01.19.22
Wisdom and Focus
Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil. (Ecclesiastes 12:13,14)
We come now to our concluding lesson from the book of Ecclesiastes. After a long journey, Solomon reaches his final conclusion.
In the epilogue to the book (12;9-14), Solomon brings together his key points. He reaffirmed his credibility as a teacher of wisdom (9). And moreover, because the preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yea, he gave good heed, and sought out, and set in order many proverbs. His various efforts to find significance and satisfaction apart from God, ‘under the sun,’ may have caused some readers to doubt his reliability. However, he stated that he remained a wise teacher who taught others knowledge. In his search he did not abandon God’s wisdom. In fact, Solomon’s observations and skills enabled him to write numerous proverbs. In these, he sought to take what he had seen in life, put it into concise, memorable statements and then use them to teach people God’s way.
The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth. (10) Proverbs that have potency contain two qualities. First, the words are attractive, understandable and convincing. This is possible only under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Second, good proverbs declare truth. They measure life according to the standard of what pleases God. They motivate a person to live in God’s Way. The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd. (11) They serve as hooks on which to hang the principles of life. They goad those who are spiritually lazy.
Through his painful efforts in observing life, Solomon learned that there is no end to human ideas. His search for truth had taken him down many rabbit trails which had led only to frustration. So, he warned his readers not to follow his futile steps (12). And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh. All the study in the world will produce nothing if God is not the focus.
At last, Solomon gave the crucial truth that he had learned (13a). The whole duty of mankind can be summed up on one command, “Fear God and keep His commandments.” Meaningful life can be found only in humble, obedient submission to God. Those who seek satisfaction through any other means will be terribly disappointed. Just as Solomon states that the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10), so his search brought him to this fundamental fact.
The last phrase of v. 13, “for this is the whole duty of man,” could be read “for this is for all men.” (the word duty is in italics)
Solomon ended his challenge with the reminder that God will evaluate all that we do (14). No person, act, word, or thought will escape His attention. Created by God, all people are responsible to reverence God and to live by His standards. The unbeliever will stand before Him at the Great White Throne Judgment. The believers will stand before Him at the Bema Seat.
Man has a duty to God; man has an appointment with God! Are you ready to meet your God? It could be today!