Tag: fear God
The conclusion: Fear God!
Scripture reading for July 14th: Ecclesiastes 7-12
The quest of Solomon to find meaning is played out every day in our world. People are going to and fro seeking pleasure, wisdom, meaning and purpose in life under the sun. They are trying wine, women, sports, building, materialism, and fame to find happiness and fulfillment. Many laugh and appear to have fun, but they have found no meaning. Many are in bondage to sins of the flesh and are miserable. That elusive fulfillment can only be found in God Himself!
Solomon told us that the day of death was better than the day of birth. Death will come to every man and their works will stand judgment. This should give us motivation for righteous living here and now! There was not a righteous man who did what is right and never sinned. (Ecclesiastes 7:10; Romans 3:23) Solomon found that God had made men upright, but that men in their folly had gone in search of many schemes! (Ecclesiastes 7:29)
“The race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong, nor does food come to the wise or wealth to the brilliant or favor to the learned; but time and chance happen to them all.” (Ecclesiastes 9:11) No one really knows the future or what it holds. Accidents can come suddenly and death can snatch us from this life without warning! “As fish are caught in a cruel net, or birds are taken in a snare, so men are trapped by evil times that fall unexpectedly upon them.” (Ecclesiastes 9:12)
“The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails–given by one Shepherd. Be warned, my son, of anything in addition to them. Of the making of many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body. Now all has been heard; her is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or bad.” (Ecclesiastes 12:11-13) Let the fear of the Lord and obedience to His commands drive your life. It is the beginning of all wisdom. These are wise words given by our Shepherd to be pondered and applied! True meaning will come at Christ’s judgment seat when every deed is judged!
Teacher, you insult us!
Scripture reading for April 6th: Luke 11:37-12:7
“”Woe to you Pharisees, because you love the most important seats in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces.” “Woe to you, because you are like unmarked graves, which men walk over without knowing it.” One of the experts in the Law answered him, “Teacher, when you say these things, you insult us also.” ” (Luke 11:43-45)
“Jesus replied, “And you experts in the law, woe to you, because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them.” (Luke 11:46)
You would think that a great teacher would seek not to insult his students! Jesus was charged with insulting those He sought to help! What would motivate Jesus to take this approach? Was this something sinful in the sinless Son of God? Shouldn’t someone who is said to walk in the love of God be more tactful and tender? Isn’t it wrong to insult our religious leaders? As we read this account of Jesus confronting the religious authorities, we have lots of questions that come to our minds as we ponder Jesus’ approach to these people.
First of all, Jesus was and is the greatest teacher who ever lived or will live! He has never sinned and did not sin in His approach to reaching and correcting these religious leaders. He was simply speaking the truth to help expose their hypocrisy. Jesus had been invited to the home of a Pharisee for dinner. They were judging Him as unclean because He failed to wash His hands before the meal. Jesus, knowing their hypocrisy of breaking God’s laws yet trying to keep their own, spoke these woes to help wake them up. They should have taken care of what was inside their hearts first.
God disciplines and corrects those He loves. Without it we are illegitimate children. (Hebrews 12:5-6, Proverbs 3:11-12) God gives a life-giving rebuke to those who will be corrected. (Proverbs 15:31-32) Those whose hearts are proud and hard will refuse correction and suffer for it. These Pharisees and teachers of the Law hardened their hearts and plotted how they might kill Jesus. In doing so, they fulfilled the plan of God for their own redemption, but also possibly brought about their own destruction. Are you offended by the Word of Jesus? Do you consider correction from His Word an insult?
The Conclusion of the Matter
Scripture reading for July 15th: Ecclesiastes 7-12
Ecclesiastes has some good and practical advice for us to heed today. The wise learn from others’ wisdom because they listen and are teachable. I have saved myself many headaches and heartaches by listening to God’s word and heeding its wise advice. Here are some verses that have spoken to me from today’s reading.
“When a sentence for a crime is not quickly carried out, the hearts of people are filled with schemes to do wrong. Although a wicked man commits a hundred crimes and still lives a long time, I know that it will go better with God-fearing men, who are reverent before God.” (Ecclesiastes 8:11-12) Our justice system was originally based on swift punishment but has deteriorated with abundant crime and lax sentences. Crime increases when sentences are not carried out. The fear of God restrains evil and helps on His judgment day.
“Cast your bread on the water, and after many days you will find it again. Give portions to seven, yes to eight, for you do not know what disaster may come upon the land.” (Ecclesiastes 11:1-2) Wise money management requires investing or sowing in order to reap. Sowing in a diversity of investment is wise because of possible trouble if you put all your investments in one thing. This simple advice can help us in today’s economy.
“Remember your creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, “I find no pleasure in them”–” (Ecclesiastes 12:1) As I get older, this advice is something I would give to my own grandchildren and all young people. An early walk with God, our creator, is the best foundation for all of life and serves us well when we get old and face death.
After trying everything “under the sun”, the preacher (King Solomon) gives us a summary of his findings. When this wise man boils it all down, the answer to a full life here on earth and a blessed eternity is simple enough for anyone to understand. “Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14)