Mark 14:32-42 (NLT)

Baited Traps

So she seduced him with her pretty speech and enticed him with her flattery. He followed her at once, like an ox going to the slaughter. He was like a stag caught in a trap, awaiting the arrow that would pierce its heart. He was like a bird flying into a snare, little knowing it would cost him his life. – Proverbs 7:21‭-23

Temptation comes in shiny, attractive packages that pull at our desires. And so many will say,  “Where’s the harm?” Or “I’m not hurting anybody. ” or “It’s my life!”
Too many of us will come up with excuses that sound compelling,  sound comfortable,  sound reasonable – allowing us to conveniently forget that there are many things that lead to spiritual death. 

1 Corinthians 6:9 

Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: xneither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 

Hungry for the Word

TRUTH

Read Amos chapters 8 & 9 for context

“Behold, the days are coming,” declares the Lord God , “when I will send a famine on the land— not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord. – Amos 8:11 ESV

HOPE

The Lord does not let the righteous go hungry, but he thwarts the craving of the wicked. – Proverbs 10:3 ESV

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. – Matthew 5:6 ESV

FAITH

When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.  He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.  All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you. – John 16:13‭-‬15 ESV

And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming. If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him. – 1 John 2:28‭-‬29 ESV

LOVE

Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God. By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.  For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. – 1 John 3:7‭-‬11 ESV

Do you know Jesus Christ, close and personal, not as some far away story that you’ve heard ABOUT but as your personal Savior, LORD, and friend? Do you long to grow closer and closer to Him or do you shrink back? Do not be mistaken, as Amos chapters 8 and 9 make clear, there is a righteous judgement for the wicked. But He did not come to condemn, but to rescue. Lay down your chains and take up your cross, dead man, to follow Him in life. Abide in Christ and He in you. Hunger and thirst for the things of God. You who know Him, seek His will diligently to be done in your life by washing in the Word of God to see your mind renewed. Turn away from the world and draw close to the LORD. He will be your helmet of salvation. He will be your breastplate of righteousness. He will be your belt of truth. He will be your shield of Faith. He will be your sword because He is the Word of God. Carry this Good News forth to the nations, your feet are beautiful messenger of God.

Fan the flame

Paul knew first hand what Timothy would face as a preacher of the gospel,  as a disciple of Christ. He didn’t tell him that it would be all roses and rainbows. He didn’t tell him to expect to never expect struggle or challenge. He tells him that he will need to fan the flame of his faith,  that he will need to persevere. 

So shouldn’t we too expect that we should have to fan the flame at times? 

And what does Paul say to Timothy?

“I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you. This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you. For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. So never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord. And don’t be ashamed of me, either, even though I’m in prison for him. With the strength God gives you, be ready to suffer with me for the sake of the Good News. For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time—to show us his grace through Christ Jesus.” – 2 Timothy 1:5‭-‬9 NLT

Paul speaks of “remembering” Timothy’s “genuine faith”. This is such a parallel for me to the warning in Revelation for the church at Ephesus:

“But I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first!  Look how far you have fallen! Turn back to me and do the works you did at first. If you don’t repent, I will come and remove your lampstand from its place among the churches.” – Revelation 2:4‭-‬5 NLT

Yes, the danger of forgetting. The danger of not remembering. The danger of not abiding.

Isn’t this the very reason that we are called to preach the gospel, not just the law? Isn’t this the very reason that we are called to a Lord’s Supper where He tells us:

And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” – Luke 22:19 NKJV

How sad is it,  Christian,  that we find ourselves forgetting our God, our Savior, our Lord in the middle of the distraction of this world that tries to choke the life out of us:

The seeds that fell among the thorns represent those who hear the message, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the cares and riches and pleasures of this life. And so they never grow into maturity.  And the seeds that fell on the good soil represent honest, good-hearted people who hear God’s word, cling to it, and patiently produce a huge harvest. –

Luke 8:14‭-‬15 NLT

Yes, we should ask ourselves, “Am I good soil?” And maybe examine ourselves to truthfully answer, “Do I really believe,  have I ever truly believed in my heart? Because if I truly believed He is who He says He is, wouldn’t I also believe His promises and guidance and instruction enough to follow Him faithfully?”

