Fools are put in many high positions, while the rich occupy the low ones. – Ecclesiastes 10:6

Today’s Scripture Reading (February 5, 2026): Ecclesiastes 10

In 1969, Dr. Laurence J. Peter, with the help of Raymond Hull, wrote a book titled “The Peter Principle: Why Things Always Go Wrong.” Dr. Peter’s theory is that in a hierarchical environment, executives tend to be promoted to the level of their incompetence. Basically, promotions are given based on current job performance, not on their aptitude for the next level. If you excel at your current job, you can be promoted. And you will continue to be promoted until you are no longer competent at what you do. There you will stay. The result is the mass incompetence of executives who have been promoted beyond the point at which they can excel. The direct result of the “Peter Principle” is that people at the highest level tend to be incompetent; they have been promoted away from the jobs at which they once excelled.

The secret is actually twofold. First, employers need to be more aware of the traits required for the next level of the job, and promote people with the aptitude for that role, rather than promoting simply because the person excels at the job they are currently doing. It is a little more work, and sometimes might even seem unfair. Still, it would keep people at the top of the hierarchical ladder who can excel in that job, rather than depending on their excellence in another, lower position.

The second part of the solution is aimed at the employee. Employees need to consider whether they really can excel at the next step on the ladder. If you don’t have the required ability, then stay where you are. Of course, the real problem is that we often chase more money, security, prestige, and power that only exist at higher levels of the ladder. That means we have to risk climbing another rung to achieve those benefits, even if we know we will not excel at that job.

The Preacher tries to describe Dr. Laurence Peter’s principle. He recognizes that fools are often placed in positions of power and prestige, while the rich, maybe better described as the capable, are stranded on lower rungs. A result of the “Peter Principle” is that executive positions often become clogged with incompetent people, leaving more capable people stranded in lower positions. These executives can neither be promoted nor evidently fired, so they remain in that position, and movement up the hierarchical ladder stagnates. And maybe, there really is no solution to that problem.

(Just a note, if my bosses are reading this, don’t worry, you are doing an excellent job. And I am quite happy occupying the place on the ladder precisely where I am.)

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Ecclesiastes 11

Always be clothed in white, and always anoint your head with oil. – Ecclesiastes 9:8

Today’s Scripture Reading (February 4, 2026): Ecclesiastes 9

The prophet Isaiah received a vision. The vision seemed to pertain to the demise of the city of Jerusalem. The vision was filled with futility. There was no doubt in the vision that the city would die. At the time of the vision, the people were filled with fear. The Assyrians had been on the march for a while, and it was evident that the next nations on their agenda were Israel and Judah. And so, the people waited, filled with dread.

The text tells us that this is “A prophecy against the Valley of Vision” (Isaiah 22:1). The term “Valley of Vision” simply refers to the idea that while Jerusalem is built on a hill, it is surrounded by an even higher hill, and sits in the midst of three valleys. Jerusalem exists at the center of this hill/valley complex. And it is in this prophecy that the prophet writes,

The Lord, the Lord Almighty,
    called you on that day
to weep and to wail,
    to tear out your hair and put on sackcloth.
But see, there is joy and revelry,
    slaughtering of cattle and killing of sheep,
    eating of meat and drinking of wine!
“Let us eat and drink,” you say

    “for tomorrow we die” (Isaiah 22:13-14)!

We shouldn’t miss the point Isaiah is trying to make. Jerusalem, you know trouble is coming, you can see it with your eyes and hear it with your ears. But instead of getting ready, instead of getting right with God, you throw a party because tomorrow you might die.

Paul, in the closing of 1 Corinthians, picks up the same thought.

I face death every day—yes, just as surely as I boast about you in Christ Jesus our Lord. If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus with no more than human hopes, what have I gained? If the dead are not raised,

“Let us eat and drink,
               for tomorrow we die” (1 Corinthians 15:31-32).

If there is no resurrection, then maybe the best thing that we can do is throw a party because there is no hope, not even for us today. Our newscasts are filled with a lack of hope, of innocent people being beaten and killed; it is happening in Ukraine, Iran, and the United States, among several other hotspots. And if God is not powerful enough to help us, then why not kill the fatted calf and throw a party?

