Wisdom for Life

Scripture Text Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

Intro: Solomon, was the wisest man that ever lived  according to God’s word. He tried everything under the sun trying to find joy and contentment and tried to figure out what life is all about. May we hear his conclusion to the matter of what is of utmost importance in this life? He sums up the great business of human life in these two short verses, on which some millions of books have been already written!

V:13 Here is his final conclusion of Solomon.

  A. Solomon in all his wisdom says to fear God.

 Proverbs 9:10 (NLT) Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment.  Reverence him; pay him adoration. We are to Respect and fear displeasing Him. Fear means to admire, worship, be devoted to and stand in awe of God. Stand in amazement and astonishment at the greatness of God’s power and sovereignty over all things. Proverbs 8:¹³ The fear of the Lord is to hate evil. We are to serve Him in purity of action, to shun evil and worship of anything else in His universe. Proverbs 19:23 (NKJV) The fear of the Lord leads to life, And he who has it will abide in satisfaction; He will not be visited with evil. If you want satisfaction in this life and to be free of evil, fear the Lord God. He holds you and your family’s life, health, wealth, and breath in His hands.

      God’s wisdom and good judgment are needed to lead our families and serve the church.

   

  B. Keep His Commandments. Jesus summed up God’s commandments in four verses: Matthew 22:37-40 (NKJV) ³⁷ Jesus said to him, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' ³⁸ This is the first and great commandment. ³⁹ And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' ⁴⁰ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets."                 John 14:15 (NKJV) "If you love Me, keep My commandments. Loving the Lord, putting Him first and keeping His commands make us capable leaders of our families and church.

  1. This is the whole duty of man Solomon says. This is our responsibility, obligation and calling. This is man’s purpose in life. It is the reason for God creating us. Nothing else matters in life but this. Everything else in this life is vain and profits nothing. Solomon was richer than anyone else. He had more wisdom than anyone else. He had tried everything there was on earth to see what was of value in life and found the only thing of value was to fear God and keep His commands. Solomon said this is the beginning and end of all wisdom.

V:14 Why we should fear God and keep His commands. Here is the reason Solomon said that we should "Fear God and keep his commandments."

1. Because there will be a day of judgment.

2. Every soul of man shall stand before God and give an account of what he has done.

3. God the infinitely wise, heart-searching God will be the judge.                                       4. He will bring to light every secret thing— Mark 4:22 (NKJV) For there is nothing hidden which will not be revealed, nor has anything been kept secret but that it should come to light.

Every work done since the creation, by all men; whether forgotten or registered; whether done in secret or in public, will come to light.

5. All the works of the godly, as well as all the works of the wicked, shall be judged in that day; the good will receive their reward in God’s Kingdom and the evil which the wicked have done shall be judged and they shall be cast into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Invitation: 1 Timothy 2:4 (NKJV)  God desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. God wants you to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. All dads and moms want their children to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth also. If you are not sure of your salvation, make sure today. Be sure to pray for yourself and family each day.