What Can Be Gained by All Our Toil?
Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter:
Fear God and keep His commandments,
For this is man's all.
For God will bring every work into judgment,
Including every secret thing,
Whether good or evil.
(Ecclesiastes 12:13–14)
1. What can be gained by all our toil,
Where's hope amidst such pain?
The sin that fills our fallen world
Makes all our efforts vain.
2. Apart from God there is no hope,
No purpose for this life.
The fruit of all our plans and ploys
Yields not but endless strife.
3. Without God's grace our thoughts and toils
Are grasping for the wind.
We need the wisdom of God's Word
That we might know our end.
4. What must we then conclude and know
When wisdom has been heard?
That God has spoken and will judge:
Fear Him and keep His Word!
5. The fear of God will make us wise,
His Word shows us the way.
It beckons us to come to Christ,
Its call we must obey
6. For on that day when God will judge,
All secret things made known.
The only refuge from God's wrath
Will be in Christ alone.
"What Can Be Gained by All Our Toil?"
WORDS: Ken Puls, November 20, 2016
MUSIC: Old Irish Hymn Melody
TUNE: ST. COLUMBA (C.M.)
THEME: The Vanity of Life and the Value of Christ
This hymn is my reflection on the book of Ecclesiastes, especially the conclusion of the book in chapter twelve. It was written during a sermon series on Ecclesiastes entitled "Real Life in a Fallen World" preached by Dr. Tom Ascol at Grace Baptist Church, Cape Coral, Florida. Read more about this hymn on the blog.
Words ©2016 Kenneth A Puls
Music: Public Domain
This hymn is set to the tune ST. COLUMBA: the same tune as "How Sweet and Awful Is the Place"
Higher Key: D
Lower Key: C
Classical Guitar Accompaniment
Permission is granted to churches to make additional copies
of the lyrics and sheet music for this hymn for use in worship.
Above image made with Unsplash