I’ve got some worrisome family that warned us for our trip to Gulf Shores about swimming in the ocean: “Watch out for sharks!” Of course, we did, but I’ve never seen one in person. I’ve never heard the music that plays in the background when sharks come near (Jaws taught me to listen for it). And it’s a good thing, because once you hear the music, it’s probably too late.

We’ve been warned to watch out for sharks, but no one ever mentions to, “Watch out for the jellyfish.” The fact is, jellyfish are far more dangerous. Each year they kill more people than sharks do.

Do you ever take a walk in the park? Has anyone said, “Watch out for the bees?” Did you know that bees kill more people each year than sharks and jellyfish combined.

We tend to spend our lives worrying about sharks (whether we ever go near the water or not), because sharks are big and scary. And we tend to ignore other threats because, by themselves, they’re not all that intimidating.

Don’t let the little things in life fool you. We ignore them at our peril.

Every good marriage … Every good employee … Every good business succeeds because they’ve learned to pay attention to the little things.

Jesus told a story about a servant who was given some money to manage, and because he managed it well, he was rewarded by his master. The master said …. “You have been faithful in handling a small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities” (Matthew 25:21).

Our greatest wins and losses in life result from our ability to master the seemingly minor details of life.

For example:

· Reading a few verses of Scripture and spending some time in prayer each day may not seem significant to some, but its long-term effect is revolutionary.

· Making the effort to bite your tongue may not seem that important, but in the long run, it could save a relationship.

· Giving a customer a little extra attention might not seem like such a big deal, but it could pave the way for our next promotion.

Don’t give the sharks more attention than they deserve – especially at the cost of ignoring the jellyfish. It’s the little things that hold us back, and the little things that move us forward.

They’re our greatest danger and our most powerful weapon.

A man and his friend were in downtown New York City, walking near Times Square. It was around lunch hour and the streets were filled with people. Cars were honking their horns, taxicabs were squealing around corners, sirens were wailing, and the sounds of the city were almost deafening. Suddenly, the man said, “I hear a cricket.” His friend said, “What? You must be crazy. You couldn’t possibly hear a cricket in all this noise!” “No, I’m sure of it,” the man said, “I heard a cricket.” “That’s crazy,” said the friend.

The man listened carefully for a moment, and then walked across the street to a big cement planter where some shrubs were growing. He looked into the bushes beneath the branches, and sure enough, there was a small cricket. His friend was utterly amazed. “That’s incredible,” said his friend. “You must have super-human ears!” “No,” he said. “My ears are no different from yours. It all depends on what you’re listening for.” “But that can’t be,” said the friend. “I could never hear a cricket in all this noise.”

“Yes you can,” came the reply. “Here, let me show you.” He reached into his pocket, pulled out a few coins, and discreetly dropped them on the sidewalk. And then, with the noise of the crowded street still blaring in their ears, they noticed that every person’s head within twenty feet turned and looked to see if the money that tinkled on the pavement was theirs. “See what I mean?” asked the Native American. “It all depends on what’s important to you, and what you’re listening for.”

What’s important to us? What do we listen for? Are there times that we fail to listen to God, because we are focused on other things that are more important to us? Regarding the Jews of his day, Jesus said, “For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, so that I should heal them. But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear.” (Matthew 13:15-16; cf. Isaiah 6:9-10; Acts 28:26-27).

Amid the distractions of the world all around us, may our ears always be open, not only ready to listen for, but to hear and be obedient to God’s voice as He speaks to us through His word.

King Hezekiah was a good man, but a man who made a terrible error in judgment. When the king of Babylon sent messengers to congratulate Hezekiah on his recovery from a near-death illness, Hezekiah treated them like honored guests. He welcomed them into his house and showed them all the treasures which had been accumulated over the centuries by the kings of Judah (2 Kings 20:13). Hearing of this, the prophet Isaiah came to Hezekiah with this searching question, “What have they seen in your house?” (II Kings 20:15).

Hezekiah was warned that the day would come when the Babylonians’ lust for the treasures they had seen would bring them back. Judah would be overthrown, and all the king’s treasures would be carried away into Babylon. Hezekiah’s own children and grandchildren would become captives in chains (II Kings 20:16-18; II Chronicles 33:11). By a prideful display of his possessions, Hezekiah had sown the seeds which would eventually bring down his house. The question, “What have they seen in your house?” is one we must ponder today. Like Hezekiah, we may be allowing things to be seen which will lead to eternal tragedy, and the treasures they are in danger of losing are spiritual ones of eternal value!

