Living a Fulfilled Life
“Fear God and keep His commandments.” – Ecclesiastes 12:13Ecclesiastes 12:13
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. Let...: or, The end of the matter, even all that hath been heard, is
WP-Bible plugin
Living life apart from God is futile.
The Book of Ecclesiastes is greatly misunderstood. It is a difficult book to read simply because it is hard to understand.
Everything in it appears wrong and as if it doesn’t fit with the rest of Scripture. But it is part of the Old Testament wisdom literature because it is a statement of human wisdom.
Ecclesiastes tells us how man perceives his world, God, and the realities of life. Most scholars believe Ecclesiastes was penned by Solomon.
They debate whether he wrote it before he was a true believer or after. He may have written it in retrospect, or he may have penned it sometime before he had a full understanding of the life-changing truth of God.
Ecclesiastes is a fascinating book because it reveals the folly, uselessness, senselessness, and frustration of human wisdom—that which James calls “earthly, natural, demonic” (James 3:15James 3:15
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. sensual: or, natural
WP-Bible plugin).
In Ecclesiastes 1:16Ecclesiastes 1:16
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
16 I communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I am come to great estate, and have gotten more wisdom than all they that have been before me in Jerusalem: yea, my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge. had...: Heb. had seen much
WP-Bible plugin Solomon says to himself, “Behold, I have magnified and increased wisdom more than all who were over Jerusalem before me.”
That verse shows me that when God initially gave Solomon wisdom, He gave it to him on a human level. He gave Solomon wisdom to make successful decisions and judgments as king.
But although divine wisdom was available to him, I believe Solomon opted for human wisdom the greater portion of his life. And that wisdom was never able to answer his ultimate questions.
The sum of Solomon’s perspective on human wisdom is in Ecclesiastes 4:23Ecclesiastes 4:23
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
WP-Bible plugin:
“I congratulated the dead who are already dead more than the living who are still living.
But better off than both of them is the one who has never existed.” That’s a death wish and is the logical end of worldly wisdom—futility.
Fortunately, Solomon did eventually embrace true wisdom. At the end of his book, he said, “The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person” (12:13). What then can satisfy your heart and make life worth living? The wisdom of God alone.
Suggestions for Prayer:
Ask God to help you follow His ways for a blessed and fulfilled life.
For Further Study:
Read Proverbs 3:13-26Proverbs 3:13-26
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
13 Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. that getteth...: Heb. that draweth out understanding
14 For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.
15 She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.
16 Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour.
17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.
18 She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.
19 The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens. established: or, prepared
20 By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.
21 My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion:
22 So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck.
23 Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble.
24 When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.
25 Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh.
26 For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.
WP-Bible plugin, noting how the benefits of true wisdom are in contrast to what Solomon experienced.
From Strength for Today by John MacArthur Copyright © 1997. Used by permission of Crossway Books, a division of Good News Publishers, Wheaton, IL 60187, www.crossway.com.
Filed under: Main
Leave a Reply