"The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. For God will bring every act to judgment, anything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil."
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14
The Teacher has come to the conclusion of his research. As any student or former student will know, this is a moment of intense satisfaction and often understanding. This understanding is not to say that the author or we, the readers, necessarily have everything figured out; research does tend to lead to more questions. Nevertheless, the end of the work does bring a certain inevitable conclusion.
We, as individuals and as a community, are desperate for purpose in life. Without it we become irrelevant. Many authors will offer their insights on what the purpose of life should be, and they offer an infinite variety in what those purposes should be. Many of these center on finances, possessions, jobs, and other topics. They offer, or attempt to offer, complex solutions to complex problems. Perhaps that is one of the reasons we like them so much. We feel that our lives need to be complex; it makes us sound smarter. But note what the Teacher says: "Fear God and keep His commandments."
In the 1962 Wycliffe Bible Commentary, the following was written concerning these verses: "In reality, the author is saying nothing more in these last verses than he has been saying throughout the book- enjoy life while you can. This can be accomplished only by fearing God; for God is in control, He can be expected to reward righteousness and punish evil" (594). One part of this analysis rings well in our ears: enjoy life while you can.
This, in truth, is an underlying theme of our society today. Society tells us to do what makes us happy: be reckless, have fun, etc. Society will say that this can take whatever form it needs to, so long as in the end it pleases you, the individual. However, the author of Ecclesiastes, echoed by the commentator, challenges us by saying that the purpose is to fear God.
How, then, do we bring these ideas together? We want to have fun. We want to take risks, and live life to the absolute fullest. We want adventure. As I reflect upon Scripture, I do not think that these desires are inherently bad. However, they will ultimately leave me wanting more. The conclusion which the author of Ecclesiastes came to, after looking for happiness or contentedness in pleasure, in possessions, and in much more, was that the matter of utmost importance is to "Fear God and keep His commandments." While we can pursue adventure and have fun, we can do so in a way that intentionally acknowledges God. We can do so in a way that will glorify Him and encourage others, in a way that will share the Gospel with those around us, and in a way that will exhilarate us beyond all measure. As we allow God to be the focal point of our adventure, we will find ourselves more adventurous than we ever imagined.
In the 1962 Wycliffe Bible Commentary, the following was written concerning these verses: "In reality, the author is saying nothing more in these last verses than he has been saying throughout the book- enjoy life while you can. This can be accomplished only by fearing God; for God is in control, He can be expected to reward righteousness and punish evil" (594). One part of this analysis rings well in our ears: enjoy life while you can.
This, in truth, is an underlying theme of our society today. Society tells us to do what makes us happy: be reckless, have fun, etc. Society will say that this can take whatever form it needs to, so long as in the end it pleases you, the individual. However, the author of Ecclesiastes, echoed by the commentator, challenges us by saying that the purpose is to fear God.
How, then, do we bring these ideas together? We want to have fun. We want to take risks, and live life to the absolute fullest. We want adventure. As I reflect upon Scripture, I do not think that these desires are inherently bad. However, they will ultimately leave me wanting more. The conclusion which the author of Ecclesiastes came to, after looking for happiness or contentedness in pleasure, in possessions, and in much more, was that the matter of utmost importance is to "Fear God and keep His commandments." While we can pursue adventure and have fun, we can do so in a way that intentionally acknowledges God. We can do so in a way that will glorify Him and encourage others, in a way that will share the Gospel with those around us, and in a way that will exhilarate us beyond all measure. As we allow God to be the focal point of our adventure, we will find ourselves more adventurous than we ever imagined.
J. Stafford Wright, contributing to The Expositor's Bible Commentary, reflects on these verses with the following: "Obviously, the Teacher is sometimes skeptical; but God is real to him, and he believes that God has revealed His will to mankind. If God had not done so, man could not be held accountable for his actions (v. 14). Thus, although he would like to know more of the total plan of God, man knows enough to be held responsible for what he does or fails to do" (1197). Most, if not all of us, would like to know more of what God has in store for our lives; we would love to know what the future will hold. I would love to know exactly what I'll be doing five years from now, but God has not revealed the whole plan; He has given glimpses, but not the whole. He has shown enough for right now, and it is my responsibility to follow Him in that.
And there, my friends, is the challenge for us all.
Bibliography:
Gaebelein, Frank E., Dick Polcyn, Willem A. VanGemeren, Allen P. Ross, J. Stafford. Wright, and Dennis Kinlaw. The Expositor's Bible Commentary: With the New International Version of the Holy Bible, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Pub. House, 1991. Print.
New American Standard Bible. La Habra, CA: Lockman Foundation, 1977. Kindle.
Pfeiffer, Charles F., and Everett Falconer Harrison. The Wycliffe Bible Commentary. Chicago: Moody, 1962. Print.
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