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The End of the Matter: Fear God and Keep His Commandments
October 8, 2026 · 14 min
The duty of man: fear God and keep His commandments. Embrace obedience, gratitude, and the brevity of life.
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Principles for Living with Bold Generosity 0:00 Good morning. Welcome to Stand on the Word. Thanks for joining me this morning as we complete the book of Ecclesiastes with chapters 11 and 12, verse 13 of chapter 12. The end of the matter, all has0:11 been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. So today, we hear the conclusion of the matter, and the purpose of this sermon or this discourse by Solomon0:23 all comes down to this 1 final point. So let's begin chapter 11 verse 1. Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days. Give a serving to 7 and also to 8, for you0:35 do not know what evil will be on the earth. Now these verses have differing interpretations. Alright? 1 view is that Solomon is speaking about generosity and giving to those0:47 who are in need. Another is diversification, not putting all your eggs into 1 basket, so to speak. And it also talks about taking risk and being bold. Now support for this,0:59 this latter view is that in ancient times, seeds were sown on the water of the Nile or in the marshy ground during the the flood season. It will overflow its banks, and it would1:11 be in this marshy area, and they would throw the seed out. And as the water receded, the seed would settle, and it would grow in the rich soil. So, you know, I I kinda find it intriguing,1:23 the the differing views that biblical scholars have, and it kinda prompts me to look for kind of the the common connections between these various interpretations. And I think the connection is that these proverbs,1:36 as which much as is the case with much of the Old Testament, provides principles for living. Alright. So what are these principles? What do we find here in, in this passage?1:48 I I think it's this. Don't hold back. Be generous. Be bold, and don't be afraid to take risk, but at the same time, be wise and have a fallback plan. I think2:00 we're... I I believe we should take calculated risk. Risk. And the next verse, I think, would bolster this view. If the clouds are full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth. And if a tree falls to the south or2:11 the north or in the place where the tree falls, there it shall lie. He who observes the wind will not sow. He who regards the clouds will not reap. As you do not know what is the way of the wind2:23 or how the bones grow in the womb of her who is with child, so you do not know the works of God who makes everything. In the morning, sow your seed. And in the evening, do not withhold your hand, for you2:35 do not know which will prosper, either this or that, or whether both alike will be good. Look, here's a reality. The world is filled with uncertainty. Being overly2:47 cautious hinders. It doesn't help us. We really do not know what is going to happen tomorrow. Okay. We don't. We just don't. So what are we to do? Well, do what we need to do today.2:59 Jesus spoke of this in Matthew chapter 6 verse 34. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own thing sufficient for the day is its own trouble. Now3:11 look again at verse 6. Work. Do what God has given you to do today. And after you've sown your seed in the morning, don't go out and, you know, watch TV.3:24 Invest your time in something else that might bring a return. You know, again, diversify. Verse 7. Truly, the light is sweet, and it is pleasant for the eyes to behold the sun. Yes.3:36 It is. But if a man lives many years and rejoices in them all, yet let him remember the days of darkness for they will be many. All that is coming is vanity. You know, as we have seen throughout3:47 Ecclesiastes, Solomon's message is filled with, metaphors. The light is life and the darkness is what? Death. He's saying to enjoy what God has3:59 given you in this life. We've read this before. Be thankful and enjoy it because it is short, but be intentional in how you live. Alright. This is not eat, drink, and be4:11 merry. It's to be grateful and enjoy what God has given you as as we obey him. Because as we obey him, the blessings of God are there in terms of contentment, providing for us, and we should4:23 be thankful and joyful in the moment in the moment. And I've learned this. I I I'm I'm enduring... Trying to enjoy every moment of the journey. I've always been that way, but I'm4:35 trying hard. It'd be a lifelong pursuit. Enjoy the moment that god has given. As as we looked at with David in Psalm, there's a recognition that the work we've been given4:46 to do to expand the kingdom of God and to bring glory to him can only be accomplished in this life. Okay? Once we cross into eternity, what is done is done.4:58 We cannot add to it or take from it. This is our moment to do the work that God has given us to do. And so, you know, with the brevity of life in focus,Enjoy Life Intentionally with Eternity in View 5:10 in verses 9 through 12, Solomon gives instruction to the young. And and I think it's good for the old too, but it's especially good for the young. This is, you know, it's great advice for youth. Live with an5:21 understanding that that there is both a tomorrow and an eternity. Okay? Enjoy your youth, but do so with wisdom and prudence, knowing that you will reap what5:33 you sow. I mean, this is such such wise counsel for young people. This is the kind of instruction quite frankly that our education system should be focused on. In fact, at 1 point in5:45 our country, it was focused upon... Focused on imparting godly wisdom and discretion to our children so that they would make good choices. You know, I think we should ask the question,5:58 how did we move from warning young people about making choices that would impact the rest of their lives in a negative way to to the place today where our education6:10 system is indoctrinating children with a godless sexual ideology that is leading them, pushing them to make decisions and take actions6:23 pertaining to their gender and their sexual identity and activity that has that have lifelong consequences. How did we get here? Well, I would say this. It's because we have lost our way as a nation.6:34 We have departed from the truth of God's word. And we keep going here. I might as well offend more people. Parents6:47 have surrendered their responsibility that god has given them to to raise their children to follow him. We're we're... Parents have become fearful. They wanna be friends with