We know that Northview people love to be in God’s Word and often ask for direction on different devotional apps and reading plans.

While there are several good options available through various sources, we’d like to encourage you to join in our Northview Devotional Guide which will guide you to read and reflect on the passages preached in our weekend sermons! We hope this will unite our congregation around the study of God’s Word, and help us to more readily absorb and apply the great teaching provided by our preaching pastors. Each week we’ll be providing a suggested schedule for working through a passage slowly (15 minutes a day). You’ll need a Bible and a notebook or blank paper to record your observations.

Each day we include a reminder to pray. If you are new to the Adoration / Confession / Supplication method, here are some questions to help guide you as you pray:

  • Adoration: What can you praise God for today?
  • Confession: What thoughts / attitudes / actions might you need to confess to God today?
  • Supplication: What will you ask God for today?

Click here to download the printable version

Day 1 – Overview

Read Ecclesiastes 5:10-15. 

  • What words are repeated throughout? What is being emphasized?
  • What does the Teacher conclude is “meaningless”? 
  • What does the Teacher introduce as a “grievous evil”?
  • How would you summarize the main point of these verses? 

Prayer: As you pray today, ask the Holy Spirit to convict your heart, mind, and soul through His Word as you continue to study. Pray in thankfulness, in confession, and in supplication. 

Day 2 – The Lovers of Money

Read Ecclesiastes 5:1-15

  • What are the problems facing those who love money? 
    • Why are goods of no benefit?
    • How is the sleep of the rich affected? 
    • What is the problem with hoarded wealth? 
    • What is the reality of death and wealth?
  • Read Matthew 6:19-21. 
    • How is Jesus’ teaching similar to the findings of the Teacher in Ecclesiastes? 
  • Reflect: Despite all the evidence to the contrary, our tendency in our culture is still to seek after money and wealth. Why don’t we believe that this is meaningless? Why is wealth so tempting?

Prayer: As you pray today, acknowledge and confess if money has become an idol for you, if you are seeking the treasures of this world.  

Day 3 – Warnings

Read Ecclesiastes 5:10-15

  • The teacher claims that not only is wealth meaningless, but hoarding it can cause harm to its owners (5:13). In what ways have you seen this to be true? 
  • God warned His people about the accumulation of material things even before they entered the promised land. Read Deuteronomy 8:10-20. 
    • What are the Israelites commanded to do when they eat and are satisfied? (8:10-11)
    • What is the danger they could face “when all you have is multiplied”? (8:12-17)
    • What do they need to remember about God? (8:18)
    • What will happen to them if they forget God? (8:19-20)
  • Reflect: Do we need these warnings today? How can wealth lead us away from God?

Prayer: As you pray today, spend some time remembering all that God has done for you, especially through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. Praise Him for His grace and provision for you.

Day 4 – Contentment

In Paul’s first letter to Timothy, he warns about the love of money in a very similar way to the Teacher. Read 1 Timothy 6:6-12. 

  • What does Paul say gives great gain?
  • What should we be content with? 
  • What is the danger for those who want to get rich and those who love money?
    • How does this passage connect to the “grievous evil” that the Teacher observed in Ecc. 5:13-15? 
  • What does Paul tell us we SHOULD seek instead of wealth? 
  • Reflect: Are you content? What things do you seek after in order to find contentment?

Prayer: As you pray today, confess your lack of contentment and ask God to help you “fight the good fight of faith” and “pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness”.

Day 5 – More Context

Today, read through Ecclesiastes 5:8-6:9. 

  • Does anything in this greater context add to the lessons you have learned from studying this passage? What new insights did you notice? 

Prayer: Finish off this week’s study by reading Proverbs 8:7-9. Make this your prayer today.