MAR 29

Ecclesiastes 12:12
Memorise Ecclesiastes 12:13
"Of making many books there is no end…"

WHY IS STUDY A WEARINESS OF THE FLESH?

Coming to verse 12, Solomon makes a rather intriguing statement that carries the line "much study is a weariness of the flesh". Many students would like to cheekily quote this verse, and then use it as a valid excuse to not study. They say after all, Solomon the wisest man in the world agrees that studying brings nothing but weariness, and there is no end to learning and making book, so why study at all! How are we to rightly interpret this verse, and what message is Solomon trying to give us?

We see him addressing the reader in a most tender fashion, ‘my son’. He says that it is only in light of all that he has already mentioned that ‘by these’ things which he has said, we are to be admonished and enlightened. He had shared many things throughout the book of Ecclesiastes, all directing us away from the sins and vanity of the world, and towards the wisdom of God. The ‘many books’ that he speaks of here, are the humanistic studies which he himself had engaged in, as he sought to find meaning and fulfilment in his life apart from God. When we live that way, in the vain pursuit of knowledge simply for personal satisfaction, then yes, it truly will bring weariness to the flesh and vexation to our spirit. So many people in the world have sought after knowledge and intellectual understandings of things as their highest goal, and they think that by getting degrees, publishing papers and researching deeply into the realms of science and technology, they can improve lives and bring satisfaction to their souls. However, they do it for themselves and not for God, and they will soon realize how empty their lives are. In the context of this verse, Solomon was probably speaking of the worldly philosophers of his time, who also liked to right books and debate and argue over the meaning of life. To him, such intellectual godless pursuits were meaningless, and bring nothing more than weariness.

In contrast to that, we know that the study of God’s word is profitable, sweet and refreshing to the soul. We can ignore the books of men, the writings of man, but we are never to ignore the words of truth. Yet it does not mean we must all quit school and enter into Bible College. For you as students, your role at the present is to study, but we do it not for self or pride’s sake, but only because we obey God, and want to glorify Him!

Thought: Studying is wearisome only when we do it apart from God
Prayer: In all my studies, help me to study for Thy glory!