Understanding Man’s All

by Pastor Mark
May 28, 2026

Conclusion of the whole matter

At the end of the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon wrote a summary of man’s all. He had written 12 chapters of Ecclesiastes, filled with his observations of life, his feelings, some proverbial sayings and some knowledge of God.

This was how he concluded, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13) Solomon sought to summarise what life is all about. He had pursued many things in life and thought them through. To him, much of it was “Vanity of vanities!” But he was also able to conclude that man’s all is…to fear God and keep His commandments.

Fearing God and keeping His commandments

  1. Fearing God is about having a sense of reverence and regard for Him.
  2. It is closely related to our regard for His commandments…that we should keep and obey them.
  3. The idea of fearing God should affect all areas of our life and ministry.
  4. This was what Solomon sought to highlight throughout Ecclesiastes.

The works of God

“I know that whatever God does, it shall be forever. Nothing can be added to it, and nothing taken from it. God does it, that men should fear before Him.” (Ecclesiastes 3:14)

  1. The works of God are lasting and complete.
  2. Men cannot add to it or remove anything from it.
  3. Men ought to fear God for His works.
  4. There is no limitation to the works of God.
  5. His works are most profound and we ought to stand in awe of them.
  6. Let us fear God for His works.

The worship of God

  1. Solomon also wrote that we ought to come before God in His house (Ecclesiastes 5:1)
  2. We need to understand our place before Him…“For God is in heaven, and you on earth; Therefore let your words be few” (Ecclesiastes 5:2).
  3. We should not be carried away by our dreams and make vows with many words (Ecclesiastes 5:7).
  4. The wiser course is to have a deep sense of reverence for God when entering His house.
  5. The challenge is to fear God in our worship of Him.

The wicked and the righteous

“Yet I surely know that it will be well with those who fear God, who fear before Him.” (Ecclesiastes 8:12)

There are times when the wicked seem to be blessed rather than the righteous. But we can be assured that in time, things will be different as God will judge the wicked. As the righteous, we seek to fear the Lord…to live before Him and to commune with Him. While it may seem that we are not doing well because of the wicked, we will be blessed in time and it will be well with us. God will be with us and things will turn around. The Lord will bless accordingly.

Let us be challenged to make it our all…to fear the Lord and keep His commandments. Let us be challenged to fear God in every area of our lives.

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