Imagine Solomon who had it all, the richest man, world renowned wisdom, 700 wives and 300 concubines. What more could a man ask for? Yet he was not happy and his life was empty. You would think with all his personal desires and pleasures satisfied this would have brought him peace and satisfaction in his life. Yet, there was something missing, a whole in his heart that could not be filled through emotion, pleasure, passion, knowledge or wisdom. He realized he needed to apply himself to the wisdom he had that God would be glorified, or his gift would be a folly. He summed it up his gift in relation to Gods plan for him this way: Eccl 1:16-2:1 I thought to myself, Look, I have grown and increased in wisdom more than anyone who has ruled over Jerusalem before me; I have experienced much of wisdom and knowledge. 17 Then I applied myself to the understanding of wisdom, and also of madness and folly, but I learned that this, too, is a chasing after the wind. 18 For with much wisdom comes much sorrow; the more knowledge, the more grief. 2:1 I thought in my heart, Come now, I will test you with pleasure to find out what is good. But that also proved to be meaningless. Seeking peace through pleasure ultimately is empty and without meaning. Solomon recognized the need to apply himself to the understanding of wisdom. Let me challenge you to the understanding of wisdom. But, remember it is not enough to seek wisdom, but to recognize the direction that it needs to be channeled. Eve ate of the tree of knowledge to seek wisdom, but she ate for the wrong reason for it was to glorify and exalt herself first. If we are to seek wisdom let it be to exalt and glorify God instead of ourselves. What greater lasting challenge could there be for life? The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. (Prov 1:7) Moses said to the people, Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning. (Exodus 20:20) Recognize that fear and reverence for God keeps you from sin and obedience is the fruit of your love for the Father in heaven. If you have no fear of God then you cannot have any conviction to keep yourself from sin and therefore a life to please God ... it is just that simple. At the end of Solomons life, he summed up life this way: After having heard it all, this is the conclusion: Fear God, and keep his commands, because this applies to everyone. 14 God will certainly judge everything that is done. This includes every secret thing, whether it is good or bad. (Eccl 12:13-14)
Posted on: Sat, 01 Feb 2014 05:04:56 +0000
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