Life in a Backwards World

Welcome & Turn to Ecc. Ch 9. (V11-18)

Opening Prayer

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I. Introduction: Life Feels Backwards

Have you EVER HAD to FIX/ASSEMBLE something… & IT WASN’T ADDING UP?

ORDERED THING—CAME WITHOUT INSTRUCTIONS?

INSTRUCTIONS ≠ SENSE?

Illustration: SILVERADO WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLY

BRAKES APART GOOD

SHOCKS APART GOOD

3 BOLTS HOLDING on DEAR LIFE

BOUGHT SPECIAL SOCKETS—STRIPPED BOLTS

Solution: TURNING OTHER WAY

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Transition: SOMETIMES—LIFE = LIKE THIS.

DOESN’T MAKE SENSE

SEEMS (IS) BACKWARDS

LIFE UNDER SUN—BY NATURE THIS WAY

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Transition: GOING to SEE HELPFUL RESPONSE to BACKWARDS LIFE TODAY...

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II. Scripture Reading: Ecclesiastes 9:11-18

Ecclesiastes 9:11–18 (ESV)

11 Again I saw that under the sun the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the intelligent, nor favor to those with knowledge, but time and chance happen to them all.

12 For man does not know his time. Like fish that are taken in an evil net, and like birds that are caught in a snare, so the children of man are snared at an evil time, when it suddenly falls upon them.

13 I have also seen this example of wisdom under the sun, and it seemed great to me.

14 There was a little city with few men in it, and a great king came against it and besieged it, building great siegeworks against it.

15 But there was found in it a poor, wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city. Yet no one remembered that poor man.

16 But I say that wisdom is better than might, though the poor man’s wisdom is despised and his words are not heard.

17 The words of the wise heard in quiet are better than the shouting of a ruler among fools.

18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.

Context Recap:

Recent Weeks: TEACHER = FRUSTRATED W/ LIFE—DOESN’T MAKE SENSE.

BAD THINGS—GOOD PEOPLE??

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Last Wk: LIFE = CONFUSING, SURE to END— CHOOSE to ENJOY IT.

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Today: REFLECTING on UNCERTAIN LIFE & UNCERTAIN END—GOING to SEE ANOTHER RESPONSE...

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III. Passage Preaching

A. Life’s Unpredictability (v. 11)

Ecclesiastes 9:11 (ESV)

11 Again I saw that under the sun the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the intelligent, nor favor to those with knowledge, but time and chance happen to them all.

Problem: LIFE “UNDER the SUN”

THINGS GO BACKWARDS.

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Testimony: C. Wayne ENCOURAGE W/ VERSE

**NOT FASTEST—BUT PREPARED & DIDN’T FINISH**

COURTNEY DEWAULTER—DROPPING OUT of COCODONA

LIGHTNING MCQUEEN—TIRES POPPING

Takeaway: RACE NOT ALWAYS to SWIFT...

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II. BATTLE NOT to STRONG

DAVID & GOLIATH

REV. WAR

COUNTLESS ADVANTAGES—OUTCOME isn’t GUARANTEED

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III. BREAD NOT to WISE

III. RICHES to INTELLIGENT

IV. FAVOR to KNOWLEDGEABLE

NOT EVERYONE WHO GRADUATES COLLEGE = GUARANTEED a JOB

Testimony: LAST YR—ACCEPTANCE to PH.D PROGRAM

SCHOOL WENT UNDER

PROFS W/ TENURES = UNEMPLOYED

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Conclusion: LIFE = BACKWARDS

PEOPLE BRING BEST to TABLE—DOESN’T GUARANTEE ANYTHING

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(V11b) TIME & CHANCE HAPPEN to ALL

Explanation: “CHANCE” = PROBABLY BEST “ACCIDENTS” // “CIRCUMSTANCES” — UNCONTROLLABLE CIRCUMSTANCES— not RANDOM LUCK

CHANCE ISN’T SOVEREIGN—GOD IS.

Proverbs 16:33 (ESV)

33 The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.

**THINGS DON’T HAPPEN OUTSIDE of GOD’S CONTROL…

… BUT THEY DO HAPPEN OUTSIDE OUR UNDERSTANDING**

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Takeaway: LIFE = UNCERTAIN & DOESN’T MAKE SENSE

C.C. I SHARED PERSONAL EXAMPLE—

SURELY YOU HAVE 10— LIFE ISN’T ALWAYS FAIR..

JUST NOT YOUR DAY

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Conclusion: NO AMOUNT of BRAINS or BRAWN GUARANTEES ANY OUTCOMES in LIFE

LIFE = UNCERTAIN

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Transition: NOT ONLY LIFE — UNCERTAIN...

