Man's Duty!

Man's Duty!

When all has been heard, the end of the matter is: fear God [worship Him with awe-filled reverence, knowing that He is almighty God] and keep His commandments, for this applies to every person. ECCLESIASTES 12:13 AMP

The book of Ecclesiastes is attributed to the son of David, king in Jerusalem, and would be no other person than Solomon, the richest man in his time, and I'm not sure there has been any other one to compare with him. He it was who didn't deny himself anything he wanted: he got women in excess, he fed his eyes everything they wanted, he went after all his heart desired. Yet, he got to a stage in his life and uttered those immortal words: "Vanity upon vanity, all is vanity". With those words, he shattered the veil that surrounds this physical and earthly realm, and asks us to look again at our lives, set our priorities and pursuits right, and seek after God.

If I am to fully understand today's extract, it may do me some good to look at the 11 chapters that went before today's conclusion. Solomon spoke about work, labour, rest, wisdom, timing, opportunity, pleasure, possessions, power, authority, giving and then at the end of it all, a charge to remember God whilst there was still time. That's the context of today's extract. No matter what I get, acquire, achieve or become in this present earthly phase, it is nothing compared to the blessing that comes from a fear of God. No matter how attractive or pleasing to the eye the things of this earth are, they cannot guarantee eternal life. No matter what else happens to me, my greatest achievement will not be what I got, but who I submitted to. Not that riches aren't good, but what is the point of wealth that cannot secure eternity?

Fear God: a simple, yet powerful statement, which speaks to my heart, my life, my entire being. Fear is first a thing of the inner man, before it manifests in the physical. If I fear God, my life's pursuits and priorities will reflect that fear. If I submit to God, my life will be a continual offering of worship to Him. The opposite is also true, and the evidence of this is apparent all around us. When a man does not fear God, he has no scruples or limitations; he has no caution, no careful thoughts, no guard over his heart. Fear of God is also a conscious acknowledgement of my inadequacies, which leads to a daily dependence on God, his Spirit and His Word for guidance on life.

Another version even ends today's extract by saying "this is the whole duty of man". Nothing else will give you eternal gain, other than a healthy fear of God. Do I even know this God? Is all I know about Him just what people say? Even if it starts with what others say, I must find him for myself and grow in my knowledge of Him, because what will sustain me in life isn't so much about the value of my possessions, but the value of the One who controls all I am now and all I'm aspiring to be. That's the end I must seek after: the fear of God that keeps my heart conscious of eternity. His time of favour is here.