This isn’t a game to introduce doubt into your faith,  friend – because if you are standing firmly on the solid rock of Christ,  you will weather this type of self examination and the trials and treating will prove Him true and faithful. No, this is an all important question we should ask ourselves to be site that we are not deceiving ourselves:

“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” – James 1:22 NKJV

And:

“For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For each one shall bear his own load.” – Galatians 6:3‭-‬5 NKJV

Come, Rest Here

​And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”

Matthew 8:20 NKJV

Now Jacob went out from Beersheba and went toward Haran. So he came to a certain place and stayed there all night, because the sun had set. And he took one of the stones of that place and put it at his head, and he lay down in that place to sleep. Then he dreamed, and behold, a ladder was set up on the earth, and its top reached to heaven; and there the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. And behold, the Lord stood above it and said: “I am the Lord God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and your descendants. Also your descendants shall be as the dust of the earth; you shall spread abroad to the west and the east, to the north and the south; and in you and in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed. Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have spoken to you.” 

Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it. ” And he was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven!” 

Then Jacob rose early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put at his head, set it up as a pillar, and poured oil on top of it. And he called the name of that place Bethel; but the name of that city had been Luz previously. Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me, and keep me in this way that I am going, and give me bread to eat and clothing to put on, so that I come back to my father’s house in peace, then the Lord shall be my God. And this stone which I have set as a pillar shall be God’s house, and of all that You give me I will surely give a tenth to You.”

Genesis 28:10‭-‬22 NKJV

Lay your head upon our house,  Lord. Come and abide with us,  and we will find joy in a life of close friendship and communion with the Lord. We are the little flock that you love,  favour,  and bless. By the power of your abiding spirit, we will honor you with our lives, trusting in your way,  following your precepts, demonstrating that we believe and have a grateful respect and awe in your love, mercy, honor, power, and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Then they drew near to the village where they were going, and He indicated that He would have gone farther. But they constrained Him, saying, “Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent.” And He went in to stay with them.

Luke 24:28‭-‬29 NKJV

Some Favorite Verses

Some of my favorite verses:

I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
 – Philippians 3:14 NKJV

And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord , choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord .”
 – Joshua 24:15 NKJV

Then he said to the multitudes that came out to be baptized by him, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”
 – Luke 3:7‭-‬9 NKJV

“The  Spirit of the Lord  is  upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to  the  poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to  the  captives And recovery of sight to  the  blind, To  set at liberty those who are oppressed; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord .” – Luke 4:18‭-‬19 NKJV

For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: “A dog returns to his own vomit,” and, “a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.” – II Peter 2:21‭-‬22 NKJV

If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us. – I John 1:6‭-‬10 NKJV

Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked. – I John 2:3‭-‬6 NKJV

Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins. – James 5:19‭-‬20 NKJV

Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness. And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin. Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him. Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God. – I John 3:4‭-‬9 NKJV

Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world. – James 1:27 NKJV

For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment. – James 2:13 NKJV

For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. – James 3:16‭-‬18 NKJV

You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. – James 4:3‭-‬4 NKJV

Not a Super Villain

They cried out again, “Not this man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a robber.

John 18:40 ESV

I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.  The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

John 10:9‭-‬10 ESV

By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.

1 John 3:16 ESV

The enemy doesn’t need you to be super villain level evil to be serving his purposes best – no, that would be too obvious. But if the enemy could get you to divide up your life into just enough good to keep you respectable and productive and controllable for his purposes,  that’s wonderful for his purposes. Because if you are outright evil, even the world will reject to and want you put away to protect itself from you until there is a greater perceived threat to their lives.

