Living Bold

Ecclesiastes 11:7-10

Ecclesiastes, Part 19

Tonight we will consider two necessary ingredients in living boldly for God.

1. REJOICE, No matter what! (Ecclesiastes 11:7-9)

Now, Solomon specifically speaks to young people to rejoice, for they are often the ones who complain of boredom. Young person, realize the gift of youth! We are not young for long, we must maximize our brief time on earth!

A. REJOICE NOW! (v.7,8)

"If a man live many years, and rejoice in them all…"

Don't put off enjoying life. Do not think you have to have new barns built before you can eat, drink, and be merry. God can help you rejoice today! Although it is easier to rejoice in the days of sunlight, remember the days of darkness will be many in your life, too. Do not forget that God gives us both the light and the dark, good days and bad days, days of pain and without pain, so we must learn to rejoice in them all. Focus on what God is doing rather than weep that everything is not just like it used to be. Rejoice in all of your years, the young ones full of hope, the middle years that seem unfulfilling, and the later years where pain and sickness must be battled. Rejoice no matter what!

The rich fool (Luke 12:16-21) thought he had to have bigger barns before he could rejoice. And guess what? He never got those barns built.

B. REJOICE in the Lord (v.9)

Solomon does not have sinful pleasures in mind. He tried all of that, and what did he find: VANITY. Furthermore he says, God will bring you into judgment. He is saying, Rejoice, but realize that God will judge us for everything we do in this body. He is not encouraging a drunken rejoicing, but a genuine rejoicing.

I went to a baseball game once with my children. Four guys who were drunk sat next to us. They laughed all the way through the game. Cursing, acting silly and somewhat stupid. That kind of rejoicing wears off when the beer is gone. I want to give you three things you can rejoice in no matter what your circumstances. Our joy is not based upon the changing circumstances, but in the unchanging Christ. Some people their joy is based upon the tides, or the moon! Let me give you three things you should wake up to every day. On the job rejoicing. Morning rejoicing! Always rejoicing!

1. The Person of God Himself: Phil.4:4, In the LORD...
2. The WORD of God: Thy words were found, and I did eat them, and they were the joy and rejoicing of my heart.
3. Our SALVATION: Luke 10:20; Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven. Our names are written in the book of life.

(Illus. Ezra 3:11-13) Thank God for the present progress rather than weep that things are not just like they used to be in the good old days. They wanted to rejoice in the physical structure rather than in the presence of God. Rejoice now, and rejoice in the LORD. Optimistically face the future and realize that the past is just that, past. Reach out to what is before you. You can't live in the past, you must live NOW!

2. REJECT the sins of this world, Ecclesiastes 11:10

If we are going to beat boredom, we must remove some things from our life, and Solomon tells us at least two things which on the surface may seem to provide some excitement, but in the long run they will lead to a dead end. He says,

A. SINS OF THE SPIRIT, such as "sorrow."

Remove sorrow, or anger, vexation, and resentment from your heart. If you have any sorrow resulting from anger, you will often sit and brood over that. It must be removed before you can enjoy life! If you live with this inner pain and anger and hurt, it will be paid for later on in life.

B. SINS OF THE FLESH

We must reject such behavior as drinking, smoking, drugs, sexual immorality. Put all these away from you! When people are young they have a sense of immortality, but the writer tells us, "childhood and youth are vanity." It means that they are transient, passing away, youth passes away into old age. Young people who take care of their hearts and bodies, who avoid the sins of the spirit and the sins of the flesh, have a better chance of growing better and not bitter.
Galatians 5:19-21 categorize the sins of the flesh and the sins of the spirit.

The years of youth pass quickly. Spurgeon said, "Youthful sins lay a foundation for aged sorrows."

If we are going to live a bold life for God, we must rejoice in all our days and reject the sins of this world! We will lose our boldness through a lack of joy and through sin