Applying God’s Wisdom To Life

The Importance of Life

/ Bobby Mayfield / Leave a comment

Wisdom Recognizes What is Important

Book of Ecclesiastes Chapter 7

From the earliest times, the name given to a child was supposed to indicate some characteristic of that child.

Today, we mostly set a nickname on them, and sometimes it sticks for life.

We should ask ourselves; do we have a good name?

The Lord Jesus says that we can get a new name: Rev_2:17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.

We know we are all appointed to a day of death, which really means life to the Christian, but dying with a good name is far better than being born into prosperity.

Death is appointed to every person.
Death is a matter we all need to take seriously.

We know that after our salvation, the most important factor for being successful in this life is wisdom, but only that wisdom that comes by the “Fear of the Lord”.

King Solomon was better known for his wisdom than he was his riches.

It is more important today to live wisely than it was in the day of Solomon.

The Holy Spirit has given us this collection of simple, practical sayings that we can live by.

We must live wisely day by day.

Every day we live is good or bad according to the choices we make that day!

*Ecc 7:1 A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one’s birth.

We already know that the most important decision we will make in this life is that decision to follow the Lord Jesus Christ in salvation.

So, we have to learn what matters in this life. The world will offer nothing but confusion!

We must learn to discern between the good and the bad; Php 1:9 And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;
Php 1:10 That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ;
Php 1:11 Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

Precious ointment in the day of Solomon was so valuable that only the rich could afford it.

Average people could seldom afford to waste what little money they had on such things as perfume.

This ointment cost nearly a year’s wages; Joh 12:3 Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.
Joh 12:4 Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, which should betray him,
Joh 12:5 Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?

The Holy Spirit is teaching us that if we have to choose between a good name and a lifestyle of the rich and famous, it would be best for us to choose the good name.

Many of us will question whether the day of our death is more important than the day of our birth.

If we had not been born, how could we ever die that death? This is a promotion for the Christian.

If the Lord Jesus Christ had not been born as a human, how could He ever die for our sins?

To me, the difference is that the Lord Jesus had a miraculous birth, but we are all born in sin.

The time we have between the time of our birth and the time of our death is the time that we get to make the right choice about the Gospel.

For the Christian, the time of our death is a promotion to the glory world.

Php 1:21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
Php 1:22 But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not.
Php 1:23 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:
Php 1:24 Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.

I feel a whole lot like the Apostle Paul felt about this thing.

I do not want to stay one more day upon this earth than is necessary, but I know for some in my family it is better for me to stay here for as long as God will allow me.

The truth for the Christian is: 2Co 5:6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:
2Co 5:7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
2Co 5:8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

For the unbeliever, these things are not true because they do not have the promise of eternal life; they live every day with the promise of eternal death.

*Ecc 7:2 It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart.

We should understand that the day of a person’s death is better than a joyful feast is only true if Jesus Christ is not involved!

We who love Jesus Christ know that to depart this world is very much better.

Php 1:23 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:

Any reasonable person will admit that going to a festival is more enjoyable than a funeral.

No one gets excited about attending a funeral of a family member or a friend.

For me, death hits me right in the heart because in Vietnam, I saw death, and it is terrible, and I would rather not be around death because it brings back memories I would love to forget.

I accept this scripture because I know the Lord Jesus Christ as my personal Savior.

To those who do not know the Lord Jesus as their Savior, it is better to go to the house of mourning because death is something that every living soul needs to take seriously.

There is death coming to this body of flesh we live in!

Most of us will reflect on our own mortality at a funeral.

In many cases, God the Holy Spirit will go to work at funerals, and in their conscience and thoughts, they will begin to feel that there can be some kind of life after death.

We must take the time to think about what we can do to prepare for our death and help others to prepare for their death.

Ecc_12:7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

Even if you do not believe in God, our Creator, you should wonder why we do not live longer in this great world of technology.

Heb_2:14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;

Heb 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
Heb 9:28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

It is a Holy God who holds the power of life and death in His hands.

God is not saying to avoid the right causes for celebrating because God gives much to celebrate.

If we wait till the day of our death, we will have missed out on God’s promise of life.

*Ecc 7:3 Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.
Ecc 7:4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.

We can feel sorrow or sadness for many reasons!

Our emotions depend upon the cause of our distress.

We cannot wish that death would simply go away.

There will never be a life-giving serum that will overcome death.

This was God’s purpose for sending His Son to death.

There is no life in pleasure because pleasure is short-term.

Sorrow brings benefits to life that pleasure cannot.

Sorrow causes us to release our emotions and draw closer to others.

The world looks at life on the animal plane, while the child of God looks at life on the Spiritual plane.

Life is not hopeless if we look through the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ!

Those who take the “leap of faith” into the truth of the Gospel will not be in despair because of hopelessness.

Solomon says life is in vain, while Jehovah says true life is in our future after this short life we live today.

We must allow sorrow to do its work in our lives while thinking about the sorrow that our Lord Jesus Christ endured both on and off the cross, then we can see the impact it had on His life, which is our life.

