Ecclesiastes

I have been touched by the thoughts in Ecclesiastes this weekend. Some of the verses that have me pondering are:

3:11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.

4:6 Better one handful with tranquility than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind.

5:1 Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know what they do wrong.

5:7 Much dreaming and many words are meaningless. Therefore stand in awe of God.

7:13 Consider what God has done...

7:18b The man who fears God will avoid all extremes.

7:20 There is not a righteous man on earth who does what is right and never sins.

and finally...

12:13-14 Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.

Thank you, Lord, for the privilege of reading Your Word. Help us to not only read Your Word, but to consume it in the deepest parts of our spirits. May it transform us into the image of Christ. Amen.