Ecclesiastes

I just finished reading the book of Ecclesiastes and to be honest, this is the first time I finished a book in the bible and really understand it. Not that I understand it like a bible scholar, but God's wisdom helped me get the perspective of the author. The author is like someone I know whom I love dearly. He has the same understanding, perspective and outlook in life as the author of the book has. He believes everything is meaningless including wisdom! A chasing after the wind! The author is full of wisdom, riches, honor and fame yet all of these things are meaningless to him. He said whoever loves money never has money enough. True. He has good insights but he also believe that one should not be overrighteous nor overwicked. Is he saying it's okay to be wicked at times? As what he said, it is good to grasp the one and not let go of the other (Ecc. 7:16-18). He also said that the young should follow the ways of their heart and whatever their eyes see. Knowing what the young generations are seeing now? With all the media and social networking sites? He was trying to figure out life and that was one of his suggestions. He wants to know what's in it and what happens next as he sees everything as meaningless. He's suggesting that man should enjoy and banish the anxiety from the heart and cast off the troubles of our body. In other words, we must enjoy life and not worry about anything, but he didn't mention about faith.

In all of these, towards the end of the book, he made a very nice conclusion. Ecclesiastes 12:13 says "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." A conclusion deserving of applause. This is a man who think everything is meaningless but this is the same man who succumbs to the truth. Fear God. We are here on earth to fear God and keep his commandments.