Letting Evil Flow Past

This is a great devotion from my recent readings from Martin Luther

And I saw that all labor and all achievement sping from man's envy of his neighbor. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind. Ecclesiastes 4:4

In this passage, the writer of Ecclesiastes is saying, "I saw people who were extremely capable at their jobs, but they didn't accomplish anything the way they wanted to, because it was not within their power. Their hostile neighbors hindered their efforts."

It's biblical and comforting to know that we shouldn't worry about all the problems in the world. Human concerns and trouble are everywhere. When I was a new preacher, I tried to solve everyone's problems. But people rightfully told me, "You're too inexperienced to reform rascals." The same advice could be given in any job situation. Every occupation has its own problems. Therefore, you should live in the present, enjoy what you have, and just let all the evil flow past you. This is how to defy the world.

In short, if you want to live peacefully. remember that much of what happens in this world will seem meaningless. Don't be sad when something bad happens in your life. Instead, enjoy the blessings you still have. If you have been officially given the responsibility for making something better, then do what you can and leave the rest up to God. But if you want to voluntarily take on more responsibility, trying to straighten out everything that is crooked, cure every evil, and throw the devil out of this world, then you'll only cause yourself a lot of pain and sorrow. It's like trying to stop the flow of a swift river. You can't control what people do in this world. Rather, the one who created all things is the one who controls them.

This is a great devotion for all of us, and it really hits me hard. Too often I think and dewell on the negative of the work that I am doing and the things in my life. I need to believe that God is in control and I need to enjoy the ride that God puts me on and enjoy. That is truly the meaning of true happiness! These devotions from Martin Luther are what 500 hundred years old but they still are so real.