If you accept
the Bible for
what it is,
God's inspired,
inerrant word,
representing
absolute truth
and our final
authority in all
matters, then
Solomon was the
wisest man that
ever lived. Over
the years, I
have carefully
studied his
life, the things
he said, trying
to tap into his
wisdom. As a
man, like all
men, Solomon
made many
mistakes in his
life and gave
into the
temptations of
this sinful
world on many
occasions. It
doesn't make me
feel
any better, but
it does help
when I make
mistakes to know
that even the
wisest man who
ever lived also
made many
mistakes during
his life.
I have torn
apart the Book
of Ecclesiastes
many times and
have spent
countless hours
reading
Solomon's
summation of
this life. In
looking back
over his life,
having had all
that anyone who
lives in this
world could ever
want, the word
that Solomon
used over and
over was
"meaningless."
As he
looked back, he
realized that in
the end all of
the temporal
things of this
world were
exactly that,
meaningless. It
is, actually, a
pretty negative
book until you
get to the next
to last verse.
As only the
wisest man who
ever lived
could, in 6
words Solomon
summed up what
this life is all
about,
"Fear God and
Keep His
Commandments."
This may sound
like an
oversimplification,
but it really
isn't. The
Hebrew
word for fear is
not the type of
fear you have
when you are
afraid, but
literally means
to be in awe, in
reverence. That
should always be
our
attitude towards
God-awe and
reverence.
Keeping His
commandments
refers to
obeying the Word
of God. My
friends, if we
can do this
throughout our
lives,
fear God and
keep His
commandments, we
have found the
key to what this
life
is really all
about since this
is the whole
duty of man.
You see, this
world honors
those who lead
great armies
into war, rule
empires and
nations; those
who have amassed
tremendous
wealth; people
who
are responsible
for
accomplishing
incredible feats
during their
life. But
all of these
great
accomplishments
are only
temporary. The
truly great
accomplishments
in this life are
the things we do
that will stand
for
eternity.
Sharing the
truth of God's
Word with
people, leading
the lost to an
everlasting
relationship
with Jesus
Christ, helping
those who know
Christ
become all God
wants them to
be. These are
things the world
will never see,
but God will
remember.
Solomon at the
end of his long,
successful, and
distinguished
life on this
earth summed it
all up by saying
that the whole
duty of man is
to fear God and
keep His
commandments.
I tell you often
to stay focused
on
the things above
as opposed to
the things of
this life. I
pray, today,
that
you will take a
long hard look
at your goals
and priorities,
and make
fearing God and
keeping His
commandments
number one. Our
purpose in this
life is to serve
and glorify God.
If fearing Him
and keeping His
commandments is
how to fulfill
His purpose for
our life, then
that must be
our top priority
each day.
I pray, today,
that you will
listen to the
wisdom of
Solomon and that
each
day the most
important thing
in your life
will be to "fear
God and keep His
commandments."
That, my friend,
is the whole
duty of man and
the bottom line
to what this
life is all
about.
If I can help
you in any way
you can contact
me through my
personal email
at:
bkeller@liveprayer.com