Do not Leave your Rightful Position at Any Rate (Ecclesiastes 10: 4)

Do not leave the place or position that God has put you in, even when you are faced with perilous times. Your position is your job, marriage, works of service in church, etc. This applies to all people; young and old, popular or not, Pastors or not, rich or poor. Perilous times match individual statuses and positions. It is a pity that perilous times are times that each and every one will have to face a couple of times in their lives.

Perilous times can wound you spiritually as well physically. The versions of the Bible differ in the interpretation of the verse. The New International Version (NIV) says that ‘if a ruler’s anger rises against you’, the Living Translation’ says ‘if your boss is angry with you’, English Standard Version’ says, ‘if the anger of the ruler rises against you’ and SiSwati version says ‘nangabe intfukutselo yembusi ikuvukela’ and Zulu says ‘uma umoya wombusi ukuvukela’.  Some other versions say ‘King’s anger’. The common factor in these versions is that the peril comes from someone superior to you. Unfortunately, the devil is also a ruler, according the Mathew 4:8 – 9 and 1 John 5:19 (…the world is under the power of the wicked one). Therefore, the verse could also be referring to the devil as the ruler or king.

All these rulers; the earthly King/President, your boss at work, the devil may be strongly against you even when there is no evident cause. This is common for two of the bosses; your supervisor at work and the devil. We may use Job of old as an example of perilous times that are from the devil. The devil attacked Job to the point of touching Job’s body and using his wife.  However, Job was thankful to God even for the perilous times he faced. No level of the devils anger and toucher turned Job away from God.

Many people are confused as to what to do when perilous times come. People should not curse the Lord for whatever perils they face in their lives. Job’s wife is an example of bad advice to dealing with perils. The Holy Bible tells us that this wife advised Job to curse God and die. People should stop the habit of blaming God for the perils they face. Many people face God and condemn Him for bringing them to the earth to suffer perils such as hunger and poverty. The Holy Bible verse (Ecclesiastes 10:4) advices us not to resign or give up.  Never quit your day job, your marriage, your church service or wherever you feel the urge to quit. Understand that it is only the devils works that you suffer the perils. Don’t you ever dare deceive yourself by thinking that you can do without the job or your spouse.   Do not react from perilous time pressures.

Make sure you reach the finish line, just don’t quit. If you feel you cannot run anymore, simply walk or even crawl to your finish line. James 5 from verse 7, the Holy Bible tells us to imitate farmers in their patience when waiting for their produce to ripe. Even when storms destroy their produce, they wait for the following season to try again. As you practice your patience, pray without relenting and God will help you overcome.