READING: Ecclesiastes 9-12
Sometimes, we overcomplicate Christianity far too much. We wrestle over theological issues, and we spend hours discussing ways to reach the unchurched. We sometimes debate church growth principles, missiological concepts, and personal lifestyle choices. All of these issues are important ones — and all must be discussed at some point — but we sometimes still miss the essentials of following God.
The Teacher in Ecclesiastes looked at the vanity of life throughout his book, but he concluded with a simple summary that ought to challenge each of us today: “Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil” (Ecc 12:13-14).
It’s really this simple. We need to fear God, respecting Him and living in awe of who He is. Such awe assumes that we will keep all His commandments, being careful to watch what we say and guarding how we live. As human beings created in His image, we are under that obligation. Lest we choose to ignore these responsibilities, Ecclesiastes also reminds us that God will judge all our actions, whether good or evil. Nothing we hide today will remain hidden.
My paraphrased summary of this teaching is quite simple, too: follow God so fully that we have no shame in everyone else knowing our life. I want to love Him that much.
ACTION STEPS:
- Imagine your judgment before God, and consider the hidden things in your life that you would not want revealed.
- Confess those things to God, and keep His commandments. Let the words of today’s reading be “goads” (Ecc 12:11) that compel you into repentance and faith.
PRAYER: “God, You alone are God, worthy of my praise and obedience. Grant me grace to follow You fully today.”
TOMORROW’S READING: Song of Solomon 1-8
