11:8 - I have been studying through Philippians with the HS students and Paul's words continue to echo through my mind as I read the hopelessness in the words of Solomon. In Philippians chapter 1 Paul says, "To live is Christ." Solomon tells us to rejoice in the days of our youth. We must rejoice in every day we are given as a gift from God. Paul rejoiced in each new day as an opportunity to live to bring honor to the Kingdom of God...to reflect Christ into the world. Paul says, "To die is gain," while Solomon fears death as an introduction into eternal darkness. Paul understands the whole story...he can see the whole picture which Solomon was not yet able to see - through Christ we are ushered into eternity with God, not eternal darkness. To die is actually to gain a new and better life!
12:1 - This is a great message for all the young Christians of the world. Do not put off getting serious about your faith. Do not say, "I have years to be a hardcore Christian...right now I'm just gonna focus on myself." None of us know how many years we have left - we must take every opportunity to experience the true satisfaction of living out the lives we have been called to live in the way of Jesus.
12:11 - I like that - "The words of the wise are like goads." A Goad was a long stick that was used to keep the cattle moving in the right direction. Wise words are like that...they may sting a little, but they help you to stay on the path you need to be walking.
12:13-14 - In the end, Solomon had experienced everything...and I mean EVERYTHING! He had all the money, wine, women and song any man could ever handle (more than he could handle in fact), and he came away with a clarity of vision about what existence is truly all about. He could look back on his life with conviction and say, "The only thing that truly matters...the only things that truly satisfies...is to fear God and follow His ways." Solomon saved us the trouble of chasing after empty pursuits...we can just choose to learn from his lesson and seek to follow God.
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