WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.600 Amen. Thank you, Jeff, and happy Father's Day 00:00:02.600 --> 00:00:05.280 to all the dads out there. It's a joy to celebrate 00:00:05.280 --> 00:00:08.919 on Father's Day the multiple children being dedicated, 00:00:09.119 --> 00:00:10.859 really the families, right, dedicating their 00:00:10.859 --> 00:00:13.220 lives to the Lord. It starts in our home. Now, 00:00:13.279 --> 00:00:15.000 I know it's already seemed like a full service 00:00:15.000 --> 00:00:19.019 so far, right? We could just pack up and go home, 00:00:19.079 --> 00:00:22.280 but there is a lot more that Solomon has for 00:00:22.280 --> 00:00:24.940 at least a couple lessons that Solomon has for 00:00:24.940 --> 00:00:26.940 us this morning. So we're just going to jump. 00:00:27.320 --> 00:00:29.839 Right back in. You guys know the outline. If 00:00:29.839 --> 00:00:32.060 you haven't, take a picture of it. Last time 00:00:32.060 --> 00:00:35.200 we were in Ecclesiastes chapter 11, verses 1 00:00:35.200 --> 00:00:38.560 through 6. We considered the wisdom of generosity. 00:00:38.619 --> 00:00:41.679 Here are our takeaways. We are called to be generous 00:00:41.679 --> 00:00:44.500 without limit. We're called to be generous without 00:00:44.500 --> 00:00:48.780 expectation. And we are called to value eternal 00:00:48.780 --> 00:00:53.079 hope over temporary gains. Now today, it might 00:00:53.079 --> 00:00:55.600 seem like a pivot where we go as we continue 00:00:55.600 --> 00:00:57.799 in chapter 11, but Solomon is going to elaborate 00:00:57.799 --> 00:01:01.020 even further on the nature of generosity while 00:01:01.020 --> 00:01:03.780 he turns our attention to think about youth and 00:01:03.780 --> 00:01:07.459 about aging and how to pursue gladness and joy 00:01:07.459 --> 00:01:11.060 in this life. So grab your Bibles, turn to Ecclesiastes 00:01:11.060 --> 00:01:13.140 chapter 11. That was my tagline like Jeff. Did 00:01:13.140 --> 00:01:16.459 you catch it? Every Sunday. Do you hear him say 00:01:16.459 --> 00:01:19.079 that? It's like a Jeffism, you know? Isn't it 00:01:19.079 --> 00:01:21.560 fun to... He called us to imitate last week, 00:01:21.620 --> 00:01:24.239 you know, so some of you are awake this morning. 00:01:25.500 --> 00:01:30.060 Okay, we only have four and a half verses today, 00:01:30.180 --> 00:01:32.200 but there's a lot to explain. Let's go ahead 00:01:32.200 --> 00:01:33.859 and stand for the reading of God's word as we 00:01:33.859 --> 00:01:36.159 always do. I'm going to read the whole chapter, 00:01:36.180 --> 00:01:38.359 actually. It's not very long. And then we're 00:01:38.359 --> 00:01:41.040 going to finish with the first verse or first 00:01:41.040 --> 00:01:43.379 half of the verse of chapter 12. So hear the 00:01:43.379 --> 00:01:47.200 word of the Lord, Ecclesiastes chapter 11. Cast 00:01:47.200 --> 00:01:49.299 your bread on the surface of the waters, for 00:01:49.299 --> 00:01:52.019 you'll find it after many days. Divide your portion 00:01:52.019 --> 00:01:54.719 to seven or even to eight, for you do not know 00:01:54.719 --> 00:01:57.200 what calamity may occur on the earth. If the 00:01:57.200 --> 00:01:59.680 clouds are full, they empty the rain upon the 00:01:59.680 --> 00:02:01.680 earth. And whether a tree falls toward the south 00:02:01.680 --> 00:02:04.420 or toward the north, wherever the tree falls, 00:02:04.519 --> 00:02:07.459 there it lies. He who watches the wind will not 00:02:07.459 --> 00:02:09.979 sow, and he who looks at the clouds will not 00:02:09.979 --> 00:02:12.770 reap. Just as you do not know the path of the 00:02:12.770 --> 00:02:15.030 wind and how bones are formed in the womb of 00:02:15.030 --> 00:02:18.629 the pregnant woman, so you do not know the work 00:02:18.629 --> 00:02:23.370 of God who works all things. Sow your seed in 00:02:23.370 --> 00:02:25.270 the morning and do not put your hands down in 00:02:25.270 --> 00:02:27.469 the evening, for you do not know whether morning 00:02:27.469 --> 00:02:30.150 or evening sowing will succeed or whether both 00:02:30.150 --> 00:02:33.150 of them alike will be good. And here we are today. 00:02:33.629 --> 00:02:36.569 The light is sweet and it is good for the eyes 00:02:36.569 --> 00:02:39.379 to see the sun. Indeed, if a man should live 00:02:39.379 --> 00:02:41.740 many years, let him be glad in them all, and 00:02:41.740 --> 00:02:44.219 let him remember the days of darkness, for they 00:02:44.219 --> 00:02:47.099 will be many. Everything that is to come will 00:02:47.099 --> 00:02:50.580 be vanity. Be glad, young man, during your childhood, 00:02:50.719 --> 00:02:53.419 and let your heart be merry during the days of 00:02:53.419 --> 00:02:56.400 young manhood. And walk in the ways of your heart 00:02:56.400 --> 00:02:59.300 and in the sights of your eyes, yet know that 00:02:59.300 --> 00:03:01.259 God will bring you to judgment for all these 00:03:01.259 --> 00:03:05.159 things. So remove vexation from your heart. Put 00:03:05.159 --> 00:03:07.889 away evil from your flesh. Because childhood 00:03:07.889 --> 00:03:12.069 and the prime of life are vanity. Remember also 00:03:12.069 --> 00:03:15.669 your creator in the days of your youth before 00:03:15.669 --> 00:03:25.990 the evil days happen. You may be seated. Now 00:03:25.990 --> 00:03:27.530 I want to ask a question that you don't have 00:03:27.530 --> 00:03:30.969 to answer out loud. Just answer it in your heart. 00:03:31.069 --> 00:03:33.389 Have you ever been guilty of the I'll get to 00:03:33.389 --> 00:03:37.479 it later thinking? Yeah, I'm not asking for specifics 00:03:37.479 --> 00:03:40.879 or the honey -do list. Wifey, please, don't let 00:03:40.879 --> 00:03:44.000 anyone know. You know those things that you just 00:03:44.000 --> 00:03:46.060 keep putting off. You know you need to do them, 00:03:46.080 --> 00:03:49.060 but you keep putting them off. You know, like 00:03:49.060 --> 00:03:52.039 getting the oil changed in the car. Lawn care. 00:03:53.219 --> 00:03:55.780 Doing your taxes. Hopefully those are done. You 00:03:55.780 --> 00:03:57.460 know, even if you filed for an extension, hopefully 00:03:57.460 --> 00:04:01.159 you get that done. Simple tasks at work or home 00:04:01.159 --> 00:04:03.740 that keep getting delayed. I know I have many 00:04:03.740 --> 00:04:06.409 of those things. You know, as humans, We often 00:04:06.409 --> 00:04:09.490 delay things that we know we should do because 00:04:09.490 --> 00:04:12.169 we're focusing on things that right now seem 00:04:12.169 --> 00:04:15.289 more important or they seem more enjoyable. You 00:04:15.289 --> 00:04:17.329 know, some things do matter less and some things 00:04:17.329 --> 00:04:20.589 do matter more. If you let your lawn get out 00:04:20.589 --> 00:04:22.790 of hand because, you know, hey, it's World Cup 00:04:22.790 --> 00:04:24.350 season. Maybe you're just watching a lot of, 00:04:24.370 --> 00:04:25.930 you know, soccer. You found out we had a kickball 00:04:25.930 --> 00:04:27.870 team as they're calling it in the South, right? 