Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.
Our world is full of frustration. A few years ago, there was a common statement on clothing and accessories. “Life’s a b - - - , and then you die.” I haven’t seen so much of the merchandise lately, but the attitude is still rampant. It’s a shame, because it is an entirely hopeless attitude. Psalm 16:4a captures the concept well. “The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply” (ESV). We expend our lives running vainly after some other god. It may be wealth, fame, health, youth, security, or the all-time favorite, ove. For that matter, it might be justice, “The God,” peace, or any number of lofty goals. Even though the goals may well be good things, as all those I listed are, we will only wear ourselves out in sorrow as we pursue them. We cannot truly capture them. They are false gods.
In distinction to those running after the false gods, the Psalmist says, “their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out or take their names on my lips” (Ps. 16:4b-c, ESV). The pursuits which the godly engage in is not fruitless. We don’t do things in the name of the false gods, such as justice, love, security, or even “World Peace.” Rather, in verse five, we live in the world with the Lord as our reward. As we do so, we may fid some of those things the sorrowful are running after. Maybe we will, maybe we won’t. But we will find the Lord and His good and wise blessing. These are not frustrating. They are not in vain. Would we like to avoid the life of vanity and disappointment? We can live for God.
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