Life is lived not only for this life but also for eternity, knowing that good will be rewarded and evil will be condemned perfectly by the God who will bring you into judgment.
In Ecclesiastes, literally, Solomon spoke of the judgment, referring to our great accountability before God. So, let us understand how one should proclaim God's truth:
- Should teach the people knowledge.
- Should seek to find acceptable words.
- Should seek to bring forth that which is upright - words of truth.
- Should make our words as goads and well-driven nails, with point and direction.
- Should bring forth the words given by one Shepherd.
- Should realize that good study is wearisome to the flesh and be willing to pay that price.
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14
13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
Matthew Henry Ecclesiastes Ch 12 Commentary
I. The summary of religion. Setting aside all matters of doubtful disputation, to be religious is to fear God and keep his commandments.
II. The vast importance of it: This is the whole of man; it is all his business and all his blessedness; our whole duty is summed up in this and our whole comfort is bound up in this. It is the concern of every man, and ought to be his chief and continual care; it is the common concern of all men, of their whole time. It is nothing to a man whether he be rich or poor, high or low, but it is the main matter, it is all in all to a man, to fear God and do as he bids him.1. The root of religion is fear of God reigning in the heart, and a reverence of his majesty, a deference to his authority, and a dread of his wrath. Fear God, that is, worship God, give him the honour due to his name, in all the instances of true devotion, inward and outward. See Rev. 14:7.2. The rule of religion is the law of God revealed in the scriptures. Our fear towards God must be taught by his commandments (Isa. 29:13), and those we must keep and carefully observe. Wherever the fear of God is uppermost in the heart, there will be a respect to all his commandments and care to keep them. In vain do we pretend to fear God if we do not make conscience of our duty to him.
Under The Sun by MICHAEL CARD
May all who come here, if they ask for it, be granted eyes to see and ears to hear what the Spirit of the Lord is saying.
Maranatha,
Anna