"How Should We Then Live?”

May 20, 2007

Introduction

 

            The title of our sermon this morning is the title of a book by Francis A. Schaeffer.  The book and the man have made such an impression on men that 126 books cite this book.  This book is like many others for me.  I am fascinated by the title, but I have never read the book.

 

            This morning, we turn to another book.  Overall, I think of it as a rather sad book.  It is called Ecclesiastes.  It was written by Solomon, apparently toward the end of his life.  There is a theme to the book, let’s hear it:  (Eccl 12:8 NKJV)  "Vanity of vanities," says the Preacher, "All is vanity."  The word vanity is used 33 times in 29 verses in the 12 chapters of this rather short book.

 

            The NKJV, KJV, and NASV, all use the word “vanity.”  The  (Eccl 1:2 NIV)  reads "Meaningless! Meaningless!" says the Teacher. "Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless."  (Eccl 1:2 NCV)  The Teacher says, "Useless! Useless! Completely useless! Everything is useless." 

 

Body

 

 I        But what is Solomon talking about when he says, “Everything is meaningless.”?

 

1. We hear the expression, “Wine, Women, and Song.”  Did he try these?

                       

1.  He had wine.

 

(Eccl 2:3 NKJV)  I searched in my heart how to gratify my flesh with wine, while guiding my heart with wisdom, and how to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was good for the sons of men to do under heaven all the days of their lives.

 

2.  He had women.

 

(Eccl 2:8 NASB)  Also, I collected for myself silver and gold, and the treasure of kings and provinces. I provided for myself male and female singers and the pleasures of men-- many concubines.   

(Eccl 2:8 NCV)  I also gathered silver and gold for myself, treasures from kings and other areas. I had male and female singers and all the women a man could ever want.”  

(Eccl 2:8 NIV)  I amassed silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and provinces. I acquired men and women singers, and a harem as well--the delights of the heart of man.

 

3.      He had songs.

 

(Eccl 2:8 NKJV)  I also gathered for myself silver and gold and the special treasures of kings and of the provinces. I acquired male and female singers, the delights of the sons of men, and musical instruments of all kinds.

4.      He had his own Botanical Gardens:

 

 (Eccl 2:4-6 NKJV)  I made my works great, I built myself houses, and planted myself vineyards. {5} I made myself gardens and orchards, and I planted all kinds of fruit trees in them. {6} I made myself water pools from which to water the growing trees of the grove.” 

 

5.      We haven’t touched on many of the chapters and what else they cover, but hear his theme.

 

a.  (Eccl 12:8 NKJV)  "Vanity of vanities," says the Preacher, "All is vanity."

b.  There is a clarifying statement:  “Under the sun”  Life without God.

 

(Eccl 2:18 NKJV)  Then I hated all my labor in which I had toiled under the sun, because I must leave it to the man who will come after me.

 

2. What is Solomon’s advice?

 

1.      To Fear God and keep his commandments.

 

(Eccl 12:13-14 KJV)  Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. {14} For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

 

2.      To start life with God when we are young.

 

(Eccl 12:1 NKJV)  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":

 

II       How do we remember our Creator in our youth?

 

1. By acknowledging that we need God’s guidance.

 

(Jer 10:23 NKJV)  O LORD, I know the way of man is not in himself; It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps.

 

2. By being willing to accept “the old paths.”

 

(Jer 6:16 NKJV)  Thus says the LORD: "Stand in the ways and see, And ask for the old paths, where the good way is, And walk in it; Then you will find rest for your souls. But they said, 'We will not walk in it.'

 

3. By learning to fear God.

 

(Eccl 12:13 KJV)  Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man

1.  The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.

 

(Prov 1:7-8 NKJV)  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction. {8} My son, hear the instruction of your father, And do not forsake the law of your mother;

 

2.  Our respect for others is heightened when we fear God.

 

a.       God commands us to obey our parents.

 

(Eph 6:1-3 NKJV)  Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. {2} "Honor your father and mother," which is the first commandment with promise: {3} "that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth."

 

b.      He commands us to obey the laws of the land.

 

(Rom 13:1-2 NKJV)  Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. {2} Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.

 

c.       He commands us to work hard for our employer.

 

3.      “Keeping His commandments” is so vital to a good life.

 

a.       We learn what is right and what is wrong.

 

(Gal 5:19-25 NKJV)  Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, {20} idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, {21} envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. {22} But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, {23} gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. {24} And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. {25} If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

 

b.      The benefits are for this life and the world to come.

 

(Mark 10:29-30 NKJV)  So Jesus answered and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel's, {30} "who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time; houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions; and in the age to come, eternal life.

 

Things go better when we do it the Lord’s way.

Relationships of all kinds. – family, work, and friends.

Relations with those of the opposite sex.

Being at peace with God gives a calm and assurance that otherwise we do not know.

 

Conclusion

 

How then shall we live?

 

Let’s live according to the will of God

 

Have you been born again?  Are you a Christian?

 

Scripture quotations marked "NKJV™" are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

 

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