BEGINNING WELL

Theme: We Start well by Remembering

Topic: Remembering When we Are still Young

Text: Ecclesiastes 12:1-8

Introduction

Have you noticed that depending on the situation and the people we are talking too, we either pretend to be younger than we are or older than we are

It seems, we do not like the thought that we are old, or that we are young depending on the situation.

A young Man who is in love with a girl older than he is can lie…and Vice versa (Many people are ashamed of their age)

Observing the Text

Ecclesiastes 12:1–8 (ESV)

Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”; before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars are darkened and the clouds return after the rain, in the day when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men are bent, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those who look through the windows are dimmed, and the doors on the street are shut—when the sound of the grinding is low, and one rises up at the sound of a bird, and all the daughters of song are brought low— they are afraid also of what is high, and terrors are in the way; the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags itself along, and desire fails, because man is going to his eternal home, and the mourners go about the streets— before the silver cord is snapped, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is shattered at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern, and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it. Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher; all is vanity.

PRAYING

Who wrote the Book:-

Faithlife Study Bible (Chapter 1)

NATURE OF THE BOOK: 1:1 Ecclesiastes is a book of wisdom sayings that examines the meaning of life’s endeavors, the value of common wisdom, and the problem of injustice.

The Thesis of the Book is that, “life without God is meaningless.”

My admonition Today is that: 2025 without God is meaningless

THE WRITER: The opening verse of chapter 1 (one) presents the speaker as a member of David’s royal family, but his name is not mentioned. Solomon was the only son of David who was king in Jerusalem and over all of Israel (Eccl 1:12).

This has contributed to the view that Solomon wrote the book in the 10th century BC. Also contributing to this view is Solomon’s reputation for wisdom and the description of the wealth amassed in 2:1–11.

FACTORS: But these factors could point to the book being in the tradition of Solomon’s wisdom, rather than by him

NOTE: Ecclesiastes in light of Proverbs, has a tone of someone who is writing from the perspective of experience.

Proverbs is like a road map on how someone can live wisely, but Ecclesiastes is like a fast forward to the end of one’s life

The Key Question: What, when, and why should we Remember?

Understanding Keys words and Phrases

1. WHAT SHOULD WE REMEMBER?

A. THE CREATOR.

2. Time or Age: When Should we Remember our Creator? Verse 1

a. Before Evil Days Come - which will cause us to say, I have no pleasure in them

b. Before the Sun and the Light and the Moon and the Stars are darkened and the clouds return after the rain

The Word Remember:

1. It does not mean awareness that there is God somewhere

2. It does not mean saying a few prayers before doing what

you want

3. It does not mean making some declarations for the New Year during cross-over.

The Writer himself gives us the meaning!

Ecclesiastes 12:13 (ESV)

The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.

1. A Person who remembers lives as though they know that one day they will give an account

Ecclesiastes 11:9 (ESV)

Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Walk in the ways of your heart and the sight of your eyes. But know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment.

Note: Whether we like it or not, as long as we are creatures, there is a creator, and if there is a creator, we will have to give an account at some point for how we live

Faithlife Study Bible (Chapter 11)

People should enjoy life to the fullest while recognizing that there are consequences for their actions

Which means accountability and no one has any excuse as Paul puts it

How is the word “Creator” used here?

Faithlife Study Bible (Chapter 12)

Creator Emphasizes God’s sovereignty in relation to the limits of human wisdom (see note on Job 38:1–41:34).

We Relate with God on different levels

1. As a father (source) - Discipline, care, providing.

2. As a friend - which means, we can trust God in everything cause he is a friend who sticks to us closer than our brothers

3. As us King - Loyal, authority, protocols :- there is a way God does things. Kulibe ati protocol breaker: laziness can never be paid by God, lack of planning is a lack of faith, and we cannot please God without faith.

4. As our savior - we are helpless without him, we need him - Life without God is meaningless.

5. As Lord - which means we are servants and he is our master - obedience is Key.

6. Finally we relate to God As Our Creator as we see in the passage - which means we are creatures, therefore, we must put ourselves in our place and remember God’s place - Humility.

