AUGUST 5 - TEMPORARY PURSUITS
READ Ecclesiastes 12
The pursuit of temporal things is futile.
INSIGHT
Our society tends to breed materialism. Young couples expect to own a house, two cars, and maybe a boat. We dream of the day when we can afford to take exotic vacations and own a bigger house. Game shows offer spectacular prizes, and lottery tickets are sold by the thousands. But Solomon experienced tremendous wealth and found himself unhappy. He learned that eternal things matter most. God wants His children to invest their brief lives in others—not just in material things.
PRAYER
God has promised that He will provide His children’s needs. Let´s praise Him:
And why do you worry about clothes? Observe how the wildflowers of the field grow: they don’t labor or
spin thread. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was adorned like one of these. If that’s
how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and thrown into the furnace tomorrow, won’t
he do much more for you — you of little faith? But seek first the kingdom of God , and his righteousness,
and all these things will be provided for you (Matthew 6:28-30, 33).
Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
Therefore I tell you: don’t worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; or about your body,
what you will wear. Isn’t life more than food and the body more than clothing? Can any of you add one
moment to his life span by worrying?(Matthew 6:25, 27).
Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to mind. Now pray this affirmation to the Lord:
Ask, and it will be given to you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened to you. For
everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be
opened. If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your
Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him (Matthew 7:7-9, 11).
As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:
Offer this closing prayer to God:
And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in
Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7).
The pursuit of temporal things is futile.
INSIGHT
Our society tends to breed materialism. Young couples expect to own a house, two cars, and maybe a boat. We dream of the day when we can afford to take exotic vacations and own a bigger house. Game shows offer spectacular prizes, and lottery tickets are sold by the thousands. But Solomon experienced tremendous wealth and found himself unhappy. He learned that eternal things matter most. God wants His children to invest their brief lives in others—not just in material things.
PRAYER
God has promised that He will provide His children’s needs. Let´s praise Him:
And why do you worry about clothes? Observe how the wildflowers of the field grow: they don’t labor or
spin thread. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was adorned like one of these. If that’s
how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and thrown into the furnace tomorrow, won’t
he do much more for you — you of little faith? But seek first the kingdom of God , and his righteousness,
and all these things will be provided for you (Matthew 6:28-30, 33).
Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
Therefore I tell you: don’t worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; or about your body,
what you will wear. Isn’t life more than food and the body more than clothing? Can any of you add one
moment to his life span by worrying?(Matthew 6:25, 27).
Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to mind. Now pray this affirmation to the Lord:
Ask, and it will be given to you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened to you. For
everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be
opened. If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your
Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him (Matthew 7:7-9, 11).
As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:
- Contentment with the material possessions you own
- God´s provision for the less fortunate
- Safety of missionaries in Central America
Offer this closing prayer to God:
And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in
Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7).
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