The End of the Matter

 

"The end of the matter; all has been heard.  

Fear God and keep His commandments, 

for this is the whole duty of man.  

For God will bring every deed into judgment, 

with every secret thing, whether good or evil."  

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

I said yesterday that I find the book of Ecclesiastes somewhat depressing.  It seems that the king spent many years searching the things of life, and at this point in his life, he saw much emptiness.  Have you ever felt that way?  I certainly have.  It seems that many times our efforts just don't pay off, that the things we work for come to nothing in the end, the people that we put our hearts and souls into turn from us or just plain don't appreciate what we have sacrificed for them.  

So why go to all the effort?

Solomon wraps up his soliloquy by turning to the reader and giving the final bit of wisdom.  The duty of all mankind is two things:

• Fear God.
• Keep His commands

Why?  Because God is the judge and will judge.  Our deeds will be exposed, whether good or evil.

Our efforts to please God are not in vain.  There is purpose in our worship, in our learning, and in our acts of service.  Ultimately it is for His glory.  In this we can rejoice!

Pressing on,

Gloria