What's the Point? (A Study in Ecclesiastes: Part 1)Намуна

The third stop on Q’s quest for wisdom examines the assumption that surely a wise man will be remembered for the great things he or she has done. For a time, this is true; we remember the things that happened in the recent past and how they impacted us. But, we are forgetful people. We forget the good and the bad things that happened unless we create a way to remember them. This is why we have to study history in school. There are so many things that happened in the past that we would have no idea about if it wasn’t written down in history books. Even more wise and impactful people aren’t in those books, and their lives have been forgotten about. Q gives an example of a poor wise man who saves the city but is forgotten. We also see this with the Israelites in Egypt. Joseph saved Egypt and the Israelites during a severe famine, but his service to the Pharaoh is forgotten, and the Israelites are reduced to slaves. There is no guarantee that a wise person will be remembered for their impact on the world.

Ask Yourself: What are the things you hope to be remembered for?

Pause to Pray: Surrender your pride and desire to be somebody to God and ask Him how He wants to use the rest of your life for him.

Take the Next Step: Invest in something that gives the credit to God instead of yourself, like serving at your church or with a nonprofit.