The Preacher in Ecclesiastes is arguing the same point. In a world “under the sun,” where what we see daily is all that we get, then be comfortable. Wearing white is comfortable under the hot sun, and oil has a cooling effect and helps protect the skin. If this is all that there is, then why would you do anything else? Do what is necessary and forget about going the extra mile. Eat, drink, and be merry in your white ensemble, because in the end, that is all you have.

In a world under the sun, the advice works. In a city that is about to fall to the Assyrians, that works. But maybe Jerusalem is our cautionary tale. While the people of Jerusalem, at the time of Isaiah’s prophecy, felt that the attack of the Assyrians was imminent, that attack didn’t come for almost a quarter of a century. Samaria and Israel fell four short years after Isaiah’s prophecy, but the attack on Jerusalem wouldn’t come for another twenty-four years. And even when it did come, it would fail.

So maybe there is a reason to go beyond what is easy and pleasurable. Because God is still with us, and there is more than what is seen “under the sun.”

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Ecclesiastes 10

Who is like the wise? Who knows the explanation of things? A person’s wisdom brightens their face and changes its hard appearance. – Ecclesiastes 8:1

Today’s Scripture Reading (February 3, 2026): Ecclesiastes 8

Mark Twain argued that “If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything.” The novelist/humorist might have been one of the wisest men who lived because so much that he wrote about should be published under the heading of “Wisdom for Life.”

Consider this Twain quote: “The two most important days in your life are the day you were born and the day you find out why.” I couldn’t agree more, though following that newfound purpose is not always easy. But if we know why we are here, then we can set forth a plan to follow that purpose.

Let me give you one more Twain quote: “Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.” I live in a world that needs all of the kindness we can get. And it is not just the deaf and the blind, but all of us who need more kindness in our lives. However, I strongly believe in something else that Twain doesn’t say. If you want to receive kindness, then give kindness. So many of us sow bitterness, hoping to receive kindness. Life doesn’t seem to work that way. We need to “be the change we want to see in the world,” which is not a Twain quote, but is most often attributed to Mahatma Gandhi, although we really don’t know where the quote originated. But our ignorance doesn’t erase the truth. We need to exhibit to the world the very things we want to see in it. If you want to receive kindness, be kind. If you want to receive love, give love. If you want others to forgive you, forgive them.

The Preacher makes an amazing comment as he continues his writing of Ecclesiastes. He is looking for a wise person who understands how things work. However, he also says that a wise person is also a happy person. Wisdom has the ability to “brighten our faces” and “change the hard appearances” that our faces often reflect. Why? Maybe because we have no lies to remember, we know why we are here and have a plan for our future, and we are receiving the kindness, love, and forgiveness that we are giving to others. Oh, and by the way, in the process of getting to this place in our lives, we will have stopped competing with each other because I can’t truly be kind and want the best for you if I am still focused on myself. All of these things should make us happier, brightening our faces and changing our stern appearance.

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Ecclesiastes 9

Like the crackling of thorns under the pot, so is the laughter of fools. This too is meaningless. – Ecclesiastes 7:6

Today's Scripture Reading (February 2, 2026): Ecclesiastes 7

There is an old camp song we used to sing around the fire when I was a teenager. Perhaps you recognize the lyrics (I will let you sing the song to yourself).

            It only takes a spark

            To get a fire going

            And soon all those around

            Can warm up to its glowing.

Is it allowable for me to say that this old Christian Camp song has lied to us? As a veteran of many campfires, I can tell you that a spark is not all you need to get that campfire going. Sometimes, I have to admit that I think it is remarkable that fires are set at all. Maybe that is just proof that I would make a lousy pyromaniac.

If you want to get that campfire going, you start with a framework for the fire. Usually, that would include some logs placed so air can flow freely through the fire. Next, you need some starter material or things that will catch fire easily. The problem with this material is that it burns out quickly, so the idea is that it will catch fire and allow the fire to spread to the logs that will form a more lasting part of the fire. Once all of that has been assembled, then you need the aforementioned spark. You could also use an accelerant like gasoline, but then the fire might quickly get out of control.

