Here are some questions based on last Sunday’s sermon text (Ecclesiastes 12:8-13), in case they’re helpful to you for personal growth or group discussion…

• [11] The “words of the wise” found in Ecclesiastes are “like goads,” like cattle prods, which means they create an unpleasant experience in order to make a change of direction in our lives. Ecclesiastes teaches us that there is nothing ultimately good, meaningful, satisfying, or lasting apart from relationship with God (v. 8 summarizes: “all is vapor”). How might this be unpleasant to you? Are you looking for something to fulfill you apart from God? Do you think it is merciful for God, the Good Shepherd, to expose the futility of this pursuit to you? Do you believe that God alone is fulfilling? Are you actually satisfied in him?

• [13] A literal translation reads something like this: “The last word, all has been heard: fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole of being human.” There is a sinful fear of God that drives you to run from God in self-protection because you believe he is against you. Alternatively, the Bible promotes a holy fear of God rooted in a true knowledge of him that drives you to draw near to him, overwhelmed and undone by his goodness. You cannot be truly human without this holy fear of God. Have you ever felt a sinful fear of God? Have you ever felt the holy fear of God? It’s hard to understand or explain, but do you know what it means to fear God for his goodness, because of his saving love? To fear him in a way that evokes praise? To fear him as an aspect of your love to him?

• [14] God says that your life has meaning, that it matters to him, that he will judge every moment of it. The promised reality of God’s judgment is good news for those who fear him. If you fear the Lord with a holy fear, you will not wish to escape his judgment, because you trust his judgment. Is there a way to establish a life of ultimate meaning apart from God and his Word? How do you feel about the fact that God cares about everything you do? Do you believe that Jesus has suffered the judgment your sins deserve at the cross? Do you believe that it is this same Jesus who will return to judge the living and the dead? Do you believe that his future judgment will somehow be executed in opposition to his saving love? Do you entrust yourself to his judgment, or do you think your judgment is better than his and wish that you could have your way in the Final Judgment?