Ecclesiastes 12:13
Now all has been
heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep His
commandments, for this is the duty of every human being
The comments of the “teacher” in Ecclesiastes raise some
important questions. To begin with, the teacher asks about how to measure the
value of day-to-day labors in life. I have to say that I can’t argue with the
need to raise good questions about what matters most in life. Thankfully,
Ecclesiastes also provides some good answers. The brief summary statement at
the end brings me back around to two straightforward guiding principles for
life. First, I should fear God. That brings me back to a daily awareness and
acknowledgement that there is only one God. God is great and worthy of all that
I am. My knowledge of God evokes a sense of awe and humble recognition. Second,
I should keep His commandments. There are so many reasons why obedience is
essential. Keeping the commandments of God will never tip the scales in my
direction when it comes to deserving the grace of God. But, it will always
demonstrate what it means to respond to His mercy and grace. Furthermore, it is
always the best course for my life. The two work together to yield an accurate perspective
for life. Fear the Lord and keep His commandments. As I began to reflect on
Ecclesiastes, I found myself asking some questions of own. These questions
remind me how easily my perspective can become distorted if I drift from my
fear of the Lord and my faithfulness to His commandments.
- What if life is more about trusting God than receiving answers to all my questions?
- What if life is more about worshiping God than getting what I want from God?
- What if life is more about savoring God's grace and comfort than being delivered from my discomfort
- What if my “duty” in life is defined, as the "teacher" in Ecclesiastes suggests by whether or not I fear God and keep His commandments?
No comments:
Post a Comment