00:04:29.569 --> 00:04:32.850 Some of you got that. Okay, good. Now, it can 00:04:32.850 --> 00:04:35.610 be annoying maybe to see weeds pop up in your 00:04:35.610 --> 00:04:38.370 lawn or look unruly, but those consequences of 00:04:38.370 --> 00:04:40.649 not caring for your lawn would be a lot less 00:04:40.649 --> 00:04:43.430 severe than if you don't perform a needed oil 00:04:43.430 --> 00:04:45.389 change for your vehicle in a reasonable amount 00:04:45.389 --> 00:04:48.689 of time. One consequence is going to be very 00:04:48.689 --> 00:04:51.829 different than the other, right? To ignore what's 00:04:51.829 --> 00:04:54.129 needed, to prolong necessary responsibilities, 00:04:54.509 --> 00:04:58.730 it could be seen as being short -sighted. Seeing 00:04:58.730 --> 00:05:00.829 what's in front of you, not looking down the 00:05:00.829 --> 00:05:04.829 road at what is coming next if you delay. All 00:05:04.829 --> 00:05:08.629 of us wrestle with the reality of sight. For 00:05:08.629 --> 00:05:12.490 some people, it may seem easier for them to look 00:05:12.490 --> 00:05:15.350 down the road, for them to look at what's coming 00:05:15.350 --> 00:05:18.769 next. I think for most people, it's more natural 00:05:18.769 --> 00:05:21.449 to look at what's right in front of you, what's 00:05:21.449 --> 00:05:25.430 right here and now. So our challenge then as 00:05:25.430 --> 00:05:29.029 people is to see things clearly for what they 00:05:29.029 --> 00:05:32.290 are, to see beyond the here and now to what will 00:05:32.290 --> 00:05:35.550 be, to what will come, to know these present 00:05:35.550 --> 00:05:38.889 realities, but to not be surprised by future 00:05:38.889 --> 00:05:43.029 outcomes based on our responses today. If you 00:05:43.029 --> 00:05:44.970 don't water your lawn, what is going to happen 00:05:44.970 --> 00:05:48.509 in the Santa Clarita summers? Jeff will tell 00:05:48.509 --> 00:05:51.589 you. He loves lawns. Go tell him happy birthday 00:05:51.589 --> 00:05:53.709 and then you can ask him about his lawn care 00:05:53.709 --> 00:05:59.230 regime. If you don't pay your taxes, what will 00:05:59.230 --> 00:06:05.449 happen? If you don't worship God as creator, 00:06:05.709 --> 00:06:13.129 as savior, what will happen? See, that is what 00:06:13.129 --> 00:06:16.480 Solomon is getting at. Now our passage for today, 00:06:16.560 --> 00:06:18.980 beginning in verse seven, it seems like it's 00:06:18.980 --> 00:06:21.899 a hard shift from the instruction on generosity 00:06:21.899 --> 00:06:25.079 that he gave just a few verses earlier. It seems 00:06:25.079 --> 00:06:27.860 like he's pivoting to a different teaching about 00:06:27.860 --> 00:06:30.920 youthfulness and gratitude. And like he's just 00:06:30.920 --> 00:06:33.459 abandoning those previous thoughts of being generous. 00:06:33.600 --> 00:06:37.259 But this is why studying God's word is so important. 00:06:37.779 --> 00:06:41.560 We often will miss context. And especially for 00:06:41.560 --> 00:06:44.420 us today, we missed ancient. Near East context. 00:06:44.519 --> 00:06:47.060 We don't understand those things because our 00:06:47.060 --> 00:06:50.100 culture today is very different. We speak different. 00:06:50.139 --> 00:06:53.060 We think different. Even though we are humans 00:06:53.060 --> 00:06:55.899 and we understand the human condition, the way 00:06:55.899 --> 00:06:58.120 that we speak and relate is different across 00:06:58.120 --> 00:07:00.860 cultures and time. You remember in the previous 00:07:00.860 --> 00:07:03.660 passage where we were last time, the ships sailing 00:07:03.660 --> 00:07:05.800 and the bread on the water, that didn't make 00:07:05.800 --> 00:07:09.019 sense to us today based on our context. When 00:07:09.019 --> 00:07:11.920 I walked us through, an ancient Near East understanding, 00:07:12.060 --> 00:07:15.920 hopefully it did make sense. So now as you look 00:07:15.920 --> 00:07:18.259 down to the text, as you look at Ecclesiastes 00:07:18.259 --> 00:07:22.120 chapter 11, verse 7, it begins with a qualitative 00:07:22.120 --> 00:07:27.160 statement about light, that it is sweet. Now 00:07:27.160 --> 00:07:29.779 for us today, we might think that just means 00:07:29.779 --> 00:07:32.600 taste. You taste something that's sweet, like 00:07:32.600 --> 00:07:34.480 a crumble cookie. You know, you've had one of 00:07:34.480 --> 00:07:36.579 those? Maybe you're like, no, those are too expensive. 00:07:36.660 --> 00:07:39.110 You should try one just for the experience. What 00:07:39.110 --> 00:07:41.589 about a latte with full sugar? You guys like 00:07:41.589 --> 00:07:44.149 half sugar people? I don't know. Maybe that's 00:07:44.149 --> 00:07:46.529 pretty sweet, right? Now, some people don't prefer 00:07:46.529 --> 00:07:50.170 sweet. Fair? Some of you might be like, yeah, 00:07:50.230 --> 00:07:52.189 I'm more of a salty person. I like the savory 00:07:52.189 --> 00:07:54.629 things, right? And so the meaning of this passage 00:07:54.629 --> 00:07:57.189 then, it could be lost on you if you don't study 00:07:57.189 --> 00:08:02.250 it. Now, let's think about Solomon's day. There 00:08:02.250 --> 00:08:06.310 was no crumble cookie. There was no Starbucks. 00:08:07.180 --> 00:08:10.160 There was no Henry's coffee. Shout out to the 00:08:10.160 --> 00:08:12.420 real ones out there. There was no trophy coffee. 00:08:13.660 --> 00:08:16.920 There was no cheesecake factory. There was no 00:08:16.920 --> 00:08:19.800 dessert place or storefronts that specialized 00:08:19.800 --> 00:08:23.660 in sweets. Life in the ancient Near East was 00:08:23.660 --> 00:08:26.480 very different than ours today, even though that 00:08:26.480 --> 00:08:28.660 human heart condition remained the same. There 00:08:28.660 --> 00:08:31.439 were not endless choices of where to eat or what 00:08:31.439 --> 00:08:33.320 to enjoy. You know, you ask a father, where are 00:08:33.320 --> 00:08:34.720 you going to go on Father's Day? We have all 00:08:34.720 --> 00:08:37.509 these lists of options that we could do. That 00:08:37.509 --> 00:08:41.070 wasn't the case in the ancient Near East. For 00:08:41.070 --> 00:08:44.389 most people, food was simply a staple. It was 00:08:44.389 --> 00:08:48.149 not a luxury. So in that instance, it'd be more 00:08:48.149 --> 00:08:52.950 like really impoverished context today. You know, 00:08:52.950 --> 00:08:54.690 at Children's Hunger Fund, I visited families 00:08:54.690 --> 00:08:56.889 who, they just survive on the staple products 00:08:56.889 --> 00:09:01.450 like rice and cornmeal and beans. And now when 00:09:01.450 --> 00:09:04.370 I do that, we make a point to bring sweets for 00:09:04.370 --> 00:09:06.860 the kids. when we visit. We don't bring toys 00:09:06.860 --> 00:09:10.120 often. We like to bring sweets. And you wouldn't 00:09:10.120 --> 00:09:14.519 believe how their faces light up when we bring 00:09:14.519 --> 00:09:18.259 just a little candy, whether it's a sour one 00:09:18.259 --> 00:09:21.259 or a little chocolate. Even the parents, even 00:09:21.259 --> 00:09:24.340 the parents want some when they see that. Because 00:09:24.340 --> 00:09:29.080 in their context, sweets are a luxury. In their 00:09:29.080 --> 00:09:33.039 context, it's a privilege to get a sweet. It's 00:09:33.039 --> 00:09:37.200 not something that they expect. Now, make the 00:09:37.200 --> 00:09:41.940 same connection with Solomon's day. Light is 00:09:41.940 --> 00:09:46.679 a luxury, like sweet. It's not a right. Light 00:09:46.679 --> 00:09:50.240 is sweet not just by taste, but by enjoyment 00:09:50.240 --> 00:09:57.019 of what is not typical. Light is pleasant by 00:09:57.019 --> 00:09:59.840 its nature. We ought to delight in it the way 00:09:59.840 --> 00:10:03.100 we would delight in sweets if sweets were less 00:10:03.100 --> 00:10:06.840 common for us. Because we don't always experience 00:10:06.840 --> 00:10:11.379 the light. It is sweet when it comes. Now, if 00:10:11.379 --> 00:10:13.320 you've ever witnessed a sunrise that took your 00:10:13.320 --> 00:10:16.519 breath away, if you've ever seen God's creation 00:10:16.519 --> 00:10:18.580 during the day and just marveled, you think about 00:10:18.580 --> 00:10:22.100 the majesty of the Grand Canyon, the vastness 00:10:22.100 --> 00:10:25.539 of the ocean, a striking peak or multiple peaks 00:10:25.539 --> 00:10:28.919 of a mountain range. During the day, the light 00:10:28.919 --> 00:10:33.120 allows you to see those things. Without light, 00:10:33.240 --> 00:10:36.029 you don't get to experience. the full beauty 00:10:36.029 --> 00:10:39.370 of God's creation. Without the light, it's just 00:10:39.370 --> 00:10:41.070 dark. It could be there, but you don't know. 00:10:42.090 --> 00:10:45.809 The light allows you to see. Now, God brought 00:10:45.809 --> 00:10:50.429 light into the world as something good. So it's 00:10:50.429 --> 00:10:53.070 good for our eyes to see the sun. You know that 00:10:53.070 --> 00:10:56.470 even the unbelieving world recognizes that? There's 00:10:56.470 --> 00:10:58.509 a label that the unbelieving world has for those 00:10:58.509 --> 00:11:01.029 who are impacted by missing the sun. Some of 00:11:01.029 --> 00:11:05.500 you know it. Seasonal affective disorder. You 00:11:05.500 --> 00:11:08.299 heard of it? You know what it is for a short? 