Thursday, September 08
Ecclesiastes 5 : 11-20
11 When goods increase,
they are increased that eat them:
and what good is there to the owners thereof,
saving the beholding of them with their eyes?
12 The sleep of a labouring man is sweet,
whether he eat little or much:
but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep.
13 There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun,
namely, riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt.
14 But those riches perish by evil travail:
and he begetteth a son,
and there is nothing in his hand.
15 As he came forth of his mother's womb,
naked shall he return to go as he came,
and shall take nothing of his labour,
which he may carry away in his hand.
16 And this also is a sore evil,
that in all points as he came,
so shall he go:
and what profit hath he that hath laboured for the wind?
17 All his days also he eateth in darkness,
and he hath much sorrow and wrath with his sickness.
18 Behold that which I have seen:
it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink,
and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he taketh
under the sun all the days of his life,
which God giveth him:
for it is his portion.
19 Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth,
and hath given him power to eat thereof,
and to take his portion,
and to rejoice in his labour;
this is the gift of God.
20 For he shall not much remember the days of his life;
because God answereth him in the joy of his heart.
Today's Prayer...
Lord God, our Father in heaven,
We turn to you in these times when we are under so much
stress and temptation.
Let your light glow in our hearts to give us firmness, patience,
and perseverance throughout the time of testing,
no matter how long it lasts.
Your hand can change everything.
Your hand can shorten the time we must wait until your light shines
out of the darkness of death and evil,
until your light reveals your life to your children and to the whole world.
You are our God and Father as you have promised,
and remaining at your side,
we look to you in faith and trust.
You will bring about goodness, justice, and mercy
as you have promised,
and so fulfill your will.
In the Name of the Most Holy we
pray in Jesus' Name
Amen