The most important thing you can ever learn or remember if you remember or learn nothing else from church, school, parents, teachers, bosses, etc is this in Ecclesiastes 12:17.
The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. (Ecclesiastes 12:17 ESV)
The reason why this is the only thing you ever need to remember or learn is because God is going to judge everything we do, whether good or bad, even things done in secret, so you might as well be true to yourself and true to God. If you don’t believe in God or believe that this is the most important thing you can possible remember or learn or you’re an atheist that stumbled onto this quiet time, then this is still the most important thing you can ever learn.
I want you to understand the word “fear.” The reformationist, Martin Luther, delineates the word “fear” into two types, “servile” fear and a “filial” fear. “Servile fear” is anxiety from clear and present danger as it relates to fright, like you’re going to be tortured or attacked. “Filial fear” is anxiety from not wanting to disappoint because of a deep seeded respect and love for, like a child would fear his or her mother or father. Knowing the distinction between the two types of fear is important because the ancients that wrote this passage used the word fear in the “filial” way.
This verse teaches the children of God to live your life to the best of your abilities and with the best intentions because you love God as your father and you don’t want to disappoint Him. I know for sure that when we live this way, we will not disappoint God and our lives will be full.
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