The Word for Today with Ray

Monday, March 23, 2026

Not Remembering the Days of His Life - Ecclesiastes 5:20

In the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon said, “Every man also to whom God has given riches and wealth, and has given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labor; this is the gift of God”, and in chapter five and verse twenty of his book Solomon said, “he shall not much remember the days of his life” where we read,

For he shall not much remember the days of his life;

because God answers him in the joy of his heart.

The verse reads, “For he shall not much remember the days of his life;” Solomon began with the words, “for he shall not much remember” or “because, since and on account that he, the person, will not recall or bring to mind” “the days” which means “the sunrises and sunsets” “of his life” or “pertaining to his, the person’s, active sustenance and maintenance in living”. Solomon said the person who receives “wealth and riches” from Jehovah God will faintly recall the sunrises to sunsets within his active living.

The verse continues, “… because God answers him in the joy of his heart.” Daniel added the words, “because God” or “since and on account that the Supreme Deity” “answers him” which means “exercises, humbles and responds to him, the person” “in the joy” or “within the mirth, gladness, gaiety and pleasure” “of his heart” which means “belonging to his, the person’s, soul, will and mind”. Solomon shared how the person does not have time to recall or brood over their active living because the Supreme Deity keeps them busy enjoying active living within their soul and mind.

When we think through Solomon’s words in this verse, we see how people are easy to forget the sunrises to sunsets within their lives when they have a personal relationship with Jehovah God. God blesses them with enjoyment of life and gladness so many of the “days” are not even brought to mind. God wants us to be in a personal intimate relationship with Him through His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind and raised Him from the dead after three days. When we surrender our lives to Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put within us His Holy Spirit so we will be guided into all truth concerning possessions and the “enjoyment” of having them every day that we live.

Next time we begin a new chapter and see Solomon say, “there is an evil which I have seen under the sun”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".

God Gives Riches and Wealth - Ecclesiastes 5:19

In the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon said, “Behold that which I have seen: it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labor that he takes under the sun all the days of his life, which God gives him: for it is his portion”, and in chapter five and verse nineteen of his book Solomon shared about, “every man also to whom God has given riches and wealth” where we read,

Every man also to whom God has given riches and wealth, and has given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labor; this is the gift of God.

The verse reads, “Every man also to whom God has given riches and wealth, and has given him power to eat thereof, …” Solomon began with the words, “every man” or “each, all and the whole people whether male or female” “also to whom God has given riches” which means “even so and indeed that the Supreme Deity has granted, bestowed and assigned wealth” “and wealth” or “and treasures or riches”, “and has given him power” which means “and has granted, bestowed and assigned him, the person, dominance, mastery and lordship” “to eat thereof” or “to consume and devour of the riches and wealth”. Solomon referred to all the people that the Supreme Deity has granted and bestowed wealth and treasures upon as well as dominance and mastery to consume from them.

The verse goes on to say, “… and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labor; this is the gift of God.” Daniel continued with the words, “and to take his portion” or “and to lift up, carry and sustain his, the person’s, part or share”, “and to rejoice” which means “and to be glad, exult and make merry” “in his labor” or “within his, the person’s, toil and work”; “this is the gift of God” which means “this, the portion of treasures to rejoice within, exists as the reward from the Supreme Deity”. Solomon said the person who receives “wealth and riches” from the Supreme Deity Jehovah God should bear their share and be glad within their work because it exists as the reward from Him.

When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we learn through Solomon how God distributes “riches and wealth” according to His Divine purpose and plan, and whatever share that a person receives, they are to be glad with it. God “gives” these things to people, and His greatest gift is the gift of salvation through His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind and was resurrected from the dead after three days. When we yield our lives to Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and help us to “enjoy” what He has provided to us with the help of His Holy Spirit who will guide us into the truth according to the way we should live.

Next time Solomon says, “he shall not much remember the days of his life”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Eat, Drink and Enjoy the Good - Ecclesiastes 5:18

In the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon said, “There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt. But those riches perish by evil travail: and he begets a son, and there is nothing in his hand. As he came forth of his mother's womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labor, which he may carry away in his hand. And this also is a sore evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go: and what profit has he that has labored for the wind? All his days also he eats in darkness, and he has much sorrow and wrath with his sickness”, and in chapter five and verse eighteen of his book Solomon said, “it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labor” where we read,

Behold that which I have seen: it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labor that he takes under the sun all the days of his life, which God gives him: for it is his portion.

The verse reads, “Behold that which I have seen: it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, …” Solomon began with the words, “behold that which I have seen” or “lo, look and consider the observation I, Solomon, have perceived, discerned and observed”: “it is good” which means “it, the following, exists as pleasant, agreeable and excellent” “and comely” or “and beautiful and well” “for one to eat” which means “for a person to consume and devour” “and drink” or “and imbibe”. Solomon said he observed that a person consuming and devouring exists as pleasant and beautiful.