00:11:08.399 --> 00:11:12.240 Sad. Not trying to make fun of it. That's their 00:11:12.240 --> 00:11:16.580 acronym. Now, people indeed are sad and they 00:11:16.580 --> 00:11:19.879 struggle when they don't see the sun and it's 00:11:19.879 --> 00:11:23.879 always gloomy. Now, we don't have that issue 00:11:23.879 --> 00:11:25.919 in beautiful Southern California. It's sunny 00:11:25.919 --> 00:11:29.159 here all the time. But if you've been far north 00:11:29.159 --> 00:11:32.340 in the winter, you've experienced those short 00:11:32.340 --> 00:11:36.899 days. And those long nights, have you not? Now, 00:11:36.940 --> 00:11:39.440 the Pacific Northwest, they take that top rank 00:11:39.440 --> 00:11:41.980 in the continental U .S. for the highest rate 00:11:41.980 --> 00:11:46.379 of sad in the U .S. Alaska earns the top spot. 00:11:46.539 --> 00:11:50.200 You can imagine why. Their annual cloud cover, 00:11:50.320 --> 00:11:52.340 the average number of days that they experience 00:11:52.340 --> 00:11:59.159 without the sun each year, it's high. So Solomon 00:11:59.159 --> 00:12:04.139 says, light is sweet. It's good for us to see 00:12:04.139 --> 00:12:07.139 the sun. How does that connect with being generous? 00:12:08.019 --> 00:12:11.580 Now, the Hebrews, God's covenant people, of which 00:12:11.580 --> 00:12:15.440 Solomon was, he was born into that, they knew 00:12:15.440 --> 00:12:20.620 that light in life meant being generous in life. 00:12:21.399 --> 00:12:24.960 Because the contrast of a light of life was a 00:12:24.960 --> 00:12:29.340 selfish, dark life. They knew that intrinsic 00:12:29.340 --> 00:12:33.179 connection. Now, how do I know this? I want you 00:12:33.179 --> 00:12:37.379 to consider Matthew chapter six. I'll have it 00:12:37.379 --> 00:12:40.120 up here for you. Jesus taught on this. In fact, 00:12:40.159 --> 00:12:43.019 the whole chapter in the Sermon on the Mount 00:12:43.019 --> 00:12:45.299 is where it comes from, is about giving to the 00:12:45.299 --> 00:12:49.460 poor. It's about rightly valuing eternal things. 00:12:49.539 --> 00:12:52.200 So Jesus says this, the eye is the lamp of the 00:12:52.200 --> 00:12:54.539 body. So then if your eye is clear, your whole 00:12:54.539 --> 00:12:58.080 body will be full of light. But if your eye is 00:12:58.080 --> 00:13:00.500 bad, your whole body will be full. of darkness. 00:13:01.259 --> 00:13:06.059 Jesus says your eyes matter, sight matters, and 00:13:06.059 --> 00:13:09.399 how you see the world matters. If your eyes are 00:13:09.399 --> 00:13:12.259 open, you're going to see the needs of others. 00:13:12.480 --> 00:13:16.340 Your life will then be full of life and light. 00:13:17.620 --> 00:13:21.279 If we carry that thinking, bad eyesight, selfish 00:13:21.279 --> 00:13:26.299 eyes are full of darkness. Bad eyesight focuses 00:13:26.299 --> 00:13:30.950 inward. Bad eyesight short -sighted, not looking 00:13:30.950 --> 00:13:33.789 down the line. It's a person who lives in the 00:13:33.789 --> 00:13:35.629 moment and forgets that their future choices 00:13:35.629 --> 00:13:39.409 are going to catch up with them. You can forego 00:13:39.409 --> 00:13:41.429 the lawn care today. It's not an imperative that 00:13:41.429 --> 00:13:43.409 you need to take care of it. But if you keep 00:13:43.409 --> 00:13:47.129 putting it off, one day it's going to become 00:13:47.129 --> 00:13:52.009 an unmanageable mess. Now, if you connect this 00:13:52.009 --> 00:13:55.090 here in verse 7 with the previous passage regarding 00:13:55.090 --> 00:13:59.379 generosity, you see that the good eyesight focuses 00:13:59.379 --> 00:14:04.279 outward to the need of others. Now, beyond that, 00:14:04.340 --> 00:14:07.200 good eyes allow you to see what you have while 00:14:07.200 --> 00:14:09.960 you have it. So you can look at verse eight in 00:14:09.960 --> 00:14:14.080 the text. And here, Solomon calls the reader 00:14:14.080 --> 00:14:18.019 to be glad in all their years, even if they live 00:14:18.019 --> 00:14:20.899 a long time. And he says this, the reality of 00:14:20.899 --> 00:14:24.419 living a long life is that there will be dark 00:14:24.419 --> 00:14:29.909 times. Now, he noted in the previous verse, not 00:14:29.909 --> 00:14:32.429 all the years are going to be full of light and 00:14:32.429 --> 00:14:35.210 sweetness. The days of darkness will be many, 00:14:35.309 --> 00:14:37.690 he says. I want you to think about what that 00:14:37.690 --> 00:14:42.169 word day means. What that word day means to us, 00:14:42.190 --> 00:14:44.809 and let's think about what it means in Hebrew. 00:14:45.570 --> 00:14:49.809 Now, usually, typically, it implies a full 24 00:14:49.809 --> 00:14:52.850 -hour period, right? When we say the day, we 00:14:52.850 --> 00:14:55.580 don't just mean during the day, typically. We 00:14:55.580 --> 00:15:02.220 mean the whole day. Day and night. Hours of light 00:15:02.220 --> 00:15:09.279 and then hours of darkness. Now think about it. 00:15:09.320 --> 00:15:12.860 Even during the daytime, the hours of sunlight, 00:15:13.059 --> 00:15:20.340 there can still be dark times. A cancer diagnosis 00:15:20.340 --> 00:15:25.799 does not respect the hour of the day. The grief 00:15:25.799 --> 00:15:29.039 of losing a loved one does not only come around 00:15:29.039 --> 00:15:33.100 at night. The bitterness of this world doesn't 00:15:33.100 --> 00:15:38.259 wait to reveal itself until the night. Solomon's 00:15:38.259 --> 00:15:42.419 cure for our consideration isn't to be just doom 00:15:42.419 --> 00:15:44.259 and gloom. Oh, so there's so many dark days. 00:15:44.340 --> 00:15:46.519 I'm just going to be sad. Rather, he tells us 00:15:46.519 --> 00:15:51.659 this. Anticipate the difficult days. Anticipate 00:15:51.659 --> 00:15:54.370 them. Know that they're coming. Know that many 00:15:54.370 --> 00:15:58.850 days will be dark so you can appreciate the days 00:15:58.850 --> 00:16:02.870 that are light. He says it's all going to be 00:16:02.870 --> 00:16:06.769 over very soon. Everything that is to come will 00:16:06.769 --> 00:16:10.269 be vanity is what he says. It's a breath. It's 00:16:10.269 --> 00:16:15.409 wind. It's here today and gone tomorrow. So appreciate 00:16:15.409 --> 00:16:20.370 what you have while you have it. Be generous 00:16:20.370 --> 00:16:23.139 while you can be generous. connecting with the 00:16:23.139 --> 00:16:26.600 previous passage. Because if you think that generosity 00:16:26.600 --> 00:16:29.559 is for your old age, what if that old age never 00:16:29.559 --> 00:16:33.220 comes? If you think you need a certain amount 00:16:33.220 --> 00:16:35.320 of wealth to be generous, what if that day never 00:16:35.320 --> 00:16:39.860 comes? What if you wait your whole life to be 00:16:39.860 --> 00:16:42.220 generous later on, only to realize you never 00:16:42.220 --> 00:16:46.159 cultivated the habit of generosity? And then 00:16:46.159 --> 00:16:51.259 it's too late. So he says, don't be short -sighted. 