The Teacher shares about his firsthand knowledge of what it means tohave a passion for learning and the ability to grasp the mysteries of theworld. - P64
Yet, he concludes that this pursuit is as meaningless as chasingafter the wind. - P64
Knowledge, in the end, does not produce happiness;it only creates more problems that cannot be solved and more grief tothose who try to solve them. - P64
We can see this truth playing out clearlyin the world today. Opposing ideologies lead to much political strifeand technological innovations fuel greed and corruption. - P64
Knowledgeis a good thing but the sinful human heart often misuses and distortsit to steer people further away from the only knowledge that reallymatters the knowledge of God. - P64
Lord Jesus, You are the way, the truth, and the life! Apart from You, there areno answers that are worth knowing. - P64
Help me to know You and grow in godlywisdom. In Your name, amen. - P64
The Teacher finds that pleasure is meaningless. He wanted to see what wasgood for people to do during the few days of their lives, so he undertook greatprojects. - P69
He built houses, planted vineyards, made gardens, parks, and reservoirs,
bought slaves and singers, and amassed wealth. - P69
Yet when he surveyedall he had achieved, nothing was gained under the sun. - P69
In the Teacher‘s journey through life, he has made many stops at thefountain of pleasure, only to realize it leaves him empty. - P70
He recalls thatno amount of laughter, wine, or wild parties ever brought any lastinggood. Even the pleasure that came with achievement turned into noth-ing but sorrowful disappointment in the end. - P70
The pursuit of pleasureis a dominant theme in our culture today and is perhaps the centralmotivator behind most people‘s actions. - P70
Pleasure itself is not sinful; infact, God has given us the ability to enjoy His gifts and expects us to doso. - P70
However, our sinful nature and uncontrollable lusts have a wayofabusing God‘s gifts until we are enslaved by our appetites. - P70
But thanks beto God: He has opened our eyes to the true joy that comes from beingunited with Christ! May God be our greatest source of satisfaction. - P70
Dear Jesus, thank you for providing everything we need in our lives. - P71
Help usenjoy You through the good gifts that You give, that we may never forget thattrue satisfaction is found in You alone. In Your name, amen. - P71
In Turkmenistan, religious freedom is heavily restricted. All churches are monitored by thegovernment, and unregistered churches are most at risk. - P70
The government targets Christianleaders who are perceived as a threat to its authority, and Christians who have convertedfrom Islam are constantly pressured to renounce their faith. - P70
Pray that God would work inthe hearts of the political leaders in Turkmenistan, so that Christians would be free to liveout and share the gospel. - P70
The Gola are said to be one the earliest tribes that settled in Liberia. They speak a Niger-Congolanguage, also called Gola, and their community is organized into clans. - P70
Farming is a centralpart of their lives-so much so that it heavily influences their religious rituals. - P70
The Gola practice a mix of Islam and traditional African religions. - P70
Pray that God will call forth intercessorswho will stand in the gap for the Gola people. - P70
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