Series: Playing A New Game [#2]
BEING A SUCCESSFUL GRADUATE
Ecclesiastes 4:13-5:7
Introduction:
On this day that we have honored our graduates, I want to ask a question that may be on the minds of these graduates and others here this morning. Now that this portion of your life is completed, what’s the next step? For many of us here today, it has been a long time since you were in school; but the lesson found in our text still has application for our lives. We can get caught up in the wrong pursuits in life and forget what our main focus should be.
In our text, we find some simple; but important instructions for us to use as we go through life.
Ecclesiastes 4:13-16 (NIV)
“Better a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to take warning. The youth may have come from prison to the kingship, or he may have been born in poverty within his kingdom. I saw that all who lived and walked under the sun followed the youth, the king's successor. There was no end to all the people who were before them. But those who came later were not pleased with the successor. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.”
Being successful in…
1. Your advancement.
Advancement in…
? Position.
Most everyone wants to advance in their career. That is why some people pursue higher education. Regardless of what you do, most of us would like to “move up”. There is nothing wrong with wanting to better yourself and be the best you can be; but what costs are involved? Position at the price of your relationship with God or family is unwise.
Advancement in…
? Power.
With position comes power. This is usually the motive for wanting the position. Does your motive and means to getting that position and power glorify God?
Advancement in…
? Purpose.
If your purpose in life is to serve and honor God, then here is the direction that God gives us:
Don’t…
? Think you have it all figured out.
You should never stop learning. You should learn something new every day.
Don’t…
? Forget where you came from.
I have seen many business people “work like a dog” to “move up” and then when they did, they decided they were better than everyone else and people hated them.
Don’t…
? Forget that this life is short and spending your entire life on “moving up” in the world is meaningless.
Ecclesiastes 5:1-7 (NIV)
“Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong. Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few. As a dream comes when there are many cares, so the speech of a fool when there are many words. When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it. Do not let your mouth lead you into sin. And do not protest to the [temple] messenger, "My vow was a mistake." Why should God be angry at what you say and destroy the work of your hands? Much dreaming and many words are meaningless. Therefore stand in awe of God.”
Being successful in…
2. Your attitude.
To have a proper attitude…
? Go to God and listen to Him.
We are to go to God. When our attitudes are an attitude of the don’ts that we just looked at- Know it all, prideful, or un-focused- We don’t seem to remember Who to go to for help. By the way, you cannot go into God’s presence with these attitudes. You need to be cleansed of this sin before you go before God.
After God has cleaned you up and you go into His presence, you need to be quiet and listen. Most of the time, when we go to God in prayer, we do all of the talking and no listening. You may be saying, “God’s not answering my prayers”. He is answering them; you just are not listening because you are too busy doing all of the talking. We are to go to God in reverence. We must stop treating God as some heavenly Grandfather.
To have a proper attitude…
? Go to God and watch your mouth.
Don’t make promises to God and not keep them. Watch your mouth. Don’t’ be “wishy-washy”. Let your yes be yes and your no be no. Be a person of your word.
To have a proper attitude…
? Go to God and allow Him to be in control.
God knows what He is doing. God must be 1st in your life. God must be in control of your life.
Be successful in…
3. Your awe of God.
Stand in awe of God. Shut up and stop trying to make God go along with your plan and follow His plan for your life. Christian, you are not your own. You belong to God. He paid for you through the blood of Jesus.
Conclusion:
Jesus is your only hope of finding true meaning in life. Christians, maybe you have let your pursuit of power, wealth, and pleasure lead you to a place in your life that has brought you sadness and stress. You need to be quiet, stand in awe of God, and them begin to follow Him. If you want peace and joy in your life, you will only find it in God.