00:16:51.659 --> 00:16:54.899 When it comes to generosity, don't waste the 00:16:54.899 --> 00:16:59.240 prime of your life, your young years, being selfish 00:16:59.240 --> 00:17:03.580 and missing opportunities to serve others. He 00:17:03.580 --> 00:17:06.839 tells us to pursue a light of life, gazing upon 00:17:06.839 --> 00:17:09.680 the sun. And if you catch the wordplay there, 00:17:09.859 --> 00:17:13.059 right? He wrote this before the advent of Christ, 00:17:13.119 --> 00:17:15.660 but now through the corridor of time and the 00:17:15.660 --> 00:17:18.319 revelation of Jesus, now we can look at that 00:17:18.319 --> 00:17:20.900 and say, wow. Yeah, if we're considering gazing 00:17:20.900 --> 00:17:26.319 upon the Son, S -O -N, then we're going to consider 00:17:26.319 --> 00:17:29.920 a life of service, a life of caring for others, 00:17:30.119 --> 00:17:34.180 because we're pursuing a life that's full of 00:17:34.180 --> 00:17:37.160 light. That's what it means to follow Jesus. 00:17:38.279 --> 00:17:40.720 Now, Solomon continues to underscore that principle 00:17:40.720 --> 00:17:44.720 into verse 9. He tells the young man or the young 00:17:44.720 --> 00:17:48.059 person to be glad, literally to rejoice in the 00:17:48.059 --> 00:18:00.990 days Solomon is not telling you to rejoice only 00:18:00.990 --> 00:18:04.470 because of your youth. He's not saying that being 00:18:04.470 --> 00:18:07.910 young in and of itself is a reason to rejoice, 00:18:08.049 --> 00:18:10.569 that being fit or not having wrinkles or any 00:18:10.569 --> 00:18:12.750 hair loss is a cause for joy in the Lord. Though 00:18:12.750 --> 00:18:17.789 some of us may enjoy that, think about this. 00:18:18.380 --> 00:18:22.299 Our American Hollywood -inspired culture would 00:18:22.299 --> 00:18:25.180 have you think that that is what's most important. 00:18:26.039 --> 00:18:28.920 You think about all of our efforts to preserve 00:18:28.920 --> 00:18:32.380 youth, that the standards of beauty somehow only 00:18:32.380 --> 00:18:36.240 exist between the ages of 20 and 35. That's what 00:18:36.240 --> 00:18:39.740 the secular world teaches us. You know there's 00:18:39.740 --> 00:18:43.660 a cult of youth in our society? Another society 00:18:43.660 --> 00:18:46.500 that adopted this cult of youth is South Korea. 00:18:47.440 --> 00:18:50.920 So much effort and industry and money is put 00:18:50.920 --> 00:18:56.319 in to looking young. Now, followers of that way 00:18:56.319 --> 00:18:59.180 of thinking would say that you absolutely should 00:18:59.180 --> 00:19:03.619 rejoice in being young and fit and full of life. 00:19:05.160 --> 00:19:09.700 But if Solomon isn't saying that, what is he 00:19:09.700 --> 00:19:15.730 saying? What is he encouraging? Instead of rejoicing 00:19:15.730 --> 00:19:18.910 in the fact of being young, Solomon is telling 00:19:18.910 --> 00:19:25.630 us this. Rejoice while you are young. Rejoice 00:19:25.630 --> 00:19:29.930 during the days of your youth. It's a massive 00:19:29.930 --> 00:19:33.130 difference in terms of emphasis. See, if you're 00:19:33.130 --> 00:19:37.609 to rejoice in your youth, then your joy is being 00:19:37.609 --> 00:19:41.319 young. Your joy is youth itself. your source 00:19:41.319 --> 00:19:44.579 of joy then is rooted in being young. Which, 00:19:44.779 --> 00:19:47.559 if you carry that into old age, would mean that 00:19:47.559 --> 00:19:51.940 once you're no longer young, you can't be joyful 00:19:51.940 --> 00:19:57.740 anymore. Do you see the end of that? That kind 00:19:57.740 --> 00:20:00.980 of thinking creates curmudgeons, love that word, 00:20:01.099 --> 00:20:06.839 who don't appreciate life and light. That kind 00:20:06.839 --> 00:20:08.900 of thinking cultivates a love for nostalgia. 00:20:09.930 --> 00:20:15.430 rather than gratitude for God's kind gifts. A 00:20:15.430 --> 00:20:19.549 wrong emphasis on youth shifts our joy and the 00:20:19.549 --> 00:20:22.690 source of our joy from the creator himself, which 00:20:22.690 --> 00:20:26.650 is outside of us, to the creation, to ourselves. 00:20:28.250 --> 00:20:32.470 So instead, Solomon says rejoice while we are 00:20:32.470 --> 00:20:36.089 young. And he says don't delay. Don't wait until 00:20:36.089 --> 00:20:40.720 you're too old to have joy in this life. In the 00:20:40.720 --> 00:20:43.680 same vein of his encouragement to not delay being 00:20:43.680 --> 00:20:47.220 generous, he tells us don't miss or don't delay 00:20:47.220 --> 00:20:51.960 the joy of life when you are young. Don't store 00:20:51.960 --> 00:20:55.200 up your expectations for a better day here on 00:20:55.200 --> 00:20:58.519 earth. Instead, be glad while you are young. 00:20:58.819 --> 00:21:04.059 Why? Because it's a vapor. The prime of your 00:21:04.059 --> 00:21:08.660 life, your youth, is but a breath. So is old 00:21:08.660 --> 00:21:11.650 age. You know, the older we get, the faster that 00:21:11.650 --> 00:21:16.369 breath disappears. So he says, cultivate joy 00:21:16.369 --> 00:21:19.869 now, especially in youth, but no matter your 00:21:19.869 --> 00:21:24.890 age, don't delay. Some of you may have seen those 00:21:24.890 --> 00:21:28.950 memes. It says something, I can't remember exactly 00:21:28.950 --> 00:21:31.990 who's on it. You might. It says something like, 00:21:32.009 --> 00:21:34.450 when I was young, all I wanted was for people 00:21:34.450 --> 00:21:38.049 to stop telling me what to do. Now that I'm older. 00:21:38.680 --> 00:21:40.640 All I want is for somebody to tell me exactly 00:21:40.640 --> 00:21:47.140 what to do. You know, life is like that. One 00:21:47.140 --> 00:21:49.640 day, we're the authors of our best life now. 00:21:50.059 --> 00:21:53.319 We take the bull by the horns, right? We decide 00:21:53.319 --> 00:21:56.480 our fate and our destiny. And before we know 00:21:56.480 --> 00:22:00.220 it, the pressures of being an adult, of providing 00:22:00.220 --> 00:22:06.420 for others, become altogether overwhelming. complicated, 00:22:06.420 --> 00:22:09.460 and we just want somebody to come and guide us 00:22:09.460 --> 00:22:13.740 through the chaos of life. For that young person 00:22:13.740 --> 00:22:16.019 who's taking the life by the horns and you don't 00:22:16.019 --> 00:22:18.799 understand that meme this morning, for those 00:22:18.799 --> 00:22:21.039 who are tempted by the cult of youth, Solomon's 00:22:21.039 --> 00:22:25.880 antidote for you is to cultivate joy during youth. 00:22:27.759 --> 00:22:30.779 Taken with those previous two verses, he's saying, 00:22:30.839 --> 00:22:37.140 use your sight to see Light. Care for others 00:22:37.140 --> 00:22:40.940 and don't be selfish or short -sighted. And do 00:22:40.940 --> 00:22:44.000 this while you're young. Learn to appreciate 00:22:44.000 --> 00:22:48.740 the days God gives you in your youth. Now that's 00:22:48.740 --> 00:22:50.400 a great principle whether you're young or old. 00:22:51.259 --> 00:22:53.319 Cultivate joy. Look out for others. Appreciate 00:22:53.319 --> 00:22:55.960 what you have while you have it. That's not dependent 00:22:55.960 --> 00:23:00.900 on age. Now the second half of verse 9 gives 00:23:00.900 --> 00:23:04.150 a potentially troubling I want you to look at 00:23:04.150 --> 00:23:06.609 your text, because I'm going to read mine, and 00:23:06.609 --> 00:23:09.009 yours might look a little different. Ecclesiastes 00:23:09.009 --> 00:23:24.789 11, verse 9, part B says, Now, if you're reading 00:23:24.789 --> 00:23:27.450 out of the NSB, it should read something like, 00:23:27.490 --> 00:23:34.029 follow the impulses of your heart. Now, I often 00:23:34.029 --> 00:23:37.569 don't swing at the NAS, but in this case, I don't 00:23:37.569 --> 00:23:41.170 think that's a helpful rendering. Here's why. 00:23:41.769 --> 00:23:44.470 Some commentators have taken this advice right 00:23:44.470 --> 00:23:48.329 here, second half of verse 9, to mean something 00:23:48.329 --> 00:23:51.910 other than I think Solomon intends. So rather 00:23:51.910 --> 00:23:53.769 than see this as an instruction, which we'll 00:23:53.769 --> 00:23:57.670 get to in a moment, they look at this exhortation 00:23:57.670 --> 00:24:01.690 as an encouragement. to do whatever the heart 00:24:01.690 --> 00:24:04.950 wants as long as they remember God is going to 00:24:04.950 --> 00:24:09.089 bring everything into judgment. I don't think 00:24:09.089 --> 00:24:13.910 that makes much sense. Now, Solomon is authoring 00:24:13.910 --> 00:24:16.569 this. He's penning it with his hand, but he's 00:24:16.569 --> 00:24:22.569 inspired by who? The Holy Spirit. So God is writing 00:24:22.569 --> 00:24:26.390 to us. So with that interpretation, it would 00:24:26.390 --> 00:24:29.609 be like God telling us, Live however you want. 00:24:30.630 --> 00:24:34.250 Sin, all you want, just know that judgment is 00:24:34.250 --> 00:24:40.230 coming. Does that make any sense to you? Does 00:24:40.230 --> 00:24:45.190 that seem consistent with God's character? Throughout 00:24:45.190 --> 00:24:48.890 his work, Solomon has shown the futility of living 00:24:48.890 --> 00:24:52.329 for yourself. The futility of living for the 00:24:52.329 --> 00:24:56.190 moment. The foolishness of living for your flesh. 