The scariest agent of the enemy is a respectable, hard working man who is honored by his fellow man because he is able to keep his evil controlled enough to function within society, but still bubbling up enough to taint and influence those around him. Someone happy and satisfied with their continued sinful life, and who others can be happy and satisfied with being around their sin as well. Not all of the “shall not inherit the Kingdom of God” promises are things that are repulsive to the world,  some are very attractive to the worldly to share together in and even celebrate together.

Yes, many addicts aren’t striving for deliverance from their addiction, because honestly – they still love the addiction. They just want to learn to control it enough to be “functional”, they aren’t ready to give it up. Unfortunately, recovered addicts will tell you that is not recovery, that is just prolonging another destructive interruption to their lives once the addiction gets out of control again. Only when someone is truly ready to be free,  when they are ready to walk away completely from their addiction and not keep it closer by for a rainy day, will they know freedom.

The same is true of sin, of the sinner who is tired of the consequences of their bad choices,  but who really isn’t yet interested in a life lived God’s way – and this can be a great tool of the enemy to trick and trap people into settling for a false “good” instead of seeking and finding the one, true “great”.

The enemy doesn’t offer us super villain level evil as his plan for our lives. The enemy offers “good” when we are meant for “great”. The enemy offers us a little less sin than before,  while Christ tells us that if He had set us free,  we are free indeed. The enemy wants us clinging to sin and death loosely enough that we might even deny that we are still hanging on to it – but Christ wants us clinging to Him with every fiber of our being.

Much of the “churched” world is quite happy living a religious life of tithing a little piece of their money and time to a far off God, so they can live life “their way” far from God the rest of the week. “Good men” are satisfied dividing their time between rest, family, God, and work.

But “great men”, the kind of men that shake up the world and scare us – those holy fools, those dedicated vessels, this followers of Christ – they interrupt the comfort and security and complacency towards God in this world and they cause disruption to the status quo. They say,  “It is all His! Every penny, every breath, every word, every deed – Let it all be for His glory and honor!”

Do we realize that the scariest thing to the world wasn’t Barabus, the super villain? It was Christ and his disciples who truly wanted to live and teach a godly life of repentance, mercy, grace, discipleship, and sanctification – of love as defined by God, not man. It was a message of complete surrender and complete deliverance. It was a message so divisive and so salty that men were persecuted and killed by a world that found their actions even more convicting and repulsive and disruptive than a villain – because it shines light on the darkness and sin in the heart of men who are happy to keep their sin just under the surface. It shines light on the need for real change in our hearts – for real change in our lives. Not just playtime religion to keep people out of trouble and under control now – but a real life alive with Christ to keep them out of judgement and death and destruction for eternity.

When was the last time that our level of dedication to the Lord made the world around us uncomfortable? When was the last time that our example of sacrificial love touched someone deeply? When was the last time that our stepping out in such a leap of faith, only for the Lord to catch us, left people surprised and amazed?

When was the last time that we kicked over the tables of the religious and asked hard questions about why so much “praise and worship” looks more like Amos 5:18-6:7 & Isaiah 58:1-5 instead of like Romans 12:1, Isaiah 58:6-12, and Matthew 25:31-40?

When was the last time we looked someone deep into their eyes and asked,  “Do you love Jesus?” and anything less than a fire in their heart, smile on their facee, and passion in their words didn’t leave us heart broken that they might only know ABOUT Jesus,  but not really know Him (Matthew 7:21-23)?

When was the last time we truly cared?

Have we ever really cared about God and not just about what we thought He could give us?

Have we wanted to be the blessing more than we’ve wanted to be the blessed?

No, we cannot work ourselves into heaven, because we all fall short of the glory of God, and our works are filthy rags – but we also have to ask, if His work is being done in my life, is my faith and His Holy Spirit alive in me producing any fruit?

We don’t buy a heaven ticket with a sinner’s prayer or a water baptism, Christian, or Church membership, that is the type of empty religious sacrifice Jesus turned over tables over. We must be born again.

Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.” “What do you mean?” exclaimed Nicodemus. “How can an old man go back into his mother’s womb and be born again?” Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit.  Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life.  So don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You must be born again.’  The wind blows wherever it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit.” – John 3:3‭-‬8 NLT

If it seems we are crazy, it is to bring glory to God. And if we are in our right minds, it is for your benefit. Either way, Christ’s love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life.  He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them. So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now! This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! – 2 Corinthians 5:13‭-‬17 NLT

Godliness as a means of gain?

useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means  of gain. From such withdraw yourself.

I Timothy 6:5 NKJV

Yes, there are many who would rather use the idea of religion as a means to gain all the things of this world that their carnal hearts desire. There are those who seek religion as a means to get the prosperity, security, health, wealth, success – all temporal things that appeal to the carnal nature. 

And we are to withdraw ourselves from such deceitful (or deceived) people, because they do not desire the blessings of the one true God nor do they serve Him, they have a different master that they serve.

If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness,

I Timothy 6:3 NKJV

Yes, those who are ashamed of the Word of God, those who hate the truth,  and who would rather fashion God in their own image to suit their own opinions and desires – those who have no interest in Godliness and who actually hate the instruction of God because they love another master – their doctrine is not in accord with godliness. They allow lasciviousness within their midst because they love wickedness, not God.

For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.

Jude 1:4 NKJV

Anyone who tells you that you can say a sinner’s prayer, pay a tithe, read your Bible, join a church and remain comfortable continuing to live a life of “adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness” – we have to ask ourselves if they are liars,  serving the enemy – because the Word of God tells us “that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds  of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

I Timothy 6:6‭-‬10 NKJV

Yes, seeing the huge followings of false teachers who have bought into this profitable scheme – selling the promises of prosperity and open forgiveness for those happy to remain in their sin while lying about their love for God with their mouths. These men make merchandise of the people who don’t really love God and do not want to serve God. Isn’t it clear that so many have strayed from the faith in their greediness, when we are told to be content with food and clothing, with our needs having been met – instead of chasing after the “wants” of this world.

Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple.

Romans 16:17‭-‬18 NKJV

Yes, there is a vast difference between the gospel of the Word of God and what most hirelings are selling to their great congregations of followers.

Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern.

For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that  they  are  the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose god is  their belly, and whose glory is in their shame— who set their mind on earthly things.

For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.

Philippians 3:17‭-‬21 NKJV

While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage. For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: “A dog returns to his own vomit,” and, “a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.”

II Peter 2:19‭-‬22 NKJV

Helpful words

​The words of the wise are like cattle prods—painful but helpful. Their collected sayings are like a nail-studded stick with which a shepherd drives the sheep. But, my child, let me give you some further advice: Be careful, for writing books is endless, and much study wears you out. That’s the whole story. Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty. God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good or bad. – Ecclesiastes 12:11‭-‬14 NLT

Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God. So let’s stop condemning each other. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall. – Romans 14:12‭-‬13 NLT

So whether we are here in this body or away from this body, our goal is to please him. For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body. Because we understand our fearful responsibility to the Lord, we work hard to persuade others. God knows we are sincere, and I hope you know this, too. – 2 Corinthians 5:9‭-‬11 NLT

And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.  Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us. – Romans 12:1‭-‬3 NLT

Because of God’s grace to me, I have laid the foundation like an expert builder. Now others are building on it. But whoever is building on this foundation must be very careful. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have—Jesus Christ. Anyone who builds on that foundation may use a variety of materials—gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw. But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person’s work has any value. If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward. But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builder will be saved, but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames. Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you? God will destroy anyone who destroys this temple. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple. Stop deceiving yourselves. If you think you are wise by this world’s standards, you need to become a fool to be truly wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God. As the Scriptures say, “He traps the wise in the snare of their own cleverness.” And again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise; he knows they are worthless.” – 1 Corinthians 3:10‭-‬20 NLT

To seven, or even to eight

Give a serving to seven, and also to eight, For you do not know what evil will be on the earth. – Ecclesiastes 11:2 NKJV

Give a portion to seven, or even to eight, for you know not what disaster may happen on earth. – Ecclesiastes 11:2 ESV

But divide your investments among many places, for you do not know what risks might lie ahead. – Ecclesiastes 11:2 NLT

Interesting, right? I thought that for a verse about dividing out portions, it might be a good time to divide a verse out in multiple translations for a discussion. 