How About the days or trouble, or evil days

Faithlife Study Bible (Chapter 12)

the days of trouble The author encourages people to enjoy life while they are young—before the troubles of old age described in Eccles 12:2–7

2b. Who is Young According to the Passage?

C. Before the time when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men are bent

Faithlife Study Bible (Chapter 12)

12:3 This is a list of various metaphors for the physical decline of old age: trembling hands, weakened muscles or a stooped back, lost teeth, and failing eyesight.

d. Before the grinders cease because they are few, and those who look through the windows are dimmed,

e. And the doors on the street are shut; when the sound of song are brought low; when they are afraid also of what is high, and terrors are in the way

Sound of Song are brought low - loss of hearing

f. The almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags itself along, and desire fails, because man is going to his eternal home and the mourners go about the streets

Faithlife Study Bible (Chapter 12)

12:5 almond tree blossoms Since the almond tree’s flowers were white, this likely refers to hair turning white.

grasshopper dragging - decreased mobility of Old age

g. Before the silver cord is snapped, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is shattered at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern

12:6 Several vessels are broken that are meant to hold water, which is a symbol of life (2 Sam 14:14).

h. and the dust returns to the Earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it. Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher; all is vanity

WHY SHOULD SHOULD WE REMEMBER: APPLICATION

A Righteous man Lives Responsibly before death comes

WHAT SHOULD YOU AND ME KEEP IN MIND AS WE LIVE ON THIS EARTH ACCORDING TO OUR PASSAGE

Both Good Days and Bad Days can motivate us to be Better people.

1. There are bad days:

The work of removing anxiety and frustration from the heart should begin early in life.

a. Days of Learning and Enjoying:

Make use of the opportunities before you start:

Trembling, or your vision fails, or deafness of ears, nervousness, fear, Gray hair, loss of appetite and sleep, and finally death.

2. There are Good days:

Do not forget God and those who have been good to you

In your good days, do not forget that bad ones will come again

In your good days remember that you are just a creature and God is your creator

2b. there are also days of Declining and Enjoying:

Before death, there is a gradual process that we undergo

In the days of decline we must not be fighting to be stable

We must be fighting for those who are coming after us

3. Whatever our experiences, We will give an Account

We live in a Dangerous Digital World: We are controlled remotely by algorithms

What are Algorithms:

A. Greedy Algorithms:

B. Divide-and-Conquer Algorithms

C. Backtracking Algorithms

D. Dynamic Algorithms

Simple Definition: An Algorithm is a set of instruction that is designed to accomplish a task. They take one or more inputs through a series of steps, and then provides one or more outputs.

ON SOCIAL MEDIA

In Social Media, algorithms are rules, signals, and data that govern the platform’s operations.

In the World of social Media:

It is very difficult to remember that you have a private life

It is difficult to remember that we need time alone with God in prayer

It is difficult to remember that we need to study God’s word alone

It is even more difficult to think about the coming of our Lord Jesus

But One is also concerning is that the world of technology is making people dull without them knowing - We are loosing our attention span, our memories are very poor, retention of information is poor, laziness has become smart working, and friendships, relationships and marriages are dying at an alarming rate.

Unless we remember God, we will continue being slaves of our own devices.

Personally I refuse to be controlled by algorithms. My life is too precious to be at the mercy of computers phones, tablets, TVs, Games, videos on tiktok, You-tube and all other social platforms.

WISDOM SHOULD BE OUR GOAL

WISDOM MAKING THE RIGHT DECISION BECAUSE WE KNOW GOD

TWO GREAT TESTS THAT CAN MAKE US WISE

1. WEALTH AND DISCIPLINE

A. Success, Victory, Wealth or Prosperity.

Proverbs 3:9–10 (ESV)

Honor the Lord with your wealth

and with the firstfruits of all your produce;

then your barns will be filled with plenty,

and your vats will be bursting with wine.

B. Discipline, Pain, failure, Hardship

Proverbs 3:11–12 (ESV)

My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline

or be weary of his reproof,

for the Lord reproves him whom he loves,

as a father the son in whom he delights.

These Two will reveal who you are: Either you become better or worse, you can not remain the same.

If you are good, success will magnify that goodness

If you are bad, success will make you worse

If you are food, failure makes you better

If you are bad, failure makes you worse