00:24:57.240 --> 00:25:00.119 I'll show you up here on the screen. Going back 00:25:00.119 --> 00:25:03.000 to even chapter three, he warned us that God 00:25:03.000 --> 00:25:04.839 is gonna bring our deeds into judgment. I said 00:25:04.839 --> 00:25:07.220 in my heart, God will judge both the righteous 00:25:07.220 --> 00:25:09.960 man and the wicked man for a time for every matter 00:25:09.960 --> 00:25:12.839 and for every work is there at the judgment seat. 00:25:13.099 --> 00:25:15.740 He cautioned us from chapter five about hasty 00:25:15.740 --> 00:25:17.920 words. He said, don't be hasty with your mouth 00:25:17.920 --> 00:25:20.220 or impulsive in your heart. He says, don't be 00:25:20.220 --> 00:25:22.720 impulsive with your heart. So that's my knock 00:25:22.720 --> 00:25:25.150 on the NES. to bring up a matter in the presence 00:25:25.150 --> 00:25:27.710 of God, for God is in heaven, but you are on 00:25:27.710 --> 00:25:29.789 the earth. Therefore, let your words be few. 00:25:29.849 --> 00:25:32.849 Be cautious. He gave us a proper understanding 00:25:32.849 --> 00:25:35.150 of how to live in the world later on in chapter 00:25:35.150 --> 00:25:37.549 five. He said, here's what I've seen to be good, 00:25:37.589 --> 00:25:41.390 which is beautiful to eat, to drink, and to see 00:25:41.390 --> 00:25:43.609 good in all one's labor in which he labors under 00:25:43.609 --> 00:25:46.509 the sun during the few days of his life, the 00:25:46.509 --> 00:25:49.009 vain days of his life, which God has given him. 00:25:49.049 --> 00:25:53.410 This is his portion. In chapter seven, He even 00:25:53.410 --> 00:25:56.529 taught us about our proclivity to sin. He taught 00:25:56.529 --> 00:25:58.430 us about this, even though God made us upright. 00:25:58.529 --> 00:26:01.430 He said, see, I found only this, that God made 00:26:01.430 --> 00:26:05.869 men upright, but they have sought out many devices. 00:26:07.910 --> 00:26:10.990 I can go on more. Chapter eight. He reiterated 00:26:10.990 --> 00:26:13.430 the same advice earlier in chapter five, the 00:26:13.430 --> 00:26:16.609 same principle. He said, so I laud gladness. 00:26:17.339 --> 00:26:19.640 For there is nothing good for a man under the 00:26:19.640 --> 00:26:21.980 sun except to eat, to drink, and to be merry, 00:26:22.140 --> 00:26:24.960 and this will join with him in his labor throughout 00:26:24.960 --> 00:26:27.200 the days of his life which God has given him 00:26:27.200 --> 00:26:30.680 under the sun. Same encouragement. Chapter 9. 00:26:30.900 --> 00:26:34.680 He reminds us that death is coming. He says calamities 00:26:34.680 --> 00:26:37.579 can occur without explanation. He said, again, 00:26:37.599 --> 00:26:40.519 I saw under the sun the race is not to the swift. 00:26:41.130 --> 00:26:43.509 The battle is not to the mighty, and neither 00:26:43.509 --> 00:26:45.890 is bread to the wise, nor riches to the discerning, 00:26:45.890 --> 00:26:49.450 nor favor to men who know, for time and misfortune 00:26:49.450 --> 00:26:52.789 overtake them all. Moreover, a man does not know 00:26:52.789 --> 00:26:56.069 his time. Like a fish sees in an evil net, and 00:26:56.069 --> 00:26:58.569 birds sees in a trap, so the sons of men are 00:26:58.569 --> 00:27:01.470 ensnared at a time when it suddenly falls on 00:27:01.470 --> 00:27:05.269 them. And even in the last chapter, Solomon taught 00:27:05.269 --> 00:27:07.329 the leavening principle that Jesus will teach 00:27:07.329 --> 00:27:10.259 on a thousand years later. He says just a little 00:27:10.259 --> 00:27:13.180 foolishness is going to leaven the whole lump 00:27:13.180 --> 00:27:15.740 or the whole loaf. Foolishness may start small, 00:27:15.859 --> 00:27:18.740 but it will have a disastrous effect on your 00:27:18.740 --> 00:27:22.700 life. He who digs a pit may fall into it, and 00:27:22.700 --> 00:27:25.220 a serpent may bite him who breaks through a wall. 00:27:25.720 --> 00:27:28.880 He who quarries stones may be hurt by them, and 00:27:28.880 --> 00:27:32.420 he who splits logs may be endangered by them. 00:27:33.460 --> 00:27:38.180 So now, in chapter 11, Solomon is not changing 00:27:38.180 --> 00:27:42.400 course. Solomon's understanding of God and of 00:27:42.400 --> 00:27:44.700 the heart of man is clear from the beginning 00:27:44.700 --> 00:27:49.059 to the end of this work. Like a masterful storyteller, 00:27:49.119 --> 00:27:52.440 he's woven instructions with stories and proverbs 00:27:52.440 --> 00:27:56.240 and wounding statements to our back, but he's 00:27:56.240 --> 00:27:59.420 not veered off course. He's constantly maintained 00:27:59.420 --> 00:28:02.819 a testimony of honoring God in all things. So 00:28:02.819 --> 00:28:06.390 here, in the second half of verse 9, He is not 00:28:06.390 --> 00:28:10.029 encouraging a hedonistic lifestyle. What does 00:28:10.029 --> 00:28:13.549 that mean? That's a lifestyle of want and desire. 00:28:13.609 --> 00:28:16.170 Whatever you want, you give to yourself. It's 00:28:16.170 --> 00:28:19.650 YOLO. You only live once. It's doing whatever 00:28:19.650 --> 00:28:22.750 you want because your time is limited. It's the 00:28:22.750 --> 00:28:26.789 wrong way of looking at it. Instead, Solomon 00:28:26.789 --> 00:28:29.670 instructs us with the same foundation we've seen 00:28:29.670 --> 00:28:33.730 this entire time. The same foundation is be glad, 00:28:33.789 --> 00:28:36.809 young man. during your childhood. Let your heart 00:28:36.809 --> 00:28:39.849 be merry during the days of young manhood and 00:28:39.849 --> 00:28:42.730 walk in the ways of your heart and in the sights 00:28:42.730 --> 00:28:45.349 of your eyes, yet know that God will bring you 00:28:45.349 --> 00:28:48.789 to judgment for all these things. Now here's 00:28:48.789 --> 00:28:51.589 a caution to those who might misunderstand this 00:28:51.589 --> 00:28:57.190 wisdom. If you are morally ambiguous, you need 00:28:57.190 --> 00:29:00.109 to remember that idolatry will bring judgment. 00:29:00.869 --> 00:29:03.650 Here's what that means. If you push the boundaries, 00:29:04.279 --> 00:29:08.000 of right and wrong. If you test the limits of 00:29:08.000 --> 00:29:12.279 what is good and permissible versus unwise, then 00:29:12.279 --> 00:29:17.680 you welcome the judgment of the Almighty. What's 00:29:17.680 --> 00:29:20.539 the other end of the spectrum? To the morally 00:29:20.539 --> 00:29:24.559 uptight. You need to remember that God gives 00:29:24.559 --> 00:29:30.039 life to be enjoyed, not to be despised. So if 00:29:30.039 --> 00:29:32.460 you restrict yourself from all joy and light 00:29:32.460 --> 00:29:35.519 and life, for irrational fears and perfectionism 00:29:35.519 --> 00:29:37.799 and upsetness that things aren't going your way, 00:29:37.900 --> 00:29:42.359 you will rightly be rebuked for not appreciating 00:29:42.359 --> 00:29:47.779 the life that God gives. You are able to walk 00:29:47.779 --> 00:29:50.339 in the ways of your heart and the sight of your 00:29:50.339 --> 00:29:55.579 eyes if your eyes are full of light and life. 00:29:57.220 --> 00:30:00.980 You remember, this is a call back then to verse 00:30:00.980 --> 00:30:04.960 seven. the sweetness of life. And earlier I brought 00:30:04.960 --> 00:30:06.759 up that quote from Jesus in the Sermon on the 00:30:06.759 --> 00:30:10.640 Mount out of Matthew chapter six. The eye is 00:30:10.640 --> 00:30:13.519 the lamp of the body. So then if your eye is 00:30:13.519 --> 00:30:16.259 clear, your whole body will be full of light. 