Pleasing God, Making Disciples of Jesus Christ

Learning To Live Life Simple And Right

ECCLESIASTES 12:13-14 – The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. 14 For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.

THEME OF THE DAY. LEARNING TO LIVE LIFE SIMPLE AND RIGHT. Let me encourage us to spend a little time and read the Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes. And do so in one sitting. It is only twelve chapters. Get a good steaming cup of coffee, tea, or hot chocolate and settle in for a “fireside chat” with the author, King Solomon. As we do, let him tell us his life story. Pay particular attention to the many times he will say, “Vanity, vanity, all is vanity.” And then let him tell us of the futility of seeking pleasure, contentment, and satisfaction in anything or anyone that is earth bound.

But there is another lesson from King Solomon in Ecclesiastes. It is found in today’s scripture. It is the wise instruction on how to live life simple and right; to not fall into worldliness, chaos, busyness, and frantic living that always produces a barren soul and a distancing from God. The king is telling us that life is to be guided by two truths – fear God and keep His commandments. That is it. We get a feel of this in his words – the end of the matter, all has been heard. A good paraphrase might be, “Listen to me. I have lived a long life. I tried it all. There was nothing I kept myself from doing and enjoying, but at the end of the day, when the sun was setting on my life, I looked back seeing that my life was really all about two things; living in a healthy fear of God and striving to obey His commands.” And that is what our lives are to consist of likewise. If we keep these two things ever before us in the daily living out of life, we will live a God-honoring simple life. And there will be wonderful spiritual blessings. We will know the joy of the Lord in greater measure and ensure greater influence for Him as we do live life. Let’s explore them a little deeper.

First, a simple life lived right is built on the foundation of walking in the fear of the Lord. Do a study of the fear of the Lord in another of King Solomon’s books – Proverbs. It will show us how wisdom and knowledge on how to live life right and pleasing to the Lord rely upon the fear of the Lord guiding us – “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge” (Proverbs 1:7). How so? When the fear of the Lord shapes our lives, we see the world for what it is – fleeting; sin for what it is – disastrous; holiness for what it is – delightful; and these spiritual truths make us simplify life to live for eternity, not this temporal world. It is so liberating not to be attached to the things of this world. It frees us in so many ways and allows us to live simply and right before the Lord. Decisions are based on eternity. Use of our resources of time, money, and talent is determined by eternity. And this, beloved, is the way God intends life – simple and right with His fear keeping us focused on the next world, not this one.

Next, a simple life lived right is directed by obedience to God’s commands. Here is where life gets amazingly confusing and complex. We are beings created in the image of God to obey God. Obedience to His commands is simple, not easy, but simple. Let me illustrate. What if every Christian determined to live each day striving to obey the two Greatest Commands – love God and love our neighbors? (Matthew 22:37-40). Selfishness would be conquered. Sinful desires would be defeated. Our created purpose would be fulfilled, and yes, life would be simpler, but more importantly, it would be lived right. Don’t lose sight that we are saved to obey. And in doing so, we would find less complexity in our lives as we walk with the Prince of Peace.

I do hope we will make an appointment with King Solomon to read his “autobiography” found in the Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes. It will take us a long way down to the road to learning to live life simple and right.

PRAYER: “Father, help me not to make the life You have called me to be more complex than You made it.”

QUOTE: “Fear and obey God. This is the sum of life and the compass to steer our lives.”