…BUT ALSO DEATH

LOOK W/ ME @ VS. 12...

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B. The Unpredictability of Death (v. 12)

Ecclesiastes 9:12 (ESV)

12 For man does not know his time. Like fish that are taken in an evil net, and like birds that are caught in a snare, so the children of man are snared at an evil time, when it suddenly falls upon them.

LIFE = BACKWARDS

SOMETIMES LIFE SUDDENLY ENDS— REALLY DOESN’T MAKE SENSE

Sad Irony: 9/11 PERFECTLY ILLUSTRATES Ecc. Ch. 9:11-12

SOMETIMES UNEXPECTED PROBLEMS COME

SOMETIMES DEATH COMES UNEXPECTEDLY

Ecclesiastes 8:8 (ESV)

8 No man has power to retain the spirit, or power over the day of death.

YOU CAN & SHOULD LOOK BOTH WAYS BEFORE CROSSING STREET

CHECKING SMOKE ALARMS

DIET & EXERCISE

Harsh Conclusion: BUT WE CAN’T PROLONG IT INEVITABLY/PREVENT TRAGEDY

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in Last Year:

3/4 of NELONS—GOSPEL GROUP—DIED in PLANE CRASH

KELVIN KIPTUM—BROKE MARATHON RECORD & DIED in CAR CRASH WITHIN a YEAR (EARLY 20’S)

JANUARY—ACTRESS DIED in FIRE— 95 YRS OLD

Takeaway: LIFE CAN END UNEXPECTEDLY…SUDDENLY… NOT MUCH WE CAN DO ABOUT IT.

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(V12B) Illustration: TEACHER LIKENS it to FISH CAUGHT in a NET/BIRDS in SNARE...

Explanation: DIDN’T DO ANYTHING WRONG—

— NOT LIKE a LURE— NET WASN’T HIS CHOICE !

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Transition: SUCH is LIFE “UNDER the SUN”

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MUST REMEMBER—THERE’S a GOD BEYOND the SUN...

MAN DOESN’T KNOW HIS TIME (V12)…BUT GOD is the ONE WHO SETS the TIMES:

Ecclesiastes 3:1–2 (ESV)

1 For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:

2 a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;

Ecclesiastes 3:11 (ESV)

11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.

THERE’S a TIME for EVERYTHING in LIFE—ALL HELD in GOD’S SOVEREIGN HANDS

?? CONTRAST W/ OPEN THEISM??

MIGHT SEEM LIKE BAD LUCK—

— WRONG PLACE @ WRONG TIME—

— BUT GOD KNEW OUR LAST BREATH B4 FIRST.

Takeaway: NATURALLY SPEAKING—WE MAY NOT KNOW or UNDERSTAND…

… BUT WE CAN TRUST GOD’S PLAN & PROMISE

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Gospel Connection:

TOMORROW NOT PROMISED—LIFE = FLEETING...

Takeaways:

LAST WK: ENJOY LIFE

THIS WK: LIVE W/ WISDOM

MOST IMPORTANT: PREPARE for ETERNITY.... BE @ PEACE W/ GOD

WE ALL THINK WE HAVE MORE TIME than WE PROBABLY DO...

When Tragedy Strikes— NO ONE EXPECTS IT...

SUDDEN ILLNESS// HEART ATTACK

CAR/PLANE ACCIDENT

GO ON & ON & ON...

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I WOULD LOVE to SAY: LOVE GOD—TRAGEDY WON’T STRIKE.

REF: NELONS AGAIN...

GOD HASN’T PROMISED TRAGEDY WON’T STRIKE—

— BUT HE HAS PROMISED to US ETERNAL LIFE in HIS SON JESUS CHRIST...

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I CAN PROMISE YOU—THROUGH JESUS CHRIST DEATH = ENTRANCE to GLORY

ETERNAL LIFE = PROMISE from GOD to THOSE WHO BELIEVE

HE KNOWS the DAY

WE DON’T

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GOD HASN’T PROMISED US TOMORROW—

BUT HE HAS PROMISED ETERNAL LIFE to ALL WHO TRUST in JESUS CHRIST as LORD & SAVIOR....

WE MUST BE PREPARED— FOR YOU MIGHT NOT HAVE TIME to GET RIGHT W/ HIM LATER...

Talk to me after service

WE SHOULD ALL LIVE WITH HOPE—NO MATTER WHEN THAT DAY COMES

—HOW UNEXPECTEDLY IT COMES—

WE’RE READY WHETHER IT’S NOW or LATER....

