The Conclusion: Live Boldly, Fear God, Love His Word (Ecclesiastes 11-12)

Ecclesiastes

- The Conclusion: Live Boldly, Fear God, Love His Word

Big Idea: The wise man - the one who knows and fears God - can live boldly under the sun, experiencing life, fleeing from sin, and embracing all that the Creator has given to us. Fear God, keep His commandments.

REVIEW:

Ch 1-2: Life under the sun - on our own - not doable. You either have to distract yourself from reality or face the fact that live is meaningless.

Ch 3-5: Life under God. We must understand that life is more than just what we see and what we want and what we have - live is not just about us. Life is a gift from a SOVEREIGN GOD. When we submit to His authority, the meaning and purpose of our life unfolds and we can faithfully live for Him, even through hard and confusing times.

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Ch 6-8: Opportunities for Faith. If God is sovereign (and He is) then we are not. We cannot explain what/when/why He does what He does, other than that it is for our good and His glory. So, in good times, don’t get cocky and think that you’ve arrived at a point of self-sustained righteousness. And, in hard times, don’t think the Lord is smiting you. Keep a healthy perspective that you don’t understand all His comings and goings, and faithfully obey what He has shown you about life in His word.

Ch 9-10: Wisdom gives an advantage in life. The wise man has a proper understanding of God’s sovereignty and thus a proper understanding (as best he can) of how life works. This fear of the Lord provides the advantage of having an increasingly strong character, that can not only stand firm through the trials of life, but also will bring glory to God.

The Conclusion

PRAY

- Live Boldly

Ecclesiastes 11:1–6 NASB95

1 Cast your bread on the surface of the waters, for you will find it after many days. 2 Divide your portion to seven, or even to eight, for you do not know what misfortune may occur on the earth. 3 If the clouds are full, they pour out rain upon the earth; and whether a tree falls toward the south or toward the north, wherever the tree falls, there it lies. 4 He who watches the wind will not sow and he who looks at the clouds will not reap. 5 Just as you do not know the path of the wind and how bones are formed in the womb of the pregnant woman, so you do not know the activity of God who makes all things. 6 Sow your seed in the morning and do not be idle in the evening, for you do not know whether morning or evening sowing will succeed, or whether both of them alike will be good.

vs 1-2 - Serve Others, Many Others

Cast your bread on the surface of many waters - commerce/trade proverb about engaging in import/export for business.

Divide your portion to seven, or even to eight - commerce/trade advice about diversifying your portfolio. “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.”

Snowskiing vs snowboarding

- Parable of the Talents

vs 3-4 - Don’t Get Caught Watching the Wind Blow

You don’t know when/where/if it will rain, or if a tree will fall. Don’t be worried about what will happen, since you can’t know what will happen.

Don’t let the risk of life keep you from living.

vs 5-6 - Don’t Be Idle, LIVE LIFE

You cannot know the activity of God. Accept that fact.

Let that lead you not to sitting on the sidelines waiting for God to give you all the info before you choose to whether to participate or not. Instead, be a DOER of the WORD.

- Parable of the Talents

Fear God and serve Him NOW. (, )

- Enjoy Every Day, Experience Life, Exclude Sin

Ecclesiastes 11:7–10 NASB95

7 The light is pleasant, and it is good for the eyes to see the sun. 8 Indeed, if a man should live many years, let him rejoice in them all, and let him remember the days of darkness, for they will be many. Everything that is to come will be futility. 9 Rejoice, young man, during your childhood, and let your heart be pleasant during the days of young manhood. And follow the impulses of your heart and the desires of your eyes. Yet know that God will bring you to judgment for all these things. 10 So, remove grief and anger from your heart and put away pain from your body, because childhood and the prime of life are fleeting.

vs 7-8 - Life is a Gift from God, Enjoy It

Light is pleasant and good for the eyes to see the sun.

