There's so many things wrong in this world.
'The Preacher' (King Solomon) searched them out..
'12 I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem.
13 And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith.
14 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.
15 That which is crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting cannot be numbered.'
Eccl. 1:12-15 (KJV)
Solomon says so much here..
1. God has given sore travail to the sons of man (mankind).
God does not hide this fact or deny the things that are done inextricably by His command (Isaiah 45:7).
2. Occupying one's mind with only the works done here on earth is vanity and leads to vexation of spirit.
Therefore, Christians ought to set their minds on things above and not earthly things (Colossians 3:2).
3. Everything wrong with the world we live in cannot be fixed. Neither can the number of things that need fixing be counted.
The Bible does not hide this truth.
Ever since 'The Fall' (When Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden) the earth has existed in a fallen state that is beyond saving (Genesis 6-7, God destroys the earth in a flood).
While Ecclesiastes can seem heavy or depressing, the book's purpose is to chronicle and acknowledge the struggles of mankind and how wrong this world we live in is.
When Christ came, He also came to bring us assurance that one day God will right the wrongs that are done. This is part of God's love.
Sometimes I see that people don't want to believe in God because of things that He allows to happen.
'Would a loving God let children in Africa starve to death'?
This is kind of cliché rhetoric but a fair question.
The reason such awful things are allowed to happen is because we live in a fallen world rife with sin.
I think a better question is, why aren't the billionaires doing something about worldwide hunger?
They appear to donate generous sums of money, but how much is it really relative to their total wealth?
It's nothing.
I want to end the post with this... Jesus tells several parables that relate to wealth and poverty.
There's one in particular I feel led to share.
'19 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:
20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,
21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.
27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house:
28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.
29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.
30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.
31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.'
Luke 16:19-31 (KJV - The Rich Man and Lazarus)
'Neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead'..
May God bless you and keep you, in Jesus name.
