Gems of Knowledge

Today’s One Year Bible Verses: Ecclesiastes 10:1–12:14, 2 Corinthians 8:1–15, Psalm 49:1–20, Proverbs 22:20–21

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Life Is A Gift

Sometimes we move through our days without thinking much about the fact that we’re alive. We wake up, make coffee, check our phones, go to work, take care of our families, run errands, make dinner, go to bed, and then get up and do it all over again.

Breathing happens without us even thinking about it. But stop for a moment and take a deep breath. Feel your lungs fill and consider what just happened. That breath is life, and it’s something we usually take completely for granted.

Today the Holy Spirit whispered this Gem of Knowledge to me,

“Breathe deep and feel life enter your lungs. I give life and I take it away. What will you do with what I have given you?”

That’s a pretty powerful question: What will you do with the life God has given you?

We often think about stewardship in terms of money, possessions, talents, or others, but perhaps the first thing we’ve been entrusted with is life itself. Every day we’re given another portion of it—another morning, another conversation, another opportunity to love someone, forgive someone, encourage someone, serve someone, obey God, create something, or simply enjoy being alive.

Today’s reading in Ecclesiastes reminds us that those days don’t last forever. Solomon tells us, “Don’t let the excitement of youth cause you to forget your Creator” (Ecclesiastes 12:1 NLT). He goes on to describe the aging of the body and the eventual end of our earthly lives. After spending much of Ecclesiastes examining everything people pursue in their search for meaning, Solomon finally comes to a simple conclusion: “Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty” (Ecclesiastes 12:13 NLT).

In other words, don’t spend the life God gave you chasing things that won’t matter when it’s over.

Psalm 49 carries a similar message. Wealth, status, and possessions cannot keep any of us from death. No matter how much we accumulate, eventually we leave it behind. That doesn’t have to be a depressing thought. In fact, remembering that our time here is limited can help us appreciate it and choose more carefully what we do with it.

We can spend years waiting for life to really begin. Maybe when the kids are older, when we have more money, when work slows down, when we finally reach that goal, when the problem is resolved, or when things become easier. Meanwhile, the days we’re experiencing is our life passing by.

And today’s reading from 2 Corinthians gives us a practical example of what we can do with what God has given us. Paul talks about generosity and using what we have to help others. But money isn’t the only thing we have to give. We have time, abilities, encouragement, compassion, experience, love, attention, and countless other things God has given us to make a difference today.

Maybe there’s someone you need to call. Maybe there’s something God has been nudging you to begin. Maybe it’s time to forgive someone instead of carrying bitterness into another year. Maybe you’ve been sitting on a gift because you’re afraid you’re not ready. Or maybe God simply wants you to slow down long enough to enjoy the people and blessings He’s already placed around you.

We don’t have to accomplish something enormous every day for our lives to matter. A life well lived is made up of ordinary days surrendered to God—loving the people in front of us, being faithful with what we’ve been given, enjoying His blessings, and responding when He asks us to move.

Eventually, every one of us will take a final breath. But today, we’re still breathing.

So take a deep breath and feel life enter your lungs. Thank God for it, and then consider the question He’s asking:

What will you do with what He has given you? 💎

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Action (5 Minutes with God)

Take a slow, deep breath and thank God for the life He’s given you. Then take at least 5 minutes to be with Him. Ask Him:

• “Lord, what do You want me to know about this personally?”
  • Journal what He gives you through His Holy Spirit.
• Then ask, “What do You want me to do?”
  • Journal what He reveals – then do it!

You don’t have to figure out your entire future. Just be grateful and faithful with the life you’ve been given today.

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Prayer

Dear Father, thank You for the gift of life and for every breath You give me. I don’t want to rush through my days or waste the time You’ve entrusted to me chasing things that won’t matter in the end. Teach me to use what You’ve given me well—my time, gifts, resources, relationships, and opportunities. Show me who to love, where to serve, when to act, and when to simply stop and enjoy the life You’ve given me. May the way I live honor You, one day and one breath at a time. In Jesus’ mighty name I pray, amen.

To read more 5 Minutes with God devotionals click here.