"Live Life Boldly Before You Can’t Live Life" (Ecclesiastes 11:1-12:8)

Good morning Woman is adding the hat.

This morning we will be hearing a sermon written by Reverend

Mark Chen with the title Live Life Boldly Before you can live

Life. The sermon was first preached at

the First Evangelical Reformed Church in Singapore in the year

2021. We're going to of us.

Ohh banana welcome advice. Hola and this and this advice

are all sound. They are all for our safety.

But there comes a time when children have to venture out.

You live wedding looking at the United Way, he Wasson not many

times play open the bias among in life.

We have to do these things. Imagine if we grew up and we

never did. Imagine if you grew up and you

did not take any risk at all no matter where you go with

19/20/20 now almost two years. Some of us, you know anyone by

our own choice. Do it better, man.

Yeah, we need to find the Mama families.

Nothing and will be for individual Mahawa Sabah.

But brothers and sisters, we cannot stay indoors forever.

Life is not meant to be safe, and even as Christians we are

sent as she into the means of the wolves.

My advice? Whether they are wise or unwise,

we know that they came from concerned hearts.

Animals are in my loved ones. I'm a prosper.

I'm a prophet because of world Maker.

Our parents gave it to us because they know that life is

hard, and that is one truth that we have been confronted with

over and over again in the book of Ecclesiastes for the best in

chapters. That life under the sun is

messy, that life is horrid. And then eventually we will all

die. But then the teacher has also

given us hope, like pockets of sweetness in life, Like maybe we

can enjoy good food, we can enjoy celebration, we can enjoy

work in our family. But also, the writer of Iglesias

knows that there are people who still cannot accept that.

And they live their lives with fear, with disappointment, with

weariness of making mistakes, and with bitterness.

The marble, the pockets of sweetnesses that was given to us

by God were not enough to cover our bitterness.

That's why in this chapter, Solomon responds to the

realities of life, that he has speech and he gives us three

pieces of advice, which will be our three headings for this

morning. Firstly, that life is uncertain,

but live it boldly by faith. Second, life is vain, but give

it joyfully in God. And lastly, life is hard, but

the time will come when you can't leave it anymore.

But before we proceed, let's go to the Lord in prayer in the

spring. Father God, we praise you and we

honour you for all the goodness that you have given us in this

life, the powers. And I'm coming for the privilege

to come together again to have rest and to worship you, to

praise you and to sit under the preaching of the word.

Father, as we contemplate about the book of Ecclesiastes, may

you remind us, God, that no matter how messy, how hard our

life here on earth, that we should live boldly because we

know we have in God in heaven, who is sovereign over our lives,

who always care for us. Captain on peace, give us the

courage to live our lives you will in a manner that is

glorifying to you. But I'm coming on all of this we

praying in Jesus name, Amen. So now let's go to our first

heading for the first advice that life is uncertain, but live

it boldly by faith. The preacher flashes this idea

with two examples. The first example he uses is the

example of trading or you. So verse one exists.

Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many

days and it is a big monopoly. You export your brains across

the seas and you will receive profits after some time.

Forsaking Solomon, he conducted trades or like engage Pusha in

the business of trading throughout his life.

It was the first king 1011. Some people don't.

Moreover the fleet of Hiram which brought gold from Ophir

brought from Ophir a very big amount of almond woods and

precious stones. So someone have a Phoenician

Navy and King Hiram was one of his vessels and he traded with

Ophir. You place some of fear.

It is either modernly Arabia or modern day Sri Lanka.

Ohh here shall I have a ballet Gold jewels at Nan's sandal

woods. They thought I highly priced

goods. You done.

He in turn traded with Spain. That's why nobody will notice

the first kings. 10/22 for the king.

Had to see how the sea Navy at Tarshish with the Navy of Hiram.

Once in three years came the Navy of Tarshish, bringing gold

and silver and ivory and apes and decals.

So King Solomon had shifts and they were bound to Tarshish.

Tarshish. That is modern day Spain.

I didn't know my ship making Solomon.

They are not small ships, but these are ocean liners.

Ohh I don't transaction wanna ship NATO is that they would go

and return every three years. Imagine that when it's about

Seaman Ocean Lion Ocean Lion King Solomon emo every three

years, because this ocean liners will go around the east to take

to the places and bring goods to the West in the Mediterranean,

and then when they return, they were loaded with items like

gold, silver, ivory. May 8, spa at Marimba pickups

you business need King Solomon. We know that there is risk to

that because great storms are common in the Mediterranean Sea.

Kumala lunacy prophet Jonah no shampoo I commissioned guide

Chapo Iduma answer Mediterranean Sea I've not encountered so that

the sailors have to jettison the cargo to lighten the load.

That guy I see prophet Jonah mismo.

So we know that there are many storms in the Mediterranean Sea

and there are big risks in this business of trading.

However, such trade was still important.

That's why rather than not really because of the storms,

King Solomon diversified his training.

That's why we will read in verse 2 it says give a portion to

seven or even to 8 for you know, not what disaster may happen

under. So here King Solomon is giving

us a financial advice. And why is that?

Let's divide your investment in many places, even in seven or

even in eight, because you don't know what disaster me before

you. Could I push King Solomon

Anathema investment made in England?

We can be happening I or Capsize or Tata, kind of.

So nobody, indeed, we don't know what kind of evil will come in

our lives. Nevertheless, solemnly saying,

take risk, cast your bread on the waters, ship your grain

across the sea, Live boldly, because if we don't, there will

never be any problem. If you will never venture,

nothing will be gained, and total life under the sun is

vain. We all understand that you may

have a terrible boss. Ohh Galina was more or you may

invest tapos. You will have an investment more

or you don't know if your marriage will last or clean and

not Mumbai or in Irish Bayou or if you put all your money into

buying properties, if that will be a good decision for you or

should you have another child in this tumultuous times.

