READING: Ecclesiastes 10-12, Galatians 1
“The conclusion of the matter is this: fear God and keep his commands, because this is for all humanity.”
Ecclesiastes 12:13
I live in a world of books. My office walls are lined with them. One corner of my office desk is reserved for those books I’m currently reading. I have books in my car, in our garage, in my home office, beside my favorite chair, in my bedroom dresser drawer, and under my bed. There are books in each of our bathrooms. I even have a bookshelf in my bedroom closet.
Then I read these words from the Bible today: “But beyond these, my son, be warned: there is no end to the making of many books, and much study wearies the body” (Ecc. 12:12). The writer of Ecclesiastes is right, of course. Men and women will continue to write books as long as somebody produces them and somebody buys them. And, people will continue reading them, even to the point of weariness. All of that reading, though, will matter little if we’re not living our lives based on the Word of God. Human thinking apart from the One who made us is ultimately futile.
What matters is not what we’ve studied and read, but whether we’re obeying Him: “When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is this: fear God and keep his commands, because this is for all humanity. For God will bring every act to judgment, including every hidden thing, whether good or evil” (Ecc. 12:13-14). What matters for all of us that we humbly and fearfully respect God and faithfully follow Him with all our being.
What matters is that we live our lives in such a way that we have nothing to hide.
What matters is that we understand the reality of our answering to Him, and we live accordingly.
What matters is that we recognize that He is God – and we’re not.
ACTION STEPS:
- Answer this question: “What matters most to me today?”
- Live today in complete obedience to God, both privately and publicly.
PRAYER: “God, I want to live according to Your Word today. Grant me grace to do so.”
TOMORROW’S READING: Song of Solomon 1-3, Galatians 1
