It is true that reading will make a full man and writing, an exact man. Reading will certainly keep us informed. Writing, on the other hand, will keep us contemplating and searching for the right words to accurately and aptly express our thoughts. Regarding reading, bear in mind that there is a proliferation of books of all sorts in the world today. If we are to be kept rightly informed, reading the right books matter. One book that will keep us rightly informed for sure is the Bible. It’s the book we cannot do without. Though it is one volume, it actually contains 66 books. Each one is written with the inspiration of God. According to 2 Timothy 3:16-17, all the books of the Bible are “…profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”
Ecclesiastes 12:11 asserted that listening to the wisdom found in the book is listening to the voice of the Shepherd. Although this verse speaks particularly to the book of Ecclesiastes, it applies to every other book of the whole Bible as well. For us believers, it’s important to listen to our Shepherd’s voice. Remember Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice.” We must be careful to listen to Him if we are to build an effective life. We cannot afford not to hear from Him. While we may want to read other books, we must not neglect the Bible. It is through this book of books that Jesus, our eternal Shepherd, speaks to us.
Take Ecclesiastes 12:12 into consideration as you choose to read books other than the Bible. It says, “My son, beware of anything beyond these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh.” Please don’t get it wrong. Ecclesiastes 12:12 does not discourage us from reading other useful books. It is just cautioning us about reading all sorts of books. We should avoid books that are unprofitable to our soul. Reading undeniably has a place in Christian discipleship. We need to engage and expand our minds, and reading helps to do that. But we must read books that can help and not those that will fill us with needless garbage. Otherwise, we may end up being the people the Apostle warned about in 2 Timothy 3:7, “…always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth.”
We ask ourselves what do we take away as we come to the end of Ecclesiastes? What is the right way to leave the book of Ecclesiastes? Hear what the final two verses of chapter 12 have to say. “The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.” Aware of it or not, the main call of the book is to fear our living God. What does it mean to fear God? It is to honor, respect, venerate and worship Him. Throughout the book of Ecclesiastes, we have been urged to fear God. In chapter 3:14 we are called to fear Him because His work is eternal. In chapter 5:7, we are told to fear God because He demands holy worship. In chapter 7:14-18, we are called to fear Him both in prosperity and adversity. Then in chapter 8:12, we are told to fear God for it will go well for those who fear Him openly. In this closing call, in Ecclesiastes 12:12, the reason we must fear God is because one day we will all be standing before Him for the ultimate judgment. Besides, fearing God and keeping His commandment is the whole duty of man. In other words, the bottom line of all there is to life is venerating God and obeying His Word. This is the sum total of all that concerns living. In fact, this is all that God requires of us – to honor and obey Him. Nothing is greater or more important than coming before our living God to worship, listen and obey Him.
As we close, let’s consider the heart of the book. Let’s not get away thinking that vanity of vanities means nothing matters. In fact, everything in this life does matter. Like it or not what we do, why we do and how we do - they all have eternal significance. Everything we do have an eternal consequence. We will all be standing before the scrutiny of the great Judge on the judgment day. That’s where all the hidden secrets of our heart and life will be disclosed. Will we hold our head high or will we bow our head in shame? Let us live our lives with an eternal perspective. Decide each day to live for Christ then go out and live for Him. Be the light for Christ everywhere!
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