How Then Should We Live?

HOW THEN SHOULD WE LIVE?

Ecclesiastes 11:7-12:1-7

Good News Christian Fellowship

BUCAS, Daraga Albay

July 1, 2006

Introduction

People have different goals. Some seek for fame and fortune. Others seek for security and social position. Many seek for pleasure and popularity. But few seek for sickness, sorrow, or servitude.

However, the Christian is assured that a “new life” is given him in exchange for the “old life.” “

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ live in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).

This is the only life that is worth seeking.

Ecclesiastes takes a hard look at Solomon’s life. It evaluates Solomon from a different standard or perspective. Solomon had sought meaning and fulfillment for his own life in various ways. With each attempt to find personal meaning and a sense of fulfillment, he had been dogged by a sense of vanity. So begins the book of Ecclesiastes: “All is vanity, like trying to herd the wind.”1 Life had turned out to be empty and futile. Nothing seemed to satisfy, for meaning and purpose were missing.

Is there nothing in life that is truly worthwhile? Is there nothing worth setting forth as a goal for which to strive? Is there nothing in life that is of true, unalterable, and lasting worth? Is life nothing more than a purposeless exercise in futility?

Proposition: The Lord God calls for everyone of us to live a life that is pleasing to Him, and life that glorifies Him.

I. Rejoice In The Lord (vv. 7-8)

We will begin in Chapter 11:7- “The light is pleasant, and it is good for the eyes to see the sun”

Well, this is an inspire poetry, not meant to be taken literally. It doesn’t mean we have to see or stare at the light of the sun, for if we did, surely it will cause damage to our eyes. What does this mean?

Light and sun are symbols of life lived in the love of God. In the Scriptures, references to light and sunshine are used to describe the warmth of God’s love. “The Lord is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear?” (Psalm 27:1a).

Just as we jump with joy when we see the sun break through on a cloudy, rainy day, so we can enjoy the love of God, the sense of his acceptance, the joy of his presence, the feeling that we are approved and accepted by him, the gift of righteousness by faith. This is what makes life beautiful, enjoyable, and is cause for rejoicing, this is what makes life worth living. Rejoice in the light of God’s everpresent, always – comforting love is pleasant. And it is good for our eyes to focus on the warmth and protection of the hand of God wrapped around our lives and He wants us to rejoice in His love. We have to rejoice no matter what circumstances we are in.

Read verse 8. Happiness is to pervade all the years of our life. A good man has reason to rejoice always, throughout the whole course of his life; because of the goodness of divine Providence to him; because of the blessings of grace bestowed on him; and because of his good hope of eternal glory and happiness.

We have so many reasons to rejoice brothers and sisters. Count it. Can you count the blessings of God?

Life is given to us for enjoyment, but the secret of it, as I have seen pointed out to you many times already, is not possessions (Jesus underscored that: "A man’s life does not consist of the abundance of things which he possesses" {cf, Luke 12:15}), but rather a relationship with a Living God. Let us rejoice because of that.

Remember our life is not a bed of roses, days of darkness will be many (v8.b). We have to realize that. We have to rejoice, no matter what. . “Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say rejoice” (Phil. 4:4).We can also rejoice in sorrow (2Cor. 6:10), in trials (James 1:2; 1Pet. 1:6) , and even under persecutions (Luke 6:22,23)

Read verse 9a. Youth you should get serious about life. Why? What’s the big deal of getting serious about life? God wants you to glorify Him through your life. That’s why God commands you to get serious of your life. It is really an encouragement to us to realize that God gave us the gift of youth, with its strength, its optimism, its cheer, its dreams, its hopes, its opportunities.

God gives you the gift of youth so rejoice in it, enjoy it, use it, the strength of it, the cheerfulness of it, the optimism of it.