00:30:16.720 --> 00:30:20.460 But if your eye is bad, your whole body will 00:30:20.460 --> 00:30:23.460 be full of darkness. If then the light that is 00:30:23.460 --> 00:30:27.839 in you is darkness, how great is the darkness. 00:30:30.500 --> 00:30:32.720 Friends, here's the principle. If your eye is 00:30:32.720 --> 00:30:36.299 clear, if your sight is clear, your whole body, 00:30:36.380 --> 00:30:41.960 your whole condition will be full of light. But 00:30:41.960 --> 00:30:47.180 if your eye is bad, you lead yourself toward 00:30:47.180 --> 00:30:52.940 darkness. So don't be deceived. If your eye is 00:30:52.940 --> 00:30:55.720 clear and full of light, you will be able to 00:30:55.720 --> 00:30:57.930 walk in the ways of your heart. and the sight 00:30:57.930 --> 00:31:02.829 of your eyes because you won't stumble. The heart 00:31:02.829 --> 00:31:05.430 that is rooted in the fear of God can walk in 00:31:05.430 --> 00:31:08.789 whatever way it desires. How about that? The 00:31:08.789 --> 00:31:12.430 heart that is rooted in the fear of God can walk 00:31:12.430 --> 00:31:16.589 in whatever way it desires because it will desire 00:31:16.589 --> 00:31:20.450 what is right. Fearing God is actually the key 00:31:20.450 --> 00:31:24.859 to enjoying this life. When that day comes then, 00:31:24.920 --> 00:31:27.200 when judgment comes and God brings all things 00:31:27.200 --> 00:31:29.799 to bear, you'll have no reason to be afraid. 00:31:31.259 --> 00:31:36.279 That is wisdom. Here it is. Fearing God now means 00:31:36.279 --> 00:31:43.140 you won't fear him later. Think about that. Fearing 00:31:43.140 --> 00:31:48.200 him now means you won't fear him later. Don't 00:31:48.200 --> 00:31:50.539 ask me for the nuance of that. It's a plain statement. 00:31:51.400 --> 00:31:55.599 If you rightly fear him now, on that day, when 00:31:55.599 --> 00:32:01.799 judgment comes, you'll rejoice. In verse 10, 00:32:01.960 --> 00:32:04.960 Solomon underscores the principle of being wise 00:32:04.960 --> 00:32:08.599 during our youth. So if you look at the text, 00:32:08.680 --> 00:32:11.119 first he says, remove vexation from your heart. 00:32:12.200 --> 00:32:15.519 Now earlier in verse 8, he warned about the many 00:32:15.519 --> 00:32:18.519 days of darkness. And he's remaining consistent. 00:32:19.880 --> 00:32:22.559 Is it not true? I don't know everyone's story 00:32:22.559 --> 00:32:25.380 in here, everyone's testimony right now. I know 00:32:25.380 --> 00:32:29.839 many. Aren't there so many things that trouble 00:32:29.839 --> 00:32:35.619 us? So many difficulties of life? Hardships? 00:32:37.339 --> 00:32:42.039 There's a lot. But what Solomon says is, let 00:32:42.039 --> 00:32:47.380 it be put away from you. Remove it. You know 00:32:47.380 --> 00:32:51.930 what that word vexed means? It means to be agitated, 00:32:52.089 --> 00:32:56.970 like stirred up. So being easily vexed, it's 00:32:56.970 --> 00:33:01.430 people who are hot -headed. They lose control 00:33:01.430 --> 00:33:05.690 easily. Doesn't that describe young people? I'm 00:33:05.690 --> 00:33:08.809 not being mean. Look at a toddler. They're really 00:33:08.809 --> 00:33:12.509 good at it. Are they not? They go from zero to 00:33:12.509 --> 00:33:17.329 100 like that. But those tantrums of the toddler 00:33:17.329 --> 00:33:20.980 years. They turn into fits of rage as we age. 00:33:21.119 --> 00:33:25.779 Do they not? Some people, they show their vexation 00:33:25.779 --> 00:33:29.119 through raised voices, through tears, or through 00:33:29.119 --> 00:33:33.420 even violence physically. Others try to hide 00:33:33.420 --> 00:33:36.200 their vexation, even though it's still there 00:33:36.200 --> 00:33:40.420 and it still shows. They avoid things. They're 00:33:40.420 --> 00:33:43.359 dismissive. They have a disconnected approach 00:33:43.359 --> 00:33:46.740 to people and to relationships. See, whether 00:33:46.740 --> 00:33:51.599 it's seen or unseen, vexation rests where? In 00:33:51.599 --> 00:33:55.900 the heart. So whether you're young or old, being 00:33:55.900 --> 00:33:59.180 hot -headed or being vexed easily, it robs you 00:33:59.180 --> 00:34:03.619 of joy in this life. You can't control when grief 00:34:03.619 --> 00:34:06.299 and sorrow come. He's not saying remove all hardship 00:34:06.299 --> 00:34:09.719 from your life. You can't control those things, 00:34:09.820 --> 00:34:13.699 but you can put away vexation. You can put away 00:34:13.699 --> 00:34:18.760 that. easy to agitate nature with God's help. 00:34:19.980 --> 00:34:22.380 Now, you don't need to fret so much about the 00:34:22.380 --> 00:34:27.079 future and your plans, do you? You don't need 00:34:27.079 --> 00:34:29.980 to be so worried about the events of this world, 00:34:30.059 --> 00:34:34.480 do you? You don't need to get so upset when your 00:34:34.480 --> 00:34:36.980 friend or your boss does something you don't 00:34:36.980 --> 00:34:42.880 agree with, do you? You don't need to be so bothered. 00:34:43.420 --> 00:34:45.820 by everything you see on the news or social media, 00:34:46.000 --> 00:34:51.260 do you? Do you really need to be so worked up 00:34:51.260 --> 00:34:55.179 when the relationship ends poorly? Do you really 00:34:55.179 --> 00:34:57.960 need to fret when life's hardships come your 00:34:57.960 --> 00:35:05.260 way? Solomon says, beyond this, put away evil 00:35:05.260 --> 00:35:09.840 from your flesh. It's what he says in verse 10. 00:35:10.960 --> 00:35:13.920 Literally, he's telling the reader, Don't harm 00:35:13.920 --> 00:35:18.059 your body. Don't do things against your body 00:35:18.059 --> 00:35:21.920 that will rob you of joy. Now again, I'm going 00:35:21.920 --> 00:35:24.860 to pick on the toddler first. Don't they do that? 00:35:25.500 --> 00:35:28.019 When they have the tantrum, where do they throw 00:35:28.019 --> 00:35:34.900 themselves? To the ground. Is that good? No. 00:35:36.000 --> 00:35:38.659 We learn how to harm ourselves from a very young 00:35:38.659 --> 00:35:44.929 age out of our anger, out of being vexed. Left 00:35:44.929 --> 00:35:47.030 unchecked, where does that lead to when we get 00:35:47.030 --> 00:35:51.590 older? Young people, they often think they're 00:35:51.590 --> 00:35:54.949 invincible, do they not? You don't have to answer. 00:35:55.590 --> 00:35:58.809 You know it. Young people like to live life to 00:35:58.809 --> 00:36:02.309 the edge, to drive too fast. How many of us have 00:36:02.309 --> 00:36:05.150 stories of experimenting with drugs and alcohol, 00:36:05.510 --> 00:36:08.929 tobacco, fooling around with the wicked occult 00:36:08.929 --> 00:36:11.389 when we're young because we think it's not going 00:36:11.389 --> 00:36:15.510 to matter one day? Young people all too often 00:36:15.510 --> 00:36:18.570 harm their bodies without considering the joy 00:36:18.570 --> 00:36:22.250 that it's going to take from them. Sometimes 00:36:22.250 --> 00:36:26.050 those risks can even end your life. And if they 00:36:26.050 --> 00:36:28.690 don't, you'll live to regret doing those things 00:36:28.690 --> 00:36:31.349 and you'll be robbed of joy because you're suffering 00:36:31.349 --> 00:36:36.190 the harm of those choices. Smoking seems cool 00:36:36.190 --> 00:36:40.230 until you're diagnosed with emphysema. Driving 00:36:40.230 --> 00:36:43.179 fast was fun. Until you got in an accident and 00:36:43.179 --> 00:36:48.099 hurt yourself and others. Solomon says, don't 00:36:48.099 --> 00:36:53.800 let vexation and don't let personal choices steal 00:36:53.800 --> 00:36:59.059 your joy. Why? Why would he say this? He tells 00:36:59.059 --> 00:37:04.480 you. He says, because the years of youth are 00:37:04.480 --> 00:37:09.099 fleeting. Now the LSB and the NAS, they render 00:37:09.099 --> 00:37:12.610 youthfulness here as childhood. and the prime 00:37:12.610 --> 00:37:15.809 of life. Now, if you're reading out of the ESV, 00:37:15.849 --> 00:37:19.210 you're going to see youth and the dawn of life. 00:37:19.789 --> 00:37:23.349 Now, technically, from the Hebrew, none of those 00:37:23.349 --> 00:37:28.809 are literal translations. The Hebrew word for 00:37:28.809 --> 00:37:33.489 prime of life or dawn of life is actually blackness. 