The preacher uses a bit of wordplay here. James Moffat, in his translation of the Bible, gets at the wordplay with his phrasing of "Like nettles crackling under the kettles" to replace "Like the crackling of thorns under the pot." The problem with nettles or thorns is that while they burn easily, they also burn quickly. If all you have are thorns, the fire will disappear as fast as the spark allows it to burn.

In the same way, the laughter of fools is without substance. It is a momentary flash that disappears almost as quickly as it appeared. The laughter of fools is misplaced and transitory. It is nothing more than a noise that grabs the person's attention before we realize the substance is missing.

And maybe nothing could be more meaningless than that kind of laughter.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Ecclesiastes 8

I have seen another evil under the sun, and it weighs heavily on mankind. – Ecclesiastes 6:1

Today's Scripture Reading (February 1, 2026): Ecclesiastes 6

As I write this post, transgender issues seem to be the news of the day. The Supreme Court is trying to decide on the role of transgender individuals in women's sports. And let me admit that I am not an expert on transgender issues, and I have a lot of questions. But I will admit that part of my issue when it comes to women's sports has more to do with strength issues between the sexes. What I need to know, and maybe someone can inform me, is whether a transgender female retains some of the strength of the male they once were. If they do, then it does seem unfair to allow them to participate in women's sports.

Admittedly, young females are sometimes stronger than their male counterparts. I know an eleven-year-old girl who enjoys beating all (well, most) of the boys in feats of strength. But her dominance over the boys will end. Men simply tend to be taller and stronger than their female counterparts. And if those characteristics remain true with transgender females, then maybe there is a reason to keep them out of women's sports. But I admit that I don't know the answer to that question.

Maybe I need to address this more concretely. Caitlyn Jenner was an Olympic athlete. She was a phenomenal athlete, but of course, the provision here is that when Caitlyn competed in the Olympics, she was named Bruce and competed against the men, not the women. Would it have been fair for Bruce to have become Caitlyn in his teens and have competed against women? Would the gender change have affected Bruce/Caitlyn's performance in the Olympics? Would it be okay for Bruce Jenner to have competed in the Women's Decathlon rather than the men's? And again, I only have questions, not answers.

The Preacher in Ecclesiastes goes back to his theme of "under the sun." The phrase has nothing to do with what happens on a sunny day, but is the author's way of talking about what happens in this material world. When the Preacher speaks about the events "under the sun," he is speaking about our existence, ignoring all that is eternal. He is also speaking of the unequal existence that we all experience, regardless of the color of our skin or the form of our religious beliefs.

Life under the sun is difficult. And it is rarely fair. Which is why we all have to work to make it more fair, show compassion for others, and respond with forgiveness and grace. Because, regardless of any of the ways that we like to divide ourselves into them and us, we all suffer from life "under the sun."

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Ecclesiastes 7

Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income. This too is meaningless. – Ecclesiastes 5:10

Today's Scripture Reading (January 31, 2026): Ecclesiastes 5

We love money. I think we know that we are not supposed to, but we do anyway. We know that the love of money is wrong, but that Knowledge probably only leads us to try to make excuses for our passion. Excuses like, "I don't love money; I just wish I could give more to the church." From my experience, if you don't tithe when you are poor, a change in financial situation probably won't help. Or maybe it is "I don't love money; I just want to be able to volunteer more time to things that are important, or be able to spend more time with my family." Unfortunately, that too can be little more than a smoke screen, and an excuse that makes our love for money a little more palatable.

Our shared reality is that few of us will ever be rich enough. There will always be more we want that is just beyond our financial reach. And so, we drive to make just a little more.

Having said that, there are things that we need our finances to do. We need to save for our retirement. We are living longer, but unfortunately, our health often doesn't keep pace with our increasing lifespan. I have known many people who had decided they just weren't going to retire, only to find out that not retiring wasn't a choice they could make. Their health declined until they were forced into retirement. One friend, who had worked in manual labor jobs all of his life, was let go from his job as he entered his sixties because his employers found that he couldn't keep up with the younger workers. We pretend that we can do everything in our sixties that we did in our forties, but I think we know that is just not true.

