Ecclesiastes 12:13 “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.”
Download The whole duty of man
You wouldn’t think you could sum everything in the Christian life up in just a few words, but this is what the “preacher” says he is doing here.
The fear of God is often misunderstood. It means seeing God clearly, by means of His word, and therefore developing exactly the right kind of reverence for Him – the kind He deserves.
Those who see Him for what He is will desire to take actions that are consistent with His character.
This is where the commandment portion comes into play. If we fear God, we will certainly do what He commands.
We do this not only because we fear what He could do if we don’t, but because we believe in who He is enough to follow Him. We know Him to be loving, to be faithful, and to know what is best for us.
So, if we know God, understanding Him through Biblical revelation, we will desire to follow Him in obedience to His commands.
It seems like that really does sum it up quite well!
Ecclesiastes 12:13 “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.”