00:37:34.829 --> 00:37:37.070 And you may be scratching your head, and that's 00:37:37.070 --> 00:37:39.469 exactly where you should go because you think 00:37:39.469 --> 00:37:43.510 about hair. It's only used one time in the Bible. 00:37:43.630 --> 00:37:46.010 Taken in context with the previous word for youth, 00:37:46.150 --> 00:37:49.070 it's referring to the black hair that comes with 00:37:49.070 --> 00:37:53.210 youth as opposed to the gray hair that comes 00:37:53.210 --> 00:37:59.329 later in life. And he says all of this is fleeting. 00:37:59.650 --> 00:38:03.710 It's vapor. It's soap bubbles. Here today and 00:38:03.710 --> 00:38:06.849 gone tomorrow. Young people think they're invincible 00:38:06.849 --> 00:38:11.159 today, but it's fleeting. And how do we know? 00:38:11.199 --> 00:38:13.199 Just look around at the older folks and ask if 00:38:13.199 --> 00:38:14.880 they thought any different when they were younger. 00:38:16.519 --> 00:38:19.659 Every older person in here will say, yeah, I 00:38:19.659 --> 00:38:23.739 did. I thought youth would last forever. I didn't 00:38:23.739 --> 00:38:25.699 think about what would happen when I got older. 00:38:25.800 --> 00:38:33.280 I was living one day at a time. Even if our life 00:38:33.280 --> 00:38:36.219 is just a breath, even if it's a vapor, it can 00:38:36.219 --> 00:38:39.280 still be enjoyed. We can still appreciate the 00:38:39.280 --> 00:38:42.599 gift of life. We can still soak in the sunlight 00:38:42.599 --> 00:38:46.500 and appreciate its sweetness. We can enjoy these 00:38:46.500 --> 00:38:50.059 new experiences that we get to have as creatures 00:38:50.059 --> 00:38:54.519 under this creation. So this is for young and 00:38:54.519 --> 00:38:57.599 old, not just for young. Don't delay in living 00:38:57.599 --> 00:39:01.840 for God. That's the principle. Live as somebody 00:39:01.840 --> 00:39:05.920 who will stand before God one day. Now think 00:39:05.920 --> 00:39:10.219 about this. is setting on this momentary life. 00:39:10.820 --> 00:39:14.679 Before you know it, the dawn will turn to dusk. 00:39:15.460 --> 00:39:18.840 That's reality for all of us. So for the young 00:39:18.840 --> 00:39:23.139 people here today, heed Solomon's call. And verse 00:39:23.139 --> 00:39:26.920 1a out of chapter 12 summarizes this. He says, 00:39:27.000 --> 00:39:31.679 remember your creator in the days of your youth. 00:39:32.719 --> 00:39:35.679 Submit to Christ while you're young. while you're 00:39:35.679 --> 00:39:38.380 in your prime of life, while your hair is not 00:39:38.380 --> 00:39:43.280 yet gray. And he says, he's telling us here that 00:39:43.280 --> 00:39:46.300 following Jesus is not going to dampen your enjoyment 00:39:46.300 --> 00:39:49.739 of this life. Living for Jesus is actually going 00:39:49.739 --> 00:39:53.260 to redeem the time of your youth. It will clarify 00:39:53.260 --> 00:39:56.980 your purpose. It will calm your fears. It will 00:39:56.980 --> 00:39:58.960 give you joy through the hardest trials of your 00:39:58.960 --> 00:40:03.340 life. Submitting to the Savior brings joy and 00:40:03.340 --> 00:40:07.639 a perspective on eternity. If you follow Christ, 00:40:07.960 --> 00:40:12.639 you will not waste your life. You won't waste 00:40:12.639 --> 00:40:17.619 the breath that God has given as a gift. And 00:40:17.619 --> 00:40:20.079 to the older folks here today, I pray you've 00:40:20.079 --> 00:40:22.519 been listening as well. Though the majority of 00:40:22.519 --> 00:40:26.639 this text is targeted at youth, there are timeless 00:40:26.639 --> 00:40:30.260 principles for everyone to embrace. What would 00:40:30.260 --> 00:40:33.000 have been good for you in your youth surely is 00:40:33.000 --> 00:40:37.739 still good for you now. Next time we jump back 00:40:37.739 --> 00:40:39.739 into Ecclesiastes, Solomon's gonna speak very 00:40:39.739 --> 00:40:42.599 pointedly to those who are closer to the dusk 00:40:42.599 --> 00:40:45.539 of their life than to the dawn. And there will 00:40:45.539 --> 00:40:48.119 be some good encouragements there. But to the 00:40:48.119 --> 00:40:52.039 older folks, I'd say, even if you've seen in 00:40:52.039 --> 00:40:55.420 your own life these principles proven over time, 00:40:55.500 --> 00:40:57.780 my prayer is that your eyes would continually 00:40:57.780 --> 00:41:02.159 be full of light. that you keep removing vexation 00:41:02.159 --> 00:41:05.039 from your heart. And the text literally tells 00:41:05.039 --> 00:41:08.920 us to banish such anxieties, such vexations, 00:41:08.980 --> 00:41:12.179 banish them, send them away. Don't let them bother 00:41:12.179 --> 00:41:14.780 you. And so whether you came to Christ young 00:41:14.780 --> 00:41:17.880 or old, whether you're suffering from choices 00:41:17.880 --> 00:41:21.400 that you made in youthful foolishness, if you 00:41:21.400 --> 00:41:26.039 have Christ, you have so much to rejoice over. 00:41:27.659 --> 00:41:30.460 Now, that's where we all need to settle as we 00:41:30.460 --> 00:41:32.880 close today. Now, often throughout this series 00:41:32.880 --> 00:41:35.199 in Ecclesiastes, we finished with some pretty 00:41:35.199 --> 00:41:37.679 heavy introspection. That's what wisdom literature 00:41:37.679 --> 00:41:40.619 does. It points and it pokes and it prods. But 00:41:40.619 --> 00:41:44.699 today, I want to help us to not only look at 00:41:44.699 --> 00:41:45.960 our questions, we'll still get our questions 00:41:45.960 --> 00:41:49.079 on the screen, but thematically, the text is 00:41:49.079 --> 00:41:52.380 leaving us at this point. Remember your creator. 00:41:53.300 --> 00:41:57.690 Lift your eyes to the Savior. to the one that 00:41:57.690 --> 00:42:00.329 we rejoice in, the one who can make our hearts 00:42:00.329 --> 00:42:04.369 glad, the one who brings the brightest light 00:42:04.369 --> 00:42:08.989 into our darkest days. There's no better way 00:42:08.989 --> 00:42:11.769 to do that than to read God's word. So here's 00:42:11.769 --> 00:42:13.010 what we're going to do. You're welcome to listen. 