"However many years a man may live, let him enjoy them all.
But let him remember the days of darkness, for they will be many.
Everything to come is meaningless...youth and vigor are meaningless."
Eccles.11:8,10.
Our bodies age quicker than we want. Our strength fades. Consider these two world records for bench pressing. In 2013, at age 37, Eric Spoto, set a new record for bench pressing- 722 lbs. Wow, what strength! That same year, at age 91, Sy Perlis set a new record for those 90+, bench pressing 187 lbs. Ugh! That reminds us of what we would rather not remember- we lose so much strength as we age. Yet Ecclesiastes stresses that it is important to remember that we are decaying and to remember our Creator in the days of our youth. For many of us, our youth is in the rear-view mirror. What awaits us? Read Eccles.11:7-12:8 now for a very poetic description of old age awaiting us.
Old age does not sound inviting, does it? I lived with my aged grandfather while I went to Kellogg Community College before going off to Bible college in W.Va. He did not see, hear or walk well in his late years. He was unsaved and more than once declared, "There's not one good thing about growing old! Name me one!" My dad tried to comfort him by answering, "Memories." Grandpa lived to age 88. And my dad made it to 89. I'd like to think I could make it to age 90. Ever tried to guess-timate how long you might live? Will you make it to 90? What will you look like? Here's a great video of a man who was born in 1919, showing his appearance morphing until he died at age 90. Ugh!
Why all this talk about old age and death here and in Ecclesiastes? Because as Solomon has already declared that since "death is the destiny of every man; the living should take this to heart" Eccles.7:2. So remember to honor Him before your life breaks down at the well of life. That's what 12:6 is describing-
"Remember him before the silver cord is severed, (the cord to the bucket)
or the golden bowl is broken;
before the pitcher is shattered at the spring (which the water would be put in)
or the wheel broken at the well" (the wheel over which that the cord and bucket were lowered into the well.)
Remember, Solomon has repeatedly commended the enjoyment of food, family, friends, work, rest, etc, as gracious gifts from God. Enjoy them in the midst of life that can be down-right confusing, frustrating and fleeting (meaningless). In light of our decaying and death, he is not advocating living for pleasure (hedonism), but living for the Lord, the Giver of all these good things (see James 1:17). And he calls us to remember that "for all these things, God will bring you to judgment" 11:9.
With the progress of revelation, the NT reminds us to not only enjoy God's gifts, but to live to advance God's kingdom. A well said quote reminds us, "Only one life, 'twill soon be past; only what's done for Christ will last." Pastor Adrian Rogers told about visiting a dying old Christian man from his congregation. The man said to him, "I'm not afraid to die, but I am ashamed to die." He had not lived to advance God's kingdom, to reach or teach others, to mature and multiply others. He had lived for himself. "A Christian wrapped up in himself makes a pretty small package. I'm so glad you are wrapped up in Christ and his kingdom cause. You are remembering what is vitally important.
"Remember your Creator in the days of your youth" Eccles.12:1
"Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David" 2 Tim.2:8.
Remember your epitaph and your GREAT co-mission- to Multiply MANLY Men.
1.- What's one verse from Eccles.11:7-12:8 that grabs your interest? Share it and some of your thoughts about it.
2.- The average lifespan of an American male now is
Imagine it's your 75th birthday. Let's say that each year until then you just recruited one new man to M3. Do the math. How many men would you have recruited by then?
That's a lot of M3 men to come to your birthday party! But here is where it gets mind blowing. Imagine that each one of the men you recruited also recruited only one man each year. How many would be at your party? The math is mind bending. It doubles every year- 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128, 254 (to make it easier, call it 250), 500, 1,000! And that's just reaching one person a year for 10 years! Several of you have reached 2 or more in 7 months.
2.- Who are the men you are now seeking to recruit to M3?
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