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Q.Isn't Ecclesiastes perplexing?

A. It shouldn't be for our society. In it, King Solomon opens up about his deepest feelings and philosophy of life, about what he's learned through his successes and failures. It lays out five key principles (not in sequence, but interwoven throughout the book) that we can use to restructure our value system.

Could you summarize these for us?

1. In the ultimate sense, human wisdom is empty. No matter how brilliant we are, our minds can't direct or control our destiny. Solomon says that human wisdom can't stand alone—it must depend upon God.

2. We must all face the laws that govern life. Solomon realized that his wealth and wisdom didn't exempt him from the pain and pressures of life. If we look to God for our hope and significance, unrealized dreams or unanticipated suffering don't destroy our sense of meaning and worth.

3. There's no lasting value in earthly goods and treasures. Enjoy life and the things of life; but God and His purposes must be the source of our true joy and happiness—not fads, fashions, or expectation of others.

4. We must be humbly grateful for our lot in life. None of us selected our parents, and the truth is that our success is more a gift of God than a result of our own personal maneuvers.

5. We must live understanding that there is life after death. Many Christians live as if the here and now is it. We are citizens of heaven with a temporary residence and work permit in the world.

—Crawford W. Loritts, Jr., directs the Legacy Ministries of Campus Crusade for Christ.

Credits: Adapted from — A Passionate Commitment (Moody Press, Moody Bible Institute, 1989)

Copyright © 2000 by the author or Christianity Today International/Men of Integrity. For reprint information click here.

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Prayer for the Week

Jesus, fill me with the abundant life promised in Your Word. Give me Your wisdom to live well.

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