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A word to the wise: Fear God!

Scripture reading for July 15th:  Ecclesiastes 7-12

The quest of Solomon to find meaning is played out every day in our world.  People are going to and fro seeking pleasure, wisdom, meaning in life.  They are trying wine, relationships, sports, building, materialism, and fame to find happiness and fulfillment. Many who are laughing and appearing to have fun, feel empty inside.  Others are in bondage to sin and are miserable.  They are looking for that elusive fulfillment that can only be found in God Himself!

Solomon stated that the day of death was better than the day of birth because all men could contemplate their own future at the funeral.   Death will take away every man and their works will stand judgment.   There is not a righteous man on earth who does what is right all the time and never sins. (Ecclesiastes 7:10; Romans 3:23)  Solomon found that God had made men upright, but that men in their folly had gone in search of many schemes!  (Ecclesiastes 7:29)   We must all answer to God when we die!

“The race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong, nor does food come to the wise or wealth to the brilliant or favor to the learned; but time and chance happen to them all.” (Ecclesiastes 9:11)  No one really knows the future or what it holds.  Accidents can come suddenly and death can snatch us from this life without warning!   “As fish are caught in a cruel net, or birds are taken in a snare, so men are trapped by evil times that fall unexpectedly upon them.” (Ecclesiastes 9:12)

“The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails–given by one Shepherd.  Be warned, my son, of anything in addition to them.  Of the making of many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body.  Now all has been heard; her is the conclusion of the matter:  Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.  For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or bad.” Ecclesiastes 12:11-13  Solomon concluded his book with a simple warning.  Let the fear of the Lord and obedience to His commands drive your life.  These are wise words to be pondered and applied!