Heb 2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
Heb 2:10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

Col 1:15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
Col 1:16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
Col 1:17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

It is a fool who rejects the truth of Jehovah God!

*Ecc 7:5 It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.
Ecc 7:6 For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool: this also is vanity.
Ecc 7:7 Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad; and a gift destroyeth the heart.

None of us likes to be corrected.

None of us like to be scolded.

None of us like to be criticized.

People just prefer flattery and compliments.

The fool is blind to Spiritual things.

If we want to be serious about God’s plan for our lives, we have to deal with wise people who will help us live our lives.

Those who have the “fear of the Lord” cannot take away all our grief or solve all our problems, but they can show how to deal with them.

A fool has nothing to offer to those with a broken heart!

A fire for cooking will not last very long if it is built out of thorns and has no effect on the cooking pot.

It is foolish to see if the pot is boiling.

Thorns do not even make the pot warm.

It is a fool who thinks he will not see death at any time.

It is a fool who seeks only laughter but is blind to the essentials of life.

In reality, humans are poor judges of what is real and of lasting value unless we know the truth of the Gospel!

A gift intended as a bribe might cause us to act differently from our understanding of the truth if we allow it.

There are two ways to make a wise man mad.

1) By suffering oppression from other so-called wise men.
2) By being offered a bribe to oppress others.

This is the vanity of worldly wisdom that causes corruption and loss to those who cannot afford any loss.

*Ecc 7:8 Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.

At the beginning of a matter, it is not clear how it will develop, but only at the end of a matter.

It can only be determined if it is useful information and important if we wait until the end to form our judgment.

It is the same in Spiritual matters as it is in practical living.

Sometimes our lives are like unfinished projects. They start good, but we run out of steam before we can finish them.

It is better to finish something we have started than to start something new in almost every case.

To the righteous man, we must realize that the important things in life are not quickly completed.

The things that really matter require commitment, determination, and discipline.

It is not always easy to live the Christian life!

Again, the Lord Jesus is our example: Joh 4:34 Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.

We may not think of it, but it is a great thing to come to the end of our lives knowing that we have completed the thing that God had planned for us to accomplish.

We need patience to continue in the plan of God for our lives and see it to the end.

Heb 10:35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.
Heb 10:36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.

Life is too short, and our opportunities are limited for us to make a name that is good as our days come to an end.

God does not lead us to begin something that He will not give us time to finish!

*Ecc 7:9 Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.

People who can hold their temper are wise for many reasons.

Pride is the reason for those who cannot and lack patience.

Many people get mad at God when something tragic happens in their lives or the life of a family member.

Many people get mad at God when it does not seem that God will answer their prayers.

These people will get mad at other people for these same reasons!

The Word of God stresses the importance of controlling our anger.

Jas 1:19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:

We can be eaten away with anger.

Any sin of the flesh can be conquered by following the Word of God.

1) We must know that a quick temper is a sin.
2) We must realize that we are wearing the righteousness of Jesus Christ.
3) We must listen to the Holy Spirit who lives within us.
4) We must die to ourselves, allowing Jesus Christ to live through us.
5) We must be prepared to battle the temptation to become angry by memorizing and recalling Scripture when it is needed.

Col 3:8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.

*Ecc 7:10 Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this.

When we talk about the good old days, the Lord Jesus teaches us, we are not thinking right.

It is not profitable to live in the past!

When we think back, we tend to think of only happy days, and we forget that our past had its bad days, too.

The world is always changing, so expecting things to stay the same is unrealistic.

This world we live in is in constant deterioration, not progressing into a better world.

We are to focus on today and not tomorrow.

God will be just as faithful tomorrow as He is today.

Listen to the Apostle Paul:

Php 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
Php 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

*Ecc 7:11 Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and by it there is profit to them that see the sun.
Ecc 7:12 For wisdom is a defence, and money is a defence: but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it.
Ecc 7:13 Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked?
Ecc 7:14 In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: God also hath set the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him.

Wisdom is a source of wealth and is precious, and is to be used wisely.
Wisdom is greatly desired.
Wisdom is one of the gifts we can get from God just by asking Him for it.
Wisdom is gained from those who have gone on before us.

If we receive an inheritance, it is something that was earned through the efforts of those who went before us.
It is the same with wisdom.

Wisdom is somewhat like money. It can be used wisely, or it can be thrown away.
Wisdom will retain its value unless we foolishly forsake it.

Jehovah God is the source of perfect wisdom, and He will share it with all His children.

There is no other knowledge that gives life like the knowledge of God the Father and God the Son, the Gospel.

No one can change anything God has done or what He says He will do!

The more we dispute God, the less we will understand!

We must remember one most important thing!

Rom 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Why would we want to change anything God has already done when He did those things for His children’s betterment?

God brings prosperity and adversity to our lives, and He has His reasons.

When we are on the mountain, we need to enjoy it to the fullest because it will not be very long before we are in a valley.

Listen and learn from Job:

Job 1:21 And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.
Job 1:22 In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.

God’s wisdom helps us accept that we cannot know what tomorrow will bring, but we do know what our ending will be.

Our faith must stay steady.

