Wilson Pon
archilles
JessiccaSpiritual Health Food Sharing: Facing the uncertainties of life
September 20th 2009 17:58
Hi, although this is article does based on Spiritual walk, especially Christianity, but sometimes you can’t help but agree that the Bible actually has some pretty good points for you to apply in facing any daily lives, even in this era. I really hope that people of all faiths and believes can take a look and manage to learn something out of it.
Today I was blessed to have attending the Ecclesiastes series, where many Christians or anyone who read the this book before, would have found it very hard to finish it, because if you read it on surface, word by word, it DOES sound grim from the most famous wise king in history – King Solomon.
But if you learn to look at it another way, this book actually teaches us the practicality of real life, and how God, actually helps you to pull things through.
And I just managed to get to sit in and listen to chapter 9 and 10….
Facing the Uncertainties of Life
(Core reference: Ecclesiastes Chapter 9 and 10)
In short, all of us, of all ages, face uncertainties and tribulations, in all different degrees. It can really be anything, and the pastor has pointed out some crucial notes about it and how to overcome them.
(Crucial Point 1) Life is UNPREDICTABLE, Death is UNAVOIDABLE.
Reference from Ecc 9:1,11,12 (English Standard Version)
1: But all this I laid to heart, examining it all, how the righteous and the wise and their deeds are in the hand of God. Whether it is love or hate, man does not know; both are before him.
11: Again I saw that under the sun the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the intelligent, nor favor to those with knowledge, but time and chance happen to them all.
12: For man does not know his time. Like fish that are taken in an evil net, and like birds that are caught in a snare, so the children of man are snared at an evil time, when it suddenly falls upon them.
So, what can we see here? There are TWO THINGS in life, can upset all our plans, no matter how perfect we have structured it, is TIME and CHANCE.
TIME = Being at the right place, at the right time.
CHANCE = This refers to unexpected events that can happen, events that are usually out of our control.
And human’s MOST MAJOR PROBLEM is: You may be at the right place, but you usually don’t know when is the right time to be there.
Because of this problem, when we face uncertainties, us humans, usually ask ourselves, “Where do we turn to?”
Sounds drastic? Yeah, you can put into that point.
But what the scripture mentioned that although time and chance is not on our side, meaning that we are actually not in control in our lives; we, can still choose HOW WE REACT to situations when unexpected things hit us.
But how?
(Crucial Point 2) Put Your Hand in The Hand of God.
Ecc 9:1 and Psalm 37:22 – 31
The pastor then refers to the book Psalm, which this part of the scripture actually turned into a song. (King James Version)
For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off.
The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.
Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.
I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.
He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.
Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore.
For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.
The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever.
The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment.
The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.
(Ps: He was literally singing…
and asked the whole congregation to sing along with him)
Does that mean that IF we place our lives onto God’s Hand, life can be a bed of roses?
Actually – No, the pastor said.
In fact, it can be the other way round. It could be upside down, horrifying in your eyes, but when we know that He holds us firm and secure in His hands, even the slimmest chance that is based of what God has in store for you for His purposes, that slim chance becomes God’s guarantee.
He then gave an example on how, he, as a non-American, who studied Masters and ran out of money because of unexpected increase of tuition fees, managed to apply for a Social Security Card, without the “invalid for employment” chop (most foreign students will get this), and landed him enough jobs to survive through tuition, and save some money to bring home.
What is he trying to tell us? That do not give up so easily when you hit a roadblock, the unseen hand of God is in work on you.
But when you believe that you are in God’s hands, does this mean that you can just sit around and do nothing, and wait for things to fall on you?
Or, worse even, that bad things happen to you, you just sulk and say, “It’s God’s will”??
Example is like, if a girl is raped, and she just fall onto depression and said that “It is God’s will”? Or, when you are suddenly retrenched, you’d say that, “It is God’s will”?
CERTAINLY NOT!
Because this is just running away from problems, and you are not standing up again to allow God’s hand to move forward with you.
What does that mean? What do you mean by that? God’s Hand Moving forward with you? How?
YOUR POSITIVE ATTITUDE is one of them that can make a difference.
Refers to Ecclesiastes 10:1 – 20. (it’s a little too long, so I won’t put it here, please use Biblegateway.com to search for it)
1. Keep out the Dead Flies – Maintaining the Right Attitude with God.
What do you mean by “Dead Flies”
It means anything that is foul, from your body, to your mind, to your heart, to your spirit. Anything negative, destructive, etc, are “dead flies” in you.
2. Let Thy Hand be with me – Believe that what is right and what is just is with you, as long as you be humble and keep point 1. Because, ultimately, God is in control.
(Please refer to 1 Chronicles 4:9 – 10, and Ezra 8:22)
3. Opportunity: Seize the day!
Yea, like I mentioned earlier, by taking down the notes, is that, “Don’t just sit there, do something!” Now that should be straight forward enough.
We need to know that when we have great faith, that is when we get God’s attention; and when we have great faith, we can reap the great move of God’s hand.
Personal Note:
Bottom line, don’t let chance rule your life, by just sitting there wait for things to happen… be positive, be proactive, and seize good opportunities; and especially when you set your heart right (not by breaking all the rules and using the infamous “dog-eat-dog” system), you will get where you want to be.
And even if life is full of uncertainties in front of your path, you can still be firm, walk forward and smile, “Things will get through, and it will get better!”
I hope what I have learned today can be a blessing to you all.
