In the ancient society/culture in which the book of Ecclesiastes was born, the wisdom of life was acquired in the midst of community interactions. Wisdom was passed on orally and taught through the generations. At the end of the book of Ecclesiastes we see this nuance strongly. In verse 10 it is explained that the task of a wise man (preacher) is to give proverbs that please and comfort others, He earnestly endeavours to find and write down “true words” that can be trusted. For us today, "right words" are a bit difficult to juxtapose with "pleasant words". If we want to please people, we usually don't call it truth. Perhaps in the opposite situation, when we experience the defence of others, then the true words are also the pleasant words.

The words of the wise are words that can stand firm and encourage people to organise their lives with righteous actions. Often we feel that if we have done A, B, and C, then we have "arrived" at God's blessings or favour. Ecclesiastes 12:12 reminds us, "Making many books will have no end." This is a philosophical signal that the quest for wisdom never stops at one particular intellectual point or formula. Wisdom is a process of walking with God, not mastering His secrets.

Section 11 mentions words for wisdom such as reins and nails. The reins are used when we are walking to keep us from straying. The nails provide stability so that we do not fall when we step. Both are tools for the journey, not decorations at the finish line. The preacher's final conclusion is "Fear God and keep His commandments." A marker of a heart attitude that is constantly carried in every decision one makes, be it in career, family, and daily struggles.

Friends of the Bible, our journey through the book of Ecclesiastes has come to an end. Through it we learnt to truly submit to the ways of wisdom. Although sometimes God's wisdom can be uncomfortable, that is where the truth and wisdom of life come from. We live in an era where the line between falsehood and truth is thin. Any statement can become true depending on how many people carry it and consider it "the truth". So the Preacher's words of wisdom help us to clear our mind and body, to process the mind that is full of information. So that we only focus on the wisdom of God, the Sustainer of life.