Ecclesiastes 12:13 reads: "Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man." Let's take a look at what this verse means in its proper context. It certainly does not mean we should be scared of the living God.
The fear of God is not the fear we experience when walking down a dark alley and suddenly we are followed by people with ill intent. It is not the fear that brings about our sudden anxiety when something is amiss in our lives, like paying bills, a lack of finances, evictions and typhoons or hurricanes.
Solomon teaches us (under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit) that "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction (Proverbs 1:7).
Only those who should be really afraid of the living God are those who have rejected Him. Hell is real, not a parable, but an actual eternity in unbearable torment (see Luke 16:19-31).
We need not be afraid of a loving God, but we are to fear Him in the rom sense that knowing it is only by His grace we are saved from eternal damnation and can experience a relationship with Him both now and the eternal hereafter. Additionally, we should maintain the our awareness of the awesomeness of God and have a hatred of sin.
Yes, life gets in the way at times. We hang out with the wrong "friends" and have the false notion that since many others are doing it, well, all is well and fine. That is our mistake. It is far from okay.
Yes, we all sin daily. But Jesus paid the price with His blood for all our sins. This does not mean we can go about our lives and sin freely, but rather we should sin less. We can pray to God that he may create a spirit of holiness in our hearts.
And what of the Ten Commandments? Do they apply to believers today? Yes!
But wait, Paul said the law was fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ. This is also true.
But here is the difference to dispel any confusion you may have regarding the matter.
The laws that Jesus fulfilled were the ceremonial laws.
On the other hand, the other category of law in the Bible is that critical code of living our lives that is the Ten Commandments. Those commandments form a moral law that continues to this day. Indeed, it has not been done away with as some suppose.
So yes, the fear of God is demonstrating our love for Him and his righteousness and by living a holy life. We will not become sinless but will sin less when we fear God and are obedient to his commandments.
Be encouraged!
