Necessary Perspectives

GREETING: TURN to ECC CH. 6: 10

OPENING PRAYER:

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I. Introduction: The Impact of Funerals

Opening Question: "How many of you enjoy a nice BIRTHDAY PARTY or WEDDING?"

TIMES of CELEBRATION = EXCITING

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Second Question: Well, how many of you enjoy a GOOD FUNERAL?

NONE ENJOY FUNERALS

THOUGH NOT ENJOYABLE— REORIENT US to REALITY

Transition: Ecclesiastes teaches us why...

TODAY: FOCUSING on WISE LIVING—IN LIGHT of OUR END— AND GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY...

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II. Scripture Reading:

Ecclesiastes 6:10–7:14 (ESV)

10 Whatever has come to be has already been named, and it is known what man is, and that he is not able to dispute with one stronger than he.

11 The more words, the more vanity, and what is the advantage to man?

12 For who knows what is good for man while he lives the few days of his vain life, which he passes like a shadow? For who can tell man what will be after him under the sun?

1 A good name is better than precious ointment, and the day of death than the day of birth.

2 It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for this is the end of all mankind, and the living will lay it to heart.

3 Sorrow is better than laughter, for by sadness of face the heart is made glad.

4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.

5 It is better for a man to hear the rebuke of the wise than to hear the song of fools.

6 For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fools; this also is vanity.

7 Surely oppression drives the wise into madness, and a bribe corrupts the heart.

8 Better is the end of a thing than its beginning, and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.

9 Be not quick in your spirit to become angry, for anger lodges in the heart of fools.

10 Say not, “Why were the former days better than these?” For it is not from wisdom that you ask this.

11 Wisdom is good with an inheritance, an advantage to those who see the sun.

12 For the protection of wisdom is like the protection of money, and the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of him who has it.

13 Consider the work of God: who can make straight what he has made crooked?

14 In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider: God has made the one as well as the other, so that man may not find out anything that will be after him.

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III. Context Recap: From Joy to Wisdom

Recent weeks:

ENJOYING GOD’S BLESSINGS

ACCEPTING OUR LOT W/ JOY

LIVING W/ CONTENTMENT

Today’s shift: WE’LL BE LOOKING @ Living wisely, not just joyfully, before God.

BOTH ARE IMPORTANT for a COMPLETE CHRISTIAN...

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IV. Topic: Living w/ Wisdom in Light of the End and God’s Sovereignty

A. The Limits of Human Knowledge (6:10-12)

Key Idea: Wisdom begins with humility/fear of the Lord—We are finite creatures under a sovereign Creator.

Exposition:

Ecclesiastes 6:10 (ESV)

10 Whatever has come to be has already been named, and it is known what man is, and that he is not able to dispute with one stronger than he.

EVERYTHING in PRESENT—UNFOLDING WHAT’S BEEN ORDAINED/NAMED.

NAMER = GOD!

(v10b) **CAN’T DISPUTE W/ ONE STRONGER—GOD**

Proverbs 9:10 (ESV)

10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.

**HUMBLE SELF-ASSESSMENT in LIGHT of INFINITE GOD**

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Ecclesiastes 6:11 (ESV)

11 The more words, the more vanity, and what is the advantage to man?

NO SENSE ARGUING!

ARGUING W/ GOD = FUTILE!

GOD is NEVER GIVEN NEW INFORMATION.

Illustration: God’s response to Job (Job 38–41)—“Where were you?”

LAID FOUNDATION of WORLD

COMMANDS MORNING DAWN

FLUNG STARS & PLANETS INTO SPACE

PARKED OCEANS @ BEACH

NLT: · “So there’s no use arguing with God about your destiny (6:10).”

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Ecclesiastes 6:12 (ESV)

12 For who knows what is good for man while he lives the few days of his vain life, which he passes like a shadow? For who can tell man what will be after him under the sun?

OUR LIVES = FLEETING

GOD = INFINITE

**ONLY GOD KNOWS WHAT is GOOD & NEXT**

Takeaway: Humility before God is the starting point of wisdom.

Transition: Living wisely means living in light of the end—

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B. Living in Light of the End (7:1-6)

Key Idea: Wisdom considers death to live well now.

Exposition:

Ecclesiastes 7:1 (ESV)

1 A good name is better than precious ointment, and the day of death than the day of birth.

REPUTATION = IMPORTANT

DAY of DEATH > BIRTHDAY

Eugene Peterson: “Your death date tells more than your birth date” (7:1b, MSG).

Illustration: Looking @ the “DASH” on the TOMBSTONE—how was your life lived? — ONLY COMES AFTER

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Ecclesiastes 7:2–4 (ESV)

2 It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for this is the end of all mankind, and the living will lay it to heart.

