The closing words of the book of Ecclesiastes should be remembered by every person on this earth. The wisest man of the Old Testament, Solomon, said, “For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil” (12:14). That phrase, “every secret thing,” when fully understood, will change your life.
It will help those who are all alone and feel like that person who sent invitations to come to his “pity party” and no one came. David said, “I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me; refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul” (Psa. 142:4).
The circumstances which trigger this despair may vary from person to person and from one situation to another. It might have happened at work or within the family or in another of life’s situations. We were trying to do what Jesus said, and it seemed nothing good came out it. When others spoke harshly and judgmental of us, we kept on speaking good to them. We wanted to do what Jesus told us to do, “Bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you” (Matt. 5:44). It did not seem to help; in fact, it got worse. We sit and wonder just how anyone could be so wicked.
This is when we need to remember what Solomon said about every secret thing. They did not win! The final chapter has not been written for that event, perhaps known by so few. It all changes when we remember that God will bring every secret thing that is said or done into the judgment.
It may be that we are discouraged because others do not appreciate what we are doing in helping others, especially our brothers and sisters. At such a time, we need to listen to Solomon’s words about secret things. Jesus saw the widow’s two mites. He sees even a cup of cold water we give to others. Secret things. However, not one single word or one single deed will be overlooked by Jesus. He remembers every good thing and every one of them will be brought into judgment.
So how should we react to events like those just described? Paul said, “Let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart” (Gal. 6:9). How others respond does not matter. Whether we are appreciated or not does not matter. God sees us. He sees those who wrong us. He sees every event in our lives that surrounds us. Every secret thing is remembered!
Do not ever forget this: “It is always right to do right, and it is always wrong to do wrong. It is never right to do wrong and never wrong to do right. This is right because the Bible.” Secret things matter to Him!