Enjoying Life and pleasing God

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

Our Theme: Living the best life in Christ through obeying God’s word. 

Solomon, the preacher, the son of David, lived life to the fullest; he enjoyed all the desires of his heart

Eccl. 2:10, “And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labor and this was my portion of all my labor.”

Solomon did not deprive himself of any pleasures his heart desired; he had it all: he did life his way/ all the things we think will bring joy, Solomon had it!!
 
  • He possesses power and the highest position in the land
  • He had more money than anyone could spend
  • He possesses the finest palaces in the land
  • He possesses the best chariots of his day
  • He dressed in the finest clothes of his day
  • He really had the bling bling every day
  • His popularity spread throughout the whole world

But having and experiencing all of that the world had to offer, Solomon concluded that his life was empty and had no meaning; he called it all vanity.

It took him his whole life to discover that the best life is in Christ, to live in Christ is the enjoyment of life

To live outside of Christ is not living at all; you merely exist, and if there is no Jesus, there is no enjoyment

Solomon gives the conclusion in vs. 13, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: fear God and keep his commandment: for this is the whole duty of man.”

Solomon instructs and warns young people to enjoy their youth, but do it God’s way, not by the desires of the heart, which is self- indulgence.
 
Enjoying Life and pleasing God
  1. Obey God’s commandment to Worship him- vs.13a
  2. Obeying God’s commandment to keep His Commandments- vs. 13b
  3. Embracing God's purpose for your life- vs. 13c
  4. Live your life anticipating God’s judgment- vs.14

God made us to enjoy life in Christ at every stage of life, but we have to obey God’s word.

A big part of enjoying life is being in an intimate relationship with God and people.

When we are obedient to God, His joy floods our lives
 
  1. Obey God’s commandment to worship Him- vs. 13a
    “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter, Fear God.”
  1. Let us hear is a commandment to obey.
  • Hear is the Heb. word “shama” attention to obedience.
  1. Living the best life in Christ happens when we obey Christ.
  2. Fear God is yare, to worship God.
  3. Enjoying life and pleasing God is to worship Him, with your whole heart, mind, and soul.
  • Psalm 134:2, “Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and bless the Lord.”
 
  1. Obeying God’s commandment to keep his commandment- vs. 13c
“And keep his commandment.”
  1. Enjoying life and obeying starts with obey God’s word.
  2. Keep his commandment is to guard God’s commandments.
  3. Guard your heart from being infiltrated or influenced by the culture of this world.
  • The culture clashes with God and his word.
  • The culture says live like you feel, whatever you feel like doing, do it.
  1. Guard your heart like you guard your valuable possession
 
  1. Embracing God’s purpose for your life- vs. 13c
      “For this is the whole duty of man.”
  1. God’s purpose for your life is to bring glory to his name.
  2. We bring glory to God’s name by obeying Him.
  3. Our lives are really not our because we belong to God.
  • I Cor. 6:20, “For ye are bought with a price; therefore, glorify God in your body, and in your spirit which are God’s.”
  1. Our purpose is to live for Christ and not for our pleasure.
  • We are to live to please God, and the only way is through obeying God’s word
 
  1. Live your life in anticipation of God’s judgment- vs. 14
     “For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good or whether it be evil.”
  1. This is the reason why we are to worship God and obey his commandment.
  2. God’s will is that we enjoy the best life, but be careful how and what we are enjoying.
  3.  Solomon enjoyed everything under the sun without obeying God, and he concluded it was all vanity.
  • It was empty, futile, waste of time.
  • The truth is that if your enjoyment is not pleasing God, then you are not living the best life, because the best life is living for Christ


Young people, God wants you to enjoy life, but understand that life is a gift from God.

Real joy is only found in Christ, living for and allowing him to live through you.

Living the best life is a life of worship!
Living the best life is a life of ministry!
Living the best life is a life of fellowship!
Living the best life is a life of discipleship!
Living the best life is a life of evangelism!