Ecclesiastes 9:13-18 
I know it has been a while, but I hope you are ready to get back into the book of Ecclesiastes. For some time now, we have been reaping bits of wisdom from Solomon. In the rough times our great country has been facing recently and are preparing to face, I think it would do us well to dig into God's Words (the Bible) to give us some advice.
Today we will look at few verses, but I would really like to focus on one truism that we fine right in the middle of our text. However it will make more sense if you read the verses prior.
Ecclesiastes 9:17 "The quiet words of the wise are more to be heeded than the shouts of a ruler of fools"
We can use this verse to describe so many of the current issues we face. We could look at the economy, and find those who have said for a long some time, that sooner or later this would happen, but no one listened. We could take a political view of the shape of our country and the mess we are in, but instead, let's take a spiritual look at the mess we are in.
Let's take a look at this 700 billion dollar disaster that got passed. I was listening the radio the other day, it was a talk news program out of Detroit, and wish I hadn't been driving so I could have wrote down the name the genius who made this comment "If we don't pass this rescue bill, the people won't have the credit they need to keep the economy going" Think about that statement for a moment.
Having credit in itself is not bad, but what happens when we use credit? We accumulate debt. And what happens when we have debt? We have to pay it back. What happens when we can't pay it back? We borrow more money from someone else and accumulate more debt. What happens once we have that debt? We have to pay it back. What happens when we can't pay that off? The government bails you out, and with what money? Money they borrow, which is debt, which has to be paid back, which they can't. Until eventually the piper has to be paid, and it all comes crashing down! This is the picture of an economy built on money that we don't have!
Let's take a look at what the ruler of fools have been saying (and yes if we follow them we are the fools). One the comment we just looked at pretty foolish, but just listen to the adds on T.V. and Radio. "Buy now, pay later" "Small easy payments" "Bad Credit, no credit, no problem" The leaders of our society tell us to buy, buy, buy, to fuel the economy. So we are all buying with imaginary money.
Now let's take a look at some quiet words of the wise (GOD!)
Romans 13:8a "Let no debt remain outstanding"
Proverbs 22:7 "The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender"
Psalm 37:21a "The wicked borrow and do not repay"
For the sake of keeping this short (well kinds short) we won''t look at the other 2347verses in the Bible that relate to how we handle money and possessions, but I think it is clear how God views debt, (wise) and how the leaders of the great nation views debt (Foolish!)
Action step for today: Heed the quiet words of wisdom not the shouts of the rulers of fools. You want to see our economy turn around STOP SPENDING MONEY YOU DON'T HAVE! Don't count on the next politician, but count on the timeless Truths found in God's Word!
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