Ecclesiastes 12:12 And further my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.

When I’ve read that or heard Ecclesiastes 12:12  quoted it’s almost always in a negative tone. “Too many books, and study wears you out.” That’s how it has come across. I’ve heard preachers quote this as to why they don’t study to preach.

The writer of this small book in the Old Testament was Solomon, one of the wisest men to walk the earth. Solomon even calls himself ‘the preacher’ in this book. I’m positive Solomon read quite a bit considering how wise he was, and how much he wrote. Reading in Proverbs Solomon admonished us to seek after understanding, knowledge and wisdom. And how we grow in these areas is through studying, along with prayer.

Yet he writes that studying is a weariness of the flesh. And I can agree, much study can wear you out. I’ve had those long nights of studying for tests and for preparing messages and studying can make you tired. In depth studying can be rather exhausting.

I heard Pastor Jeff Arnold say one time “The scripture says much study is a weariness to the flesh. That may be so, but my Spirit is on fire!” That quote has inspired me so many times over the years.

John Piper said of Bible study; “Raking is easy, but all you get is leaves. Digging is hard but you might find diamonds.”

Studying is hard, toiling in the Word of God can be taxing but the rewards of finding those diamonds is worth the price. The Word of God is a fountain life and we must constantly strive to live by it.

Yet, we must remember that the flesh is our greatest enemy when trying to grow in the Spirit. Jesus told the disciples that the flesh was weak but the Spirit was willing. The Spirit within us is willing to grow us in the Word of God, but the flesh is a threat to seeing that accomplished. We must feed the Spirit and starve the flesh.

Galatians 6:8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

Solomon is correct, study can weary the flesh and I believe that is the point. We need to weary our flesh with Bible study. The places in our life where the flesh has a strong hold must be broken down with God’s Word. We need to let the Word of God be engrafted into our lives and we need to hide the Word of God in our heart that we might not sin against God. I know the more I study the scriptures for longer hours I can feel the Holy Spirit gaining strength in my life, and the flesh begin to lose control.

Let’s take to heart that much study is a weariness to the flesh and that might just be what our flesh needs and what our Spirit desires.