Isaiah 55:2 Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food.

Anyone can copy and paste passages from the bible into a format to be shared via social media. So why should you listen to me?

You should not.

Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.  He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

Without a reference to a book, a chapter, and lines of text, do you know if this is the Word or just something I have made up to make myself sound important?

Many who have studied the Word understand. They know in their heart because they have taken the Word to heart and in their heart, He dwells.

How do I know if that is true? By experience in my life, not yours. If it rings true for you, it is because He bears witness of Himself, not me.

Now take this idea to the next level. The ancient scrolls were not divided up into chapters and verses. Those scrolls were copied with exacting precision, word for word without one single error. Parchments were expensive and if a line was not copied accurately it was destroyed.

How do we know that for a fact? You cannot take my word for it because I have not been given access to all the ancient scrolls to validate those assertions. Others have and those men are long dead and all they have to leave us are their words. Can we trust them?

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Who is Lord? If you have opened up your heart to the Son of Man and let Him in, then open up your heart and listen to the only One who will not lie to you.

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.

Ecclesiastes 1:13 And I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven. It is an unhappy business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with.

Seasons changed but the message remains the same.

What unhappy business are we chasing after?

1 Kings 3:5, 9 English Standard Version

5 At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night, and God said, “Ask what I shall give you.” 9 Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?”

1 Kings 3:10-12 English Standard Version

10 It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. 11 And God said to him, “Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, 12 behold, I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you.

This gift of wisdom was granted to King Solomon to rule over his kingdom and established the greatest earthly kingdom of its time.  Peace existed with his neighbors, trade flourished and all the surrounding nations sought to obtain his blessings.

That wisdom did not extend to his personal life. Solomon had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines; and his wives turned away his heart. When Solomon was old his wives turned away his heart after other gods; and his heart was not wholly true to the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father. When Solomon died, the ten northern tribes refused to submit to his son, Rehoboam, and revolted. From this point on, there would be two kingdoms of Hebrews: in the north – Israel, and in the south – Judah.

Mark 3:24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.

The seasons change but the message remains the same. We can seek and obey He who rules in our hearts or we can choose free will to chase after our personal desires. If the wisdom of Solomon did not save his kingdom, why do we think our wisdom will do any better?

• Ecclesiastes 1:2 Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity.
• Ecclesiastes 12:8 Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher; all is vanity.

The message remains the same no matter how many times we repeat it.