“Education is overrated.” That’s not exactly what we would expect to hear from Solomon, who has spent the entire book of Ecclesiastes trying to get us to think about our lives, to examine our priorities in greater depth. And he gave it his best shot, as “he pondered, searched out and arranged many proverbs” (Ecclesiastes 12:9). He tried to make his words of wisdom as winsome and yet as truthful as possible (12:10). And still he could admit that “the writing of many books is endless, and excessive devotion to books is wearying to the body” (12:12).
How can this be? At least in part because of what wisdom really is. Oh, make no mistake, knowledge of the truth is like nails that hold our life together. Such knowledge can goad us toward making decisions that are in line with God’s will (12:11). And this is in no small part because the words of Scripture ultimately come from One Shepherd, from God Himself (12:11).
But if we know Biblical truth without putting it into practice, it will do no one any good. That’s why Solomon says in the conclusion of his book that the true secret of life is not so much what we think as what we do: “Fear God and keep His commandments” (12:13).
After all, just knowing the truth about Jesus has never saved anyone. As James points out, even the demons knew who Jesus was, but they remained defiant rebels (James 2:19). Just so, it is a delusion to imagine that the Christian religion is some sort of heavenly fire insurance. For if we imagine that just because we’ve walked the aisle and said the sinner’s prayer we can therefore live in as sinful a way as we wish, we are sorely mistaken. After all, Solomon makes it clear that “God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil” (Ecclesiastes 12:14).
No, if we are really trusting Christ as Savior that also means we must bow the knee to Him as Lord. And that means we must keep His commandments, putting Him first in our lives and practicing the same sort of self-sacrificial, unconditional love that He showed to us on the cross. True faith, true wisdom can settle for nothing less.
Ecclesiastes 12:9-14 (NASB)
9 In addition to being a wise man, the Preacher also taught the people knowledge; and he pondered, searched out and arranged many proverbs.
10 The Preacher sought to find delightful words and to write words of truth correctly.
11 The words of wise men are like goads, and masters of these collections are like well-driven nails; they are given by one Shepherd.
12 But beyond this, my son, be warned: the writing of many books is endless, and excessive devotion to books is wearying to the body.
13 The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person.
14 For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.