their6:59 their kids. They don't wanna... They they they don't wanna lose them, and so they they compromise biblical truth because the culture is competing with the voice of the parents. You know, we need7:11 to return to God and his word in our homes, in our churches, in our schools, our community, and our nation. And and and I tell you what, it begins in the home. It7:22 begins in the home. That's why we're doing this journey through the bible. And, look, let me just say this once again. Yesterday is yesterday as we've seen even even Solomon here as he7:34 regrets things of the past, but he looks forward to the future. David repented. Look. We've all... We've... The past is the past. God is concerned about today and the future. Let's seek him.7:46 Let's turn as a nation, as as families. Let's return to the truth of God's word. Verse 9. Rejoice, oh, young man, in your youth and let your heart cheer you in the days of your7:58 youth. Walk in the ways of your heart and in the sight of your eyes, but know that for all these, God will bring you into judgment. Therefore, remove sorrow from your heart8:09 and put evil away from your flesh for childhood and youth are vanity. Look, have a great time, but remember the safety rules. Obey God. Obey God8:21 because there will come a point of accountability. And and he said, remove sorrow from your heart. This, if you make the wrong choices, it is going to lead to8:33 misery. So don't do it. Guard your heart from that sorrow of the future by making the right decisions today. This is such good stuff. Alright. Look at, verse 1 of chapter 12. Remember now, your creator, in the8:45 days of your youth before the difficult days come and the years draw near when you say I have no pleasure in them. Now, Solomon, again, reinforces that you should live today to its fullest. Alright?8:57 But with the understanding that there is a tomorrow and an eternity. And what you choose today impacts both. I hope you share this with your kids and grandkids. There are consequencesRemember Your Creator Before Old Age and Death 9:09 to our choices. And as you move from a teenager to a young adult and beyond, those choices that you make shape you into what you you you become. Alright? And it also9:21 shapes the environment in which you will live. Verse 2. While the sun and the light, the moon and the stars are not darkened and the clouds do not return after the rain, in the day when the keepers of the house tremble9:31 and the strong men bow down, when the grinder cease because they are few and those that look through the windows grow dim. Now, alright, when you look at this, again, metaphors, he's using metaphors. The9:43 grinders, that's the teeth. Alright? When the grinders cease because they're few, there's, oh, you know, that happens. And when they look through the windows grow dim, those who look through the windows, that's the the9:54 eyesight. It's dimming. When the doors are shut in the street and the sound of grinding is low, when 1 rises up at the sound of a bird and all the daughters of music are brought low can't hear. Also, they are afraid10:06 of height and terror is in the way, afraid they'll stumble. When the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper is burdened and desire fails, for men go to his eternal home and the mourners go10:18 about the streets. Remember your creator before the silver cord is loosened. Before death, remember your creator before death. Or the golden bowl is broken or the pitcher shattered at the fountain or the wheel10:30 broken at the well. Then the dust will return to the earth as it was and the spirit will return to god who gave it. Vanity is a vanity, says the the preacher all his vanities. Remember God now before life is10:41 over. Solomon then brings us to the conclusion, verse 9, and moreover, because the preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge. Yes. He pondered and sought out and set in order many proverbs.10:53 The preacher sought to find acceptable words, and what was written was upright, words of truth. The words of the wise are like goads, and the words of scholars are like well driven nails given by 111:05 shepherd. And further, my son, be admonished by these. Of making many books, there is no end, and much study is wearisome to the flesh. Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter. Fear11:17 god and keep his commandments, for this is man's all. For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil.11:29 So in these last 2 verses, we have the purpose of the entire sermon, all 12 chapters, the whole book. Fear God and keep his commandments. This is the duty of man, and it is the11:40 antidote to the vanity of life under the sun. Without this understanding, which comes from a relationship with God through his Son, Jesus Christ, life11:52 on earth is empty. And so much of life does not make sense without that relationship with the creator. But you see, when we're living in the sun, the s o n,12:04 life under the sun, s u n, has meaning and purpose. So live life in the sun, the son of god. Father, we thank you12:16 for your word. We we just pray father that our hearts would receive the instruction. Even, lord, if it if it makes us uncomfortable and and makes us12:28 consider, as Solomon did, the things that he did wrong. And and, lord, warning others not to do the same thing. Even if we did the wrong thing, lord, may we warn our children and grandchildren to12:40 to follow you, to to stick to your word, your truth, to bind it upon our hearts that we might not sin against you, lord, that we might walk in alignment with your word and12:52 your truth, that we might be able to enjoy this life each and every day, even the days of adversity, because we know that you are a sovereign God, and allThe Conclusion of the Matter: Fear God 13:04 things work together for good to those who love you and are called according to your purpose. So, father, continue to lead us on this journey. We thank you for your word, and we pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.13:16 Alright. Thanks for joining me this morning, and tomorrow, we turn back to the book of Kings. So if you have not downloaded the reading plan, go to f r c dot o r g slash bible, because you're gonna need the plan. We're13:27 gonna be back and forth between Chronicles and Kings. Kings. Until next time, keep standing on the Word.In this video 0:00 Principles for Living with Bold Generosity5:00 Enjoy Life Intentionally with Eternity in View9:00 Remember Your Creator Before Old Age and Death13:00 The Conclusion of the Matter: Fear God
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