Tag Archives: Ecclesiastes

The Wisest Conclusion

The conclusion of the wisest man.

The Bible records Solomon was the wisest man to ever live. Upon his request, Solomon was granted wisdom. God granted Solomon wisdom like no other.

1 Kings 4:29-34 says, “God gave Solomon very great wisdom and understanding, and knowledge as vast as the sands of the seashore. In fact, his wisdom exceeded that of all the wise men of the east and the wise men of Egypt. He was wiser than anyone else…. His fame spread throughout all the surrounding nations. He composed some 3,000 proverbs, and wrote 1,005 psalms. He could speak with authority about all kinds of plants from the great Cedar of Lebanon to the tiny Hyssop that grows from cracks in a wall. He could also speak about animals: birds, small creatures, and fish. And kings from every nation sent their ambassadors to listen to the wisdom of Solomon.”

Solomon also had wealth, and he did not lack in provisions.

With his vast wisdom and provisions, Solomon examined the aspects of life. He looked at every path life could take. He tried to find fulfillment in partying and working hard. He tried to find fulfillment in himself and his wealth. He came to the conclusion everything was meaningless unless he pursued the Lord first and foremost.

Solomon writes his final conclusion at the end of Ecclesiastes. In 12:13, Solomon writes, “That’s the whole story. Here now is my final conclusion: fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty. God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thin whether good or bad.”

Take a moment to reflect on your priorities. How well do they align with Solomon’s conclusion?

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The Problem with Time

Timing is everything.

Time can be a problem. We either don’t have enough time or we have too much time. We’re either late to an appointment or we’re too early. We either procrastinate or move too quickly. Getting timing just right is hard yet learning to recognize God’s timing is crucial.

Ecclesiastes 3 reminds us there is a proper time for everything.

Verses 1-9 tell us, “For everything there is a season. A time for every activity under Heaven. A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to harvest. A time to heal and a time to kill. A time to tear down and a time to build up. A time to cry and a time to laugh. A time to grieve and a time to dance. A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones. A time to embrace and a time to turn away. A time to search and a time to quit searching. A time to keep and a time to throw away. A time to tear and a time to mend. A time to be quiet and a time to speak. A time to love and a time to hate. A time for war and a time for peace.”

God has assigned a time for everything. Birth, death, planting, harvesting, etc.; each activity has an appropriate time, and you and I can’t control the time. The best we can do is recognize God’s timing, which is important.

Solomon teaches us there is…

  • A proper time to stay at home and go out.
  • A proper time to lead and follow.
  • A proper time for prayers to be answered.
  • A proper time to take steps in fulfilling our purpose.

We need to be sensitive to the Lord’s timing.

Recognizing God’s timing is important to our success.

A young executive was driving his new corvette down a neighborhood street. He may have been driving a little fast, and suddenly, a brick smashed into the driver’s door. The young man threw his car in park, jumped out and ran to the sidewalk looking for the brick thrower.

The man found a boy standing on the sidewalk. He grabbed the child and demanded answers. The boy started crying and said, “I’m sorry I threw the brick. No one was stopping and I need help. My brother has fallen out of his wheelchair. He’s hurt, but I can’t pick him up. I need help.”

Fighting back tears, the young executive followed the boy to his brother. There on the curb lay a young boy beside his overturned wheelchair.

The man right sided the chair and gently placed the boy in it. Then, he used his handkerchief to tend to the boy’s wounds. After that, the two brothers went on their way.

The young executive watched for a moment before returning to his corvette. The damage was noticeable, but he never fixed it. He wanted the reminder to slow down and be sensitive to timing.

It took a brick to get the young man’s attention. We can’t control time. The best we can do is recognize it.

Acting

Slow down and ask the Lord to help you recognize his timing.

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