Solomon was a man who sought wisdom as some might chase a dream. In the book of Ecclesiastes, he preaches about a time when he wondered if his search, as well as everything else, comes down to nothing more than vanity.
Life, he observed, is nothing more than a continuous repetition of events shared by the wise and the foolish alike. The sun rises and sets and the rain falls equally on all. Nothing is for certain and nothing can be predicted. Fate and destiny are both dependent on chance….death comes to all of us, the good and the bad. We all wind up with nothing to show for all our hard work. What we achieve, will be handed down to our heirs and who knows what they might do with it? Truly, he decided, all is vanity and there is nothing new under the sun.
Then Solomon looked around at all his treasures and all the wealth he had acquired and, in his wisdom, recognized this truth: Whatever he had, it was a gift from God., including his wisdom, knowledge and joy in his labor. When looked at from God’s perspective, life becomes meaningful as Solomon concludes in Ecclesiastes 12: 13-14:
13….Fear God and keep his commandments : for this is the whole duty of man. 14 For God shall bring every work into judgement, with every secret thing, whether it be good or whether it be evil.
If ever there was a time when wisdom was needed, it is now, when vanity is at the highest level and man’s need for the Lord most obvious. In his book, James tells us: “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.”
Proverbs 1: 7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Proverbs 2 tells us to turn our ears toward wisdom and set our hearts on understanding. We are to seek these as if searching for a hidden treasure. Proverbs 2: 6 For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.
How true it is that so many among us despise wisdom and instruction. Children refuse to listen to their parents, workers despise their bosses. Anyone in authority is constantly disrespected. No one enjoys being told what to do or how to do it, but when we look for God’s instruction, it comes calmly and with much love. If we all could develop this way of instructing others instead of barking out orders, as some do, and getting angry when no one seems to listen, life would be more pleasant. God knows we will always be faced with times when we are told what to do, so in His wisdom, gives us temperance to deal with it with patience and understanding.
No matter how we live our lives, we will all one day be held accountable. May we all accept God for who He is, the creator, the beginning and the end of all things….our only hope of salvation when the day of accountability arrives. Seek Him and in faith accept Him, then add to your faith knowledge. Ask and listen as His wisdom comes through in our daily walk of serving Him. His wisdom overcomes the vanity of man and reveals life’s true purpose for those who believe.
Vanity or Wisdom
