The Secret of Success | Ecclesiastes 12:13

“That’s the whole story. Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13 NLT)

It is my belief that one of the reasons for the great success of the United States of America over our 250-year history can be found in our origins, the fact that our nation’s founding was deeply shaped by a belief that liberty depends on moral virtue, and many of the founders saw biblical faith as essential to that virtue.

Now that certainly is a far cry from where we are today. But we desperately need a biblical worldview today, and we desperately need to follow God’s commandments.

We can either accept the truths of Scripture or fight against them as a nation and as individuals. And, I might add, we will reap the inevitable results.

As Vance Havner, a preacher and revivalist, once said, “We speak of ‘breaking the laws of God’ but actually we cannot break them. If you jump from the Empire State Building you don't break the law of gravitation—you just break your neck! The Ten Commandments stand today, unchanged and unchangeable. When we violate them, we suffer. What we sow, we reap. God is not mocked. When we crash into the pillars of God's eternal principles, we are smashed but the pillars remain standing.”

He’s right. You can’t break the laws of God, but you will break yourself against them. You can buck against these truths and say, “These don’t apply to me, and I will live the way I want to live.” Or you can see the wisdom God has in giving these commandments to us.

The author of Ecclesiastes could not be any clearer on the matter. “That’s the whole story. Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty” (Ecclesiastes 12:13 NLT).

But obeying God’s commands is more than a duty; it’s also an opportunity. Remember, God created us. He knows exactly how we’re wired and what’s best for us. His commands are one of the means He uses to help us discover what’s best for us.

His commands are intended not to restrict us but rather to allow us to enjoy life to the fullest, as He intends. They show us the way to experience soul-deep joy—the kind of joy that doesn’t depend on circumstances or moods. His commands also point the way toward genuine fulfillment and the peace that comes from knowing that we’re doing what we were created to do.

God’s commands keep us in spiritual balance. Obedience is essential to our relationship with our heavenly Father. When we prioritize His instructions and live according to His principles, we enjoy His blessings.

Likewise, our country was created to honor God’s commandments. Until we begin to prioritize them again, we will not fulfill the destiny He has for us.

It’s our choice. We can do it the easy way, or we can do it the hard way.

Reflection question: What helped you recognize the wisdom in obeying God’s commands? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship!

—

The audio production of the podcast "Greg Laurie: Daily Devotions" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known."

All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie.

Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast

Become a Harvest Partner

Support the show: https://harvest.org/support

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.