The Conclusion of The Matter

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Ecclesiastes 12:13–14 NASB95

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, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.

Jesus asked a very important question

Matthew 16:26 ““For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?”

Jesus places significant interest on the soul

This is the part of man that lives on, the body is just a tent, shell, temporary thing.

It is the soul that has the real value, and it is the soul that God wants to save

Solomon gives us an interesting perspective of what the world has to offer

Solomon tried the world, what did he have to say about it?

Wisdom

Ecclesiastes 1:12–14 “I, the Preacher, have been king over Israel in Jerusalem. And I set my mind to seek and explore by wisdom concerning all that has been done under heaven. It is a grievous task which God has given to the sons of men to be afflicted with. I have seen all the works which have been done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and striving after wind.”

Pleasure

Ecclesiastes 2:1 “I said to myself, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure. So enjoy yourself.” And behold, it too was futility.”

Possessions

Ecclesiastes 2:11 “Thus I considered all my activities which my hands had done and the labor which I had exerted, and behold all was vanity and striving after wind and there was no profit under the sun.” [read from verse 4]

Labour

Ecclesiastes 2:18–19 “Thus I hated all the fruit of my labor for which I had labored under the sun, for I must leave it to the man who will come after me. And who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will have control over all the fruit of my labor for which I have labored by acting wisely under the sun. This too is vanity.”

Solomon (the wisest man on the earth) said all of it is vanity

I tried it, and it’s empty and useless

You tried money, but you’re still empty

You tried the party life, but you’re still empty

You tried the career-driven life, but you’re still empty

There’s one more thing you need to try, and He’ll never leave you empty

Psalm 23:5 “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows.”

John 10:10 ““The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”

What then can I try?

Ecclesiastes 12:13–14 “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, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.”

To Fear God you need to know who God is

We know our favourite actor, musician, celeb, politician - BUT do you know who God is?

God is Almighty, Beginning and the end, God is Creator, God is Deliverer, God is Eternal, God is our Father, God is the great shepherd, God is My Helper

Do you know who God is?

To Obey Him, you need to know what He says

What are some things God is telling us today?

John 3:3 “Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.””

Luke 13:3 ““I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”

John 6:35 “Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.”

John 11:25–26 “Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?””

God wants you saved

2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.”

Hebrews 5:8–9 “Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation,”

Everything else is vanity - said the Preacher

Matthew 12:42 ““The Queen of the South will rise up with this generation at the judgment and will condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, something greater than Solomon is here.”

He is asking, “what shall you give in exchange for your soul?”

Put your faith in something that is not empty - His name is Jesus

The best decision that you can make is to say “yes” to Jesus today