Joel M Bradshaw

4But he who is joined with all the living has hope, for a living dog is better than a dead lion.–Ecclesiastes 9

Qoheleth’s point is easy. You who are still alive can do things. Even the greatest of the dead is still dead. So what are seven hopes to do good things we still have?

1. Making good decisions. There’s always an opportunity to do the next right thing.
2. Owning your mistakes. Owning what you can own is one of the best things you can do in any argument. What you are responsible for. Mistakes you have made. Make amends to those you have wronged.
3. Forgiving others. Life is short. Live by grace for you have received grace from God.
4. Repenting of your sins. This is the first great step in being right with God. Don’t waste life by living for yourself as the goal.
5. Being thankful. Appreciate others and they blessing they are to you. Start and end your day with thanksgiving to God for who he is and what he has done. How he faithfully provides.
6. Seeking Biblical counsel. This could be from a person you trust. It could also be from daily time reading and studying your Bible. Thank you for joining me every day on this blog. The Bible gives us great heart boundaries that flow into our life.
7. Displaying good fruit on your branches. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and (especially!) self-control.

A living dog has more hope than a dead lion for he or she can still do these 7.–JMB