Life In a Nutshell

Text: Ecclesiastes 12:9-14

Introduction:

 Two aspects to the Christian life

 Sincerity

 Truth

 Truth without sincerity is hypocrisy

 Sincerity without truth is heresy

Proposition: Man cannot be fulfilled unless he is in a right relationship with God.

Transitional Sentence: Solomon gives us two components of the right kind of life.

 
  1. Truth (12:9-12)
    1. Goads: Keep us on the right path
      1. Goad of affliction
      2. Goad of sickness
      3. Goad of persecution
      4. Goad of failure
    2. Well-driven nails: Anchor our souls in the truth
      1. Nail of inspiration
      2. Nail of immutability
      3. Nail of integrity
  2. Sincerity (12:13-14)
    1. Fearing God
      1. Beginning of wisdom
      2. Fear not him who can kill the body, but...
    2. Keeping His commandments
      1. If you love me keep my commandments
      2. Obey out of love (the love of Christ constrains us)
      3. God will judge
        1. Negative
        2. Positive

Conclusion:

 It helps to get the big picture. Solomon has experimented with every lifestyle, philosophy, and reasoning known to man. Under the sun, apart from God, every position is vanity. However, when you get God's perspective then you see that there really is a purpose for living, a reason to the madness. Life is worth living if we live it for the Lord and bring honor and glory to Him.

 Army slogan: "Be all you can be," join God's army