Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind. 14 For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil. The book of Ecclesiastes cannot be interpreted correctly without reading these final verses. No matter what the mysteries and apparent contradictions of life are, we must work toward the single purpose of knowing God. In Ecclesiastes, Solomon shows us that we should enjoy life, but this does not exempt us from obeying God’s commands. We should search for purpose and meaning in life, but they cannot be found in human endeavors. We must acknowledge the evil, foolishness, and injustice in life yet maintain a positive attitude and obedient faith in God. We need to recognize that human effort apart from God is futile and we need to put God first-now. If all could be summed up in one final statement it would be? “Fear God and keep His commandments.” This is man’s duty under the sun.