Rejoice in your time on earth, remember the hard times and learn from them. Keep a proper perspective.

vs 9a - Experience Life - live life to its fullest

Tommy Nelson, “Don’t take life too seriously, no one is getting out of here alive.”

Your desires, your impulses don’t have to be BAD things. Ex: love of outdoors, love of sports, love of watersports, love of teaching, love of kids/family - Our passions can be used from God for His purpose and glory. ()

vs 9b-10 - BUT, Exclude Sin From Your Life

While you are experiencing life, remember that God will judge your actions and decisions.

Keeping away from sin will actually lead to better enjoyment of life. SIN ALWAYS HAS CONSEQUENCES.

Fear God and serve Him NOW. (, )

- Embrace Your Creator While You Can

Ecclesiastes 12:1–8 NASB95

1 Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near when you will say, “I have no delight in them”; 2 before the sun and the light, the moon and the stars are darkened, and clouds return after the rain; 3 in the day that the watchmen of the house tremble, and mighty men stoop, the grinding ones stand idle because they are few, and those who look through windows grow dim; 4 and the doors on the street are shut as the sound of the grinding mill is low, and one will arise at the sound of the bird, and all the daughters of song will sing softly. 5 Furthermore, men are afraid of a high place and of terrors on the road; the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags himself along, and the caperberry is ineffective. For man goes to his eternal home while mourners go about in the street. 6 Remember Him before the silver cord is broken and the golden bowl is crushed, the pitcher by the well is shattered and the wheel at the cistern is crushed; 7 then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it. 8 “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher, “all is vanity!”

vs 1 - Live life with your Creator

Don’t wait until you're ‘older’ to have a deep relationship with your Creator. Remember Him now.

‘evil days’ - hard days - hard times in life.

vs 2-5 - Time waits for no man

Life under the sun doesn’t last forever.

The body ages into decline. Everyone who lives long enough will experience these.

Ex: Lasik surgery - can’t beat 40

vs 6-7 - Life Goes On After Your Death

This world is not about you!

Death comes to all -

- The Conclusion

Ecclesiastes 12:8–14 NASB95

8 “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher, “all is vanity!” 9 In addition to being a wise man, the Preacher also taught the people knowledge; and he pondered, searched out and arranged many proverbs. 10 The Preacher sought to find delightful words and to write words of truth correctly. 11 The words of wise men are like goads, and masters of these collections are like well-driven nails; they are given by one Shepherd. 12 But beyond this, my son, be warned: the writing of many books is endless, and excessive devotion to books is wearying to the body. 13 The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. 14 For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.

Ecclesiastes 12:8–13 NASB95

8 “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher, “all is vanity!” 9 In addition to being a wise man, the Preacher also taught the people knowledge; and he pondered, searched out and arranged many proverbs. 10 The Preacher sought to find delightful words and to write words of truth correctly. 11 The words of wise men are like goads, and masters of these collections are like well-driven nails; they are given by one Shepherd. 12 But beyond this, my son, be warned: the writing of many books is endless, and excessive devotion to books is wearying to the body. 13 The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person.

vs 8 - ‘Vanity of vanities!’ -

vs 9-10 - The Preacher

Wise (knows God, fears God)

Teaches others knowledge

Found and arranged delightful words and words of truth.

vs 11-12 - God’s word - words of the WISE are

Goads - used to spur a stubborn ox into motion ()

Well-driven nails - used to hold life together properly

Given by one Shepherd - come from GOD.

vs 13-14 - THEREFORE…

FEAR GOD

KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS

THIS APPLIES TO EVERY PERSON. God will bring every act to judgment.

How about you?

Is your life futile? Meaningless?

Are you watching your life go by?

Do you know your Creator?

Are you ordering your daily life according to His word?

How are you living?

EMBRACE YOUR CREATOR! LOVE GOD, TRUST GOD, SERVE AND OBEY GOD.

FEAR GOD, LOVE HIS WORD. This is how life is meant to be lived.

Ecclesiastes 12:13 NASB95

13 The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person.