SMITH
magazine, an online community that “celebrates the joy of storytelling,”
invited readers to submit six-word memoirs that describe their lives. Thousands
responded with brief biographies ranging from the light-hearted “Sweet wife,
good sons—I’m rich” to the painful “Sixty. Still haven’t forgiven my parents.”
Based on
Scripture, I tried to imagine how King Solomon might have summed up his life in
six words. As a young man, he could have written: God has given me great
wisdom. But in his later years, he might have said: Should have
practiced what I preached.
During a
reign distinguished by peace and prosperity, Solomon developed spiritual heart
problems. When he was old, “his wives turned his heart after other gods; and
his heart was not loyal to the Lord his God, as was the heart of his father
David” (1 Kings 11:4).
The result was God’s displeasure and a sad end to a previously exemplary life
(v.9).
The
multiple times Solomon used the word vanity (or meaningless) in
Ecclesiastes may indicate his disillusionment about life. This once-wise king
who had it all, lost it all, and pondered it all, ended the book with this
final conclusion: “Fear God and keep His commandments” (12:13).
Those are six words worth heeding.