God is not committed to our short-term happiness.
God is committed to our salvation and our character after salvation!

We cannot go through this life wondering, “What if I had done things differently”?

It is our Heavenly Father who is in control of the years, the months, the days, the hours, the minutes, and the seconds of our lives.

We are to learn from the things we go through and be better because we went through them!

God knows what is best for us!

*Ecc 7:15 All things have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is a just man that perisheth in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongeth his life in his wickedness.
Ecc 7:16 Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself?
Ecc 7:17 Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time?
Ecc 7:18 It is good that thou shouldest take hold of this; yea, also from this withdraw not thine hand: for he that feareth God shall come forth of them all.

Many times we as Christians are miserable because we see wickedness prosper while Christians suffer.

1Co 15:19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.

It seems the ungodly prosper in this world and no one cares if they do it illegally.

It is only when we know the truth that we begin to understand.

Psa 73:17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.
Psa 73:18 Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction.
Psa 73:19 How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.

I do not think we realize until we get old just how fragile these bodies we live in are.

We should be amazed that these bodies last into the seventy years that are mentioned in the Scriptures.

Why do bad things happen to good people, and why do the wicked prosper in their wicked lives?

When we look over the things in this world, we see that life is far different from what we expect.

God does not always reward the righteous, and God does not always punish the wicked.

Some people believe that only the good die young.

The truth is that there are no guarantees in life.

There is no formula for a long, prosperous, trouble-free existence.

The truth is it is a sin to elevate ourselves over others in our judgment!

We must never elevate ourselves to the place of God.

It is a sin to think we are wiser than God!

It is a sin to assume that living righteously places God under some obligation to us.

God will keep every promise He has made to us in His own time and in His own place of choosing.

We are not to become Pharisees and make salvation a works doctrine.

1Pe 5:5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
1Pe 5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
1Pe 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

We must never think we can commit a wicked deed and prosper as the wicked did when doing that same deed.

A life of excessive sin will most times lead to premature death.

We see this every day in the news.

Our world is becoming worse just as the Lord has said.

2Ti 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
2Ti 3:13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

The only answer we need to the things we see is for us to continue our walk in the name of Jesus Christ.

We must walk daily in the “fear of the Lord”.

As long as we are on this earth, we will have to learn to deal with the brutal reality that we live in a sinful and wicked world.

Our Heavenly Father is never unjust, and He never makes a mistake.

We should understand that death is our friend and not our enemy.

The Lord is always working out things for the good of us: Rom 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

What happens here on earth is not our final outcome!

There is ultimate condemnation coming to the wicked!

Psa 37:1 Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.
Psa 37:2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.

*Ecc 7:19 Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty men which are in the city.
Ecc 7:20 For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.

There is great strength that comes from the wisdom of the Lord!

It is by the wisdom of God that this world could conquer sin, if this world wanted to conquer sin.

We know that the world is too involved in sin to want sin eradicated.

We will face temptations all day in this world.

1Jn 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
1Jn 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
1Jn 2:17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

This world is the domain of the Devil.

1Pe 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
1Pe 5:9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

Sin will rob us of our effectiveness in this world.

Jas 1:14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

We must face sin and deal with it according to the Word of God.

Our penalty for sin has already been paid at Mount Calvary.

We know that God is always right.

God’s wisdom warns us of the dangers that lie ahead of us until He takes us home.

Amen

Asking for the Wisdom of God

/ Bobby Mayfield / Leave a comment

Solomon Received Wisdom

Book of 2 Chronicles Chapter 1 verses 7 through 12

As we begin this first lesson in the Book of 2 Chronicles, we know that King David had died after ruling all the tribes of Israel for a total of forty years.

Seven years over Judah and Benjamin and thirty-three years over all of Israel.

God had decided that Solomon, the son of David and Bathsheba, would now lead all of Israel after their marriage.

The first act of Solomon was to take secure control of the throne of Israel.

We know that Adonijah another son of David was trying to take control of Israel with the help of some rich and powerful leaders, but he had failed.

Solomon’s second act as the new King of Israel was to seek the Lord, worship Him, and pray for the wisdom to be King.

The Tabernacle was now in Gibeon, but the Ark of the Covenant was in Jerusalem because God had chosen Jerusalem to be the place where worship would continue.

King David had built a special Tabernacle to house the Ark of the Covenant.

I believe that this tabernacle is mentioned in prophecy.

Isa_16:5 And in mercy shall the throne be established: and he shall sit upon it in truth in the tabernacle of David, judging, and seeking judgment, and hasting righteousness.

Amo_9:11 In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old:

Act_15:16 After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:

Solomon knew where the Tabernacle was located with the Ark of the Covenant, but the Brazen Altar was at Gibeon, and this is the place where sacrifices were to be made according to Levitical Law

The Brazen Altar was the one place where all sacrifices were to be made, and Gibeon was only six and one-half miles from Jerusalem.

The Brazen Altar is in fact a type of Mount Calvary where our Lord Jesus was sacrificed for our sins.

God had said if anyone offers a sacrifice and brings it not unto the door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation, offering it to the Lord then that blood would be applied to that man and he would be cut off.

