Ecclesiastes 11:7 – 12:8 How to Live Life

How to Live Life

Ecclesiastes 11:7–12:8

Introduction: “Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher; vanity of vanities, all is vanity.” The Preacher began his sermon with these words and ended his sermon with these words. It sounds so depressing, so hopeless. But if that is what we are thinking when we hear these words, we are sorely mistaken!

There are two reasons we are mistaken:

• First, we are not reading “vanity” the way the Preacher intends it. As nearly every biblical scholar points out, the Hebrew word carries the idea of vapor, that which appears for a moment and then vanishes. In fact, 11:10 removes all doubt. No one, under any circumstances, even considering it as “under the sun,” would say that childhood and youth are meaningless, as translated by the NIV, or futility as rendered by other versions. To emphasize further, NASB deviates from translating “futility” when they come to 11:10 and they translate “fleeting.” Yes! That makes sense, especially in the context: “Remove vexation from your heart, and put away pain from your body, for youth and the dawn of life are fleeting.”
• Second, when we realize that the Preacher has been teaching us that finding joy and pleasure under the sun is fleeting, soon vanishes without permanence, and therefore does not give lasting profit and fulfillment, he doesn’t mean we can’t find joy and pleasure in this life!
• And that, is his message in this conclusion of his sermon.

1. Rejoice, Remove, Remember! (11:9–12:1)
   1. Verses 7-8 are the introduction or foundation for the rest of our text. Do not let the uncertainties of life and future (3-6) cast a pale of discouragement over your life.
      1. “Light is sweet, and it is pleasant for the eyes to see the sun.” God has given us a wonderful gift of light and life. Every morning when the sun comes up we should be thankful and rejoice. Light and the sun are a daily message from God, just as the cloud and the fire in the wilderness, that God is present and only he is the ultimate source of life and light. John even begins his gospel with, “In him was life, and the life was the light of mankind” (John 1:4).
      2. In fact, these words are not only metaphorical, going outside and feeling the sun and the light helps defeat anxiety and “vexation.” Remember the Covid shutdown. Depression was rampant.
   2. In the next three verses, the Preacher turns to those who are young. Young people, this is the best of the best! These admonitions need to be examined carefully and repeatedly rehearsed to make sure you are staying on track.
   3. Verse 9:
      1. “Rejoice in your youth…” It is very possible that those of you who are young have thought God doesn’t want you to find enjoyment and pleasure. It is not so. Even Paul makes this point in 1 Timothy 6:17, “…do not set your hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy.”
      2. There are many things your “eyes” and your “heart” may want to explore and enjoy. But there is a warning in the text: All things that you choose will be brought into judgment before God! Therefore, consider how you should navigate this period in your life. Obviously, to involve yourself in anything sinful or that will weaken your spiritual life must be excluded. This means you must continue to make careful evaluations of what you might pursue.
      3. Therefore, there are at least two considerations:
         1. First, youth is when you will be pursuing a career. Your choice can greatly affect your spiritual life! If you choose a career that typically requires a lot of extra hours and time away from home, that will have a significant affect on your marriage, your family, and your walk with God. Warning! Do not allow the glitter of more money affect the priority of God and your family!
         2. The second consideration is that recreational activities can become addicting to the point that God, the church (God’s people), and your personal spiritual growth get little attention. This is super dangerous and sinful! Recreation is an idol in America, and Christians have too many times bought into this idolatry. Remember, it is quite easy to revert to “life under the sun” — chasing the wind… and all is vanity.
   4. Verse 10: “Remove vexation from your heart and pain from your body…”
      1. “Vexation” is translated different ways: “pain, sorrow, troubles, anger, worry, anxiety, emotional stress.”
      2. “Pain” in the Hebrew indicates, “troubles, calamity, disaster, evil, wickedness, that which is harmful.”
      3. In all, the idea is, pay attention to Proverbs! There is a cause and effect to everything you do and everything you choose, and everything you say. As NIV states, “Banish” these activities from you life.
      4. Let’s get something straight: everyone suffers the consequences of their actions and words, and young people are the ones most susceptible to this. When you deal with the above—pain, sorrow, troubles, anger, and emotional stress—look at yourself first! You are the most likely source of your misery, and there is no sense in that happening, especially in youth.
      5. The concluding words of verse 10 are significant! Your days of youth are going to disappear like a vapor, never to return. Don’t waste these beautiful years!
   5. 12:1 “Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come…” If you are young, you may not realize the full significance of this exhortation. Consider why this is valuable:
      1. First, as the text points out, the early years of your life is when you have the most desire, the most energy, and the most flexibility with your time. That will change in a very short time, especially if you get married and have children.
      2. Second, it is in your youth when you set the course of your life. If you begin by choosing a path in which you compromise your spirituality and commitment to God, it will become increasingly difficult to change that course.
      3. Third, the sins of youth, (“sowing your wild oats”), result in a major scarring of your mind. Those sins create strong memories and increased temptations in your life even after repentance.
      4. Fourth, you have no guarantee that you will repent. You have no idea how deep you mind goes when you stay in sin and you far away from God your heart is moving. And that is true even if you still “go to church.”
2. 12:2-7 A fun metaphorical picture of old age and death. As we read it, we typically get a chuckle out of the descriptions. But once we have had our laughs, we need to understand how serious the Preacher is. The journey death is inevitable. Therefore, there are two truths that are inevitable:

1. 1. “The spirit returns to God who made it.” This fact is out of our control. It is going to happen whether we accept it or not. We will go back into the hands of God and God will control our ultimate destiny. It is only now that we have a choice.
   2. “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.” Read those words this way: Everything is going to fly by with incredible speed. You have a very short time to make the right decisions.

Conclusion: Therefore, “Rejoice, Remove, and Remember!”

Berry Kercheville

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