FUNERALS = GREATER THAN PARTIES…(REVISIT SHORTLY)

(2B) THIS = END of ALL—LIVING LAY IT to HEART.

IF JESUS TARRIES—NONE ESCAPE ALIVE.

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Transition: SORROW REFINES US—SEE (V3)

3 Sorrow is better than laughter, for by sadness of face the heart is made glad.

Transition: SO MUCH SO:

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4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.

WISE THINK ABOUT DEATH— FOOLS PARTY

(V5) — SONG

(V6) — LAUGHTER

Illustration: WISE: Funerals > weddings—mortality hits home.

PASTOR—LOVE WEDDINGS, DON’T LOVE FUNERALS

SCHEDULING CONFLICT?? I’D GO to WEDDING—THEY WOULDN’T KNOW YOU SKIPPED!

DON’T COME AWAY from B-DAY PARTY—PONDERING LIFE!

HARSH REMINDERS of MORTALITY = GREAT BENEFIT in REORIENTING US...

SOMEDAY WE’LL BE the ONE in CASKET or URN...

Application: TIM CHALLIES— CHURCH GRAVEYARD; MEMENTO MORI

S. GREDAINUS: “Some Eastern monasteries not only bury their deceased monks but retrieve their bones later and display them in a prominent place inside the monastery.

In fact, some skulls are arranged so that living monks and visitors can touch them”[1]

QUOTE: Matthew Henry: “It ought to be the business of every day to prepare for our last day.”

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Challenge: EVERYONE WE KNOW—ONE DAY WILL DIE—how has our life impacted others for eternity?

Parents: HARSH REALITY—SOMEDAY CHILDREN WILL PASS— SOMEDAY FACE GOD...

2 HRS DAILY SPORTS—SKIPPING CHURCH—SCHOLARSHIP SEEKING...

I’D RATHER HAVE MY KIDS in HEAVEN & PAY for COLLEGE—THAN APPLAUDED DOWN HERE

Transition: Beyond necessary consideration of death—other aspects of living wisely:

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C. Living Wisely Along the Way (7:7-12)

Key Idea: Wisdom shapes daily choices in light of the end.

Exposition:

Ecclesiastes 7:7 (ESV)

7 Surely oppression drives the wise into madness, and a bribe corrupts the heart.

OPPRESSION/EXTORTION & TAKING of BRIBES — CORRUPTS WISE/HEART

LOVE of MONEY = TRAP

Transition: Also avoiding anger:

Ecclesiastes 7:9 (ESV)

9 Be not quick in your spirit to become angry, for anger lodges in the heart of fools.

TODAY’S TEXT: CONSISTENTLY COMPARING WISE W/ FOOLS...

FOOLS = THOSE WHO ONLY THINK ABOUT TODAY,,

CELEBRATING TODAY

NOT CONSIDERING FUTURE

NOT CONSIDERING GOD...

Transition: Whereas—THE WISE CONSIDER the FUTURE:

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Ecclesiastes 7:8 (ESV)

8 Better is the end of a thing than its beginning, and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.

Ecclesiastes 7:10 (ESV)

10 Say not, “Why were the former days better than these?” For it is not from wisdom that you ask this.

WISDOM DOESN’T LONG for PAST—BUT LOOKS PATIENTLY to END.

END > BEGINNING

STARTUPS AREN’T IMPRESSIVE

CARD-TABLE VS. MULTI-MILLION CORPORATION??

SETTING GOALS < COMPLETING GOALS

PATIENCE > PRIDE

WILLING to STAY FAITHFUL—PUTTING in WORK ALONG the WAY??

ALL THIS = BETTER THAN LONGING for PAST:

PAST is GONE…NOTHING YOU CAN DO.

SO MUCH of ECCLESIASTES—LIVING W/ THINGS YOU CAN’T CHANGE.

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WISDOM = SO BENEFICIAL—IT HELPS LIKE MONEY

Ecclesiastes 7:11–12 (ESV)

11 Wisdom is good with an inheritance, an advantage to those who see the sun.

12 For the protection of wisdom is like the protection of money, and the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of him who has it.

JUST AS MONEY COMES in HANDY DURING TIMES of NEED

SO WISDOM DOES AS WELL

Takeaways:

WISDOM LOOKS to FUTURE—NOT CONSUMED W/ TODAY

WISDOM BRINGS GREAT BLESSING

Transition: WISDOM BEGINS W/ FEAR/TRUST of GOD:

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D. Trusting in the Sovereign God (7:13-14)

Key Idea: Wisdom trusts God’s control over all days.

Exposition:

Ecclesiastes 7:13 (ESV)

13 Consider the work of God: who can make straight what he has made crooked?

GOD MAKES the RULES—ESTABLISHES the ORDER

NOT MUCH WE CAN DO ABOUT IT!

