Text: Ecclesiastes 1:1-2
Memory verse:
”Then you will lay your gold in the dust, And the gold of Ophir among the stones of the brooks.“ ‭‭(Job‬ ‭22‬:‭24‬ ‭NKJV‬‬).

Looking through the aircraft window to view the ground, those mighty buildings become smaller and smaller as you ascend higher, until they become invisible. This is what also happens as you grow deeper in the personal knowledge of God. Your pursuit of earthly things and your love for them begins to decrease and decrease until they move you no more. This is a major factor that separates between a carnal believer and the spiritual; between children and fathers in faith. This message is also captured in the hymn, ‘Turn your eyes upon Jesus’, authored by Helen Howarth Lemmel. It is summarized in the hymn refrain,
“Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.”
One of the benefits of acquainting oneself with God is shown in our memory text. Many people have interpreted this to mean that one will accumulate wealth. There is no argument about the fact that physical blessing is also included in the covenant of Abraham and which is ours by faith. However, this is not what this scripture means. Let’s read other versions of the same scripture to understand it better.
”If you give up your lust for money and throw your precious gold into the river,“ ‭‭(NLT‬‬).
”Throw away your gold; dump your finest gold in the dry stream bed.“
‭‭(GNT‬‬).
Did you get the point? As you grow deeper in the knowledge of God, your life priorities will begin to change. You will give up your lust for money. You will give up those earthly things you use to hold tightly for the sake of the kingdom. Those earthly things will begin to grow strangely dim to you as you get more acquainted with God just as the mighty towers on the ground get smaller and smaller as you rise higher in altitude. King Solomon came to know this truth after he had tried all things, as he described them as “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.”
Friends, the answer to the present carnality in the church is a deeper and intimate knowledge of God.

Prayer points
1. Father, please, take me higher in the knowledge of You, in Jesus’ name.
2. Father, wean me of all carnalities as I grow more in Your knowledge, in Jesus’ name.

Today’s declarations
1. Earthly things grow dim and my priorities change as I get more acquainted with God.
2. Physical blessing that comes with knowing God will not impede my relationship with God.