Saturday 29th June 2024
‘Don’t long for “the good old days.”’ Ecclesiastes 7:10 TLB
Two more reasons we resist change are: (1) It feels awkward and uncomfortable. When was the last time you tried something for the first time? Can you name it specifically? If you can’t remember, your comfort zone may have turned into a rut. A sign on a wall contained two statements. The first had an X through it. It said, ‘If it ain’t broke – don’t fix it.’ The second read, ‘If it ain’t broke – break it!’ Sometimes the only way to ‘get out of the box’ is to break out.
(2) We cling to tradition. The Pharisees could not receive the truth Jesus shared because they were bound by their traditions. And many of us still cling to tradition. We assume that if something is a tradition (a long-established pattern of behaviour), it has to be a better way. That’s not necessarily so, as change agents like Thomas Edison and Henry Ford demonstrated. Question: how many traditionalists does it take to change a light bulb? Answer: four – one to change it, and three to talk about how wonderful the old light bulb was! Bottom line: when a tradition connects you to other people or to your personal history, it can be good. If it doesn’t, maybe it’s time to try something new.
The Bible says, ‘It isn't wise to ask, “Why is everything worse than it used to be?” Having wisdom is better than an inheritance. Wisdom will protect you just like money; knowledge with good sense will lead you to life’ (Ecclesiastes 7:10-12 CEV). What changes do you need to make in your life? Think wisely about that.
In Summary, Ecclesiastes 7:10 advises against longing for the past and comparing it to the present. It reminds us not to ask unwise questions about why the former days were better. Instead, it encourages us to embrace the present with wisdom and discernment, finding joy and contentment in the blessings and opportunities that each day brings. Let us live fully in the present, cherishing the past but not allowing it to overshadow the potential and beauty of today.
I liked how this it explained it for me.
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