Week of Monday October 7 – October 13
Duty - Man as Provider
The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil. - Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 ESV
Solomon spoke about a topic this old soldier understands well: duty. When I took an oath as a U.S. Army officer, I solemnly swore that:
I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God.
Just as I had a solemn duty to our nation as an Army officer, we all have a serious duty to God to fear Him and keep His commandments. As Providers, it is also our duty to provide those we love and lead with a compelling example of reverencing God with humble obedience.
Solomon understood that life is brief and that every person will stand before a just God and give a complete account of everything they did in life. He goes so far as to call it “the end of the matter.” This is the final summation of life. Every human being will stand in judgment before our Creator—even those of us who are believers. Paul confirms that fact in the New Testament: “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil” (2 Cor. 5:10).
As sobering as that judgment of Christ’s followers sounds, those who are not followers of Christ are in much bigger trouble. Nothing they can do in their own power is good enough to reconcile with a Holy God. All of our “righteousness” is like filthy rags to Him (see Isa. 64:6). That’s why Paul looked at those without Christ and said that they are: “dead in their trespasses and sins,” “children of wrath,” “separated from Christ,” and “having no hope” (see Eph. 2:1-13). There is no hope except in Jesus!
Pastor and author H.A. Ironside told a story about a group of pioneers who were making their way across the great plains to the west for homesteading who faced a hopeless-looking situation:
One day they were horrified to note a long line of smoke in the west, stretching for miles across the prairie, and soon it was evident that the dried grass was burning fiercely and coming toward them rapidly. They had crossed a river the day before but it would be impossible to go back to that before the flames would be upon them. One man only seemed to have understanding as to what could be done. He gave the command to set fire to the grass behind them. Then when a space was burned over, the whole company moved back upon it.
As the flames roared on toward them from the west, a little girl cried out in terror, “Are you sure we shall not all be burned up?” The leader replied, “My child, the flames cannot reach us here, for we are standing where the fire has been!”
What a picture of the believer, who is safe in Christ! ... The fires of God’s judgment burned themselves out on Him, and all who are in Christ are safe forever, for they are now standing where the fire has been.
Praise God that Jesus came and made a way where there was no way! He took our sin upon Himself (see 2 Cor. 5:17, Gal. 3:13, 1 Pet. 2:24). Given that amazing grace shown to us in Jesus Christ, it should motivate us even more to “Fear God and keep His commandments” and model that for others. That, men, is our duty!
- Have you ever considered your duty as a man of God, that fearing God and keeping His commandments are at the top of the list of expectations? How are you doing?
- Do those we love and influence see us fearing God and keeping his commandments through our attitudes, conversations, and actions? What kind of example are you providing?
- Pray and ask God to help you fulfill this solemn duty.
Duty - Man as Provider
The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil. - Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 ESV
Solomon spoke about a topic this old soldier understands well: duty. When I took an oath as a U.S. Army officer, I solemnly swore that:
I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God.
Just as I had a solemn duty to our nation as an Army officer, we all have a serious duty to God to fear Him and keep His commandments. As Providers, it is also our duty to provide those we love and lead with a compelling example of reverencing God with humble obedience.
Solomon understood that life is brief and that every person will stand before a just God and give a complete account of everything they did in life. He goes so far as to call it “the end of the matter.” This is the final summation of life. Every human being will stand in judgment before our Creator—even those of us who are believers. Paul confirms that fact in the New Testament: “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil” (2 Cor. 5:10).
As sobering as that judgment of Christ’s followers sounds, those who are not followers of Christ are in much bigger trouble. Nothing they can do in their own power is good enough to reconcile with a Holy God. All of our “righteousness” is like filthy rags to Him (see Isa. 64:6). That’s why Paul looked at those without Christ and said that they are: “dead in their trespasses and sins,” “children of wrath,” “separated from Christ,” and “having no hope” (see Eph. 2:1-13). There is no hope except in Jesus!
Pastor and author H.A. Ironside told a story about a group of pioneers who were making their way across the great plains to the west for homesteading who faced a hopeless-looking situation:
One day they were horrified to note a long line of smoke in the west, stretching for miles across the prairie, and soon it was evident that the dried grass was burning fiercely and coming toward them rapidly. They had crossed a river the day before but it would be impossible to go back to that before the flames would be upon them. One man only seemed to have understanding as to what could be done. He gave the command to set fire to the grass behind them. Then when a space was burned over, the whole company moved back upon it.
As the flames roared on toward them from the west, a little girl cried out in terror, “Are you sure we shall not all be burned up?” The leader replied, “My child, the flames cannot reach us here, for we are standing where the fire has been!”
What a picture of the believer, who is safe in Christ! ... The fires of God’s judgment burned themselves out on Him, and all who are in Christ are safe forever, for they are now standing where the fire has been.
Praise God that Jesus came and made a way where there was no way! He took our sin upon Himself (see 2 Cor. 5:17, Gal. 3:13, 1 Pet. 2:24). Given that amazing grace shown to us in Jesus Christ, it should motivate us even more to “Fear God and keep His commandments” and model that for others. That, men, is our duty!
- Have you ever considered your duty as a man of God, that fearing God and keeping His commandments are at the top of the list of expectations? How are you doing?
- Do those we love and influence see us fearing God and keeping his commandments through our attitudes, conversations, and actions? What kind of example are you providing?
- Pray and ask God to help you fulfill this solemn duty.