Lev 17:3 What man soever there be of the house of Israel, that killeth an ox, or lamb, or goat, in the camp, or that killeth it out of the camp,
Lev 17:4 And bringeth it not unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, to offer an offering unto the LORD before the tabernacle of the LORD; blood shall be imputed unto that man; he hath shed blood; and that man shall be cut off from among his people:

King Solomon knew this law applied to him as it did to all the children of Israel.

King Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings upon this Brazen Altar.

It is the night after the day that King Solomon did this that the Lord appeared to King Solomon in a dream.

*2Ch 1:7 In that night did God appear unto Solomon, and said unto him, Ask what I shall give thee.

We first see that God knew Solomon needed some guidance just as we all do.

We will also see that God will test King Solomon even though God knew what Solomon would ask Him for.

Solomon had brought all the leadership of Israel and the judges with him to Gibeon.

This included all the heads of the military.

It was important for all the leaders of Israel to know that King Solomon would serve the Lord God of Israel.

What a shame that our leaders will not do this because they reject the God of Truth.

They claim God and reject His Words, and it does not work like that.

Now our nation allows so-called scientists who boast of superior insight into the nature of things to direct our nation.

Many scientists assert that their investigations prove that the teachings of Scripture are false, but real facts show that the Bible has no controversy with real science.

Because Solomon and those leaders acknowledged their need for the Lord, God accepted their worship through those sacrificial offerings.

Today God accepts our worship, if we are sincere because the Lord Jesus sacrificed Himself, and the veil in the Temple at Jerusalem was torn from top to bottom and we can go directly to the Lord in our time of need or any other time.

It was important that the veil was torn from top to bottom. If it had been torn from bottom to top, it would have meant that man had done it

God appeared to King Solomon: 1Ki 3:5 In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee.

God appeared to Solomon in a dream that was much more than a dream.

This was one of the more significant dreams in the Bible.

God revealed Himself in various ways in the Old Testament.

There are many places where God spoke audibly to people.

To Abraham: Gen 18:13 And the LORD said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old?

Gen 18:17 And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do;

To Moses: Exo 19:9 And the LORD said unto Moses, Lo, I come unto thee in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with thee, and believe thee for ever. And Moses told the words of the people unto the LORD.

To Isaiah: Isa 6:8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.

God also revealed Himself through dreams as we see here with King Solomon.

Whether it was more like a dream or a vision it was interactive and it was real and it honored God.

God spoke to Solomon and Solomon spoke to God and prophecy was fulfilled.

When this is mentioned in the Book of 1 Kings we can see that it is not Jehovah who responded to Solomon but it was Elohim.

Jehovah appeared but Elohim spoke.

When we hear from the Lord Jesus Christ, He is speaking the words of His Father.

In this passage here we see that Elohim appeared to Solomon.

So, even though the Ark was not at Gibeon, God still met with Solomon and talked to him.

We see that even in the times of the Old Testament, God made it clear that He was not restricted to the Holy of Holies or the Ark of the Covenant.

The Holy of Holies was a place where God met the High Priest of Israel.

God said: “Ask what I shall give thee”.

We can take this to mean that Solomon could have asked for anything.

We can just imagine how we would respond if the Almighty God asked us this same question.

We know that we can ask for anything that is in the will of God for our lives, and He will give those things to us.

What did Jesus say?

Mat_7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

Mat_21:22 And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

Jhn_16:23 And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.

Now it does not really say that God would have given Solomon anything he asked for, because God knew before Solomon asked, what he was going to ask for.

We can be sure that God’s response had nothing to do with those one thousand animals that were sacrificed.

It was because Solomon’s heart was surrendered to God at this time!

This is the key to answered prayer! Having our hearts surrendered to the Lord.

Joh 15:7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

*2Ch 1:8 And Solomon said unto God, Thou hast shewed great mercy unto David my father, and hast made me to reign in his stead.
2Ch 1:9 Now, O LORD God, let thy promise unto David my father be established: for thou hast made me king over a people like the dust of the earth in multitude.

It should be very clear that God knows what is in our hearts before we ask of Him!

When we ask of God, we must have faith that He can supply what we ask for or we will never receive gifts from God.

God is not only able, but He is also willing to give us anything, but it must be in His will for us.

God had shown more than great mercy to David, God had also made David a rich man.

Why might we ask?

1Ki 3:6 And Solomon said, Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day.
1Ki 3:7 And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in.

David had left all those riches to be used to build a Temple for God in Jerusalem.

At this time Solomon was certainly not a child according to our standards.

He was probably between the ages of seventeen to twenty-two.

The one thing Solomon knew was that he was personally inadequate to fulfill God’s promises to his father David.

The nation of Israel was too great.
There were too many people for him to govern effectively.
The task that was lying before him was just too overwhelming.

Solomon felt helpless.

Solomon likened himself to be a small child.

Solomon knew he lacked the wisdom to be King of Israel.

The laws of Moses stated that Israel had to have a king who was humble and who would remain humble.

A king was required to read the law of God daily and follow it.