Illustration: YOU MIGHT CHANGE rules to BOARD GAME/CARD GAME...

IN LIFE—GOD SETS the RULES—WE’RE STUCK W/ IT.

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AGAIN—ECCLESIASTES = LIVING W/ THINGS WE CAN’T CHANGE.

Challenge: CAN’T CHANGE IT?? TRUST GOD.

GOD RUNS UNIVERSE BETTER THAN WE WOULD...

LIVE @ PEACE W/ THIS.

Transition: It’s all in HIS SOVEREIGN HANDS:

Ecclesiastes 7:14 (ESV)

14 In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider: God has made the one as well as the other, so that man may not find out anything that will be after him.

GOOD DAYS?? — REJOICE!

BAD DAYS?? —CONSIDER, GOD’S STILL SOVEREIGN.

WE CAN’T FIGURE IT OUT

THAT’S OKAY

SHOULD CAUSE US to TRUST HIM...

STORY of JOB:

SATAN on LEASH

PAUL’S THORN:

IN GOD’S CONTROL—HE’LL TAKE CARE of IT.

Isaiah 55:8–9 (ESV)

8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.

9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Takeaway: PASSAGE BEGINS & ENDS W/ GOD’S CONTROL BEYOND OURS— HOW WE OUGHT to LIVE IN BETWEEN...

Transition: What’s the teacher saying to us?

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V. Preaching Idea Restated

Wisdom looks to the end and trusts in God along the way.

NOT GETTING CAUGHT UP in PAST

NOT LIVING IT UP TODAY

HONESTLY REFLECTING on OUR SHORT LIVES to LIVE WISELY

KNOWING EVERY DAY ALONG WAY—GOOD & BAD— IN GOD’S CONTROL...

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VI. Gospel: Hope Beyond Death

Transition: WE HAVE to CONSIDER OUR END

Reality: DEATH COMES to ALL—rich, poor, famous, unknown.

DEATH = GREAT EQUALIZER—NONE ESCAPE IT.

Illustration:

DON’T RESPAWN—VIDEO GAME

NO SECOND CHANCES (LAZARUS)

WON’T BE REINCARNATED

WHEN YOU DIE—YOU’RE GONE.

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Problem: NO 2ND CHANCES; we can’t escape it.

Good Question: How should I live in light of it?

Best Question: How can I prepare for it?

DEATH = GREAT UNKNOWN

GREATEST FEAR for MANY

Solution: JESUS DEFEATED DEATH through His death and resurrection (Heb. 2:14-15

Hebrews 2:14–15 (ESV)

14 Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil,

15 and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.

JESUS DEFEATED ENEMY W/ OWN WEAPON!

JESUS WENT THROUGH EVERY ASPECT of HUMAN EXPERIENCE— EVEN DEATH

GOOD SHEPHERD NOT ONLY in VALLEY of SHADOW—BUT EXPERIENCED DEATH...

Opportunity:

ALL WHO TURN in FAITH

BELIEVING HE DIED for THEIR SIN

& WAS RAISED

RECEIVE ETERNAL LIFE

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HE GRANTS US HOPE of FINAL RESURRECTION:

1 Corinthians 15:50–55 (ESV)

50 I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.

51 Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.

53 For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality.

54 When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”

55 “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”

DEATH = FINAL ENEMY to BE DEFEATED— ONE DAY WE’LL ENJOY RESURRECTION FOREVER!

DEATH = ENTRANCE to GLORY

NO LONGER to BE FEARED.

Invitation: If you lack this hope, let’s talk after the service.

Transition: To all who believe, challenge in closing:

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VII. Application: Live Wisely, Trust God

Challenge: How often do you think about your death?

DAILY?

OCCASION?

FUNERALS ONLY?

CAN DOWN ROAD??

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CHRISTIAN: SOURCE of HOPE/UNITED W/ SAVIOR...

TODAY’S TEXT: THINKING on DEATH SHOULD HAVE US LIVING WISELY HERE

Moses’ prayer:

Psalm 90:12 (ESV)

12 So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.

HOURGLASS ILLUSTRATION

PROBLEM: NO ONE KNOWS SAND-GRAINS in THEIR OWN GLASS...

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Life is fleeting: TIME FLIES FASTER EVERY YEAR

(SPURGEON 150 YRS AGO SAID THIS TOO!)

Don’t wait for a hospital bed to reflect.

The knowledge that WE ARE FINITE ISN’T to DEPRESS us...

...but to INSPIRE US to MAKE the MOST out of our LIVES...

...by LIVING WISELY for the GLORY of GOD.

Closing Exercise: Consider…what would your obituary say?

What kind of person were you?

Priorities?

Faith mentioned?

Does it reflect wise living?

Closing: Church…wisdom looks to the end...

...and trusts God along the way—let’s live that way. Amen?

VIII. Closing Prayer