The friends and neighbors we invite into our homes, know what we deem valuable by what we have on display. It is vital that they see evidence of Christ’s influence. Christian principles must be given priority in our home. The Bible encourages us to have this mindset, encouraging us to “Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds, and glorify God on the day of visitation” (I Peter 2:12).

Children in our homes see much and forget little. The things they witness in our homes may mark them for life. What do they see? Do they see ungodly magazines and videos? Do they see alcohol and drug abuse? Do they see violence taking place?  Or do they see love, affection, encouragement, and holiness? We need to remember that all too soon our children will leave home to make their way in the world. They will either be equipped to successfully face life and its multitude of problems, or be victimized, vulnerable to the temptations that will assail them.  The things they see in our house will propagate into theirs.

Every day of our life is lived in the presence of God (Psalm 139:7-12). We may hide what goes on in our house from the eyes of our friends, neighbors — and to some extent, from our children. But we cannot hide them from God (Hebrews 4:12-13). Someday, we will be judged in righteousness based on what God has seen in our homes (Acts 17:31; Ecclesiastes 12:14).

Isaiah’s question wasn’t just for Hezekiah.  He continues to ask us, “What have they seen in your house?”

He was a remarkable man, widely acknowledged not only for his sharp intellect but also for the depth of wisdom attributed to him—a gift he humbly ascribed to God. Solomon’s reputation preceded him, a legacy rooted in the annals of history as a testament to his  understanding of the human condition.

Solomon ascended to the throne amid a time of stability, his father’s conquests having secured the kingdom’s borders and vanquished its adversaries. Yet rather than bask in the spoils of victory, Solomon’s gaze was fixed on a grander vision: the construction of a temple dedicated to God, a symbol of his commitment to safeguarding the peace and prosperity of his realm.

Renowned for his wisdom, Solomon’s literary legacy extends far beyond mere royal decrees or edicts. He penned timeless wisdom literature, including the evocative Proverbs, the contemplative Ecclesiastes, and the poetic Song of Solomon, each offering glimpses into the complexities of human existence and the pursuit of divine understanding.

In this exploration, we turn our attention to Ecclesiastes, where Solomon, taking the mantle of the preacher, imparts timeless truths and cautions against the pitfalls of straying from one’s faith. His words ring with a raw honesty, a reflection born not only of scholarly inquiry but of lived experience and self-examination.

Within the pages of Ecclesiastes, Solomon grapples with life’s enigmatic nature, oscillating between moments of sublime revelation and existential despair. He confronts head-on the transient and ephemeral nature of existence, likening it to “chasing after the wind,” a futile pursuit that ultimately leads to disillusionment and emptiness.

Central to Solomon’s discourse is the concept of work, a theme that reverberates throughout Ecclesiastes and underscores the inherent dignity and purpose found in labor. He posits three objectives for work: to glorify God through diligent effort, to secure a livelihood through industriousness, and to seize opportunities for Christian witness and service to others.  None of these objectives is to gather wealth for ourselves or to hoard up treasures.  After all, they are merely vapors.

Solomon’s wisdom transcends the temporal concerns of wealth and power, urging readers to contemplate the deeper significance of their labor and its alignment with God’s divine purpose. In this pursuit lies the essence of true wisdom, a wisdom that encompasses both the mundane realities of daily life and the eternal truths that guide the human soul.

oxymoron (noun) a figure of speech in which apparently contradictory terms
appear in conjunction

We use these figures of speech all the time that contain incredible contradictions.  Original copy, awfully good, civil war, jumbo shrimp, crash landing, working vacation and such.  I’m sure we can all think of several more we use every day.  I am even reminded of a half-way decent joke about military intelligence.

Sometimes we even become oxymorons ourselves.  I’m thinking specifically about the times when we convince ourselves what we are “self-sufficient”.  This is probably one of the more dangerous and isolating oxymorons we can utter in our striving to succeed in life, physically or spiritually.  Contrary to the great sages Simon and Garfunkel, we are not rocks, nor are we islands. 

