The Conclusion of the Matter is Love

 And by these, my son, be further warned: 

There is no end to the making of many books, 

and much study wearies the body.

 When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is this:  

Fear God and keep His commandments, because this is the whole duty of man.

For God will bring every deed into judgment, 

along with every hidden thing, whether good or evil.…

Eccles.12:12-14 

The rivalry twixt heart and head wars where the score is hid

And often none but God bears witness to the victory

Where what we want oft seem at odds with God’s less-tempting bid

For love does not persuade us with promise of luxury

Mankind’s covetous nature led Eve to believe a lie

And since The Fall in Eden evil wars with what is good

The heart, ah, who can know it; it is wicked. You and I

Without the love of God can never choose the things we should

The altar where we sacrifice what would entice the flesh

Is not a public show; only God knows the full amount

But He, when we are finished with want’s little skirmishes

Will be the One to Whom we all will bow and give account

Surrendering of Self is not easy; no, not a bit

Aha, love’s hard-wrought battles are fought with our thought, not hands

Where what the world disdains is but true love’s prerequisite

The whole duty of man; to fear God and keep his commands

© Janet Martin

By this we know that we love the children of God:

 when we love God and keep His commandments. 

For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments.

 And His commandments are not burdensome/grievous, 

because everyone born of God overcomes the world. 

And this is the victory that has overcome the world: our faith.…

 

1 John 5:2-4

 Mark 7:21-22
For from within the hearts of men come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery,
greed, wickedness, deceit, debauchery, envy, slander, arrogance, and foolishness.