered intensely (see 2 Kings 12ff). A little folly was the immediate cause of the dividing of the kingdom of Israel. 

From a ruler’s perspective the temptation is to do what’s popular but the necessity is to do what’s right. Doing what’s right is not always popular and doing what’s popular is not always right. We’ve all seen modern day politicians trying to win votes by promising to do the popular thing. We rarely see votes being won on promising to do the right thing.

Solomon pictures the ruler who can’t control his anger and appoints fools into high positions while the wise (or rich) occupy lowly positions. The unwise ruler has allowed wise men to go about barefoot like slaves and slaves to ride on horseback—the transport of kings and wise, wealthy men.  In this kingdom of the unwise ruler it’s an upside down world. If you can picture such a nation with such an unwise ruler you can probably work out that this nation has little hope for the future. The nation will be brought to ruin by the foolishness of the ruler. A little foolishness undoes a great deal of wisdom and honour.

No wonder we’re called to pray for our kings, rulers and for those in authority.

Prayer:

Write down your prayer points in the space provided. Use today’s reading to help you get ideas.

Adoration:

Confession:

Thanks:

Supplication:

ª Ask the Lord to give the decision makers in your church great wisdom and insight into the Word of God. Pray that He would take away their foolish desires, their selfishness and self interest and allow them to work for the blessing and growth of the saints.

ª Pray that God would give our youth group leaders wisdom and the ability to teach the youth the ways of the Lord. Pray that the youth would grow in wisdom and shine the light of Jesus among their peers.

 Discussion Questions For Families and Groups

1. What does it mean to guard your heart?

2. Why does God tell us to guard it above all else?

3. What does ‘the well spring of life’ mean?

4. List ways you can guard your heart.