The verse continues, “… and to enjoy the good of all his labor that he takes under the sun all the days of his life, which God gives him: for it is his portion.” Daniel added the words, “and to enjoy the good” or “and to perceive, consider, look at and regard the pleasantness, agreeableness and excellence” “of all his labor” which means “pertaining to each, every and the whole of his, the person’s, toil, effort and grievance” “that he takes under the sun” or “that he, the person, irksomely toils and severely works beneath the sun in the sky” “all the days of his life” which means “each, every, the whole and everyone of the sunrises to sunset belonging to his, the person’s, active living”, “which God gives him” or “that the Supreme Deity grants, bestows and assigns to him, the person”: “for it is his portion” which means “because, since and on account that it, the good of all his labor, exists as his, the person’s, part, parcel and share”. Solomon said the person who receives “good” from their toils from the Supreme Deity beneath the sun are to regard the blessings of God as their parcel or share.

When we consider the words in this verse, we learn how Solomon observed that it is pleasant and agreeable for a person to consume, imbibe and to have high regard toward that which their work beneath the sun has accomplished during their lives. God has granted these blessing to the person who works, and it exists as the share the Lord has apportioned for them. God owns everything, and when He blesses us with His belongings for our toil and “labor”, we are to take pleasure in them. We must always be eternally Kingdom minded as the things of this world are temporary, and while we “enjoy” a personal relationship with God through His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind and was raised from the dead after three days, we should remember to invest in that which is eternal. When we submit ourselves to Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put His Holy Spirit within us to guide us into all truth which includes how we are to use and be pleased with that which He has given to us.

Next time Solomon shares about, “every man also to whom God has given riches and wealth”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Eating in Darkness with Sorrow and Wrath - Ecclesiastes 5:17

In the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon said, “There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt. But those riches perish by evil travail: and he begets a son, and there is nothing in his hand. As he came forth of his mother's womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labor, which he may carry away in his hand. And this also is a sore evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go: and what profit has he that has labored for the wind?”, and in chapter five and verse seventeen of his book Solomon said, “he eats in darkness, and has much sorrow and wrath” where we read,

All his days also he eats in darkness, and he has much sorrow and wrath with his sickness.

The verse reads, “All his days also he eats in darkness, …” Solomon began with the words, “all his days also” or “each, every, the whole and everyone of his, the wealthy man’s, sunrises to sunsets even so and indeed” “he eats” which means “he, the wealthy man, consumes and devours” “in darkness” or “within a secret place and obscurity”. Solomon said the wealthy person consumes and devours in obscurity in each of the sunrises to sunsets of his life.

The verse goes on to say, “… and he has much sorrow and wrath with his sickness.” Daniel continued with the words, “and he has much sorrow” or “and he, the wealthy person, possesses a great and abundant amount of vexation, grief and indignation” “and wrath” which means “and anger that wrinkles the nostrils and nose” “with his sickness” or “accompanying his, the wealthy person’s, malady, anxiety, calamity and disease”. Solomon said the wealthy person also incurs an abundant amount of vexation and grief accompanied by anger in their malady and disease.

When we think through the words in this verse, we learn through Solomon how the person who is “wealthy” in this world without an eternal perspective lives in obscurity and incurs abundant grief and anger within their calamity and disease. God never intended for possessions to cause us such troubles, and when we have an eternal perspective that includes Him as the owner of all things, we will be inclined to live in a manner that pleases Him and has eternal rewards in mind. God loves us, and when He gave His Only Begotten Son Jesus to die on the cross for the sin of all mankind and resurrected Him from the grave after three days, He made the way through faith and trust in Him as our personal “Savior and Lord” to be forgiven of our sins, granted everlasting life and provided with His Holy Spirit who will guide us into all truth concerning that which He gives us to use in His Kingdom.

Next time Solomon says, “it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labor”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

As He Came, He Shall Go - Ecclesiastes 5:16

In the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon said, “There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt. But those riches perish by evil travail: and he begets a son, and there is nothing in his hand. As he came forth of his mother's womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labor, which he may carry away in his hand”, and in chapter five and verse sixteen of his book Solomon said, “this also is a sore evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go” where we read,

And this also is a sore evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go:

and what profit has he that has labored for the wind?

The verse reads, “And this also is a sore evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go:” Solomon began with the words, “and this also” or “and this, the fact that the wealthy man will arrive and leave with nothing, even so and indeed” “is a sore evil” which means “exists as a grievous, sickening and painful bad, malignancy, injury, distress, adversity and misery”, “that in all points” or “which within each, every, the whole and everyone of the measures and parts of his life” “as he came” which means “in the likeness and manner he, entered and arrived”, “so shall he go” or “even and indeed will he, the wealthy man, depart and leave”. Solomon considered it a grievous distress that a wealthy person will depart from the world in the same measure of nothingness that he arrived.

