Ecclesiastes 12:13: “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter”: The “whole matter” to which Solomon referred I believe to be everything that he had beheld, considered, and pursued after in his life. The “whole matter” is the sum total and entirety of ALL that he had learned, of ALL that he possessed; EVERYTHING that he had (by wisdom) applied his heart to know and experience as a king in this lower world. Recap/Refresh: Ecclesiastes 1:12-2:11 Bottom line up front: I had it all, saith Solomon. My CONCLUSION, NONE of it ever brought ANY real satisfaction to my soul! And (what I think) TROUBLED Solomon more than anything, (which I think he finally realized in his latter days) was that, even after he had been constantly disappointed with all that he got in the world, he kept seeking satisfaction in it. Solomon’s life is a lesson and example for us all! I believe God allowed Solomon to “gain the whole world” to teach us that NOTHING in this world can ever satisfy and fulfill our “higher nature”, our souls. Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all is vanity and vexation of spirit. At the end of his life, this troubled him & distressed his soul! This was the first part of what Solomon learned and CONCLUDED about pouring your WHOLE LIFE in the lower/fallen world! The 2nd part of his conclusion, “Fear God, and keep His commandments” For believers: “to fear God” does not mean we view God as a tyrant or cruel taskmaster, He is neither. Yet, though we love and adore God as His children, we should also be terrified of Him. Luke 12:4-5 “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” But to US as “servants of God”, to Fear God means to love, honor, and worship Him, and to revere and highly exalt Him. But also, to depend upon and trust Him, all of which SHOULD and MUST lead us to humble obedience to Him! John 14:15, 21-24 Hebrews 11:6: “But without faith, it is impossible to please Him, He that cometh to God MUST believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him:” To, NOT believe God, to NOT believe that He is, and to NOT believe His Holy Word is to disregard and dishonor Him. Psalm 130:1-6, 112:1-10, 111:10, Micah 6:8 This is the ONLY way mortal humans will ever be satisfied and fulfilled in the lower world, or as Solomon wrote, under the sun! Fear God, and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man” I believe what Solomon meant when he wrote, “This is the whole duty of man” was this: Only God can make fallen/sinful humans WHOLE in this lower world. Apart from “fearing God and keeping His commandments”, there is no joy, fulfillment, or satisfaction in this life. The world CANNOT, NOR WILL IT ever satisfy the human soul, which was created in the image and likeness of God FOR GOD. TO glorify God and enjoy Him forever! This was Solomon’s conclusion of the whole matter! Understand here that the Hebrew word “WHOLE” here means everything, totality, all, or enough! ONLY GOD can give you, YOUR SOUL’S everything, YOUR SOUL’S all, YOUR SOUL’S enough! Fallen humans will never be WHOLE in the world apart from fearing God and keeping His commandments Therefore, Christian, WORK, LABOR, and APPLY YOUR HEART (with the wisdom that God has given you) to His Word, “remember NOW your Creator” TODAY! Don’t waste your time, talents, and energy in the world to get more of the world and its temporary and sinful pleasures! That’s NOT the Christian life! Child of God, you’re not made for the world, you’re made for heaven and to serve God! You’ve been “remade”, made new, born again! “You are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them” Apply thine heart by the wisdom of God to His commands, (make that your WHOLE LIFE DUTY); ONLY THEN will you be WHOLLY satisfied in this life that God has given you under the sun! Therefore, fear God, and keep His commandments, for as written in our final verse… Ecclesiastes 12:14: “For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil” GOD will judge EVERY work and word, and EVERY secret thing that each of us have done. The Day of Judgment will reveal/uncover all that we have been in this life. Acts 17:31 “Because He hath appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world in righteousness by that Man whom He hath ordained”; THAT Man is Jesus Christ! Romans 2:16, 2 Corinthians 5:10-11 I pray this evening that you will come to the same conclusion that Solomon came to in His life. Fear God, and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man”. THIS is the only way that you will be MADE WHOLE!
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