October 18 - An Open Hand.

​Proverbs 13:11
“Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase.”

Anything we obtain to feed our pride is vanity. 

Throughout the Book of Ecclesiastes we find Solomon regretting all the things in he life that he found out were nothing but vanity and vexation. He understood that most of his choices had no eternal value, and that he wasted so many opportunities.  

Ecclesiastes 1:14-18 
“I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit. That which is crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting cannot be numbered. I communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I am come to great estate, and have gotten more wisdom than all they that have been before me in Jerusalem: yea, my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge. And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit. For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.”

Solomon, the man who asked God for wisdom to rule His people, allowed his flesh to transform his God given wisdom into wastefulness. If it’s possible for his choices to affect his life so drastically, none of us are immune. 

We must choose to use the wisdom that we receive for our good and God’s glory by investing in eternity. The best way we can invest is by giving.

Acts 20:35
“I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

We must gather with an open hand, willing to give to those around us. Jesus told His disciples that the only way we can keep something is by giving it away. Anything we try to keep for ourselves will be lost in light of eternity.

Mark 8:35
“For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.”

Rather than living in pride, may we strive to live wisely and give of ourselves as the Lord leads us to do so.

Luke 6:38
“Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.”


Bible Reading:
Jeremiah 9-10  |  John 14  |  Proverbs 18