Crucial Note:
This is not the exact pastor sermon, it is a lot longer with more details, this is a compilation from my notes while listening to the sermon, and how the sermon is speaking into my life.
Today I was blessed to have attending the Ecclesiastes series, where many Christians or anyone who read the this book before, would have found it very hard to finish it, because if you read it on surface, word by word, it DOES sound grim from the most famous wise king in history – King Solomon.
King Solomon
But if you learn to look at it another way, this book actually teaches us the practicality of real life, and how God, actually helps you to pull things through.
And I just managed to get to sit in and listen to chapter 9 and 10….
Facing the Uncertainties of Life
(Core reference: Ecclesiastes Chapter 9 and 10)
In short, all of us, of all ages, face uncertainties and tribulations, in all different degrees. It can really be anything, and the pastor has pointed out some crucial notes about it and how to overcome them.
(Crucial Point 1) Life is UNPREDICTABLE, Death is UNAVOIDABLE.
1: But all this I laid to heart, examining it all, how the righteous and the wise and their deeds are in the hand of God. Whether it is love or hate, man does not know; both are before him.
11: Again I saw that under the sun the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the intelligent, nor favor to those with knowledge, but time and chance happen to them all.
12: For man does not know his time. Like fish that are taken in an evil net, and like birds that are caught in a snare, so the children of man are snared at an evil time, when it suddenly falls upon them.
So, what can we see here? There are TWO THINGS in life, can upset all our plans, no matter how perfect we have structured it, is TIME and CHANCE.
TIME = Being at the right place, at the right time.
CHANCE = This refers to unexpected events that can happen, events that are usually out of our control.
And human’s MOST MAJOR PROBLEM is: You may be at the right place, but you usually don’t know when is the right time to be there.
Because of this problem, when we face uncertainties, us humans, usually ask ourselves, “Where do we turn to?”
Sounds drastic? Yeah, you can put into that point.
But what the scripture mentioned that although time and chance is not on our side, meaning that we are actually not in control in our lives; we, can still choose HOW WE REACT to situations when unexpected things hit us.
But how?
(Crucial Point 2) Put Your Hand in The Hand of God.
Ecc 9:1 and Psalm 37:22 – 31
The pastor then refers to the book Psalm, which this part of the scripture actually turned into a song. (King James Version)
For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off.
The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.
Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.
I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.
He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.
Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore.
For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.
The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever.
The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment.
The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.
(Ps: He was literally singing…
and asked the whole congregation to sing along with him)Does that mean that IF we place our lives onto God’s Hand, life can be a bed of roses?
Actually – No, the pastor said.
In fact, it can be the other way round. It could be upside down, horrifying in your eyes, but when we know that He holds us firm and secure in His hands, even the slimmest chance that is based of what God has in store for you for His purposes, that slim chance becomes God’s guarantee.
He then gave an example on how, he, as a non-American, who studied Masters and ran out of money because of unexpected increase of tuition fees, managed to apply for a Social Security Card, without the “invalid for employment” chop (most foreign students will get this), and landed him enough jobs to survive through tuition, and save some money to bring home.
What is he trying to tell us? That do not give up so easily when you hit a roadblock, the unseen hand of God is in work on you.
But when you believe that you are in God’s hands, does this mean that you can just sit around and do nothing, and wait for things to fall on you?
Or, worse even, that bad things happen to you, you just sulk and say, “It’s God’s will”??
Example is like, if a girl is raped, and she just fall onto depression and said that “It is God’s will”? Or, when you are suddenly retrenched, you’d say that, “It is God’s will”?
CERTAINLY NOT!
Because this is just running away from problems, and you are not standing up again to allow God’s hand to move forward with you.
What does that mean? What do you mean by that? God’s Hand Moving forward with you? How?
YOUR POSITIVE ATTITUDE is one of them that can make a difference.
Refers to Ecclesiastes 10:1 – 20. (it’s a little too long, so I won’t put it here, please use Biblegateway.com to search for it)
1. Keep out the Dead Flies – Maintaining the Right Attitude with God.
What do you mean by “Dead Flies”
It means anything that is foul, from your body, to your mind, to your heart, to your spirit. Anything negative, destructive, etc, are “dead flies” in you.
2. Let Thy Hand be with me – Believe that what is right and what is just is with you, as long as you be humble and keep point 1. Because, ultimately, God is in control.
(Please refer to 1 Chronicles 4:9 – 10, and Ezra 8:22)
3. Opportunity: Seize the day!
Yea, like I mentioned earlier, by taking down the notes, is that, “Don’t just sit there, do something!” Now that should be straight forward enough.
We need to know that when we have great faith, that is when we get God’s attention; and when we have great faith, we can reap the great move of God’s hand.
Personal Note:
Bottom line, don’t let chance rule your life, by just sitting there wait for things to happen… be positive, be proactive, and seize good opportunities; and especially when you set your heart right (not by breaking all the rules and using the infamous “dog-eat-dog” system), you will get where you want to be.
And even if life is full of uncertainties in front of your path, you can still be firm, walk forward and smile, “Things will get through, and it will get better!”
I hope what I have learned today can be a blessing to you all.
Crucial Note:
This is not the exact pastor sermon, it is a lot longer with more details, this is a compilation from my notes while listening to the sermon, and how the sermon is speaking into my life.
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Comment by Wilson Pon
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Honestly, I used to be a very passive person, when I was younger. However, when I becomes older and older, I learned something: Chance is not often appear in our life. Once it did, then we should grab the opportunity and make some miracle with it!