I believe that looking at some commentaries on this unfamiliar phrase “to seven, or even to eight” should shed some light.

Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

(2) To seven, and also to eight.—Quite similar forms of expression occur in Job 5:19; Proverbs 30:21; Amos 1:3; Micah 5:4. The numbers seven and eight are used indefinitely in the advice to multiply our modes of exertion, ignorant as we are which may miscarry.

So let’s look at the verses referenced:

From six disasters he will rescue you; even in the seventh, he will keep you from evil. – Job 5:19 NLT

There are three things that make the earth tremble— no, four it cannot endure: – Proverbs 30:21 NLT

Thus says the Lord : “For three transgressions of Damascus, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment, because they have threshed Gilead with threshing sledges of iron. – Amos 1:3 ESV

And he shall be their peace. When the Assyrian comes into our land and treads in our palaces, then we will raise against him seven shepherds and eight princes of men; – Micah 5:5 ESV

SIDE NOTE: Pretty cool that in Micah the scripture is alluding to shepherds and princes, saviors and lords, huh?

And I found it odd that a verse that immediately came to mind in this same train of thought that Ellicott is mentioning was not included, so I’ll add it here.

There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him:  haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,  a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil,  a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers. – Proverbs 6:16‭-‬19 ESV

And Benson has a great commentary on this — even though his language might be a barrier for us to easily read and understand because of his old English style. (But doesn’t this illustrate one of our points this morning as we compare translations, I think?)

Benson Commentary

Ecclesiastes 11:2. Give a portion to seven — A part of thy estate or provisions. He alludes to the ancient custom, whereby the master of the feast distributed several parts to each guest, and withal sent portions to the poor. And also to eight — To as many as thou art able. For thou knowest not what evil shall be, &c. — Great calamities may come, whereby thou mayest be brought to poverty, and so disabled from doing good. And moreover thou mayest possibly hereafter need the charity of others, which thou wilt have good reason to expect, through the powerful providence of God disposing men’s hearts to pity and help thee, if thou hast been kind and merciful to others; whereas, on the contrary, they can expect no mercy from God or men, who have showed no mercy to others.

So Benson essentially reveals to us that this phrase of speech “to seven, or even to eight” alludes to distributing 6 parts to those close to us (personal intimate relations like family and guests & those whom we owe loyalty, allegiance,  or obligation), another part (7) to the poor and needy, and an “extra good measure” to all those we are able to help. We see that this is in His commentary about a merciful yet pragmatic approach of handling our resources. 

As Christians,  as believers,  as followers of Christ, we can participate in this certain practice of sevens – we can divide out our time, our days, our wealth, and have a certain allotment and allocation and pouring out into others in these 15% (7 equal parts) certain guidelines/guardrails when we feel convicted that our lives are not for ourselves but are meant to pour out into others and strive to leave this place better after we are gone. We can also prepare for that uncertainty of the eights – not knowing what lies ahead for us, but helping others as much as we can, willing with that “extra portion” to all who we are able to help,  that is done not or if obligation or ritual, but as a hospitable and loving way of life — and in doing so,  if evil befalls us, we might find someone in turn that will show mercy to us as well. This eighth portion isn’t a formula, it is uncertain like the wind or like smoke that we cannot grasp in our hands or control with our strength or our minds – but it is a flow that we can align ourselves in and participate in willingly and generously, led by the very Holy Spirit that orchestrates all things for the good of those called according to His purpose.