What is Life About? • Ecclesiastes 12:1-14
By Beth S. Bowman
Many of my friends are making hard, difficult decisions about aging parents. Constant questions twirl around in their heads. How long can my mom/dad stay by themselves? Should we hire in-home help? Should we take away the keys? Can my parents come and live with me or a sibling? What kind of place can we afford for future care of a parent?
These questions have varied and individual answers. I have witnessed so many children of aging parents wonder if the decisions they made after much prayer and thoughtfulness are the best decisions for their loved ones.
The other side of the coin is that often those parents have lived full and happy lives and are ready to end their years of earthly toil. Our bodies are not meant to last and Solomon does an excellent job of helping us understand that process.
Ecclesiastes 12:3 (NLT) states, “Remember him before your legs — the guards of your house — start to tremble; and before your shoulders — the strong men — stoop. Remember him before your teeth — your few remaining servants — stop grinding; and before your eyes — the women looking through the windows — see dimly.” Our legs, shoulders, teeth, and eyes fade as we get older.
Solomon contemplates all of this with a strong challenge to young people: remember God during all the years when they have the time, energy, and health to remember and obey the Almighty God.
In the first verse, the word, “creator,” is a plural form in Hebrew, suggesting greatness of majesty. Solomon is looking back and sharing his profound and God-given wisdom to a younger generation. His desire is to mentor and pour into younger men and women, and to warn them of the impeding decline of their bodies. Use your youth and energy to honor God! After all, our bodies will return to dust and our spirits to God one day.
The writer takes a turn in the next section of verses. In these verses, Solomon speaks about himself in the third person. He writes that one should proclaim God’s truth in the following ways. He should teach the people knowledge, finding acceptable and true words given by God.
When wise people share wise words, those words can be life-changing.
I can remember my Baptist Student Union director at Mississippi State University, Ken Watkins, giving me pointed advice before a job interview. That timely advice has helped me in many other interviews and situations. Advice based on God’s words does not have a deadline for being applicable and useful.
After everything Solomon imparts, he concludes with the basics. Ecclesiastes 12:13 states, “Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind. There will be an accountability for everything we do.”
British theologian Matthew Henry (1662-1714) states, “Fear God, that is, worship God, give him the honour due to his name, in all the instances of true devotion, inward and outward.” This is the opposite of thinking that everything is meaningless. This idea steps back, realizes the respect and reverence that we must have for God, and challenges our behavior, actions, and priorities in light of what God wants for us.
Bowman, a member of West Carthage Church, is a speaker/writer. She may be contacted at beth@bethbowman.net.
