FEAR GOD AND KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS.
“This is the closing exhortation of the book of Ecclesiastes. Two reasons are assigned: 1. “This is the whole duty of man.” 2. “God shall bring every work into Judgment.” Those who have discharged their duty faithfully will pass its fearful scrutiny, and all others will be pronounced unprofitable servants. “The fear of the Lord,” says the Psalmist, “is the beginning of wisdom.” Ps. cxi, 10. How expressive this declaration. Many men renowned for their great knowledge never had one particle of true wisdom. They were either of that class who say in their hearts, “There is no God;” or of that other class who do not deny his existence, but who say to him, “Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.” Ps. xiv, 1; Job xxi, 14. How will such men, falsely called great, discover in the day of Judgment that they were great only in folly and self-conceit? That they wasted their lives in the pursuit of vain ambition, and neglected the one thing needful. The very first element of wisdom, the fear of God, never existed in their minds. But the beginning of wisdom is not all that we may possess of it. Wisdom begins in the fear of God. It does not ever cease to extend and increase with those who follow on to know the Lord. And so the Psalmist adds: “A good understanding have all they that do his commandments.” So wisdom really consists in fearing God, and keeping his commandments. Those who act thus have not only the beginning of wisdom, but they have a good understanding. They not only fear God, but they also love him. Love is but another name for obedience to the law of God. The wise man obeys God in everything; but fools go astray in the greatness of their folly.