I am using One Year Bible Online for my daily Bible study. For today, One Year Bible Online links here. I have found that by writing this daily blog of what I see when I read these scriptures, I get more out of them. I hope that by posting these ruminations others may get some benefit as well. If you have any thoughts or comments regarding these verses or what I have written about them, please post them.

     I struggle with Ecclesiastes. As I read it, I think I see something, then the writer goes off in another direction and I am not sure if he meant to say what I thought I saw, or something else. Nevertheless, there are a few things I see in this passage. It is better to work with someone who you can trust and rely on. Two people can fill in for each other’s weaknesses and help each other up when they inevitably stumble and fall. When you come before God, listen before you speak. Don’t spend a lot of time talking about what you are going to do, just do it. It is good and proper to take satisfaction in the food and drink one receives and to be satisfied with the work one does because these things are gifts from God.

     Today’s passage starts of with Paul telling the Corinthians not to team up with unbelievers. The King James version says that we should not be unequally yoked with them. When I was growing up, and often since, this passage was referenced as an instruction against interfaith marriage. That is certainly consistent with what Paul is saying here, but it isn’t what he is saying. This is much broader than that. I believe that Paul is saying here that Christians should not go into business with non-Christians. That when Christians form groups to do good deeds, they should not form working partnerships with non-Christian organizations. Or at least be careful to ensure that if they do, the Christians are not the junior partners with little ability to influence actual policy in the project they are working on.
     In 1 Corinthians, Paul addresses division and conflict within the Church in Corinth. Now Paul writes that when he went to Macedonia, he ran into more conflict and division and he was starting to become discouraged. Then Titus arrived with word from the Church in Corinth. He told Paul how the Corinthians had taken his words to heart and resolved their conflicts in the manner which Paul had advised. Paul tells us that this encouraged him and washed away the discouragement that he was feeling. We should remember that God will provide us with the needed encouragement when we are becoming discouraged.

     This psalm rebuts those who think that Christians should always worship with quiet decorum. Our worship should be loud and boisterous so that people can tell that we are having a good time. This does not contradict Paul telling the Corinthians that the worship service should be orderly. The worship service should be orderly, but people should also be able to tell that we are enjoying ourselves.

     Those who use their position to gain wealth by oppressing the poor will end in poverty, as will those who seek to show their stature by giving gifts to those richer than themselves.