Quick Devotional Thought - Ecclesiastes 7:10

Do not say, “Why were the former days better than these?” For you do not inquire wisely concerning this. - Ecclesiastes 7:10

There is something deeply ingrained in all of us that tends to look backwards. Since we cannot reasonably know exactly what will happen to us in the future, we often will think and meditate on what has happened to us in the past. While this can often lead to great insights, wisdom, and improvement, it can also lead to depression and disappointment.



The Wise Man

Solomon, a man endued with great wisdom from God, saw a potential pitfall in the backward glance, the danger of discontentment. By looking to the past we will often superimpose the warmest of feelings, not realizing that they might not be the full reality.


The Wise Life

Instead of always comparing the “these” to the “former”, we would do better to recognize that the “former days” were in one season and “these” days are in a completely different season. As Christians we can know how to abase and how to abound (Philippians 4:12) and how to be content in all seasons (Philippians 4:11). So even though there are seasons of laughing and morning, peace and war, and love and hate (Ecclesiastes 3), we know that each season has its purpose.


The Gospel Man

Paul said: I have not already attained, and am not already perfected: but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me (Philippians 3:12).

Seasons are just that - seasons. You might be in a more difficult season at this time, but don't let it get you down.  Trials have their purpose, one of which is to get us looking forward to heaven.  Let us press on and be all God has called us to be, looking forward to the personal fruit He has for each one of our lives!