When confronted with the end of their loved one’s life, the caregiver may wonder what everything in this world means. The book of Ecclesiastes explores the frustrations and mysteries of life. Wealth, pleasure, wisdom, work– none of them ultimately satisfy the deepest needs of the human heart. After examining “everything under the sun,” the Preacher (who is narrating the book) comes to the a simple but profound conclusion: we must fear God and keep his commandments.

Genuine faith is not merely what we say we believe, but how we live. The tempation is to reduce faith to feelings, traditions, and words. We might attend church and talk about God in that setting, but fail to be obedient or live a life set apart from the rest of the world. When we recognize God as holy, sovereign, and just, we change how we act.

For believers, obedience is not about earning salvation or proving our worth. It is the natural fruit of salvation and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. When we understand what God has done for us in sacrificing his own Son, we can’t help but want to honor him with our words and our deeds.

The world often treats faith as a private opinion for personal consumption. Genuine faith is lived publicly, declaring God through love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Keeping God’s commandments puts us in the posture to grow each of these fruit and reflect the faith we claim to a world in need of a Savior. When all the things of this world fade away, these things will still remain and are what truly matter.