“As a sinner will do evil one hundred times and his life will still be long, I know as well that there will be good for the ones who fear God because they fear before his face.”

(Ecclesiastes 8:12)

Growing up, my parents used to say to me, “Two wrongs don’t make a right.” And that is exactly what Solomon is seeking to communicate. He is saying, “Yes, there are many people who do evil things that seem to get ahead…but just because they do, don’t emulate them — for every story of a person doing evil things and yet having a long life, there is the story of godly people also living long and quiet lives.” Yet, why is there good for those who live godly lives? It is simply because they fear the Lord. 

How indeed we are to fear the Lord as we live out our lives. It is the source of wisdom and knowledge, but the fear of the Lord is also the beginning of a life of peace. Why is that? It is because in the fear of the Lord we are brought to Christ and to holiness, without which, no one will see the face of the Lord.

How many people are there out there that attend churches and are active in leadership roles even, but who are proud and forceful, relying on their stature or power to bring about their will, not on God to bring about his own will. And while yes indeed, such as these sometimes seem to get ahead, we need not emulate them, for God will also take care of his own and one day the wicked will stand before such a God in judgment.