著書多、沒有窮盡．讀書多、身體疲倦（傳12章）

我兒、還有一層、你當受勸戒：著書多、沒有窮盡．讀書多、身體疲倦。（傳 12：12）

世界上最愛閱讀的，莫過於猶太人。但是，猶太人的閱讀，是有一定的先後順序的，也就是「聖經」是必讀經典；至於其餘的著作，有機會再多讀；對於寫作出書這件事，永遠也沒有窮盡，寫也寫不完。然而，這樣的觀念，多是出於傳道書這段經文。

猶太人習慣四歲左右就開始讀妥拉（聖經的前身），是必讀的經典。因為傳道書這裡說：「智慧人的言語、好像刺棍．會中之師的言語、又像釘穩的釘子．都是一個牧者所賜的。（傳 12：11）」這裏的「一個牧者」，是傳道者在暗示天上這位真神才是智慧的來源，因為智慧是祂所賜，其餘再聰明的世人，所見所知都有侷限性。這「一個牧者所賜的」智慧，就是指聖經神的話。

傳道者的意思，或許在說：「想要讀很多書增長知識？那麼至少要讀這一本書，就是聖經。讀了這本聖經，其餘的書有沒有讀都不重要，讀了可能只有疲倦、一無所得。」因為這本聖經「好像刺棍」，讓人讀了會感動、札心，叫人改變；「又像釘穩的釘子」，含有堅定不動搖的真理，可以讓讀到的人一生遵守，並因此受益無窮。

聖經都是神所默示的、〔或作凡神所默示的聖經〕於教訓、督責、使人歸正、教導人學義、都是有益的．叫屬神的人得以完全、預備行各樣的善事。（提後 3：16-17）

今天是個知識爆炸的時代，知識唾手可得。只要你願意，就是大英博物館中的藏書，也能在彈指之間，藉由網際網路的幫助一覽無遺。因此，在現今的世代還能成為無知的人，也是自己造成的，因為知識已擺在眼前，是自己不願意學習而已。

另一種極端，則是貪婪地想將一切世上的學問塞入自己的腦袋中，因此無窮無盡地學習。但是，這樣的態度是否正確？我們會發現，這樣的學習，多出於貪婪、虛榮與驕傲的心，常常只是為了要得到世人的稱讚。然而傳道書告訴我們：「著書多、沒有窮盡．讀書多、身體疲倦」，話中之意，就是提醒我們留意這只是虛空的作為，對於真智慧是沒有什麼幫助的。

今天世人總愛標榜自己讀了多少書、知道什麼學問，甚至追求博士、雙博士、超博士等這些不切實際的學位，來昭示天下自己的聰明。但是那最重要的一本書「聖經」，卻從來都沒讀過。一個不認識創造天地萬物的真神耶穌基督，連知識的入門都沒還沒進入的人，如何稱為智慧？

另外，我們可能會覺得自己沒讀什麼書，但是傳道書這裡說：「只要讀一本書就夠了，這本書讀了，勝似讀過萬卷書，那就是聖經。」而且要趕緊開始讀，趁著年幼、衰敗的日子尚未來到之前，就開始認真學習。因為讀了才有能力知道如何記念造我們的主，做對的事：「你趁着年幼、衰敗的日子尚未來到、就是你所說、我毫無喜樂的那些年日未曾臨近之先、當記念造你的主。」（傳 12：1）

真智慧，會引導人明白真理，知道人生的真正歸宿，懂得把握機會做對的事，而不是沒目標地窮忙、浪費生命在無意義的爭鬥上。方法就是要先認識這位真神、進入真教會、靠聖靈明白真理，藉由每日讀聖經，懂得謹守遵行神的命令，並因行義得以勝過將來末日的審判，進入永生的天國。

若能善用短暫的人生、做足未來永生的準備，這樣的人生就不至於虛空。每日讀經，改寫人生，讓我們的人生成為「滿足的滿足，凡事都很滿足！」

這些事都已聽見了．總意就是敬畏神、謹守他的誡命、這是人所當盡的本分。〔或作這是眾人的本分〕因為人所作的事、連一切隱藏的事、無論是善是惡、神都必審問。（傳 12：13-14)

By Isaiah Kao

"The writing of many books is endless and excessive study is wearying to the body" (Ecclesiastes 12)

“But beyond this, my son, be warned: the writing of many books is endless, and excessive study is wearying to the body.” (Ecclesiastes 12:12 NASB2020)

The Jewish people are among the world's most avid readers. However, Jewish reading follows a certain order: the Bible is essential reading; other works are read as there’s opportunities; as for writing and publishing, there is no ending, and one can never finish writing. This concept largely stems from this passage in Ecclesiastes.

Jews traditionally begin reading the Torah (the precursor to the Bible) around the age of four, which is considered essential reading. Because Ecclesiastes says here, “The words of the wise are like goads, and masters of these collections are like driven nails; they are given by one Shepherd.” (Ecclesiastes 12:11 NASB2020) Here, "one shepherd" is the Preacher implying that the true God in heaven is the source of wisdom, because wisdom is a gift from Him, and even the most intelligent people in the world have limited understanding and knowledge. This wisdom "given by one shepherd" refers to the Word of God in the Bible.

The Preacher may be saying, "Want to read many books to increase your knowledge? Then at least read this one book: the Bible. After reading this Bible, whether you read other books or not is unimportant; reading others may only lead to weariness and nothing gained." Because this Bible is "like goads," touches and pierce the hearts, bringing about change; and "like driven nails," containing unwavering truths that readers can follow throughout their lives, thus benefiting immeasurably.

“All Scripture is inspired by God and beneficial for teaching, for rebuke, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man or woman of God may be fully capable, equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17 NASB2020)

Today is an age of knowledge explosion; knowledge is readily available. If you wish, even the books in the British Museum can be accessed in the blink of an eye with the help of the internet. Therefore, remaining ignorant in this age is self-inflicted, because knowledge is already before us; we simply choose not to learn.

The other extreme is the greedy desire to put all worldly knowledge into one's head, thus engaging in endless learning. But is this attitude correct? We will find that such learning often stems from greed, vanity, and pride, frequently driven by the desire for worldly praise. However, Ecclesiastes tells us, “The writing of many books is endless and excessive study is wearying to the body" This reminds us that such pursue of knowledge is merely vanity and does not contribute to true wisdom.

Today, people love to boast about how many books they've read, what knowledge they possess, and even pursue unrealistic degrees like PhDs, double PhDs, or even super-PhDs, to demonstrate their intelligence. But they've never read the most important book: the Bible. How can someone who doesn't know Jesus Christ, the Creator of heaven and earth, and hasn't even entered the beginning level of wisdom, be called wise?

Furthermore, we might feel we haven't read many books, but Ecclesiastes says, "Read just one book, and it will be better than ten thousand books—the Bible." And we should start reading it now, in the days of youth before the evil days come, to begin serious study. Because only through reading can we know how to remember our Creator and do the right thing: “Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years approach when you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”; (Ecclesiastes 12:1 NASB2020)

True wisdom guides us to understand the truth, to know the true purpose of life, and to seize opportunities to do the right thing, instead of aimlessly toiling and wasting our lives in meaningless struggles. The method is to first know this true God, enter the true church, understand the truth through the Holy Spirit, and through daily Bible reading, to know how to carefully obey God's commands, and through practicing righteousness, to overcome the final judgment and enter the eternal kingdom of heaven.

If we can make good use of our short lives to prepare for the eternal life to come, then our lives will not be in vain. Daily Bible reading rewrites our lives, making our lives "satisfied in every way!"

“The conclusion, when everything has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 NASB2020)