IT’S ALL ABOUT OUR DUTY TO GOD!

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
2 Timothy 3:16-17

Text – Ecclesiastes 12: 1, 13 (read vv. 1-14)

“Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, “I find no pleasure in them.”  ² Before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars grow dark, and the clouds return after the rain; ³ when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men stoop, when the grinders cease because they are few, and those looking through the windows grow dim; ⁴ when the doors to the street are closed and the sound of grinding fades; when people rise up at the sound of birds, but all their songs grow faint; ⁵ when people are afraid of heights and of dangers in the streets; when the almond tree blossoms and the grasshopper drags itself along and desire no longer is stirred. Then people go to their eternal home and mourners go about the streets. ⁶ Remember him—before the silver cord is severed, and the golden bowl is broken; before the pitcher is shattered at the spring, and the wheel broken at the well, ⁷ and the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it. ⁸ “Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher. “Everything is meaningless!” ⁹ Not only was the Teacher wise, but he also imparted knowledge to the people. He pondered and searched out and set in order many proverbs. ¹⁰ The Teacher searched to find just the right words, and what he wrote was upright and true. ¹¹ The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails—given by one shepherd. ¹² Be warned, my son, of anything in addition to them. Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body. ¹³ Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter; Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind. ¹⁴ For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.” Ecclesiastes 12: 1-14 (NIV)

INTRODUCTION 

It has been taught that even though Solomon was in a “backslidden” state when he wrote the book of Ecclesiastes. Still, there has not been a wiser man born.  Nevertheless, as “The Preacher” continued to impart wise teachings to the people, we realize that he is speaking to everyone, but he is making sure that the people understand that as they live from the days of their youth until the days when they grow old, their lives will witness changes in the ways of the world around them, as well as the changes that will take place in their own bodies; and then they will eventually wind up dying. Therefore, they should live their lives in obedience and obeisance to God from the days of their youth until the time of their death.

POINTS 

• “Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, “I find no pleasure in them.” (v. 1, 2-5) – The Preacher is encouraging the people to render obeisance to God while they are young and not wait until they have gotten to the point where they are experiencing the weariness of age (expound).
• “Remember him—before the silver cord is severed, and the golden bowl is broken; before the pitcher is shattered at the spring, and the wheel broken at the well, 7 and the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.” (vv.6-7) – The Preacher is using these metaphors to remind the people that death will eventually come, and it will be there before they realize it (expound).
• “Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher. “Everything is meaningless!” 9 Not only was the Teacher wise, but he also imparted knowledge to the people. (vv. 8-9) – The Preacher was letting the people know that going through their same old everyday routines will eventually wind up meaning nothing because death is going to wind up having the last say (expound).

CONCLUSION 

Just as sure as the Preacher brought to our attention in the beginning of this chapter, we can rest assured that if we live long enough we can look forward to witnessing (and even experiencing) tremendous changes. But despite whatever changes we experience, or the changes we witness happening around us, we must never forget the final conclusion that the Preacher came to:

Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter; Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind.

It does not matter what spiritual state Solomon may have been in when he wrote this book, it is scripture and there is no question about the knowledge and wisdom of his words. What I find so unique about this passage of scripture is that he is making it crystal clear that what he is saying applies to ALL people. We know that for anyone to keep the commandments of GOD requires the aid of the Holy Spirit, and for a person to be taught, led, guided, and directed by the Holy Spirit means that they have the indwelt Holy Spirit, and this can only happen to the person who has been “BORN AGAIN!” (Expound and Conclude).