We take on tasks or face obstacles thinking we are all we need.  “I can do this.”  “I got this.”  These are the rally cries of the self-sufficient man.  They are not true.  They are just platitudes that make us think we are the masters of our fate and that nothing is beyond our lone grasp. 

Proverbs 3:5 tells us not to rely on our own understanding. 

Ecclesiastes 4:8-12 tells us we cannot be successful on our own. 

There is a reason the word or sense of “togetherness” is found so often in scripture.  The early disciples and the apostles were successful when they were together and relied on God.

We must recognize that we are not self-sufficient.  We are reliant on God for everything.  And God has provided other Christians to help hold us up the same as he provided Aaron and Hur to help Moses hold his hands up when he became weak (Exodus 17). 

Rely on God. Make use of our fellow Christians he has provided for help. We are a building joined together distributing the load.

Ask for help when we need it.  Provide it when we are able.

A note to all of you men that are experienced in leading worship. There are people in awe of you. They have no idea how you can be asked with only a moment’s notice to lead a prayer or some other part of worship. All they know is that if they were asked, they would melt into a bubbling puddle of fear. They think that you must have a special talent from God. A talent they know they don’t have.

I’ve been both people. I’ve been the terrified, tongue-tied, shaky-legged, vapor-locked young man trying to just put some words together in a prayer that made some kind of sense.  Now I’m very comfortable with a short notice assignment without breaking into a sweat.  I can safely say no one has ever presented me with a trophy, but I think I can do a passable job. 

It was never a miraculous gift. It was a lot of on-the-job training, encouragement, and embarrassing moments.  Ask me about the time I vomited right up the center isle to punctuate my “amen” after offering thanks and asking a blessing for the cup one unforgettable Lord’s Day morning.  It was hilarious to me after five or six years of stewing in the humiliation.

Think of all the ways we can serve publicly.  Leading prayer, leading the song service, presiding over our communion, teaching classes for adults and kids may all seem extremely daunting because there are so many ways to embarrass ourselves.  But you want to know a secret about not embarrassing yourself?  Here it is…

You can’t stop it.  It’s going to happen.  You will blank out on what you wanted to say.  Your voice will crack.  You will miss that note.  You will sing/say the wrong words.  You will forget how to speak.  There will be awkward silences.

Do you want to know the other secret?  Here it is…

No one expects you to be perfect. Not a single one of your brothers or sisters will hold it against you that you didn’t exit the womb as an experienced professional.  They will be grateful you are willing to work.  They will help you with any misunderstanding.  They will offer helpful suggestions. They will be patient. 

There’s one other secret.

You will get better at it.  You won’t always be tongue-tied.  You won’t always shake uncontrollably.  You won’t always be so self-conscious.

Think of how this applies not only to our public work, but also to our private work.  Don’t let our lack of experience or our own insecurities get in our way of working.  There is much to do.  And if you need any other encouragement, remember something else.  The apostles were amateurs too.  They had less education than any of us and were very successful with the help of the Holy Spirit.  The very same Holy Spirit that lives in us today.  Take courage. Step up!  Just like them, you will be an encouragement to the next guy.

Three times in John’s revelation Jesus identifies himself as the “Alpha and the Omega”, the first and the last.  There are a lot of layers to this and too many to cover in a short article but I was provided with an amazing connection this past weekend between the first and the last.

In Genesis 3 we find Adam and Eve making their excuses to God for their sin.  They discovered they were naked and had hid themselves knowing instinctively the coverings they had made for them selves were  insufficient.  When the pronouncement of curses was ended and man was made to understand the consequences of sin God performed a first.  He gave something he called good for the sake of his children.  

He created clothing of skins.  His children needed to be covered.  They were facing a new life in a harsh environment, they would need protection. They were facing a new life where they were aware, and ashamed, of their nakedness, they would need covering.

At the climax of each of the gospels we find God repeating this action.  He gives something good for the sake of his children.

He gave the blood of his son.  He children needed to be covered.  They were to face a new life in a harsh environment, they would need protection.  They were facing a new life where they were aware of their sins, those sins would need covered.

