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Ecclesiastes 9:10
Ecclesiastes 9:10 commands us to do everything with our might, all of our vigor and strength. Where does this strength come from? From food or exercise? No! Ultimately, God gives us our strength. Everything we are comes from Him, giving us the ability to work and play. Notice Psalm 68:35: "The God of Israel is He who gives strength and power to His people. Blessed be God!" God provides the power to gain strength through training, through discipline. Just as bodybuilders train with weights, doing what is called "resistance training," so do we, as we resist the selfish pulls of our bodies. In resisting, we become stronger. We also need mental strength. The secular society we live in has its own agenda, one that promises freedom, but which is really license in rebellion against God. At the same time, powerful forces also want to restrict the ideas and activities of Christians and traditionalists. Political and cultural groups try to convert others to their way of thinking and acting, even going so far as vigorously pursuing and pressuring them. Due to such pressure, many have weakened and been caught off-guard, unable to provide sound reasons for following what is right. However, God wants us to be strong, to resist and guard our minds. The apostle Peter writes, "Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ." We need to be strong because behind these forces and groups is Satan, the ruler of this secular world. He uses them to wear down all of mankind. But God gives us strength and power, as promised in II Timothy 1:7: "For God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." God supports us by His Spirit. We must be of a willing mind to accept God's way of life, making the changes in our thinking that will give us strength to resist those who would try to bring us down. Mental strength comes through exercising our mind with the Word of God. The more of God's Word we read, absorb, and practice, the stronger our minds become. We need moral strength, too. Every day, we are bombarded with immorality. A co-worker may make a statement about gross immorality. A television show we watch may make fun of infidelity. Our boss may lie to superiors regarding an important project. We may hear of an abusive spouse or parent. The news may cover a story about a politician accepting bribes for personal gain. These sins are all caused by a lack of moral and spiritual strength. We are stricken by this society's lack of moral and spiritual strength. In Ephesians 6:12, the apostle Paul informs us where it comes from: "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in heavenly places." This evil influence is all around us. The overwhelming effects of this immoral and debased society have touched each of us. Righteous character is rare these days, yet we are admonished to be strong. How? We must put on the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18). We cannot fight against this prevailing tide in the culture alone. We must stand against it in faith, trusting in what God supplies. We will not be able to endure if we try to face it with our own strength. We must rely on God as our source of strength, as David did: "The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold" (Psalm 18:2). He writes in Psalm 19:14, "Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer."
Gary Montgomery
Necessary Strength
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