|
Solomon learned the hard way that he could not live as if there were
no God. Although he hints at the final answer at earlier points in
Ecclesiastes (2:24,25; 3:11-14,17; 5:1-7,18-20; 7:16-18; 8:12;
11:8,9; 12:1), his strongest statement of the purpose of life comes
in the concluding two verses of the very last chapter.
Let us hear the conclusion of the whole
matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole
duty of man. For God will bring every work into judgment, including
every secret thing, whether it is good or whether it is evil
(12:13,14).
That's it. Our ultimate purpose, our all, is
wrapped up in our relationship to the God who made us. If we have
thoughts about trying to get away with being self-serving, Solomon
reminds us that each of us is headed for a day of accountability
before God.
Many people react negatively to the idea that
they should fear God. They believe that God is loving, kind, and
gentle (which He is). They emphasize that for the Christian, God's
wrath against his sin has already been taken by Christ on his behalf,
So is Solomon's advice good only for the unbeliever or for people in
Old Testament times? No, because Solomon is speaking of the need for
all men to fear God and because the call to fear God is emphasized in
the New Testament as well.
What does it mean to fear God? People who have
irrational phobias--fear of heights, small places, crowds, elevators,
telephones, water, darkness, or bugs--often seek out psychological
help to overcome their unnatural and debilitating fears. The fear of
God, though, is not an irrational emotion. It makes logical sense
when you understand the facts about who God is and what He is like.
The biblical concept of the fear of the Lord
involves a recognition of the power, greatness, authority, and
holiness of God. It is a healthy fear. It means we respect Him,
shudder at the thought of His judgment against our sin, hold Him in
awe, reverence Him, recognize Him as absolute Lord, and honor Him.
The right kind of fear, the fear of the Lord, drives us to the
Lord--not away from Him!
What are some biblical examples? Many men and
women in Scripture are described as those who feared the Lord. Others
were specifically challenged to fear Him. Here are a few examples.
Abraham demonstrated his fear of the Lord when
he offered Isaac to Him (Gen. 22:12).
The Egyptian midwives who refused to kill the
male Hebrew babies feared God (Ex. 1:21).
Job was recognized as an outstanding example
of a person who feared God (Job 1,2).
King David encouraged all believers to fear
the Lord and enjoy His favor (Ps. 34:7,9,10).
The virtuous wife of Proverbs 31 was praised
as a woman who feared the Lord (v.30).
Some people listening to Jesus were challenged
to fear God's ability to cast them into hell (Luke 12:5).
Cornelius was a man who feared God and
received the gospel gladly (Acts 10:22-48).
Paul told the Philippians to "work out
your own salvation with fear and trembling" (Phil. 2:12).
Peter encouraged believers to live in the fear
of the Lord (1 Pet. 1:17).
Those who will inhabit heaven will be those
who fear the Lord (Rev. 19:5).
Why does God want us to fear Him? As Solomon
said, fearing and obeying God is the whole purpose of life. When we
fear, reverence, and honor the Lord, we show that we recognize Him
for all that He is. We therefore stand in the proper relationship to
Him as a creature before the Creator. To fear the Lord shows that we
take Him seriously and we desire to please Him with all that we do
and say. It demonstrates that we realize we are accountable to Him
for how we use every minute of every day.
A fear of God will cause a nonbeliever to seek
forgiveness of sin through Christ. And fear of the Lord will cause a
believer to produce the fruits of faith and to be commended at the
judgment seat of Christ (2 Cor. 5:9,10; 7:1,11).
How is fear related to worship? Fear of the
Lord and worship are closely related. In Ecclesiastes 5:1-7, Solomon
discussed going to the house of God. Verse 2 states, "Do not be
rash with your mouth, and let not your heart utter anything hastily
before God. For God is in heaven, and you are on earth; therefore let
your words be few." And then in verse 7 he adds, "For in
the multitude of dreams and many words there is also vanity. But fear
God." A proper attitude toward the Lord, therefore, is essential
to meaningful worship of Him.
Does anyone fear God today? In a letter, one
woman wrote, "What do people do who do not trust in God? I have
never understood that. l need Him every hour of every day. They do
too, but why can't they know?" She understands what it means to
stand in awe and humility before the Lord. She recognizes her
dependence on Him. She is concerned that she live for Him.
Many of us today, however, don't have the same
attitude. Some people are outright atheists. Others are outwardly
religious--at least they go to church every week. A vast number of
men and women profess to believe in God but give Him little if any
recognition throughout the day. Though claiming to believe, they live
as unbelievers. That is one reason the Bible is full of reminders to
fear the Lord.
It is easy to forget our need of God. It is
easy to get wrapped up in our own ideas of the purpose for living and
forget the real reason God has given us breath. He wants our loyalty,
our affection, our companionship, our worship. He wants us to make
the most of our lives so that when we stand before Him, He will be
able to say, "Well done, good and faithful servant" (Matt.
25:21).
Curtis
|