The Alpha and the Omega.  God provided the first and the last sacrifices.  An animal to cover his children, a son to cover their sins.  He would accept countless sacrifices in the thousands of year between the two, but none of them added up to the first and last he gave himself.  Both showed his amazing grace.  In the first few moments of separation, while still standing int he garden, he showed his love and care for his fallen children.  He continues his love and care when he gives his son when we have strayed even farther from Eden and provided a sacrifice to free us from our sin.

In the beginning of sin, he planned the end of sin. 

Job 37:14 “Hear this, O Job; stop and consider the wondrous works of God.”

Elihu talks of God’s creation and works.  He advises Job (and us) to stop for a moment and consider it.  I recommend we do this quite often.  If we do, we will see what the psalmist saw when he looked at the heavens.  

Psalm 19:1-4 “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.  Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge.  There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard.  Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world.”

You can look at creation and see God’s design for the universe and how it sustains us.  How the solar systems move and how we’ve learned to predict the systems he put in place.  Nature shows us amazing systems of biology, chemistry, and physics. We can see the design of how trees change and adapt to the seasons along with the creatures whose designed instincts drive them to survive and thrive.

The very creation we inhabit screams the glory of its creator, the almighty Yahweh!  How can we not?  Holy, holy, holy, Lord God almighty.  Praise him for his might, for his grace, for his mercy, for his love, for his… keep going.  We’ll never run out of things to praise him for; the rest of creation has been doing it since the beginning and it shows no signs of stopping. 

Praise him in song. Praise him in word. Praise him in action.  Praise him!  Don’t let the rocks outdo us in our praise of God. 

Luke 19:40 “He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.”

I’m pretty sure that every executive manager I’ve ever met thinks manufacturing facilities smell like fresh paint.  Every time an executive visit is scheduled to visit a plant I’ve worked in, local management has spent money repainting all the walls, safety pillars, aisle markers, etc. to make them look new and clean.  All the workstations get extra cleaning, machines get wiped down, and the floors get waxed.  It’s obvious we really want to make or maintain a good impression on the physical condition of the plant and offices. 

To be fair, it’s not a bad thing to refresh the paint and clean the floors.  We all catch the spring-cleaning bug  at some point and make a big project of catching up on our cleaning and refreshing. 

If you’re familiar with 5S principles, and even if you’re not, you’re probably already thinking, “shouldn’t we just keep it clean all the time?”  Of course, we should.  You honestly never really know when a visitor will show up or if you’ll have enough time to clean before they arrive!

We can easily take this example and apply it to keeping the house, yard, car, or garage clean.  Can we make the link to our lives?  We’re told the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night.  Does a thief call you up and let you know when to expect him?  Jesus gave Zacchaeus no notice at all that he was coming to his house.  Whether his physical house was in order or not we can plainly see he knew his spiritual house was not.

It’s much less embarrassing to receive guests at a moment’s notice when we keep the house clean.  Can we make the spiritual connection?

Offering various rewards as an incentive to motivate folks to do something, permeates today’s society. We’ve all seen parents in grocery stores think only in terms of rewarding their children — even rewarding them for bad behavior. When a parent says to their child, “If you will quit throwing a temper tantrum, I’ll buy you (insert favorite candy),” the kid quickly learns how to get what he wants.

Churches are even offering physical rewards for the purpose of gaining more people. It ranges from the “gospel of health and wealth” philosophy that says, “If you give $100, God will give you $1,000,” to appealing to fleshly entertainment to get people to attend their services.

Whatever happened to doing right because it is right? It’s true that Jesus offers men rewards, but those incentives have nothing to do with fleshly desires. In fact, He condemns those who follow him only because they are being fed (John 6:26-27). God expects right behavior, because He is holy, and we must be like him in order to share in the life to come (1 Peter 1:1-16; 1 John 2:6).

Christians are committed to a way of life that is righteous, because it is the right way to live (1 Peter 1:13-16; 1 Peter 2:11-12; 1 Peter 3:8-17). Sometimes the righteous life may offer a material advantage, but that isn’t why the Christian lives that way. At other times, being righteous may be a difficult road; the righteous may be mocked and persecuted (Matthew 10:16-24; Matthew 5:11-12). The disciple of the Lord does right when people speak well of him or treat him well and when they do not — our motivation is doing right, simply because it is the right thing to do.