"Stand In Awe Of God" Ecc Pt6 Series

“Stand in awe of God!”

Ecclesiastes Pt 6

Opening Illustration: What happens in 30 minutes?

Have a timer with on the pulpit – set it for 30 minutes in front of everyone. The lesson from the timer is what motivated Solomon to write the book of Ecclesiastes because time was running out for him and for many others. It made him think about eternity and where he was going. The lesson from the timer is this for us today:

* 5 people died of aids in the US in the last 30 minutes.

* 18 people in the US died from injuries in the last 30 minutes.

* 2 people in the US committed suicide in the last 30 minutes.

* 4 people died of a heart attack in the US in the last 30 minutes.

“Mission Maker Magazine”, page 18, Edition 2008, (www.WorldChristianDatabase.org).

*7,764 souls began life in the world in the last 30 minutes

*3,444 souls meet Jesus face-to-face in the world in the last 30 minutes

*3,420 baptisms occurred in foreign mission in the world in the last 30 minutes

*$1,311,888 dollars were given to foreign missions in the world in the last 30 minutes

*10,896 people migrated internationally in the world in the last 30 minutes

*402 children became homeless or family-less in the world in the last 30 minutes

*2,275 rural poor migrated to cities in the world in the last 30 minutes

*1,140 people moved into urban slums in the world in the last 30 minutes

*68 people began supporting themselves only by collecting garbage in the world in the last 30 minutes

*1,375 children under age five died from preventable starvation related causes in the world in the last 30 minutes

*10 Christians died for their faith witness in the last 30 minutes

(A fter 30 minutes) - When the timer goes off share again how many people have died in that time frame and ask them to think about how many people have lived useless – meaningless lives! They wasted their time and have nothing to show for their lifetime. How many senseless deaths have occurred in the last 30 minutes across the world? Why so many senseless deaths? Because people live self-centered lives and the focus is all about themselves rather than others and if we live like this then there is no eternal value found in these lifetimes.

Opening Video Illustration: Teaching Moments Volume 4 - “An overview of God’s World.” Blue Fish - This is a fast paced tour around the world which reveals overwhelming physical and spiritual needs.

Our world is filled with needs and it is up to us to decide to make a difference in it. The truth is how we choose to live our life and how we choose to worship and serve God will impact people or not. The choices we make with our finances will determine if our life will make a difference for eternity and actually count for something.

Scripture Text: Ecc. Chapter 5

1Guard 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.

2 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.

3 As a dream comes when there are many cares,

so the speech of a fool when there are many words.

4When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. 5It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it. 6Do 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? 7Much dreaming and many words are meaningless. Therefore stand in awe of God.

8If you see the poor oppressed in a district, and justice and rights denied, do not be surprised at such things; for one official is eyed by a higher one, and over them both are others higher still. 9The increase from the land is taken by all; the king himself profits from the fields.

10 Whoever loves money never has money enough;

whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income.

This too is meaningless.

11 As goods increase,

so do those who consume them.

And what benefit are they to the owner

except to feast his eyes on them?

12 The sleep of a laborer is sweet,

whether he eats little or much,

but the abundance of a rich man

permits him no sleep.