Conclusion!

Conclusion!

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. Ecclesiastes 12:13 KJV

It is on record that the man and king Solomon had experienced the best the world had to offer. He had been blessed with wisdom from God, the type never seen in Israel before and never to be seen again, as promised by God. He was blessed with physical resources also, the type that made men, women and even queens come and listen to his wisdom, and even observe the amazing provisions of his house. In Solomon's time, all his house fittings and utensils were made of pure gold, and it was said that silver was of little value in his time. He built palaces with gold, and even built a glorious temple for the God of Israel. You would think that a man like that would know better than to provoke a God who did all these for him to anger.

Fast forward a few years, and Solomon had become rich, fat and careless. He had a harem of 1,000 women, including some from nations that God expressly forbade his children from marrying. He not only married from those nations; he also built altars to the gods of these nations. When you have eaten, and are well-fed, and it appears you have no concerns and worries, be careful. When all you lay your hands on to do seem to prosper, be careful to acknowledge the source of all the good things you hold. Possessions can possess you to forget the true source of all things. 

It was this reflection that made Solomon write the words of today's extract. He had tasted the good life, but he had also seen the result of a careless life. He spared himself nothing that money could buy, yet he realised that there are truly many key things that money cannot buy. One of such key things is the fear of God. The beginning and the end of all life rests on the understanding and embrace of the fear of God. The same Solomon penned these immortal words: the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. It is this fear that must underpin all that my life produces or offers to God. 

We have now raised up hypocrisy and eye-service as the new standards. We are unable to address sin in our lives because we do not have that basic ingredient that makes us avoid sin, which is the fear of God. Because God is a 'bit slow' to punish, we think we can get away with a little sin here and a little rebellion there. The extract of today is a reminder of what is truly important: the fear of God is the one ingredient that we cannot do without, if we would experience all that God is, and be able to obtain his eternal favour. The fear of God is called the whole duty of man. It seems to present the fear of God as an activity; a duty; a work that must be carried out on a regular basis. Truly, that is what it is. 

The conclusion of all that matters in life is the fear of God. It is the fear of God that keeps a man on the path of righteousness and purity. It is the fear of God that keeps a man from stealing, even if no one is looking. It is the fear of God that helps a man to speak the truth, even if there is the risk of personal hurt. I don't fear God only because of what he may do if I sin, but because I know that my life is better when I am on God's side of holiness and truth. Solomon calls all who will listen to come and hear the conclusion of all of life: one day, all of man must come before this God to give an account. The basis of judgment will be what I did with the fear of God. Was it a joke to me, or was it all of my life's focus and priority? The answer to that question is a matter of eternity. His time of favour is here.