Embedded within the verses of Ecclesiastes 3 is a potent, little sentence that can sharpen to a razor’s edge our focus of life.
It speaks not about us, however, but instead about God.
“God’s purpose is that people should fear Him.” (verse 14)
This was written by Solomon, deemed by scripture as the wisest man in history other than Jesus.
And this was written after Solomon had forayed into random detours of fleshly foolishness.
The greatest king Israel has ever known concluded that all of God’s efforts in creation, in inspiration, in intercession, in revelation, in correction and in reconciliation were all focused on one objective — the salvation of people through faith in Him.
Ecclesiastes 3:14 is a wonderful companion verse to John 3:16, a verse you already know.
Ecclesiastes 3:14 is also a great verse to share with 2 Peter 3:9, another well-known verse that teaches us of God’s patient desire for all people to be repent of their sins so that they might gain salvation into eternal life.
You’ve heard that the “whole duty of man” is to fear God and keep His commandments.
This is not in scripture because God is a control freak.
This is in the Bible because God wants us to follow the safe path that gets us where He wants us to be forever — in His presence in heaven.
If it is God’s purpose for people to fear Him in the sense of loving and obedient respect, it is to be our purpose for living, as well.
Let’s show people that we love, obey and respect our heavenly Father so that they’ll see the fruits of a better, more emotionally secure, meaningful life that can be theirs as well.
It really is a Great Commission thing, you know.
As always, I love you
Martin
