The Right Conclusion of a Committed Heart

Ecclesiastes 12:9-14

Ecclesiastes, Part 20

We are all wasting away. What was once a shape becomes a bulge. Baldness, bifocles, and the bulge are signs of life growing old.

You know you're growing older when:

When you know all the answers but nobody asks you the questions.
When you look forward to a dull evening.
When you sit in a rocking chair and can't get it going!
When your knees buckle and your belt doesn't.
When your back goes out more than you do.
When you sink your teeth into a steak and they stay there.

Neither you or I can stop the aging process, but we can stay fresh on the inside. We can be recharged daily as believers in Jesus Christ.

"The drive you need to drive from mediocrity to excellence is commitment."
As Solomon finishes this amazing book, he makes a Right Conclusion. Why? He finally realizes a true commitment to the Lord. If we are going to make the right decisions in life, we need commitment. If we are going to be successful in God's sight, we need commitment. Christians are the "company of the committed." Do you know, people want to be committed to something that gives them significance in their life. People want to make a difference. There is no one greater to commit ourself to than Jesus Christ. Than is nothing greater to commit ourselves to than His church. The cause of Jesus Christ and His church is greater than any one of us. I do not make any apology in saying that the most significant thing you can do with your life is coming to Christ and then getting involved in serving Christ and serving others at this church. Folks, we are on a mission. We are here to influence lives for eternity. We must keep a fresh vision of what we are doing! Let us see three dramatic commitments he makes.

1. SPEAK WORDS THAT COUNT

He says, I will speak words that count for eternity.

A. Words of Wisdom: Knowledge appropriately applied.

Proverbs 8:6 Hear, for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things.

B. Words of Knowledge:

Our words should benefit others with helpful information that will teach, encourage, and help.

C. Words that are Thoughtful:

Proverbs 16:23, "The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth."

He did not want to talk off the top of his head. Like my father always told me, Think before you speak! He did not want to answer until he studied out a matter. Careful words. Words well chosen. If we are going to speak before others, we ought to study and prepare. Well chosen words have a greater impact than haphazard words. Proverbs are thoughtful words, brief sayings drawn from long experiences.

D. Words that are Delightful:

Proverbs 16:24: Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.

The word, "acceptable" means "delightful, easy to grasp, readily applied." He did not want to bore people with tedious words, but he was committed to speaking so that others would enjoy listening. How terrible to bore people with words that are not understood, when we have the most wonderful message in all the world!

E. Words of Truth:

Proverbs 23:23: Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom..."

In other words, pay whatever you have to pay to get the truth, but do not sell it for any price. Get the facts at any price! This book is the facts! He wanted to speak words of truth, words from the "One shepherd." Nothing is greater than speaking the words of truth, and the words of life. Truth changes lives. Truth sets people free. Truth delivers from darkness.

E. Words that Produce Change:

"The words of the wise are as goads." Goads were a farm instrument used to prod animals to move. Yes, words can jab us, step on our toes, correct us, reprove us, and direct us. Words have the power to prod us into action and bring about change. Yes, words are a powerful tool. Never underestimate the power of your words, or the words of others. Words do have the power to produce change, and the preacher says I am committed to speaking words that are like goads, words will change people for the good.

F. Words that Stabilize:

He says I want to speak words that are like nails. Nails are fasteners. Speak words that help people to NAIL DOWN TRUTH. NAIL DOWN the decision that needs to be made. Words of truth and words from God help people to be stable, sturdy, solid, and secure. People need to be fastened to the word of truth today. Many people have lives that are falling apart, through divorce, loss of job, emotional problems; they need words that will be like nails in their life, words that will encourage them and stabilize them and comfort them through the trials and storms of life.

Some people seem alergic to commitments. Everything worthwhile requires commitment, and committing ourselves to speak the truth in love and to minister God's Word is something great to be committed toward. Paul was committed, "None of these things move me, neither count I my life as dear unto myself, in order that I may finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God." Romans 15:20, "Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man's foundation."

2. Build a Relationship with God, v.13

I want to build a relationship that will last for eternity. A walk with God.

This sounds like a tough assignment, to fear God and keep his commandments, but in fact, the writer is just saying, build a relationship with God. I am committed to knowing God.

A. To fear God in practice is to RESPECT Him.

Relationships grow when there is respect. Can you trust someone who does not respect you? NO. Do you not want to be respected? YES. WHY? Because you think you have the character that others should respect you. Listen, God is absolutely holy, and he deserves every ounce of respect we can give him.

When you fear God, you fear nothing else, but if you do not fear God, you fear everything else.

Noah feared God, he respected God.

Hebrews 11:7, By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house...

B. To keep His commandments is to OBEY Him.

We must keep His commandments to love Him and love one another. We of course are not under the commandments of the Old Testament, but a new commandment we have been given which is really not an old commandment,

Obedience is Loving: John 13:34

Obedience is Believing: We need an enthusiastic faith. Are you excited about what you believe? 1 John 3:23

Obedience is Service: We are commanded to serve the LORD with gladness.
Success is not: How I look, What I have, or who I know, but what I am.

These two simple truths are the whole purpose of man. If we do these two things we will be successful.

3. Prepare for Judgment Day, v.14

A. There will be rewards for the faithful righteous!

One of the keys to success in the Christian life is to focus on the reward. We must keep our eyes on the prize! There is such thing as an EXTERNAL motivation, but there is a better motivation than than, INTERNAL motivation, but the highest is ETERNAL MOTIVATION.
We have to decide what is important. The key to persistence is perspective, and we must keep an eternal perspective.

Question: What's going to last the longest?

Hebrews 11:26; How could Moses refuse Pharoah's family, choose affliction, reject sin, forsake Egypt, and endure? One, He "had respect unto the recompence of the reward." That is, he was preparing for judgment day. Two, he "saw Him who was invisible." That is, he built his relationship with God. Third, he was committed to speaking God's Word and putting it down in a "book of rememberance!"

B. There will be a loss of reward for the unfaithful righteous.

C. There will be doom for the lost.

This life is a preparation ground for heaven. Imagine when you die and about fifty years later womebody in heaven comes up to you and says, "I want to thank you." You reply, I'm sorry, but I don't think I know you." Then they explain, "You started a singles ministry at Heritage Baptist Church, and although it wasn't a huge ministry, you served, sacrificed, and built that ministry that reached me for Christ after you died. I'm in heaven because of you."