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Transition: BEYOND PREPARING for ETERNITY,, to THOSE PREPARED

— TEACHER = GOING to SHARE BENEFITS of LIVING WISELY in a BACKWARDS LIFE...

LOOK W/ ME @ VS. 13-16

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C. The Value of Wisdom (v. 13-16)

Ecclesiastes 9:13–16 (ESV)

13 I have also seen this example of wisdom under the sun, and it seemed great to me.

14 There was a little city with few men in it, and a great king came against it and besieged it, building great siegeworks against it.

15 But there was found in it a poor, wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city. Yet no one remembered that poor man.

16 But I say that wisdom is better than might, though the poor man’s wisdom is despised and his words are not heard.

I. TEACHER SAW BACKWARDS STUFF

II. NOW SEES an EXAMPLE of WISDOM— A GREAT ONE.

Background: SCHOLAR - PROBABLY a TRUE STORY

GREAT KING—SIEGEWORKS— LITTLE CITY, FEW MEN = TOAST.

POOR,, WISE MAN— SAVES CITY W/ WISDOM—NOT MIGHT

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TEACHER CONCLUDES: WISDOM = BETTER THAN MIGHT — EVEN THOUGH IT BRINGS NO GLORY

End: POOR MAN = TOTALLY FORGOTTEN

NEVERTHELESS— WISDOM = STILL GOOD & WORTHY of PURSUIT

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Transition: TEACHER—OFFER FINAL WORDS on WISDOM

LOOK W/ ME @ VS. 17-18

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D. Wisdom’s Quiet Strength (v. 17-18)

Ecclesiastes 9:17–18 (ESV)

17 The words of the wise heard in quiet are better than the shouting of a ruler among fools.

18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.

WISDOM = BETTER THAN MIGHT

NOW: WISDOM = BETTER THAN RULER’S SHOUTING

WISE DON’T NEED to ELEVATE THEIR VOICE—WORDS SPEAK for THEMSELVES.

Quote: Scholar, Philip Ryken, “The loudest voice is not always the wisest voice (in fact, usually it is not the wisest voice).”

IN HOME

— AT MEETINGS

— AT WORK

— WHEREVER —

USING WISDOM = BETTER THAN ELEVATING YOUR VOICE

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(V18) DESPITE WISDOM’S BENEFITS — STRONGER THAN WEAPONS— ONE SINNER CAN MESS a LOT UP

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Transition: DESPITE WISDOM’S LIMITATIONS—

—THE TEACHER SHOWS US today the BENEFITS of WISDOM

Preaching Idea:

Life oftentimes seems backwards,

but wisdom is still good and should be pursued.

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IV. Conclusion: Pursuing Wisdom in a Backwards World

C.C: YOU MIGHT SAY—WELL I’M NOT the SHARPEST CRAYON in the BOX

Scripture:

James 1:2–8 (ESV)

2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,

3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.

4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.

6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.

7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;

8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

(V5) LACKING WISDOM? ASK GOD.

Illustration: IS THIS NOT WHAT SOLOMON DID??

NEW KING of ISRAEL—

FELT UNDER-QUALIFIED for WHAT GOD HAD TASKED HIM WITH...

“WHO AM I???”

C.C.: EVER BEEN THERE?? I HAVE BEEN.

Testimony: TRANSITIONING to PASTORING HERE

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I. YOUNG FAMILIES— MAN in HOUSEHOLD NOT USED to IT...

“I’M the ONE CHECKING NOISES AT NIGHT?!”

NOT USED to IT.

II. NEW PARENTS? —KIDS DON’T COME W/ MANUALS

III. NEW ROLE @ WORK? — FEELING OVERWHELMED/UNQUALIFIED?

I’VE BEEN THERE...

IV. JUST LIFE in GENERAL = TOUGH & CONFUSING...

WE ALL NEED HELP SOMEWHERE

(Q) CHRISTIAN, WHEN WAS the LAST TIME YOU PRAYED to GOD FOR WISDOM?

SAME LETTER— JAMES SAYS “YOU DON’T HAVE BECAUSE YOU DON’T ASK” (4:2)

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Ill.: IMAGINE PLAYING JEOPARDY & NOT PHONING a FRIEND

WE HAVE ACCESS to the ONE WHO is INFINITELY WISE—

— WHY WOULD WE NOT GO to HIM & ASK?

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LIFE MIGHT SEEM BACKWARDS

LIFE MIGHT HAVE PROBLEMS

WE MIGHT NOT HAVE ALL ANSWERS

IN a BACKWARDS WORLD—WE NEED the WISDOM GOD PROVIDES—

TRULY HE is the FOUNT of ALL WISDOM

LET’S GO to HIM NOW....

Close in Prayer