September 8, 2009
Don't waste your life!
Ecclesiastes 12
Nate Graybill
Central Truth
Invest wisely. "[A]ccumulate for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Matthew 6:20-21)
Key Verse | Ecclesiastes 12:1
So remember your Creator in the days of your youth –
before the difficult days come,
and the years draw near when you will say, “I have no pleasure in them.” (Ecclesiastes 12:1)
Ecclesiastes 12
Remember Your Creator in Your Youth
1 Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”; 2 before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars are darkened and the clouds return after the rain, 3 in the day when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men are bent, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those who look through the windows are dimmed, 4 and the doors on the street are shut—when the sound of the grinding is low, and one rises up at the sound of a bird, and all the daughters of song are brought low— 5 they are afraid also of what is high, and terrors are in the way; the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags itself along, 1 12:5 Or is a burden and desire fails, because man is going to his eternal home, and the mourners go about the streets— 6 before the silver cord is snapped, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is shattered at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern, 7 and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it. 8 Vanity 2 12:8 The Hebrew term hebel can refer to a vapor or mere breath (three times in this verse); see note on 1:2 of vanities, says the Preacher; all is vanity.
Fear God and Keep His Commandments
9 Besides being wise, the Preacher also taught the people knowledge, weighing and studying and arranging many proverbs with great care. 10 The Preacher sought to find words of delight, and uprightly he wrote words of truth.
11 The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings; they are given by one Shepherd. 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.
13 The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. 3 12:13 Or the duty of all mankind 14 For God will bring every deed into judgment, with 4 12:14 Or into the judgment on every secret thing, whether good or evil.
Dive Deeper | Ecclesiastes 12
What would be more depressing than realizing in retirement that everything you worked for would soon be ashes? Your youthful energy was spent on mundane comfort in the “golden years” with little capacity left for the divine adventure.
Solomon is saying old age stinks: "It is difficult to move, see, hear and sleep. I have no teeth. I cannot enjoy my 1,000 wives and concubines (caper berry was an aphrodisiac). Everyone close by is old. I wasted life chasing the wind."
Recently, we buried my grandfather—a small town preacher for almost 40 years and a married man for over 60 years. When he died, my grandparents had few possessions and lived in a tiny apartment. As a child, I prayed that all my grandparents would live to meet my children. A month before his death (my first grandparent to die), Grandpa prayed a blessing over all four of my children.
When I examined Grandpa’s life, I saw love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control. His faith was modeled for my dad who modeled it for me, and I see God moving in my children. I never heard Grandpa say, “Absolutely futile,” but I remember him with raised hands joyfully worshiping with people one-quarter his age. He couldn’t see well, but he had sparkle in his eyes. He needed hearing aids, but sang hymns embedded in his soul.
My grandfather lived God’s commands to love God with all his heart, soul, mind, and strength and to love his neighbor as himself. His “golden years” were different than Solomon’s—having little wealth, but rich in spirit, blessing, and a legacy of faith. Now I, a third-generation pastor, can say, “Well done. Thanks for showing us the fountain of life.”
“How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God!
And the children of men take refuge in the shadow of Your wings.
They drink their fill of the abundance of Your house;
And You give them to drink of the river of Your delights.
For with You is the fountain of life;
In Your light we see light.”
(Psalm 36:7-9 NASB)
Discussion Questions
1. When you consider retirement, is godliness your central focus or merely an afterthought?
2. Do you spend as much time developing a spiritual legacy for your children as you do a financial legacy?
3. What are you afraid to sacrifice if God asked you to give it to Him? Why?
4. Are you enjoying the divine adventure today? What risks have you taken lately for the advancement of God’s kingdom?