Meditation

Hi there,

While still a nominal atheist trying to better himself, I spent most of my twenties attending Anthony Robbins seminars and walking over hot coals, desperately trying to awaken my insomniac "giant within".

Robbin's best seller, "Awaken The Giant Within," was literally my bible at the time. I read it constantly, marked it up thoughtfully, and even had a little devotional-style tear-off calendar with daily quotes taken from the book.

Each chapter was headed by a quote, meditation, or bon mot drawn from every strand of wisdom literature and thought. One that grabbed my attention was the opening lines of Ecclesiastes 3.

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:"

That brought me to Ecclesiastes, which I loved immediately, and this brings me to a particular favorite passage. Ecclesiastes 4: 1-12.

Today's text is Ecclesiastes 4: 5-8. Today's verses are in black. I've provided yesterday's and tomorrow's in grey for context.

Oppression, Toil, Friendlessness

4 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.

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 tranquillity 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.

A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

Encouragement

¹⁷ And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Colossians 3:17

​​Andy

God's Word In Your Hand​

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