How Much IS Enough?

“Also I collected for myself silver and gold, and the treasure of kings and provinces. I provided for myself male and female singers and the pleasures of men – many concubines. Then I became great and increased more than all preceded me in Jerusalem.

“My wisdom also stood by me. And all that my eyes desired I did not refuse them. I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure, for my heart was pleased because of all my labour and this was my reward for all my labour. Thus I considered all my activities which my hands had done and the labour which I had exerted, and behold all was vanity and striving after wind and there was no profit under the sun.

“So I turned to consider wisdom, madness and folly; for what will the man do who will come after the king except what has already been done? And I saw that wisdom excels folly as light excels darkness. The wise man’s eyes are in his head but the fool walks in darkness. And yet I know that one fate befalls them both. Then I said to myself, ‘As is the fate of the fool, it will also befall me.

“Why then have I been extremely wise?’ So I said to myself, ‘This too is vanity.’ For there is no lasting remembrance of the wise man as with the fool, as in the coming days all will be forgotten. And how the wise man and the fool alike die! So I hated life, for the work which had been done under the sun was grevious to me; because everything is futility and striving after wind.” Ecclesiastes 2:8-17

“In one generation, Solomon took Israel from a fledgling kingdom dependent on God for bare survival to a self-sufficient political power. But along the way he lost sight of the original vision to which God had called men. Ironically, by the time of Solomon’s death, Israel resembled the Egypt they had escaped: an imperial state held in place by a bloated bureaucracy and slave labour with an official state religion under the ruler’s command. – The brief shining vision of a covenant nation faded away, and God withdrew His sanction. After Solomon’s death, Israel split in two and slid toward ruin.” *

Take care to understand His Word. Your servant and friend in Christ, Darlene

PS: New Prayer Requests: Milly, whose mother is dying in S. Africa. For Jim who had a massive stroke and his wife Linda. For Cris, whose father just had two stokes in a week and is hospitalised. For Di whose brother (55 years old) just passed away suddenly. Fred’s heart surgery. Lavie, whose 28-year old brother died unexpectedly. Casey, with huge life changes. Sue, battling paraneoplastic syndrome. Earl, with cancer and Lyle, his brother has been found to be a perfect match for bone marrow transplant. Lyle leaves to be hospitalised with him for a two week procedure. Pray for them both. Ulfur and David P – for strength to overcome the hold of powerful addictions. Adrian for loss of a special friend (and praise the Lord has helped him find a home and work).

JOB Related: Pray for those seeking work, that they will trust the Lord to be preparing the perfect role for them, even now as we pray: Barb and Carla both had job interviews recently, yet God has other jobs for them than the ones they interviewed for and did not get; and for Tim (as he supports Barb) who also needs work.

Praise: Leslie has completed her chemo and no signs of cancer remain. Freddy came home to see his mom! David (great health now!); Nancy (with head trauma) has passed 6 month mark and doing well. The other Nancy continues her battle with Ovarian Cancer.

Thanksgiving for: Reg, Carla and Paul.

Continue to pray for: Deb, special friend with multiple Myeloma, Isaias (family safety and his mission work in Philippines); God’s grace on USA. Wisdom for doctors caring for Doris, David, Poetry and Gary. Michael (his mum grows more frail); Randy (unexpected changes in his life). For Kevin (wisdom with his son).


*Disappointment With God, by Philip Yancey