What Is Your Life If Not Lived For The Lord? (Part 40)
INTRODUCTION:
Solomon addresses himself as “the Preacher”. He is the one that will proclaim the spiritual truths of God to those in his nation and to Christians throughout time.
Keep in mind, Solomon learned these truths by trying to find the meaning to life through experiencing all this world has to offer. Solomon was uniquely suited to learn these lessons and share these truths with the people of God…
First of all, very few men possess sufficient wealth and power to be able to sample all this world has to offer (1 Kings 10:23).
Secondly, only Solomon and a few others throughout time, have been universally respected causing his teachings to be taken very seriously and thoughtfully by all (1 Kings 4:30-34). (Keep in mind, even Christ Himself and His teachings were rejected by many of those around Him.)
Solomon was God’s man, in God’s place, at God’s time, by God’s grace, to learn this most important truth and proclaim it with authority to those he loved. May we all listen carefully as Solomon reveals to us the true meaning to life and answer the question… “What Is Our Life If Not Lived for The Lord ?”.
TODAY’S TEXT:
Eccl 12:8-12
(8) Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all is vanity. (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. (10) The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth. (11) The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd. (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.
TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL:
Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all is vanity.
Everything offered by this world is short-lived and worthless if it is not dedicated to the Lord in His service. Solomon emphasizes the vanity of this world’s offerings by using the phrase “vanity of vanities…. In other words, “worthless above all that is worthless” or “worthless to the extreme”.
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. The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth.
In addition to this, because Solomon was a wise man, he continued to instruct people concerning his observations about the world in which we live. He listened attentively and researched his subject thoroughly. Then he sat down and recorded his findings in a series of wise sayings. He took the time to choose words that would be accepted by his students. His completed project was filled with proper words that revealed the truth to those who heard them.
The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd. 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.
When wise men speak words of truth, their words are like prods and sharp nails that drive their listeners to take action. All of these words of truth proceed from one shepherd (Christ) given to ministers throughout time to share with the people of God.
Solomon’s students are to allow his words to be warnings and sources of instruction… spending your life researching these subjects have no end to it. There is always more to be learned. Likewise, these types of lifetime studies will weary the flesh of man. There is no reason for each of us to experience all that Solomon experienced and study all that Solomon has already studied for us. We are to take his teachings, apply them to our lives, and serve the Lord, instead of wasting our lives researching what Solomon has already researched for us.
PRACTICAL APPLICATION:
May we all be thankful for Solomon, whom the Lord raised up to invest his life and learning a very important lesson for all of us…. “vanity of vanities all is vanity”.
y we accept his words as truth and seek to live our lives in the pursuit of Godly service and not waste our lives living for the vain things of this world.
Solomon’s pursuit of the meaning of life included:
| 1. | 2:1-3 | The pursuit of carnal desires (the base pleasures found in a fallen world) |
| 2. | 2:4-11 | The pursuit of material possessions through human labors |
| 3. | 2:12-17 | The pursuit of worldly wisdom, madness and folly |
| 4. | 2:18-23 | The pursuit of responsible (frugal & wise) living to retain worldly goods Prt #1 |
| 5. | 2:24-26 | The pursuit of responsible (frugal & wise) living to retain worldly goods Prt #2 |
| 6. | 3:1-8 | A recognition of the Lord’s sovereign control over all life events Prt #1 |
| 7. | 3:9-15 | A recognition of the Lord’s sovereign control over all life events Prt #2 |
| 8. | 3:16-22 | A recognition of our need of Christ to see the nature and purpose of our life. |
| 9. | 4:1-3 | A recognition that never being born is better than the sufferings of this life. |
| 10. | 4:4-16 | The pursuit of earthly wisdom, diligence and living responsibly |
| 11. | 5:1-7 | The pursuit of worldly vows, contracts, and promises |
| 12. | 5:8-17 | The pursuit of worldly riches |
| 13. | 5:18-20 | A recognition that enjoyment of this earthly life is God’s gracious gift to man |
| 14. | 6:1-2 | A recognition of man’s inability to enjoy that which God has given to him. |
| 15. | 6:3-10 | A recognition of man’s sinfulness, mortality and need of humility before God |
| 16. | 6:11-12 | A recognition of the vanity of all that lies under the sun. |
| 17. | 7:1-10 | The pursuit of prideful living |
| 18. | 7:11-23 | A recognition of the value of Godly wisdom |
| 19. | 7:24-29 | The pursuit of Godly enabling |
| 20. | 8:1-5 | The pursuit of proper submission to authority based upon Godly wisdom |
| 21. | 8:6-15 | A recognition man needs Godly wisdom because he cannot control his own life nor see the eternal benefits of service to the Lord. |
| 22. | 8:16-17 | A recognition that men cannot fully understand the work of God on earth |
| 23. | 9:1-3 | A recognition that righteous and wicked share common life events |
| 24. | 9:4-12 | A recognition that life is better then death |
| 25. | 9:13-18 | A recognition of the excellence and rejection of Godly wisdom |
| 26. | 10:1-15 | A recognition of the dangers of foolishness |
| 27. | 10:16-17 | A recognition of principles for good rulership |
| 28. | 10:18 | A recognition of the dangers of slothfulness |
| 29. | 10:19 | A recognition of the value of money |
| 30. | 11:1-6 | A recognition of the need to sow our seed for the benefit of others. |
| 31. | 11:7-8 | A recognition of the need to enjoy the days of blessings and expect the troublesome times of life. |
| 32. | 11:9-10 | A recognition of the need to use the blessings of youth in service to the Lord. |
| 33. | 12:1-7 | A recognition of the devastating effects of the aging process on all mankind. |
| 34. | 12:8-12 | A recognition of the vanity of all the world’s offerings and the need to appreciate Solomon’s dedication to proclaim the truth to us. |
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