Sun 9:30a Class; 10:30a Worship; 11:35a Communion
Bible Bites
Life With Limits
Ecclesiastes 8.16-17 says, "When I gave my heart to know wisdom and to see the task which has been done on the earth (even though one should never sleep day or night), and I saw every work of God, I concluded that man cannot discover the work which has been done under the sun. Even though man should seek laboriously, he will not discover; and though the wise man should say, 'I know,' he cannot discover."
Human pride tells us that we can live life without limits. We are frequently told that we can do anything we set our minds to do. If we can conceive it and believe it, we can achieve it.
Humbug.
If anyone could have had a life without limits, it was Solomon. He had all the money, time and resources a man could want. He used those resources in a vain attempt to discover the good life (Ecclesiastes 1.12-18; 2.1-11). The verses quoted above were part of his conclusion. We cannot know everything. We cannot do everything. We cannot see everything. There is no such thing as a life without limits.
That is not all bad. With greater knowledge (or wealth or skill) comes greater responsibility and greater burden. We are frequently not up to the task. So why take on a burden that is not necessary?
An older preacher was once asked a profound question by a student. The older man thought for a moment and concluded, "I don't know." He thought a bit more and said, "I don't have to know." He thought some more and finally declared, "I thank God I don't have to know."
Limits have their advantages. For today, enjoy your limitations.
