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Ecclesiastes 11:1-12:8
Stephen Caswell © 2000
Introduction
/What is life all about?
Is it worth living?/
That was the question the Preacher raised when he began the discourse that we call Ecclesiastes.
After experimenting and investigating /life under the sun/, he concluded, */No, life is not worth living!/*
He gave four arguments to support his conclusion: the monotony of life, the vanity of wisdom, the futility of wealth, and the certainty of death.
Being a wise man, Solomon reviewed his arguments and this time brought God into the picture.
What a difference it made.
He realized that life was not monotonous but filled with challenging situations from God, each in its own time and each for its own purpose.
He also learned that wealth could be enjoyed and employed to the glory of God.
Though man’s wisdom couldn’t explain everything, Solomon concluded that it was better to follow God’s wisdom than to practice man’s folly.
As for the certainty of death, there is no way to escape it; and it ought to motivate us to enjoy life now and make the most of the opportunities God gives us.
In chapter 11 we have Solomon’s sixth and final admonition /that we accept life as a gift and learn to enjoy all that God shares with us./
In order to do this, we must obey 3 instructions:
* *
I. Rejoice* * II.
Remove* *III.
Remember
* *
/Firstly/ Rejoice
* *
*Ecclesiastes 11:7-9a* /Truly the light is sweet, And it is pleasant for the eyes to behold the sun; But if a man lives many years And *rejoices* in them all, Yet let him remember the days of darkness, For they will be many.
All that is coming is vanity.
*Rejoice*, O young man, in your youth, And let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth; /
* *
What a joy it is to anticipate each new day and accept it as a fresh gift from God! Most people don't realize this truth.
They live today as though life will go on forever.
Often it is only through a near death experience that people realize how fragile life can be.
We should rise each morning and thank God for the new day He has given us.
Then we should ask Him to help us use it wisely for His glory and to enjoy it as His gift.
Solomon commands young people to rejoice in their youth.
It is a precious gift from God to be young.
Young person, rejoice and have a cheerful heart.
Life for you is exciting and holds so much promise.
Solomon especially instructed the young people to take advantage of the days of youth before the days of darkness would arrive.
He was not suggesting that young people have no problems or that older people have no joys.
He was simply making a generalization that youth is the time for enjoyment, before the problems of old age start to reveal themselves.
Young people have so much going for them.
Usually they are strong and energetic.
They have the enthusiasm and time to take on projects older folk can only dream about.
Life lies before them and they have so much potential.
Each new day is an adventure to experience!
They have the opportunity to make friendships that can last a lifetime.
They can travel and see the world.
Young people can see clearly the beauty of creation.
They can hear music more crisply.
They have the health and fitness to enjoy sport and recreation to the full.
Young people begin to experience the freedom of being adults without all of the responsibilities that come later.
They have the joy and challenge of finding the right partner for life.
Falling in love and getting married bring some of the greatest joys in life.
Serving the Lord is rewarding too!
God wants people to enjoy their youth.
He also wants us to seek Him.
*Proverbs 3:5-6* /Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths./
These days are some of the best that we ever have.
But it doesn't last!
Dark days come to all and they increase in number as we age.
Youth doesn't last forever, so make yours count!
Application - Wendell P Loveless
Wendell lived a full life and accomplished much.
He lived on well into his nineties and was alert to the very end.
When his pastor visited with him at this time, Wendell said this, /I don’t go out much now because my parents won’t let me ....... Mother Nature and Father Time!/
/Young person, are you enjoying the days of your youth?/ /Do you play sport?
Are you building lots of friendships?
Are you visiting new places?
Are you using your time wisely?
Do you enjoy God's creation?
Are you serving Him? Do you thank God for His goodness to you? / You should rejoice in the Lord and commit your life to Him.
Don't be in a hurry to grow up!
/ /
/Secondly /Remove
/ /
*Ecclesiastes 11:7-9b*/ Walk in the ways of your *heart*, And in the sight of your eyes; But know that for all these God will bring you into judgment./
/Therefore *remove* sorrow from your *heart*, And *put away* evil from your flesh, For childhood and youth are vanity./
Fatherly Advice For William Thomson
William Thomson who later became Lord Kelvin was one of the greatest physicists of nineteenth century England.
When he was at college, his father wrote to him: You are young, take care that you are not led into what is wrong.
A false step now, or the acquiring of an improper habit, might ruin you for life.
Frequently look back on your conduct and thereby learn wisdom for the future.
Young people have to watch their hearts and their eyes, because either or both can lead them into sin.
/Walk in the ways of your heart,/ is not an encouragement to go on a youthful fling and satisfy the sinful desires within.*
*It is rather a reminder for young people to enjoy the special pleasures that belong to youth and can never be experienced again in quite the same way.
Those of us who are older need to remember that God expects young people to act like young people.
*1 Timothy 6:17* says that /God gives us all things richly to enjoy/, but it is always wrong to enjoy the pleasures of sin.
Solomon’s warning is evidence that he doesn’t have sinful pleasures in mind: /God will bring you into judgment./
The young person who enjoys life in the will of God will have nothing to worry about when the Lord returns./
/Privileges must be balanced by personal responsibilities.
Young people must */remove/* anxiety out of their hearts and evil away from their flesh.
The word translated */sorrow/* means */vexation, inner pain, anxiety./*
If we are living in the will of God, we will have the peace of God in our hearts.
/How do we remove sin from our lives?/
By obeying God's Word.
*Psalm 119:9* /How can a young man cleanse his way?
By taking heed according to Your word./
The sins of the flesh not only destroy the body they can also bring eternal judgment to the soul.
Today temptation to sin abounds everywhere.
Many people live to regret the sins of their youth.
Jesus gave instruction about this in *Matthew 5:27-29:*/ You have heard that it was said to those of old, You shall not commit adultery.
But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.
/Evil desires lead to sin.
David looked at Bathsheba, then he desired her and then he committed adultery.
Let us remove sinful desires and practices.
We do this by confession and making good choices.
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