The Attitude And Ultimate Satisfaction Of The Saints Toward Learning 60 [Ecc 1:13, 12:9-14] / Anne's Faith Column

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The Attitude And Ultimate

Satisfaction Of The Saints

Toward Learning 60

[Ecc 1:13, 12:9-14] 

/ Anne's Faith Column 

 

 

 

/  By Priscilla

 

 

"I devoted myself to study

and to explore by wisdom

all that is done under heaven.

What a heavy burden

God has laid on men!

(Ecc 1:13)

 

 

It is certainly good to learn

a lot while living in this world,

but it is hard work to as well. 

 

 

 

However, the ultimate

satisfaction of our lives must

 be found not in the attitude

of learning, but in the

fear of God.

 

 

 

King Solomon clearly

confessed in Ecclesiastes

in the Bible that

 

 

 

'the fear of the LORD

is the beginning of wisdom,

and all knowledge in the

worldis meaningless'. 

 

 

 

The Lord also tells us

to obey God's word,

serve Him with fear,

and love our neighbors.

 

 

 

Even if we humans try

to learn everything

in this world,

 

 

 

it is absolutely impossible

to do that. It is nothing

but a humanistic thought

and we cannot overcome

 the limitations of creatures.

 

 

 

There is no way to

understand the great God

and the laws of the universe 

with only a small amount

 of knowledge we have.

 

 

 

No matter how much

Solomon asked God

for wisdom and he was

the king who possessed

everything,

 

 

 

and he enjoyed riches

and honors during

his lifetime, he himself

could not find the answers

to life, as he confessed

 in Ecclesiastes.

 

 

 

"Not only was the

Teacher wise, but also

he imparted knowledge

 to the people.

 

 

 

He pondered and

searched out and set

in order many proverbs.

 

 

 

The Teacher searched

to find just the right words,

and what he wrote was

upright and true.

 

 

 

The words of the wise

are like goads, their

collected sayings like

firmly embedded nails

--given by one Shepherd.

 

 

 

Be warned, my son,

of anything in addition

to them.

 

 

 

Of making many books

there is no end, and

much study wearies

the body.

 

 

 

 Now all has been heard;

here is the conclusion

of the matter:

 

 

 

Fear God and keep his

commandments, for this is

the whole duty of man. 

 

 

 

For God will bring every

deed into judgment,

including every hidden

thing, whether it is

good or evil."

(Ecc 12:9-14)

 

 

 

The wisdom he had

also came from God,

and he was only

a tool of God

 

 

 

and it was a gift from God

given to Solomon to

properly understand

the kingdom of God and 

to rule over the people.

 

 

 

Therefore, you will

be able to understand

what he meant when

he said that everything

under the sun was

meaningless.

 

 

 

There are times

when much of the

knowledge we seek

becomes rather spiritual

pride in the life of

fearing God.

 

 

 

If it becomes an

obstacle to our religious life,

we would rather live a life

of fearing and serving God

with less knowledge

 

 

 

and a fearful heart.

We should always remember

that this is our whole

duty to God.

 

 

 

What should we do to do that?

 

 

 

(1) We should seek ultimate

satisfaction by loving God

purely and realizing that

God is the beginning

of wisdom.

 

 

 

(2) We should live a life

of submission to God. 

 

 

 

(3) We should throw away

our pride and empty our

hearts before the Lord.

 

 

 

Prayer

 

 

 

Lord!

 

 

Your providence is

truly amazing.

 

 

 

Grant us wisdom to glorify

you even more!

 

 

 

Amen.

 

 

 

 

2009/12/14

 

 

/  By Priscilla