Deu 17:18 And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book out of that which is before the priests the Levites:
Deu 17:19 And it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life: that he may learn to fear the LORD his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them:
Deu 17:20 That his heart be not lifted up above his brethren, and that he turn not aside from the commandment, to the right hand, or to the left: to the end that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he, and his children, in the midst of Israel.

No king was to feel he was superior to his fellow citizens.

We know that this is a problem in the last few governments that we have.

Those ultra-liberal Senators and Congressmen men and women treated us as inferiors!

Solomon knew he needed God’s help.

This is exactly where God wants each of us.

The Lord Jesus put it this way: Jhn_15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

We have found this to be very true!

What was God’s promise to David?

2Sa 7:12 And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.
2Sa 7:13 He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever.
2Sa 7:14 I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men:
2Sa 7:15 But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee.
2Sa 7:16 And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.

We know this prophecy did not only concern Solomon but more importantly our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the only one who could fulfill this prophecy.

What did Solomon need?

*2Ch 1:10 Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people: for who can judge this thy people, that is so great?

What is the difference between wisdom and knowledge?

**By knowledge Solomon meant the ability to gather and understand facts.

By definition knowledge is a clear and certain perception of things that exist.

We have no knowledge of things that do not exist, but God has perfect knowledge of all His creation so human knowledge is very limited.

Knowing these things then keep in mind that ignorance is the curse of God.

We know that Jesus Christ alone possesses all the knowledge of God.

**Wisdom is the ability to apply the facts that are learned.

By definition, wisdom is the right use of knowledge.

Wisdom in fact is one of the names of Jesus Christ: 1Co_1:24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

We should know that Solomon became king because God was rewarding his father, King David.

What Solomon needed the most was the ‘Grace” of God.

We see that Solomon did not have a clue on how to rule a kingdom.

When we admit what we are, dumb sheep, then God has something to work with.

*2Ch 1:11 And God said to Solomon, Because this was in thine heart, and thou hast not asked riches, wealth, or honour, nor the life of thine enemies, neither yet hast asked long life; but hast asked wisdom and knowledge for thyself, that thou mayest judge my people, over whom I have made thee king:

And God speaks.

What did God tell the Prophet Samuel before this all began?

1Sa 16:7 But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.

The word heart is used 833 times in the KJV Bible.

The heart is the center of the physical, mental, and spiritual life of all humans!

It is the heart that is at the center of our physical life.

Act 14:17 Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.

The heart and our mind are closely connected.

It is thought that our heart is the seat of our intelligence.

Pro_8:5 O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.

Sometimes we think with our heart.

Pro 23:7 For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.

We ponder things in our hearts.

Luk 2:19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

We see the heart and mind connected.

Our emotions are tied to our hearts.

God can see into our hearts, and He knows who his children are and those who are not and never will be.

Rom 1:24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
Rom 1:25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

Now we cannot read our own thoughts into this.

This is something God knows, and we cannot know!

The heart is the center of our spiritual life!

Job said: Job 27:6 My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go: my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live.

It is our heart that will condemn us, but it is also in our heart where we feel the power of God.

1Jn 3:19 And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.
1Jn 3:20 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.
1Jn 3:21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.

It is because our heart is at the root of all our problems this is the place where God does His greatest work!

Rom 2:14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:
Rom 2:15 Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)
Rom 2:16 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.

It is the heart where God sows His seed (the Word of God).

Mat 13:19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.

Rom 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Rom 10:11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

It is in the heart where God will make His home within us.

2Co 1:21 Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God;
2Co 1:22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.

This is why if God wants to know us, all He has to do is look into our hearts.

This is why we can witness for the Lord.

Rom 5:5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

This is what God saw in the heart of Solomon.

*2Ch 1:12 Wisdom and knowledge is granted unto thee; and I will give thee riches, and wealth, and honour, such as none of the kings have had that have been before thee, neither shall there any after thee have the like.

There is a principle in the Bible that we have trouble understanding and the Lord Jesus uses it: Mat_25:29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.

We see that King Solomon had enough wisdom to offer up a wise prayer, so God increased his wisdom as the answer to his prayer.

We see that all those who make this world their end will come up short in the gifts of God.

Those who make it to the “Glory World” will not only obtain a mansion in God’s home, but God will give us enough in this world that we live and take care of our families.

Yes, God gave Solomon riches and wealth and honor, but these things had another purpose.

The truth is, if we put the Lord and His ways first in our lives then, good things can happen.

It means following God’s will for our lives, then blessings will come our way!

God freely gives His wisdom if we will just ask Him.

Jas 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

Amen

Applying God’s Wisdom

/ Bobby Mayfield / Leave a comment

Applying God’s Wisdom To Life

Ecclesiastes 11-12

Making application in theology, is the act by which the truths of Jesus Christ are transferred to mankind, for his justification.

The pure fact is, that any life that omits the Lord Jesus Christ will indeed be a life that is meaningless!

To deny that Christ Jesus is not God is to reject all the Scriptures!

1Jn 2:22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.

Jesus was the Messiah sent from God, this is a fact!

Christ means Messiah.

