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.
All of us, young and once young, have to rejoice in the Lord.
Yet, don’t forget – there’ll be a day of accountability.
11. Fear The Lord (vv.9b-10)
God’s concerned that we not go wild our liberty. Do you have any idea what insane lives we would live if there were no anchor on the tether? Do you realize how maddening we would conduct ourselves – even as youths – if we forgot that there is a God whom we shall someday answer?
Walk in the fear of the Lord.
The fear of the Lord is an attitude of respect toward God, which includes a healthy dread of displeasing Him. The fear of the Lord is about reverence toward God, respect for Him, love and appreciation, holding Him and His beloved Son in high esteem.
“Remove vexation from your mind. (v.10) Vexation means anger, grief or resentment. If you place anger alongside resentment, then blend together, you get rebellion. And God says, “Now let me warn you in your pursuit of happiness in life, you need to put aside a rebellious spirit.
Rebellion, by the way, has no age limit. The youth don’t have a corner of rebellion. Neither do the older ones.
So then, without the fear of the Lord, there is no reason (in their hearts) to respect Him and obey Him. Faithful service to God and obedience to Christ is rooted in the FEAR OF THE LORD.
THE FEAR OF THE LORD . .
causes us to depart from evil- Prov. 3:7.
causes us to hate evil - Prov. 8:13.
prolongs our days - Prov. 10:27.
inspired confidence - Prov. 14:26.
affords great contentment - Prov. 15:16.
keeps the heart - Prov. 23:17.
strengthens us against unstable companions - Prov. 24:21.
Fearing God result in holy leaving (Psa.19:9-14). It is described being the fountain of life (Prov.14:27)
111. Remember The Lord (12:1-7)
“Remember your Creator in the days of your youth” means to act decisively on behalf of the living God. This means that we realize He is the one essential ingredient we need for a truly happy life. It means we have to listen to what He says and act accordingly. It means we don’t follow the dictates of our heart, but that we will follow the dictates of His truth.
Remember the Lord for the great things He has done:
• The blessing of His grace
• The blessing of His love
• The blessing of His mercy
• The blessing of His protection
• The blessing of His preservation
The List of blessing will go on and on. Remember the LORD
“In the flower of your days when life is known in its rich fullness, when the natural powers are in undiluted vigour, then make place for God in personal consciousness. The prodigal remembered his father when he had spent all. He should have remembered him, gratefully, and with increasing understanding of his love and care, when his Father was bestowing on him his goods. God gives us all thing richly to enjoy, and in youth and early manhood heaps rich precious bounties upon us, God must be remembered then, else we shall grievously hurt Him and defraud ourselves.” – Oswald Chambers.
Remember Him… before the evil days come.
The spirit of God is so gracious as He prompts Solomon to give us counsel before the fact.
The Lord God himself, by the word of Solomon, calls for his creatures to remember their Creator. I take these words from the book of wisdom to call you who are yet without Christ to remember him, to bow to him and trust him this day. Oh, that this day may be to you the day of grace and salvation.! "Today, if ye will hear his voice, harden not your heart."
Remember that this great God is your Creator. He brought you into being. He preserves you in life. He has bestowed upon you all the blessings of providence that you use to rebel against him in the gratifying of your lusts.
Remember that you were made for the glory of God.
Conclusion
Jesus reminded us that life was about more than possessions. Possessions, wealth, pleasure, power, popularity are temporary. God wanted us to focus our lives on that which is eternal, in this God is glorified.
Are our life worthy of the effort and energy we invest in them? Are they worth giving our resources, time and energy? Will our aims in life stand the test of time and eternity?
If our lives are to have meaning and purpose, we must live by the standard of eternal goals – only they can ultimately survive.
How then, should we live?
Rejoice In The Lord; Fear The Lord; Remember The Lord
Let us pray.
