Read: Ecclesiastes 9:1-12
The righteous and the wise and their deeds are in the hand of God. (v. 1)
Three years ago, we came back from our August camping trip only to discover that the deer had wiped out our entire vegetable garden. Every single tomato was eaten, and the beans looked like a mower had cut them down. Only a few potatoes and carrots remained. Our efforts seemed futile in light of the devastation, but eventually we realized that, while we couldn’t control the deer around us, we could build a fence!
The Preacher of Ecclesiastes was troubled about the futility of his work, and the inevitability of his death and how it could overturn all he had done. These ideas are repeated in Ecclesiastes 9, but we also see his understanding that humanity is not in control of life or death; these things are in God’s hand. While there is evil in this world, it is sin that causes “the hearts of the children of man” to be full of evil and madness (v. 3). And there is also good to be enjoyed! We should eat and drink with a merry heart, enjoy the spouse that we love, and work with all our strength. This is our God-given “portion in life” (v. 9).
Trying to control everything around us leads to weariness and feelings of futility. Remember that God has a plan, and the wisdom and power to control all things for our good and for his glory (Rom. 8:28). Our lives and our work are safe in his hands.
As you pray, commit the situation that worries you the most right now to God and trust him to work it out for good.
Laura N. Sweet is a wife, mother, grandmother, and former Christian school teacher from Midland, Michigan. She writes devotional material for both adults and children, and her work has appeared in more than a dozen publications.
