The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. (Ecclesiastes 12:13, NASB)
It has been some 20-plus years since I first took golf lessons, but I remember clear as day the lesson where, out of exasperation, I commented to my instructor, “There are just too many things that can go wrong with the golf swing.”
His reply, almost too quickly, was, “Thirteen.”
Huh?
“There are 13 things that can go wrong with the golf swing.”
His comment stopped me in my tracks and caused me to wonder if I was ever going to be able to master any aspect of the game at all. And while my driving range time is often dedicated to working on various components of my swing, when it comes to playing the game, I am often better off reducing the game down to its simplest form: keeping my eye on the ball while I attempt to hit it.
I am in God’s kingdom and I get to read, study, and absorb his wisdom.The books of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes can be a little like the golf swing—so much to remember and hard to keep everything straight.
Over the years I often find myself turning to read these two books at times when I feel at loose ends and in need of direction. Sometimes I am simply looking for something that will cause me to think deeper thoughts and to connect with God. The reasons vary for these moments in my life—some good, some not so good. Nevertheless, like a golfer needing help with his or her swing, I turn to these books. And, as in my lesson long ago, I am often stopped in my tracks by chapter one of Proverbs. I usually stop there for a day or two because it takes me a while to absorb and then wonder at this deep truth: God went out of his way to have this book written specifically so I could gain wisdom. It starts like this:
…for gaining wisdom and instruction; for understanding words of insight; for receiving instruction in prudent behavior, doing what is right and just and fair; for giving prudence to those who are simple, knowledge and discretion to the young—let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance—for understanding proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. (NIV)
The beginning of that wisdom is fearing God. Somehow or other, the exact components of the transaction that got me here still escape me, but I am in his kingdom and I get to read, study, and absorb his wisdom.
Some 1,130 verses later, at the very end of Ecclesiastes, Solomon wrote this: “The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: Fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person” (NASB).
Hmmm. He started by telling us why he was writing down his proverbs and that the “fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.” He then handed out wisdom on a zillion topics and situations and then concluded by telling us, all those verses later, “when all has been heard,” we are to fear God. It appears Solomon liked to keep things simple, too. I think there is a message there.
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Bob Kuecker
February 27, 2019
Copyright 2019 Links Players International
The Links Daily Devotional appears Monday-Friday at www.linksplayers.com.