TOPIC: The Preacher's Precept for a Proper Life
TEXT: Ecclesiastes 10, 11& 12
KEY TEXT:Ecclesiastes 12:13
Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
DISCUSSION:
As we consider the Passage for today, there are precept for living a fulfilled life in our generation, and these could be divide into three, Personal Life, Investment Life and Godly Life and this talks about the balanced life demanded from us as believers.
1. Precept for our Personal Life
2. Precept for Profitable Life
3. Pattern for Pleasing God in Life
1. Precept for our Personal Life
Ecclesiastes 10:1
Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour.
Dead Flies typifies undesired traits/ characters/ Behaviors that have a tendency of corrupting our good manners, and this chapter highlights some if them:
• 10:2,18 - Laziness
• 10:3,11-14 - Talkativeness
• 10:4,20 - Rebellion against Leaders
• 10:10 - Poor Preparation
• 10:17 - Gluttony
2. Precept for Profitable Life
Ecclesiastes 11:1 Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.
This Chapter explains the precept of Investment and Charity, and how to balance these with pleasing God.
Three things could be highlighted.
• Precept for Investment
Verse one talks of casting our bread upon the waters, this is describing the way they planted, and this typifies investment. Some of the precept we see from this verse and verse three to six are:
> Self denial, Don't consume all you have invest a portion. (vs 1,3)
> Don't wait till you have big income before you invest, look not at the weather, save even when there are challenges to spend on (vs 4)
> Be not slack in investment, as a young person, or an aged person you can still save (vs 6)
• Precept for Charity and donations
in the second verse we see the principle of giving to the needy, and this is the principle of
> Indiscrimination, give to all you can
> When you have give all you plan to give(7: meaning complete), and there comes another (the eight), and you yet have the capacity to help withhold not your help.
> Give as though, even if you don't give it, something else will take it from you, hence give as an investment in other people's lives.
• Precept for Balance
Ecclesiastes 11:9 ...but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment.
The precept of balance is to know that whatever we do shall be judged, hence don't
> Accumulate undue Riches
> Invest in undue Businesses
> Oppress the poor with what you have.
3. Pattern for Pleasing God in Life
Ecclesiastes 12:1 Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;
This scripture admonishes us to give our best time to God and his Service, because this only is what God deserves, and demands. And this chapter offers the precept for doing this:
> Serve God now that you have the Strength (vs 1)
> Take pleasure in serving God (vs 1)
> Serve God with the eternity in view (vs 7,14)
> Serve God in accordance to his Written word (vs 10)
> Serve God with the fear and reverence.(vs 13 )
CHALLENGE: A Proper life is a balance of Personal, Investment, and Godly Life, and such is Pleasing to God
PRAYER: Help Lord to live a Proper and pleasing life to you.
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