Messiah means the God-Man.

1Jn 4:2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
1Jn 4:3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

You cannot become a child of God if you reject Jesus Christ as God!

1Jn 5:1 Whosoever believeth that Jesus “is the Christ” is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.

Who are the deceivers in our world?

2Jn 1:7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, “who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist”.

All those that deny Jesus Christ are denying God!

Jud 1:4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, “and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ”.

God tells us all these things so we can know the truth.

1Jn 5:13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; “that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God”.

Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of the wisdom of God and we must apply this wisdom to our lives for our lives to have meaning!

*****Ecc 11:7 Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun:
Ecc 11:8 But if a man live many years, and rejoice in them all; yet let him remember the days of darkness; for they shall be many. All that cometh is vanity.

As believers we have the ability to enjoy all the years of our lives.

Every stage of life from young to old offers pleasures that cannot be relived!

The sun rises and then the sun sets everyday and as long as we can see the sun we know we are alive because our eyes are closed at death and there is only darkness.

Even in these days of sunlight we will still have some dark days:

Job 3:20 Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery, and life unto the bitter in soul;
Job 3:21 Which long for death, but it cometh not; and dig for it more than for hid treasures;

To most of us, we remember the days we were young as the daytime of our years compared to now, since we are old and see these day as the night time of our years.

The truth is, that once we know the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior, we really have no excuse not to enjoy every day that we live, even on those dark days.

The truth is, the younger we begin our relationship with the Lord, the more pleasant our memories will be as we grow older.

These things are only meaningless to those who do not know the Lord!

As Solomon was searching the true meaning of life, he discovered the truth of God!

What ever path we choose, to know the Lord as our Savior is a choice, and at the end of every life we will come the judgment of God!

*****Ecc 11:9 Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment.
Ecc 11:10 Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity.

In reality, we should have only one thought as we live this life that God has given to us and it is the fact that we all will face God in judgment.

This does not limit rejoicing at any age as some surmise.

Young people have very little time and very few opportunities to enjoy many things while they still have the strength to do them.

Believe me when I say, that in every older person there is the spirit of a young person, who knows that there are so many things that we are not physically able to do, that we wish we had done while we were still young.

We end up remembering all the mistakes we made rather then the joys we could have had!

It is true, that even after salvation we have a tendency to place restrictions on ourselves, that God has never placed on us!

The truth is, God richly provides many things for our enjoyment:

1Ti 6:17 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;
1Ti 6:18 That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;
1Ti 6:19 Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

God just expects us to make wise choices and we already know that true wisdom can only come from a close personal relationship with the Lord.

God expects us all to banish sorrow and worry and to put away sadness from our bodies and our minds.

Judgement is not a thing to bring sorrow.

We should look forward to the judgment of God knowing that to know the Lord on a personal basis is to gain the reward of eternal life and the opportunity to earn even other rewards.

There are great benefits in serving the Lord!

The truth is, we will never enjoy a life without Jesus Christ!

If we try to enjoy the pleasures of sin, which can only last a short time, we will be handicapped by the knowledge of the coming judgment.

Job 20:4 Knowest thou not this of old, since man was placed upon earth,
Job 20:5 That the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment?

We should never allow the cares of this world, to rob us of the life that God intends for us to have!

If we begin to live a holy life in our young days, we will not have anything to worry about in our old age!

1Ti 4:11 These things command and teach.
1Ti 4:12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

The truth of the Bible is, that if we cannot accept the truth of the Book of Genesis, we will never know the truth of our Creator!

*****Ecc 12:1 Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;

What is the most important thing for our youth today?

Our youth need to reject all the teachings of evolution which are all lies, and remember that we have a Creator!

When we realize that we are created, we will also realize we were created with a Divine purpose.

When we realize that our Creator has now become our Savior, it will change our life forever!

Once we accept Christ as our Savior, the Spirit of God will actually live within our bodies!

This means, that no matter where we are, we will always have God’s presence to guide us!

1Co 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
1Co 6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

A true Creator can make things out of nothing. God made us out of nothing.

By the right of creation, God is entitled to have authority and control over our lives.

In today’s language, we would say that God owns the patent on our lives as human beings, and God will never sell us out.

As humans we will all answer to our Creator!

We have only One Creator, who then is our only Judge, who will judge our lives, our words, our thoughts, and all our deeds.

Those that reject these things are doomed to Hell and later the “Burning Lake of Fire”.

AND, we must not listen to false religions, who say that there is no Hell because this place certainly exist!

If we will live with the awareness of God throughout our younger years, while we have the desire and energy, we can still enjoy life and the things that life has to offer!

Joh 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly”.

Knowing Christ is knowing the truth of life!

It is a fact and most all of us up in years, will concede that most of our time is now spent trying to hold onto the life that we have.

There is not much fun in growing old, but that does not mean that there is no joy even in the aged life.

Every age of life will have it’s particular joys!

We should all realize, that God is saying it is not much fun getting old!

Solomon will now describe what it is like getting old.

*****Ecc 12:2 While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain:

For most of us in our latter years, there will be more days of no light and no joy and the good.

