Growing Old Isn’t For Wimps! Series

Ecclesiastes 12:1-14

1 Remember now your Creator (bara) in the days of your youth,

1b Before the difficult (evil - sickness, sorrow or senility) days come, And the years draw near when you say, "I have no pleasure in them": 2 While the sun and the light, The moon and the stars, Are not darkened, And the clouds do not return after the rain; 3 In the day when the keepers of the house (arms/hands) tremble, And the strong men (legs) bow down; When the grinders (teeth) cease because they are few, And those that look through the windows (eyes) grow dim; 4 When the doors (ears) are shut in the streets, and the sound of grinding is low; When one rises up at the sound (insomnia) of a bird, And all the daughters of music (ears) are brought low; 5 Also they are afraid (acrophobia) of height, And of terrors (walking) in the way; When the almond tree hair blossoms, The grasshopper (stooped over) is a burden, And (sexual) desire fails. For man goes (dies) to his eternal home, and the mourners go about the streets. 6 Remember your Creator before the silver cord is loosed, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher shattered at the fountain, Or the wheel broken at the well. (death & devastation) 7 Then the dust (body) will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it. 8 "Vanity of vanities," says the Preacher, "All is vanity." (Specifically, under the sun!)

9 And moreover, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yes, he pondered and sought out and set in order many proverbs. 10 The Preacher sought to find acceptable words; and what was written was upright--words of truth. 11 The words of the wise are LIKE goads long pointed sticks, and the words of scholars are LIKE well-driven nails, given by one Shepherd.

a. They are like "goads", prodding our thinking, moving us along in the right direction

b. They are like "nails", that which can provide stability and steadfastness in our lives

Question: Who’s your shepherd? Education, humanism, materialism?

Books, I-pods, internet, FaceBook, etc…be selective in choosing your shepherd!

12 And further, my son, be admonished by these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is wearisome to the flesh.

13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man's all. 14 For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil.

Solomon acquired it all! He had fame, fortune and females!

Solomon explored it all! He lived it all through education, sex, drugs and possessions!

Solomon built it all! He amassed great cities and a great kingdom!

Ecclesiastes 12:1-14

Growing Old isn’t for Wimps!

Introduction – Senior Special

We went to breakfast at a restaurant where the "Seniors' Special" was two eggs, bacon, hash browns and toast for $1.99.

"Sounds good," my wife said. "But I don't want the eggs."

"Then I'll have to charge you two dollars and forty-nine cents because you're ordering a la carte," the waitress warned her.

"You mean I'd have to pay for not taking the eggs?" my wife asked incredulously. "Then I'll take the Special."

"How do you want your eggs?"

"Raw and in the shell!" my wife replied.

She took the two eggs home.

Remember your Creator! 1a

Your Attitude in life - ownership

Your Fortitude through life - trials

Your Gratitude for life - thankfulness

Illustration – Seniors Ode to Medication

A row of bottles on my shelf

caused me to analyze myself.

One yellow pill I have to pop

Goes to my heart so it won't stop.

A little white one that I take

goes to my hands so they won't shake.

The purple ones that I use a lot

tell me I'm happy when I'm not.

The blue pill goes to my brain

and tells me that I have no pain.

The capsules tell me not to wheeze

or cough or choke or even sneeze.

The red ones, smallest of them all

Go to my blood so I won't fall.

The orange ones, very big and bright

prevent my leg cramps in the night.

Such an array of brilliant pills,

helping to cure all kinds of ills.

But what I'd really like to know...........

Is what tells each one where to go!

Redeem your Time! 1b-8

The Difficult day’s 1b-2

Vs. 2 Mental aging, dullness & depression

The Distressing day’s 3-5a

Vs. 3 trembling of voice & hands / Strong men – legs grinders – teeth / Windows dim – eyes

Vs. 4 doors shut – ears / Sound of bird – insomnia / music low – voice weak