“Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.” — Ecclesiastes 7:29

What Is Happening in the Passage

Solomon had searched carefully to understand why so much in life had become crooked. He finally tells us something important: God did not make people sinful.

God made man upright and good. But people turned away from God and began choosing their own ways instead.

What This Teaches Us About God

Everything God originally made was good. Sin did not begin because something was wrong with God or with His wisdom.

God’s ways are right. When He tells us how to live, His commands come from His goodness and wisdom.

Supportive Scripture: “And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good.” — Genesis 1:31

What This Teaches Us About Us

Our hearts often want to make our own way instead of trusting God’s way. We may think something else will make us happier, safer, more important, or more satisfied.

But when we turn from God, we begin looking for other things to give us what only He can give. Those things may be good gifts, but they cannot take God’s place.

Supportive Scripture: “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way.” — Isaiah 53:6

How This Leads Us to Jesus

Jesus never turned away from His Father. He always obeyed and always did what pleased Him.

We have not lived that way. We have sinned and chosen our own paths. Jesus died on the cross for sinners, shed His blood, was buried, and rose again so that those who trust Him could be forgiven and brought back to God.

Supportive Scripture: “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God.” — 1 Peter 3:18

What This Means for Our Hearts

We do not need to keep building our own ways to find happiness or peace. We can ask God to show us where our hearts are trusting something more than Him.

God’s gifts are good, but they are safest when we receive them as gifts instead of asking them to take His place.

Supportive Scripture: “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.” — Proverbs 3:5

Words to Know

Upright — Right and good according to God’s order.

Inventions — Human schemes or ways made apart from God’s wisdom.

Depart — To turn away from where we should remain.

Restore — To bring something back toward what it should be.

Creator — God, who made us and knows what is good for us.

Written October 23, 2026

Read another edition: Adult devotional · Formation Edition