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!
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