The verse continues, “and what profit has he that has labored for the wind?” Daniel added the words, “and what profit has he” or “and whatsoever gain and advantage possesses he, the wealthy person” “that has labored” which means “who has severely toiled and irksomely worked” “for the wind” or “on behalf of breath, vapor and air”? Solomon questioned the value gained by the person who severely toils for vapor and air.

When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we learn how Solomon observed another grievous adversity when he determined that a wealthy person arrives in life with nothing and departs with nothing. He questioned the value of striving in work for what ends up being air or emptiness. This is a good reminder for all of us, and because God has eternity in His mind, He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind. Sin separates us from God, and without redemption, we will be eternally separated from Him. He raised Jesus from the dead after three days so when we put our faith and trust in Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and equip us with His Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth including what to pursue and how to use that which He gives us in this life for His Kingdom.

Next time Solomon says, “this also is a sore evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Sunday, March 22, 2026

Coming from His Mothers’s Womb and Returning - Ecclesiastes 5:15

In the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon said, “There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt. But those riches perish by evil travail: and he begets a son, and there is nothing in his hand”, and in chapter five and verse fifteen of his book Solomon said, “he came forth of his mother's womb, naked shall he return to go as he came” where we read,

As he came forth of his mother's womb, naked shall he return to go as he came,

and shall take nothing of his labor, which he may carry away in his hand.

The verse reads, “As he came forth of his mother's womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, …” Solomon began with the words, “as he came forth” or “in the same manner that he, the son of the wealthy person, made entrance, was birthed and born” “of his mother’s womb” which means “from his, the son’s, immediate female progenitor and ancestor’s, belly or abdomen”, “naked shall he return” or “bare, nude and without clothing will he, the son, go and turn back” “to go as he came” which means “to proceed and go forth similar and in likeness to the way and manner that he, the son, made entrance, was birthed and born”. Solomon said in the same manner the “son” was birthed without clothing, he will go back in the same way.

The verse goes on to say, “… and shall take nothing of his labor, which he may carry away in his hand.” Daniel continued with the words, “and shall take nothing” or “and will carry not one thing” “of his labor” which means “pertaining to his, the son’s, toil, work and business”, “which he may carry away” or “that he, the son, can walk, depart and leave with” “in his hand” which means “within his physical hand”. Solomon shared how the son of the wealthy person will carry not one thing away in his physical hand from his toil and labor in this life.

When we consider Solomon’s words in this verse, we realize that everyone is born with “nothing”, and they shall leave with “nothing” as well. God gives life, breath and sustenance of life to every person who is born, and they obtain possessions great and small which may be used and enjoyed while on the earth. However, not one possession will be taken with us when we die. God is an eternal God, and His desire is to have a personal relationship with us through His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind and was resurrected from the dead after three days. When we yield to Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and give us His Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth concerning the temporary possessions and valuables that may be used to promote the Kingdom of God and invest in treasures that will never fade away. (See Matthew 6:19-21)

Next time Solomon says, “this also is a sore evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Riches Perishing By Evil Travail - Ecclesiastes 5:14

In the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon said, “There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt”, and in chapter five and verse fourteen of his book Solomon said, “those riches perish by evil travail” where we read,

But those riches perish by evil travail: and he begets a son, and there is nothing in his hand.

The verse reads, “But those riches perish by evil travail:” Solomon began with the words, “but those riches perish” or “however, nevertheless, notwithstanding and moreover those objects of wealth vanish, go away and are blotted out” “by evil travail” which means “through the means of bad, disagreeable, malignant and displeasing tasks, jobs and occupations”. Solomon said the temporary wealth and valuables of those who possess them vanish and go away through the means of malignant and disagreeable occupations.

The verse continues, “and he begets a son, and there is nothing in his hand.” Daniel added the words, “and he begets a son” or “and he, the wealthy person, engenders and brings forth a male offspring or progeny”, “and there is nothing” which means “and there exists not one thing” “in his hand” or “within his, the son’s, physical hand”. Solomon referred to how the “wealthy man” engenders a male child who has not one thing within his physical “hand”.

When we think through the words in this verse, we discover through Solomon how the wealth and valuables obtained by people vanish through malignant occupations, and when an offspring is born to the one who possesses them, they have nothing within their physical hands to add. God knows the world and the things within it are temporary, and they are best used when they promote eternal purposes. God blesses us with that which is His, (See Psalm 24:1) and when we receive His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind and was raised from the dead after three days as our personal “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and teach us through His Holy Spirit how to use what God has furnished to us in keeping with His Divine purposes and will.

Next time Solomon says, “he came forth of his mother's womb, naked shall he return to go as he came”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…