Speaker Sermon/Lesson Title Audio   Video  Text   MS Word Category Bobby Stafford Advice for Young and Old Alike   Christian Living

Advice for Young and Old Alike

Introduction:

Read Ecclesiastes 3:1-2a.  “To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven:  A time to be born, And a time to die;” NKJV  The wise man Solomon stated that there was a time to be young and a time to grow old.  Solomon ends this book by giving advice to the young which is also good for the old.

Text:  Ecclesiastes 11:9-12:7

Body:

I.  Remember to Enjoy Being Young 

Ecclesiastes 11:9-10 “Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, And let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth; Walk in the ways of your heart, And in the sight of your eyes; But know that for all these God will bring you into judgment.  10 Therefore remove sorrow from your heart, And put away evil from your flesh,  For childhood and youth are vanity.” NKJV

·  Thank God for the strength of youth.  Enjoy life as only the young can.  God wants you to be joyful.  Young people have fewer cares and responsibilities.  Your future is full of many possibilities.

·  But be very selective in what you choose.  Many young people believe they can do whatever they want.  They do not stop to think about the consequences of their actions.  Solomon reminds you that you are accountable to God for all your actions.  You must answer to God for what you have done.

·  The Day of Judgment may seem like a long way off, but God sees everything.  (Job 28:24) “For He looks to the ends of the earth, And sees under the whole heavens,” NKJV  How you spend your money, what you do with your body, the way you use your time – all of this matters.  So enjoy life’s pleasures, but not in sinful ways.

·  The preacher says in verse 10 to eliminate those things in life that hurt our bodies and souls.  This is a call to remove yourself from any situation that may cause harm.  Example:  Proverbs 1:10-16 “My son, if sinners entice you, Do not consent.  If they say, ‘Come with us, Let us lie in wait to shed blood; Let us lurk secretly for the innocent without cause; Let us swallow them alive like Sheol, And whole, like those who go down to the Pit; We shall find all kinds of precious possessions, We shall fill our houses with spoil; Cast in your lot among us, Let us all have one purse’ – My son, do not walk in the way with them, Keep your foot from their path; For their feet run to evil, And they make haste to shed blood.” NKJV  Indiscretions while you are young can lead to much sorrow and suffering.

·  The wise man Solomon reminds the youth that you are not young forever.  It is like a vapor that appears for a short time and is gone.  Youth is fleeting, so don’t waste it.

 

II.  Remember God While You Are Young 

Ecclesiastes 12:1-5 “Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, Before the difficult days come, And the years draw near when you say, ‘I have no pleasure in them.’ 2  While the sun and the light, The moon and the stars, Are not darkened, And the clouds do not return after the rain; 3 In the day when the keepers of the house tremble, And the strong men bow down; When the grinders cease because they are few, And those that look through the windows grow dim; When the doors are shut in the streets, And the sound of grinding is low; When one rises up at the sound of a bird, And all the daughters of music are brought low.  Also they are afraid of height, And of terrors in the way; When the almond tree blossoms, The grasshopper is a burden, And desire fails.  For man goes to his eternal home, And the mourners go about the streets.” NKJV

·  “Remember God” – Be mindful of Him.  Live your whole life for Him.  Start serving God while you are young.  Follow the example of Joseph, Samuel, David, Daniel, and Timothy.  (II Timothy 3:15) “and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” NKJV

·  Remember God at home and in school.  Remember Him at work and play.  This will help you make the right choices.  Develop a sense of conviction while you are young.  Waiting until you are old to remember God will cause you to be poorly equipped to deal with the difficulties of old age.  Old habits are hard to break.  These difficulties [evil days] he describes in the next few verses.

·  Verse 2 depicts the troubles of old age as a gathering storm, one trouble just follows another.  It is a time of affliction and sorrow.

·  Verses 3-5 compare the elderly to a house that is decaying.  “Keepers of the house” – arms  “Strong men” – legs  “Grinders” – teeth  “Windows” – eyes  “Doors” – ears  “Daughters of song” – vocal cords  “Almond tree blossoms” – white/gray hair  Read II Samuel 19:35.  “I am today eighty years old.  Can I discern between the good and bad?  Can your servant taste what I eat or what I drink?  Can I hear any longer the voice of singing men and singing women?  Why then should your servant be a further burden to my lord the king?” NKJV  Life is winding down.

 

III.  Remember That Even the Young Die  Ecclesiastes 12:6-8 “Remember your Creator before the silver cord is loosed, Or the golden bowl is broken, Or the pitcher shattered at the fountain, Or the wheel broken at the well.  The the dust will return to the earth as it was, And the spirit will return to God who gave it.  ‘Vanity of vanities’, says the Preacher, ‘All is vanity.’ ” NKJV

 

·  The house will one day collapse, as all houses do.  Death is like the silver cord snapping – a possible referral to the lifeline connecting man’s spirit to his body.  Death is like a pitcher shattered and wheel broken.  When the wheel is broken, the pitcher falls into the well and is useless.

·  To die is to return to the dust.  (Psalm 103:14) “For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust.” NKJV  One day our bodies will go into the ground and our spirits will return to God the Creator to await the resurrection.

·  So young people, remember God while you are making important life decisions.  Remember Him while you still have the strength and passion of youth.

Conclusion:

Ecclesiastes’ conclusion is for young and old alike.  Read Ecclesiastes 12:13-14.  “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter:  Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all.  For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil.” NKJV  This is the whole of man; this is what life is all about.  The most important thing for anyone is to fear God and keep His commandments.  “Fear God” – Honor, revere, worship Him.  (Proverbs 14:27) “The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, To turn one away from the snares of death.” NKJV  “Keep His commandments” – Obey His holy word.  (I John 2:3-5) “Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments.  He who says, ‘I know Him,’ and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.  But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him.  By this we know that we are in Him.” NKJV  This is man’s reason for being.  There is a final judgment.  (Romans 2:16) “in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.” NKJV  Everything you said or did or thought has eternal significance.  Even why you did it matters.  That’s why “Fear God and keep His commandments” is something everyone needs to hear.

 

Bobby Stafford  February 3, 2019