TAKING INVENTORY

TAKING INVENTORY!

           Kenny Rogers, in his country song The Gambler, advised that “you never count your money while you’re sittin’ at the table. There’ll be time enough for countin’ when the dealin’s done.” I find myself on many occasions taking inventory of my ministry and too often I fail to count properly. This morning I decided to check with Solomon who seems to be an expert in the matter. He comments on many things in this life and introduces each one with the words BETTER IS…

Eccl 4:6

6 Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit.

          We live in a grasping world and competition is fierce. Only two people prevail. One is the obvious winner of the race and the other has simply found peace. Of all the trophies a man may collect peace is the most prized. Solomon, of all men, would be able to speak to this issue.

Eccl 6:9

9 Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this is also vanity and vexation of spirit.

          Solomon had accumulated power and wealth enough to cause envy to cease and boredom to move in and unpack her bags. He had hundreds of wives and that should have provided enough of all that wives provide and more than enough to make most of us blush. But it was peace that seemed to elude him and it was peace that he highly prized.

          Peace comes when we know that our pursuits are pure and our methods are honorable. None can accuse Jesus of anything but success whether he was feeding 5000 on a hillside or speaking with only one tortured woman at a well. Jesus was relational in His ministry. He touched lepers, hugged children and formed a spit ball to restore the blind. He was a hands-on guy. It is hard to look a crowd in the eye!

          Peace comes when one’s pace is slow enough to observe beauty. No music is sweeter than the booming of thunder and the drumming of rain on a roof. No beauty is more lovely than the flowers when they grow. Solomon must have longed for his childhood whenever the pressures of the kingdom assaulted his ears and sullied his view.

Eccl 4:13

13 Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished.

Dear Lord, as I count my treasures, let me count those things that really matter. AMEN