This morning, I just finished reading Ecclesiastes. I have to say, out of all of the encouraging books of the Bible, Ecclesiastes can get pretty depressing. I think the writer of the book, the Preacher's, favourite word was vanity. Everything is in vain. Wisdom is vain, self-indulgence is vain, living wisely is vain, toil is vain, money is vain, life is vain. Yes, if the writer of Ecclesiastes just stopped there, life would indeed feel pretty hopeless. But, thankfully, he didn't. He poured out his woes and his wisdom and his survey of depraved society. And then, in the end, after all of his insight, he said,
So at the end of the day, whether you've looked around at our messed up world and wondered what to do, or whether you love this world, "fear God and keep his commandments." For that is our purpose in life.
"The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man." (Ecclesiastes 12:13)In the end, the only thing that really matters in life, the only thing that isn't vain, is the Lord. And the only worthwhile thing for man to do is "fear God and keep his commandments." In fact, "this is the whole duty of man." That's our job in life.
So at the end of the day, whether you've looked around at our messed up world and wondered what to do, or whether you love this world, "fear God and keep his commandments." For that is our purpose in life.