ECCLESIASTES 12:13-14 – “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.”

THEME OF THE DAY: THE SERIOUSNESS OF LIFE.  The Apostle Paul graphically paints what the world will be like in the last days before Christ’s return.  It is a picture easily seen in our culture.  He writes . . .

“But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people” (2 Timothy 3:1-5).

Notice the repeated word lovers in Paul’s words.  We read lovers of self, lovers of money, lovers of pleasure, and lovers of God. These are strong indictments upon the world, and more so if applied to believers. Let’s break down each one and then tie them into the scripture and theme of the day.

First the world in the last days will identify as being lovers of self.  Here is the whole problem with the human race. We are born selfish and without the Gospel of the Lord Jesus, we will live obsessed with ourselves or controlled by the sin of selfishness which is so unattractive to others.

Next the world is a lover of money.  Material gain, miserly hoarding of resources, lack of sacrificial giving, and reluctance to meet the needs of others mark our world.  This is still yet another manifestation of the DNA of sin – selfishness.

The picture continues with the world being lovers of pleasure.  No one has to look far to see this sinful expression of selfishness.  Now don’t misunderstand me.  Yes, God gives us all things to enjoy in life, but not to be obsessed with all things in life especially enjoyment and pleasure.  And when it comes to entertainment, recreation, and pleasure, all have reached cultic proportions in our nation.  Big money is spent and big money is gained, not to mention the enormous amount of time given over to pleasure.

We come to the final mention of lovers and it is in the negative – lovers of pleasure rather that lovers of God.  How sad is this contrast!  Earthly pleasures override love for God, and it is a choice made.

All the characteristics of this world described by Paul – lovers of self, lovers of money, lovers of pleasure, and not lovers of God – reveal life is lived for this world and not the next.  It also reveals a lack of seriousness about life in this world.

In today’s scripture, King Solomon concludes his book of Ecclesiastes emphasizing what life is really all about – fear God, obey God, and prepare for the Day of Judgment.  If we learn to see all of life through these three lenses, we will live with more joy, be more focused on divine realities, and find ourselves with lives of fulfilling purpose and satisfaction.  And we will be overcomers when it comes to where the world wants to take us – lovers of self, money, pleasures, and not lovers of God.

PRAYER: Father, remind me daily of the serious nature of life and not attach my heart to this world.

REFLECTION: All of life is to be lived preparing for the Day of Judgment.  We are writing judgment every day.