But it is Ecclesiastes that lays out our real problem. If we love money, then we will never have enough. I have told the story of a friend who demonstrated this principle. When I met him, he and his wife made about $40,000 a year, but it wasn't quite enough. He used to promise me that if God gave him just a little more, then he would be able to tithe and still pay his bills. God delivered the needed miracle. Just a few years after our first money conversation, we had another. By this time, household income had more than doubled, but not the conversation. If God would give him just a little more, his books would balance, he would be able to begin the process of getting out of debt, and, of course, since he was talking to me, he would tithe to the church. God delivered again a few years later. Now with a household income in the six-figure range, he still needed just a little more.

Today, the family income for this family has dropped severely because of health issues. But the saddest part of the story is that my friend never found a place of contentment with what he had. He never had enough. Instead, he became an illustration of what the Preacher had written almost 3000 years ago. "Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income. This too is meaningless" (Ecclesiastes 5:10).

 

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Ecclesiastes 6

Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. – Ecclesiastes 4:12

Today’s Scripture Reading (January 30, 2026): Ecclesiastes 4

I am old enough to remember Bobby Orr making end-to-end rushes in the sport of hockey. Orr changed the way defensemen played the game. He set the stage for some of the defensemen who would follow him and become offensive powerhouses. However, Orr could pick up the puck and rush into the opponent’s zone only because he understood that someone, one of the forwards, would drop back to cover his defensive responsibilities. Today, that idea has become more dominant in contemporary hockey. Hockey is a sport that depends on the concept of a team. You might have a superstar playing for you, but one talented person will never win a championship. Winning championships depends on putting together a team of players who are willing to play together.

Ecclesiastes was written about the middle of the 10th Century B.C.E. Three centuries later, the fabulist Aesop put his spin on the concept.

Aesop tells the story of “Four Oxen and a Lion.” Once upon a time, four oxen shared a field. There was also a lion in the vicinity, but he was never able to defeat the four oxen. The problem was that every time the lion came near, the oxen pressed their tails together, showing only their sharp horns to their enemy. It didn’t matter which direction the lion chose for his attack; it was always the horns of the oxen that greeted him. The task of getting to the four oxen was hopeless, and so, eventually, the lion gave up.

Without the pursuit of the lion, the attention of the oxen drifted off to other things. They began to criticize each other and complained about almost every aspect of their life together until, one day, they decided they had had enough. There were lots of pastures available in the area; they didn’t have to share the same one. And so, the four oxen decided to separate, each one finding a place where they could all live on their own without the annoyances of the other.

Up in the hills, the lion caught wind of the new arrangements and decided to wander down into the pasture to see for himself what was happening. Sure enough, the four oxen had split and, now, each one ruled over its own little pasture, which meant that the lion was now free to attack them one by one. The lion attacked, and soon it was only the lion that was left standing. The four oxen, once invincible, had been defeated by their own bickering.

It is funny how often the end appears because of our disagreements. Just before Aesop stepped onto the stage, the end of the Assyrian Empire began with a civil war that followed the death of Ashurbanipal in 627 B.C.E. Suddenly, the great war machine that had terrorized the nations was turned on itself, as one faction sought to lead the empire against the desires of another. The war was brutal, and one by one, those areas that had been defeated by the Assyrians once again began to assert their independence. And without a united front, the Assyrian Empire didn’t have the power to do anything about it.

Assyria fought back, but after a few initial wins, all of those who had been on the receiving end of Assyria’s military might unified for one final push to the capital city, Nineveh. The capital city fell in 609 B.C.E., and the Assyrian Empire disappeared into the pages of history.

In a strange twist of fate, Nabonidus seized power in the Babylonian Empire in 556 B.C.E. Nabonidus was an Assyrian from Harran. But Nabonidus, who would be the last king of the Babylonian Empire, made no effort to rebuild the Assyrian Empire. There really wasn’t a point. Less than 100 years after the demise of the Assyrian Empire, there was nothing left of Nineveh but ruins, and precious few Assyrians even lived anywhere near the remains of the former capital city.

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Ecclesiastes 5