Under the Sun / Week 9

Remember God During the Prime of Life

Ecclesiastes 11:7-12:1

August 28, 2022

Introduction:

I.Today’s passage has a special word for everyone:

1. Young people, those in prime of life and those who are

old

2. He defines the prime of life as whose body is still

functioning free from the effects of aging.

3. He defines old as anyone whose body is waning away and

severely limiting their ability to engage in life!

• Let’s start with those who are young and those still in the prime

of life

II. Remember the Lord during the prime of life.

I.This passage really turns around three key words that all start with

the letter “r”.

1. Rejoice v7-9

2. Remove v10 – the obstacles that keep us from rejoicing

3. Remember 12:1–center which life should revolve around

II.As I read this section I want you to watch for two things:

1. 3 “r’s”

2. Idea to do all of this “before” it is too late

3. Read 11:7-12:1

III.Rejoice - v7-9 – rejoice in the days of your youth

1. Note three times in v9 he refers to youth (young man,

childhood, young manhood) Reread v9a-b

2. In this verse, he tells us specifically how a young person

can rejoice in their youth.

3. Read 9c. – by following/pursuing your dreams

a. The things your heart desires and the things you see that you

want

4. However, he tempers the pursuing of those dreams by

saying - read 9d.

. This is not an encouragement to go out and do

whatever you want and follow every lust of your heart

but rather follow your dreams but do it with a sense of

accountability to God, do it in a godly way

a. Read Ecclesiastes 12:14 - God is going to judge

every deed, the things others see and the things that no

one sees but you and God. God’s judgment is:

1. Without partiality (in other words God has no

favorites, he does not care about the color of your

skin, your economic status whether rich or poor or

what position you hold)

2. All-inclusive as every human being will stand

before God in one way or another.

3. Fair in it where the punishment or reward will be

equal to the act.

4. Do it justly – that means everyone will be judged

by the same standard –God’s perfect standard

revealed in his word!

5. That awareness that he will hold us accountable for

every deed and every word in our lives should

change the way we live and cause us to trust him,

obey him and live holy lives

IV.Then in v10, he tells them what they need to remove in order to

enjoy life in a godly way.

1. Note the word “so” Read 10a –

. Vexation – it is a word in Hebrew that can be

translated as either grief or anger or

vexation. Basically some kind of irritation in heart

a. He is focusing upon the heart here and is saying

get rid of the things that are irritating your heart and

keeping you from enjoying life. Get rid of depression,

anger, and bitterness.

b. How are you doing? – Anything of this in your

heart? If so, address it immediately with God and the

help of others.

2. The second obstacle we need to remove are the sins of the

body. Read 10b

. Pain in Hebrew is literally translated as evil.

a. The sins of the body are the various different

ways we can use our bodies to sin – overeat, substance

abuse, laziness, sexual, etc.

3. So get rid of the things in your heart that are stinking it up

and the sins of your body so you can enjoy this life now

because this youth thing, the prime of life, flies by

quickly.

V.Remember – 12:1 – read – remember God, put him at the center of

everything while you are young, in the prime of life and you can

enjoy life to its fullest!

VI.Remember your creator -

1. One of the great gifts of still having a body in the prime of

life is that you can use your life for God in a big way,

without the limitations that poor health can bring.

• Now there is a shift in the emphasis of this passage from

remembering the Lord during the prime of life to

III. Remember the Lord before you die

I.With getting older comes declining capabilities of the body.

II.This passage is built around two key words – “remember” and

“before.”

1. We are to remember him before three things set in!

a. v1 before – your youth passes away

b. v2-5 before – old age sets in

c. V6-7 before – you die.

III.In v2-5 the image of a deteriorating house is used to picture for us

the impact of old age upon us. There is a lot of debate over the

meaning of the “specific” images used in this passage, but they all

agree that “image as a whole” is describing the deterioration of the

body and human vigor that comes with aging that ultimately

culminates in death. Read 2-5

IV.Then in v 6-7 he tells us to remember God before we die as he

gives us four images that picture death for us, read v6-7

V.Remembering God before it is too late is the main idea that drives

this whole section, whether young, prime of life or old!

1. When he says “remember” he is not just talking about

bringing God back to mind so we do not forget God

2. The Hebrew dictionary defines it as remembering him in

such a way that causes us to respond to him in a way that

is worthy of who he is.

3. So to remember God means to live moment by moment

with God at the center of your life, seeking him, serving

him, loving him, trusting him, and obeying him and on

and on and on.

• So what does all this mean for you and me today?

IV. Application

I.A number of years ago I gave one of my doctors the tape I did on

living to the fullest because we are going to die! (I did that again

just two weeks ago). Next time I saw him he said, “You am in

deep ----; I am upset with you, you have ruined my life.” I said,

“You must of listened to my cd”

1. Day after listened to tapes, first person he was supposed to

see, that man’s wife died that weekend. It hit the doc like

a hammer

2. He said, “I have realized that all these plans I have made

for the future may never happen – my wife or I may not be

there for them. All my savings and all my planning may

never happen.”

3. I need to do something now! I was planning to make some

minor changes – now I have to make major changes and I

do not know what to do.

II.So are you living moment by moment with Jesus at the center of

your life, seeking him, serving him, loving him, trusting him, and

obeying him and on and on and on?

III.You are not too young

1. Mary mother of Jesus – was in her early teens when God

chose her to be the mother of Jesus

2. Most if not all of the disciples, the ones whom Jesus

deeply invested in for three years then entrusted with the

world-wide great commission were also in their teens

3. I know of kids here at MVC in 3rd grade who have invited

friends to clubs, prayed for them and talked to them about

Jesus.

4. We have kids in fifth and sixth grade working as helpers

in the Sunday kid’s classes and even the cameras on

Sunday morning.

5. High school kids working in the junior high department

and club impacting junior highs

6. College kids and young singles investing deeply in high

school students

7. High school, college and young singles who have been

involved in leading us in worship!

8. MVC itself has seen young people all the way back to Ron

Hutchcraft to recently Sydney Lach and Ted Aguilar make

a deep impact for Jesus both within and beyond these

walls.

IV.You are not too old to seek the Lord, serve him and be

fruitful. God’s desire and ability to use you even in your old age is

not done – remember Caleb?

1. Caleb was a man who had a different spirit than the

others. He was a man who when everyone else saw

obstacles, Caleb saw an opportunity for God to do his

thing.

2. At the age of 85 Caleb still walking with, serving and

trusting God, took a hill from a group of people who were

very big and strong and who lived in fortified cities

3. Be a Caleb as you age – there are plenty of others around

to complain and see problems, but what MVC needs, what

the kingdom of God needs, what your family and friends

need. They need a Caleb or a Calebette who see God as

bigger than any problem they face and serve him until the

end!

4. Too many seniors have checked out at MVC and there are

too many needs that they could meet here at MVC. A

great place to start is working on Sunday mornings in the

children’s ministry so you can impact young people and

relieve some overworked brothers and sisters who often

need to miss church themselves!

5. Let me encourage you with a life giving passage –

a. Turn to Psalm 92:12-15 – still yield fruit in old age – full of

sap

b. Do not waste this opportunity to pour out on others what

should be the most abundant and best fruit you should have if you

have walked with Jesus even into your old age