00:42:13.309 --> 00:42:15.349 If you want to follow along the screen, I'll 00:42:15.349 --> 00:42:18.869 have some phrases presented and words highlighted 00:42:18.869 --> 00:42:21.050 that connect with our passage from today, but 00:42:21.050 --> 00:42:23.010 it's not going to be the whole thing. But like 00:42:23.010 --> 00:42:25.170 we normally do to our call to worship, I'm going 00:42:25.170 --> 00:42:27.699 to ask you to stand. I want you to stand for 00:42:27.699 --> 00:42:29.960 the reading of God's word because we're gonna 00:42:29.960 --> 00:42:34.860 wrap up our preaching with reading. So hear the 00:42:34.860 --> 00:42:36.760 word of the Lord. This is out of Colossians chapter 00:42:36.760 --> 00:42:43.360 one, beginning in verse nine. For this reason 00:42:43.360 --> 00:42:46.900 also, since the day we heard, we've not ceased 00:42:46.900 --> 00:42:50.239 to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled 00:42:50.239 --> 00:42:53.400 with the full knowledge of his will in all spiritual 00:42:53.400 --> 00:42:56.800 wisdom and understanding. so that you may walk 00:42:56.800 --> 00:42:59.860 in a manner worthy of the Lord to please him 00:42:59.860 --> 00:43:03.019 in all respects, bearing fruit in every good 00:43:03.019 --> 00:43:06.500 work and multiplying in the full knowledge of 00:43:06.500 --> 00:43:09.119 God, being strengthened with all power according 00:43:09.119 --> 00:43:11.820 to his glorious might for the attaining of all 00:43:11.820 --> 00:43:15.460 steadfastness and patience, joyously giving thanks 00:43:15.460 --> 00:43:18.960 to the Father, who's qualified us to share in 00:43:18.960 --> 00:43:24.150 the inheritance of the saints in light. who rescued 00:43:24.150 --> 00:43:26.530 us from the authority of darkness and transferred 00:43:26.530 --> 00:43:30.070 us to the kingdom of the Son of his love, in 00:43:30.070 --> 00:43:33.369 whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins, 00:43:33.590 --> 00:43:37.650 who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn 00:43:37.650 --> 00:43:41.309 of all creation. For in him all things were created, 00:43:41.429 --> 00:43:43.929 both in the heavens and on earth, visible and 00:43:43.929 --> 00:43:46.949 invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers 00:43:46.949 --> 00:43:49.489 or authorities, all things have been created 00:43:49.489 --> 00:43:52.800 through him and for him. And he's before all 00:43:52.800 --> 00:43:55.559 things. And in him all things hold together. 00:43:55.739 --> 00:43:59.420 And he is the head of the body, the church, who 00:43:59.420 --> 00:44:01.400 is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, 00:44:01.519 --> 00:44:04.760 so that he himself will come to have the first 00:44:04.760 --> 00:44:09.280 place in everything. For in him all the fullness 00:44:09.280 --> 00:44:11.679 of God was pleased to dwell. And through him 00:44:11.679 --> 00:44:15.639 to reconcile all things to himself, having made 00:44:15.639 --> 00:44:18.230 peace through the blood of his cross. through 00:44:18.230 --> 00:44:21.210 him, whether things on earth or things in heaven. 00:44:21.829 --> 00:44:24.809 And although you were formerly alienated and 00:44:24.809 --> 00:44:28.929 enemies in mind and in evil deeds, but now he 00:44:28.929 --> 00:44:32.230 reconciled you in the body of his flesh through 00:44:32.230 --> 00:44:35.670 death in order to present you before him holy 00:44:35.670 --> 00:44:39.670 and blameless and beyond reproach. If indeed 00:44:39.670 --> 00:44:43.190 you continue in the faith, firmly grounded and 00:44:43.190 --> 00:44:46.369 steadfast and not moved away from the hope of 00:44:46.369 --> 00:44:49.380 the gospel. which you have heard, which was proclaimed 00:44:49.380 --> 00:44:54.619 in all creation under heaven. Amen? Friends, 00:44:54.719 --> 00:44:58.840 you can have a seat as we wrap. I'm going to 00:44:58.840 --> 00:45:03.239 give you the briefest summary. God, the one who 00:45:03.239 --> 00:45:06.619 created all things, rescues people from darkness 00:45:06.619 --> 00:45:11.880 and transfers them to light. Jesus, God in the 00:45:11.880 --> 00:45:15.000 flesh, the image of the invisible God, redeems 00:45:15.000 --> 00:45:18.650 people from their sins, Because he received the 00:45:18.650 --> 00:45:22.530 judgment reserved for sinners, even though he 00:45:22.530 --> 00:45:27.730 was without sin. And God, through Christ, reconciles 00:45:27.730 --> 00:45:31.190 sinners, makes them saints, and prepares them 00:45:31.190 --> 00:45:35.550 to stand before him without the judgment that 00:45:35.550 --> 00:45:39.429 they deserve. That is who Solomon is calling 00:45:39.429 --> 00:45:43.909 you to remember. Remember your creator. Remember 00:45:43.909 --> 00:45:48.369 your savior. Remember your king. And especially 00:45:48.369 --> 00:45:51.070 for the young people, but whether you're young 00:45:51.070 --> 00:45:54.789 or old or somewhere in between, remember him. 00:45:55.429 --> 00:45:58.409 Don't be confused about who made this world. 00:45:58.949 --> 00:46:02.090 Don't be confused about who can save from this 00:46:02.090 --> 00:46:06.730 world into the next. And I'll close with this. 00:46:06.849 --> 00:46:10.489 More than just knowing facts about God or reciting 00:46:10.489 --> 00:46:13.929 truth about the gospel in your daily life, the 00:46:13.929 --> 00:46:19.630 call here, is to know God personally through 00:46:19.630 --> 00:46:25.510 his son. Yes, the gospel saves, but be persuaded 00:46:25.510 --> 00:46:31.929 by it. Let it be personal for you. Then when 00:46:31.929 --> 00:46:34.389 you submit to Christ as Lord, you're not submitting 00:46:34.389 --> 00:46:38.409 to an idea. You're submitting to a savior who 00:46:38.409 --> 00:46:41.929 loved you, who died for you, who gave his life 00:46:41.929 --> 00:46:45.550 for you so that you don't need to fear. in that 00:46:45.550 --> 00:46:51.250 final day. Lord God, we come to you after so 00:46:51.250 --> 00:46:54.449 much this morning from child dedications and 00:46:54.449 --> 00:46:58.889 being reminded of those early dawns of life to 00:46:58.889 --> 00:47:04.710 the encouragement about fatherhood. Men as they 00:47:04.710 --> 00:47:07.130 age, passing on what they've learned about you, 00:47:07.309 --> 00:47:11.610 honoring you in their homes, desiring to see 00:47:11.610 --> 00:47:15.000 the next generation follow. And then the wisdom 00:47:15.000 --> 00:47:19.239 from Solomon to look at life and light and see 00:47:19.239 --> 00:47:23.079 good things. There's been so much for us to consider 00:47:23.079 --> 00:47:27.420 today. So may our prayer be simple. Help us see 00:47:27.420 --> 00:47:30.659 the sweetness of light. Help us enjoy the goodness 00:47:30.659 --> 00:47:34.059 of this life. Help us to banish those vexations 00:47:34.059 --> 00:47:37.420 that rob us of joy. Help us to know and remember 00:47:37.420 --> 00:47:40.800 that choices today impact our lives in the future. 00:47:41.699 --> 00:47:44.800 Above all of that, or perhaps as the foundation 00:47:44.800 --> 00:47:48.780 for all of that, help us to remember you, our 00:47:48.780 --> 00:47:54.380 creator, our savior, and our king. Help us to 00:47:54.380 --> 00:47:58.639 see the light of Christ, to know him, to know 00:47:58.639 --> 00:48:02.280 his gospel, but to be personally impacted by 00:48:02.280 --> 00:48:07.579 the truth of your word. So almighty God, we ask 00:48:07.579 --> 00:48:12.679 you this morning, help us. Help us lift our eyes 00:48:12.679 --> 00:48:15.760 to the wonderful mercy that you display in Christ. 00:48:17.420 --> 00:48:20.940 And we praise your name because you offer redemption. 00:48:21.059 --> 00:48:24.840 You offer salvation to sinners like us. Our greatest 00:48:24.840 --> 00:48:31.219 need met by you. In light of that, as we sing 00:48:31.219 --> 00:48:33.739 praises to your name and respond to your word, 00:48:33.920 --> 00:48:38.099 help us to do so with joy, not simply out of 00:48:38.099 --> 00:48:41.159 obligation, not out of a responsibility, though 00:48:41.159 --> 00:48:44.579 surely those are in view, but help us to see 00:48:44.579 --> 00:48:48.360 the light and life that you give that allows 00:48:48.360 --> 00:48:52.420 us to enjoy the goodness here and now amidst 00:48:52.420 --> 00:48:57.039 the dark days. The light is sweet because we 00:48:57.039 --> 00:49:00.219 don't always get it, not yet, but we can long 00:49:00.219 --> 00:49:02.880 for and look for that day when Christ, you will 00:49:02.880 --> 00:49:05.900 be the everlasting light of an eternal kingdom 00:49:05.900 --> 00:49:09.659 without darkness. That's what we long for. So 00:49:09.659 --> 00:49:12.739 give us eyes to see. Lift our hearts to praise 00:49:12.739 --> 00:49:15.519 your name this morning. We pray this in Jesus.