Solomon’s bottom line

If you accept the Bible for what it is, God's inspired, inerrant word,

representing absolute truth and our final authority in all matters, then

Solomon was the wisest man that ever lived. Over the years, I have carefully

studied his life, the things he said, trying to tap into his wisdom. As a

man, like all men, Solomon made many mistakes in his life and gave into the

temptations of this sinful world on many occasions. It doesn't make me feel

any better, but it does help when I make mistakes to know that even the

wisest man who ever lived also made many mistakes during his life.

I have torn apart the Book of Ecclesiastes many times and have spent

countless hours reading Solomon's summation of this life. In looking back

over his life, having had all that anyone who lives in this world could ever

want, the word that Solomon used over and over was "meaningless." As he

looked back, he realized that in the end all of the temporal things of this

world were exactly that, meaningless. It is, actually, a pretty negative

book until you get to the next to last verse. As only the wisest man who

ever lived could, in 6 words Solomon summed up what this life is all about,

"Fear God and Keep His Commandments."

This may sound like an oversimplification, but it really isn't. The Hebrew

word for fear is not the type of fear you have when you are afraid, but

literally means to be in awe, in reverence. That should always be our

attitude towards God-awe and reverence. Keeping His commandments refers to

obeying the Word of God. My friends, if we can do this throughout our lives,

fear God and keep His commandments, we have found the key to what this life

is really all about since this is the whole duty of man.

You see, this world honors those who lead great armies into war, rule

empires and nations; those who have amassed tremendous wealth; people who

are responsible for accomplishing incredible feats during their life. But

all of these great accomplishments are only temporary. The truly great

accomplishments in this life are the things we do that will stand for

eternity.

Sharing the truth of God's Word with people, leading the lost to an

everlasting relationship with Jesus Christ, helping those who know Christ

become all God wants them to be. These are things the world will never see,

but God will remember. Solomon at the end of his long, successful, and

distinguished life on this earth summed it all up by saying that the whole

duty of man is to fear God and keep His commandments.

I tell you often to stay focused on the things above as opposed to the things of this life. I pray, today, that you will take a long hard look at your goals and priorities, and make fearing God and keeping His commandments number one. Our purpose in this life is to serve and glorify God. If fearing Him and keeping His
commandments is how to fulfill His purpose for our life, then that must be our top priority each day.

I pray, today, that you will listen to the wisdom of Solomon and that each

day the most important thing in your life will be to "fear God and keep His

commandments." That, my friend, is the whole duty of man and the bottom line

to what this life is all about.