A Pastry War 糕点之战
Dexu Xia
Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools. Ecclesiastes 7:9
Today's Scripture Ecclesiastes 7:1-9
Today's Insights Solomon, the author of Ecclesiastes, asks: “Who knows how our days can best be spent? Our lives are like a shadow” (6:12 ). The book contains seemingly odd and morbid advice about life’s brevity, adversity, and festivity (7:1-14). One’s death is better than one’s birth (v. 1); attend funerals, not parties (v. 2); and think about life’s pains, not pleasures (v. 3). Since “death is the destiny of everyone” (v. 2), Solomon advises us to live life with our end in mind, pondering life’s brevity instead of pursuing festivity, “for sadness has a refining influence on us” (v. 3). In light of life’s brevity and adversity and death’s reality, we’re to decide how to wisely spend our time. Even as we experience the uncertainties of life—adversity and prosperity, good times and bad times—God is in control (vv. 13-14).
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Today's Devotional Of all the foolish things that have led to nations going to war, could a pastry be the worst of all? In 1832, amid tensions between France and Mexico, a group of Mexican army officers visited a French pastry shop in Mexico City and sampled all the baker’s goods without paying. Though the details get complicated (and other provocations compounded the troubles), the result was the first Franco-Mexican War (1838-39)—known as the Pastry War—in which more than three hundred soldiers died. It’s sad what a moment of anger can incite.
Most human conflicts—shattered marriages and ruined friendships—are likely rooted in some form of unmanaged anger. Selfishness and power plays, unresolved misunderstandings, slights and counter-aggression—it’s all foolishness. So often, our ill-advised perceptions or reactions lead to destructive anger. Yet Ecclesiastes offers wisdom: “Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools” (7:9).
It’s foolish to have a short fuse and be easily provoked to anger, especially when God offers a better way—perhaps through “the rebuke of a wise person” (v. 5). Pursuing wisdom, we can “let the peace of Christ rule in [our] hearts” (Colossians 3:15). We can live in wisdom and forgiveness as He helps us.
Reflect & Pray Where have you given in to foolish anger? How did it hurt you or others?
Dear God, I don’t want to allow foolish anger to control me or harm others. Please help me release my anger and receive Your peace. By Winn Collie
“你不要心里急躁恼怒，因为怒气存在愚昧人的怀中。”(传道书 7:9 )
今日经文：传道书 7章1-9 节
今日心得：传道书的作者所罗门问道：“谁知道我们怎样才能最好地度日？我们的生命如同影儿。”（6:1）传道书包含一些有关生命的短暂、逆境和喜庆的似乎奇怪、不健康的建议（7:1-14）。例如：人的死亡胜过人的出生（1节）；应该去参加葬礼，而不是宴乐的聚会（2节）；当思考人生的痛苦，而不是快乐（3节）。既然“死亡是众人的结局”（2节），所罗门劝告我们在人生中要牢记最终的结局，思考生命的短暂，而不是追求欢乐，“因为忧愁能提升人的品格”（3节）。鉴于生命确实是短暂的、逆境不可避免、死亡是必然的，我们应该决定如何明智地运用我们的时间。即使我们经历人生的不确定性，或顺或逆、跌宕起伏，上帝仍然掌管一切（13-14节）。
今日灵修：在所有导致国家开战的愚蠢行为中，糕点难道是最糟糕的吗？1832年，在法国和墨西哥关系紧张之际，一群墨西哥军官参观了墨西哥城的一家法国糕点店，并免费品尝了店里所有的糕点。尽管细节错综复杂（另外，一些挑衅行为也加剧了麻烦），但最终还是爆发了第一次法墨战争（1838-1839年），即后来的“糕点战争”，导致三百多名士兵丧生。一时的愤怒竟能引发如此巨大的后果，令人唏嘘。
大多数人类冲突，破裂的婚姻和破裂的友谊，很可能都源于某种形式的愤怒失控。自私自利、权势博弈、未解的误会、轻视和反击，这一切都是愚蠢的。我们常常因为不明智的认知或反应而导致毁灭性的愤怒。然而，传道书却提供了智慧：“你不要心里急躁恼怒，因为恼怒存在愚昧人的怀中。”（7:9）性情暴躁、轻易发怒是愚昧的，尤其是当上帝提供了更好的解决方法，或者借着“智慧人的责备”（第5节）解决时。追求智慧，我们就能“叫基督的平安在你们心里作主”（歌罗西书3:15）。在祂的帮助之下，我们就能活在智慧和宽恕之中。
反思与祷告 你曾在哪些方面屈服于愚蠢的愤怒？它如何伤害了你或他人？ 亲爱的神，我不想让愚蠢的愤怒控制我或伤害他人。请帮助我释放我的愤怒，领受你的平安。作者：温·科利04152025