A new year has come upon us.
I was reading Ecclesiastes yesterday. Ecclesiastes was written by the Preacher, King Solomon, the wisest person who ever lived.
In Chapter 1, he writes that he “gave [his] heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven” (vs. 13a). And his conclusion is: “I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit” (vs. 14). Verse 18 says that “for in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.” This is very true. The more we know about the world, the more we know about the evil in the world, and that increases our sorrow.
Chapter 3, verse 14 is one of my favorite verses: “I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.”
Chapter 8, verse 17: “Then I beheld all the work of God, that a man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun: because though a man labor to seek it out, yet he shall not find it; yea further; though a wise man think to know it, yet shall he not be able to find it.”
Some advice for the new year: “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.” ( Ecclesiastes 9:10)
In the last chapter, Solomon gives us his conclusion, and tells us what the duty of man is:
“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14)
Will you do your duty?
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May the Lord bless you richly in the new year, and thank you for visiting my blog!