Today's Actions Are Everlasting

Introduction

McDonalds brothers (things don’t last)

Scripture Introduction

A reflection on the meaning of life and the supposed meaninglessness of human pursuits from a human perspective.

Labor, wealth, possessions, food, drink, pleasure, intellect, and power

After all his searching the author tells us what wisdom from God teaches us about our pursuits.

Connection: Just like the author of Ecclesiastes we may struggle with the supposed meaninglessness of human pursuits and ultimately the meaning of life.

Take Home: Everything we say and do matters, so God directs us towards what is right.

Message Focus: What wisdom from God teaches us about our pursuits.

Wisdom Guides Us Towards Holiness v. 11

Goat in the chicken pen

The purpose of wisdom

Ecclesiastes 12:11 The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings; they are given by one Shepherd.

One Shepherd: God himself

Goads: Sharp stick used to move cattle

To get us moving in the right direction (sometimes by moving us away from sin). This is the importance of obedience when we are saved by faith. God's commands are used to move us in the right direction. We still need that even though we are saved. We want to stay away from harm and receive blessings.

Pushed to contentment, joy, discipleship

Pushed away from slander, anxiety, self

Acts 26:14 “And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’”

Nails: Hold things in place

Sometimes feels like guilt

Fainting in adversity

Wisdom in the appropriate application of knowledge

Can’t just be head knowledge

We Must Not Overdose on Wisdom v. 12

A warning about gaining wisdom

High GPA - “You can’t dedicate the time you would like to”

Ecclesiastes 12:12 “My son, beware of anything beyond these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh.”

Beware . . . anything beyond these

Contrast between failure to appreciate wisdom and excess.

books . . . there is no end

2 Timothy 3:7 “always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth.”

much study . . . weariness of the flesh

Ephesians 4:14 “so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.”

Return on investment

Wisdom Is to Fear God and Keep His Edicts v. 13

Chainsaw safety - Don’t fear but respect for misuse could get one injured.

A summary of wisdom

Ecclesiastes 12:13 “The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.”

Fear God

Revelation 1:17 “When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last,”

i.e., The worship of God

Awe leading to reverence and submission

Keep his commandments

It is impossible to obey God if we are unfamiliar with what he has declared

Whole duty of man

One of our purposes in life. This is our part. Everything else God does.

(As with the chainsaw) Respect God’s commands for they are directing you towards what is right.

What You Do Today Will Have Everlasting Significance v. 14

A key insight from wisdom

Ecclesiastes 12:14 “For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.”

Every deed into judgment . . . good or evil

So, in a way, everything does matter. Most of our words and actions have lasting consequences.

1 Corinthians 3:13–15 “each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.”

Compare popped bubble to written in a book (God's book in Revelation)

A judgment comes when we will be judged

How we used our time

How we spent our money

Our self-control

What we said about others

The household tasks

We must be found righteous on that day

Acts 17:31 “because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.””

Summary

Similar to the author of Ecclesiastes, we may grapple with the perceived meaninglessness of human endeavors and, ultimately, the significance of life itself.

However, through all his searching, the author comes to understand that everything we say and do holds importance and that God is guiding us toward what is right.

Wisdom Moves Us Towards Righteousness

God's commands are used to move us in the right direction. We still need that even though we are saved.

We Must Not Overdose On Wisdom

Always learning and never able to arrive at truth or being tossed by every worldview.

Wisdom Is To Fear God and Keep His Commandments

Respect God’s commands for they are directing you towards what is right.

What You Do Today Will Have Everlasting Significance

Since there is a judgment for what we say and do, then everything matters.

Potential Impact

You will stand before the throne of God. As you think about your life choices, how do you think God will respond? As you refine your desire to fear the Lord and keep His commandments you will hear, “well done good and faithful servant”.

Rewards

A Possible Next Step

Allow the prick of wisdom to move you instead of kicking against it.

Allow guilt to motivate you to change your ways instead of becoming angry. Allow your fainting in adversity to stir you to strengthen your commitment to God.

Knowing that today’s actions will have everlasting significance.