More days that grow dark from clouds of problems and the pain of growing old!

As we get older, we have pains and afflictions that just do not go away.

We know that when dark heavy clouds pass by and drop their rain, they will then roll on by and the Sun will then come out.

BUT, this is not the case with the storm clouds of old age!

As we get older, we may find some relief from the aches and pains of the body but it will only be temporary and the aches and pains will always return.

It is best to remember God while we are still young, while we can still avoid some of our foolishness that will be the cause of many of our aches and pains of our old age!

*****Ecc 12:3 In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened,
Ecc 12:4 And the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of musick shall be brought low;
Ecc 12:5 Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail: because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets:

Watch how Solomon describes the decay which creeps into the body as we get older.

While we are young, we need to learn to walk faithfully with the Lord because a day is coming when we will not be able to serve God as we would like to.

We see that this passage refers to our body as an aging house that is beginning to fall apart.

The keepers of the house are the hands and the arms.

The strong men are the legs.

The grinders are the teeth.

And those windows are the eyes.

We need to remember our Creator before the arms begin to tremble and we cannot protect our homes, our bodies.

We need to remember our Creator before our bodies begin to stoop over.

We need to remember our Creator before our teeth start falling out.

We need to remember our Creator before our eyesight starts failing.

None of us will be like Moses who at 120 years old, his eyes were not dim nor his natural force was abated!

Verse 4 adds, we need to remember our Creator before our legs become to weak to walk outside.

As we know, many of our aged brothers and sisters our house bound or in nursing homes due to bodily weakness and can no longer get out the doors into the streets.

They have difficulty in hearing.

Difficulty in speaking.

Difficulty in singing.

Along with difficulty in sleeping, because even the pleasant chirping of the birds is a distraction on most days.

Verse 5 adds the the fear of falling from heights or the fear of falling from ladders or even falling down the stairs.

It is that fear that limits the things that we used to do with ease!

But there is also the fear of just being in the way while others are productive!

As we get older, sometimes we just feel that we just get in the way so we just don’t offer to help.

We need to remember our Creator before our hair turns gray as the almond blossoms.

We need to remember our Creator before even the chirping of the insects is bothersome and as our hearing fades, we hear that ringing in our ears or the jungle in our ears, even when it is quiet and their are no sounds.

We need to remember our Creator before all our desires fail, especially that desire to serve our Lord which we can no longer do because our bodies have become so feeble.

We must remember our Creator before we are placed in that long home and death has over come us, and all life goes out!

The truth is, one day we will move out of our earthly house of clay, and will move into a permanent dwelling in either Heaven or Hell.

That move to Heaven will be the most glorious of our accomplishments, especially if we have remembered our Creator in the time of our youth.

That move to Hell will be a move to everlasting torments if we have rejected our Creator!

We are all just one step away from eternity at all times!

David while he was still young and before he was King of Israel, said these words:

1Sa 20:3 And David sware moreover, and said, Thy father certainly knoweth that I have found grace in thine eyes; and he saith, Let not Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved: but truly as the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, “there is but a step between me and death”.

David did not forget his Creator while he was still young!

The truth is, a person is alive one day and full of life and the next day they have been overcome by death!

Solomon had already gotten old, before he realized the same things his father knew when he was very young.

The truth is, if we sow the seeds of sin while we are young, we will painfully reap what we have sown in our old age!

Solomon realized his mistakes and returned to the Lord before his death!

It can be said that Solomon broke all ten of the moral laws of God and most probably all of the 613 commands of the Jewish Law and it is certain that Solomon broke God’s commandments given to all the kings of Israel.

We would be wiser than Solomon if we remembered our Creator while we are still young!

Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

If for no other reason, we need to remember our Creator because in reality life is certainly fragile!

*****Ecc 12:6 Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern.
Ecc 12:7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.
Ecc 12:8 Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all is vanity.

There are many ways of interpreting this silver cord, by if we keep with the theme of the body, that silver cord represents the marrow of the spine, which is white and precious as silver, to our wellbeing and the strength in our back.

That golden bowl of the lamp, then answers to the skull which is full of all the wisdom we have obtained in our life time and much of it is very valuable.

In the days of Solomon, many a lamp was suspended from the ceiling of the homes to provide light.

Over time that cord would decay to a point when it would snap and that golden bowl would fall to the ground and that light would be out.

Solomon’s point was, that our life can snap or give way at any time because life is fragile and the light of our life will be put out.

When the pitcher is broken you can draw no water from the pool, even though the pool is full.

When the crank is broken at the well, you can draw no water at the well even though the well is not dry.

At our death, it is too late to depend on God unless we have remembered our Creator while we are young.

We cannot draw from the wisdom of God after we have met death!

Life is fragile and death can come at any moment!

Then at that very moment, the physical body will return the the dust from which is was made.

Gen 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

God created man from the dust of the ground and man became a living soul when God who is Spirit, “breathed the breath of life into man”.

Joh 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

Gen 3:17 And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;
Gen 3:18 Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;
Gen 3:19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

And that spirit which was breathed into man’s nostrils will return to the Creator who made it!

Even in death we see that God keeps His promise to every human being!

It is what God does with the that “Spirit of Life” after death that has the most importance and that is a decision that God did not make but that we make ourselves!

The molecules of the body disintegrate back to it’s basic elements.

Job 20:11 His bones are full of the sin of his youth, which shall lie down with him in the dust.

God’s life giving spirit does not ever die!

Isa 57:15 For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
Isa 57:16 For I will not contend for ever, neither will I be always wroth: for the spirit should fail before me, and the souls which I have made.

All those who are part of the Church, those with their names written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, will return to the Lord.

Heb 12:23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,

Those who do not have their name written down in the Lamb’s Book of Life, will begin their life of torment!

Luk 16:22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
Luk 16:23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

These are the facts of life and we all need to realize we have a Creator while we are still young!

Vanity is nothing.

Vanity is meaningless.

All those that do not know the Lord as their personal Savior are less than nothing, less than meaningless, in the eyes of God.

Psa 62:9 Surely men of low degree are vanity, and men of high degree are a lie: “to be laid in the balance, they are altogether lighter than vanity”.

We need to take the time to know our Creator!

Psa 39:4 LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am.

We must listen to the words of those who preach the truth!

*****Ecc 12:9 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.

As Solomon brings this book to an end, he lists several facts that we all need to listen to.

Solomon had asked God for wisdom and God had answered that prayer and Solomon became the wisest man to have ever lived.

So this great Book of the Bible was written in part to share that wisdom with all those that study the Word of God.

Solomon also realized that he had stumbled greatly in serving the Lord and he wrote this book so we could avoid the same pitfalls of life that he had fallen prey to.

Solomon did not realize until he was close to death, that lasting fulfillment and satisfaction in this life, can only come from the the giver of all life who is our Lord.

Solomon realized if our youth could see the mistakes that he had made, then maybe they could be saved from making the same mistakes.

We must also remember these words of Solomon were also inspired by the Holy Spirit and therefore they are all true.

*****Ecc 12:10 The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth.

We can trust the words Solomon has written for as being true and upright.

“Upright” means that the Holy Spirit has approved these words as being right and correct.

“True” means with certainty and trustworthiness.

These words that Solomon has written, are things that happen in life.

We can trust all the Word of God to be the truth.

2Ti 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
2Ti 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

We should study the Book of Ecclesiastes because these words are like goads.

*****Ecc 12:11 The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd.

A goad was a pointed instrument that was used to cause an animal such as an ox to move a little faster and in the right direction.

We should study the Book of Ecclesiastes because these words “are like nails” which are used to bind things together.

The Word of God is designed to guide us to the proper place in life and when we get there God’s Word will nail us in place for safe keeping.

Jesus was nailed to the cross because that was the one place where He could bring salvation to us all!

This “ones shepherd was not Solomon there is only one true Shepherd and that is the Lord Jesus Christ!

The entire Word of God contains the goads and the nails to bind us all to our true Shepherd!

Solomon is saying “don’t take my word for it, because God gave me these words and they are true”!

2Pe 1:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
2Pe 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

We now have the complete Word of God, so we can see the importance of the Book of Ecclesiastes.

The meaning of true life is found in God, through His Son, Jesus Christ!

Jesus Christ is the answer to all life’s questions.

In fact Jesus is the answer to every question that we have!

Once we know the answer to every question of life (Jesus), then we can have His joy also!

*****Ecc 12:12 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.

It has surprised historians to find so many books that were written at the time of Solomon, before him and just after.

But God adds a strong warning to all of us.

Beware of reading endless books in the place of God’s Word!

Beware of wasting needed time and energy on to much study of other books!

God’s says this:

2Ti 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Again we must realize that God takes full responsibility for His Words!

When we rightly divide the Word of God, we are not responsible for the actions of those that hear it! These things are in the hand of God!

No other book explains life better than the complete Word of God!

After all, if you bought a new car you would expect to get an owners manual for that car.

God made us all and He has given us all His owners manual!

So we can come to only one conclusion!

*****Ecc 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
Ecc 12:14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

The most important thing we can remember in this life that will provide true and eternal life, is to “Fear God” and “Keep His Commandments”.

Nothing in life is as important as these two things!

All who keep the commandments of God do so because we all revere God for who He is!

Duty means that we are bound to God by His truth!

But we should also fear God and keep His commandments because God’s “judgment” is coming.

Our every deed will be judged, good or bad.

Our every secret thing will be judged, good or bad.

It is impossible that we can keep anything from the all-knowing God!

This world may deny Him but the fact remains that God sees every thing that goes on in this world.

Pro 15:3 The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.

To know the truth means, that the coming judgment of God is also a source of great comfort to those that know the Lord Jesus Christ.

The great truth of the Bible is this:

Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

If the Lord is not the center of our life, then we are missing out on joy and satisfaction.

If we do not have a personal relationship with the Lord, we have not made peace with God.

If we are not obeying the commandments of God, there are some areas in our life that are suffering because of it.

Joh 14:21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

Questions?

Let’s Pray!