So let me put I am risk money problema.

But despite all of this risk, King Solomon is saying live

boldly and dearly beloved as believers, we trust in God's

sovereignty. We live boldly, but by faith,

also winning by faith, because all the people had rest.

And another example that King Solomon uses to describe the

uncertainty of life is the business of farming.

So Anina trading pardon me. So firstly it says if the clouds

are full of rain the empty themselves on the earth and if a

tree falls to the South or to the north, in the place where

the tree falls there it will lie.

Simple BCD number Snapple Rain is needed to cultivate fruit I

my baby. That's why the trees are being

uprooted. And the message of the preacher

is simple. Sometimes we wish for rain, but

an unexpected storm will come and life is like that for most

of us. We start a venture and it goes

out, most starting a business. That was big line monologue.

And if that is life, if that is how life is unexpected, then

what was Solomon's advice to us? Mahathi, even though there is

the unexpected in life, we cannot live our life only by

being cautious because we will never do anything famous

adverse. For he who observes the wind

will not sow, and he who regards the clouds will not read.

So if you passing the farmer banging on The thing is clouds

and buying them for taking the new direction and hanging.

And some of us are like that because it means that want 100%

certainty of veterans. The venture out means that we

are weeping for the perfect timing.

So we wait and we wait and we watch and we watch and we never

die. But the reality is that there is

never really a perfect timing while I'm perfect timing.

We just have to live by faith. That's why inverse 5.

It says there that we cannot predict how the wind blows or

how the pregnancy will turnout. So we don't know how God will

work things out. But yet again, I'm advice happy

any King Solomon. Be bold in life and live it

fully. Let us work hard service

overseas. Some people don't in the

morning, so you're saved in the evening.

Withhold not your hand, for you do not know which will prosper

this or that, whether both alike will be good.

So we need to say answered and we must work in the morning,

afternoon because sooner or later, God willing, something

good will come from our neighbors.

Now why does Solomon give us this advice in the Mumbai?

Spend your first 10 chapters not English justice saying that life

is busy and we know that it is what is messy under the sun, but

not just because life is messy. If it's a Billion, is not the

album forever? I don't really.

Suddenly, a student may be tempted to say example.

If I'm almost kind of OHH Galena Moscow, I could find 85 failing.

I'm leaving and even if I'm capable and godly, life is

unexpected. What is my big in the capable at

Hindi Gandhi? Some people they don't class in

their negativity similar. Is it napping?

And yes, those can be real. They can be realistic then.

Well, I know Taylor, but the preacher says press on, live by

faith. Yes, life is messy and it is

uncertain, but who knows what God has in store for you?

There may be profit and success if you will just live our life

boldly and we will press on. We all know that life has risked

and because of that we have to be good stewards of the things

that God is giving us. So if Solomon divided his

investments then we should do the same parable meaning into

satin. It means nobody.

This is not only talking about a financial advice about diversify

more you investment wisdom of stocks in the company land.

It's not only about that, but it also means for us that we should

not only invest in ourselves, we should not only invest on

earthly things, but we should also invest in heavenly things.

Jesus Christ about the rich fool.

If there is one excellent businessman in the Bible, that

is the rich pool, because the rich poll diversify.

He had many barns, he had many portions, he was very bold in

his business venture and he was very successful.

But then he died. I don't know the grace.

God, you fool, your life will be taken from you on this very day.

And the problem is the rich ruler or the rich the the person

who is rich or the rich pool, he's not reached the wise not

he's only rich in an earthly way, but he's not rich to

working. So life is uncertain.

We should live by faith, but remember to invest also in the

Kingdom of God. And that leads us to our second

advice. Life may be vain, but life but

live it joyfully in God. In verse 7 it says something

remarkable. The light is sweet and it is

pleasant for the eyes to see the sun.

Now I'm having well, the picture is saying be joyful.

It is great to be alive. It is wonderful to live life

under the sun, but isn't that strange to hear those words from

the feature that it's wonderful to live life under the sun When

in fact for the for the 1st 10 chapters Wallachian Ivan Sinabe

Kundi life under the sun is evil probation into chapter 1.

I know Sabina feature. I have seen all the works that

are done under the sun and behold all is vanity and

vexation of spirit. In chapter 2 there was number

profit under the sun, each other three.

The world that is wrong under the sun is grievous unto me.

And then you. Chapter 4.

I saw vanity under the sun. So Colonel headline Saab I've

been abandoned on is life under the sun is vain.

And yet we will hear the preacher saying you live your

life joyfully, enjoy life, enjoy life wonderfully.

We can still enjoy life because our life can be pleasant and

sweet. Let us never forget that each

new day is a gift from God. It is an opportunity for us to

glorify God and to live for Him. And if you live many days and

years like what verses says, then let us rejoice in this long

life. Something was a verse 9.

Rejoice in your youth. If the Lord wills, you may have

many days ahead. And there's so much thing to do

here on earth for God. But of course there is a privacy

You enjoy your life, you live your life.

He people invisible. You know that we have to abuse

our life. You know that we should party on

knowing that we should be young, be foolish and be happy.

Well, again, we open, we often swing to either of the two

extremes. Man the formula requirement also

43 indeed book in the passing manual.

Jessie painting pun your position my life don't know how

many hours you must have behind Ibiza bhi nahi Masaya John

always Tina Jonathan Edwards, and we have those tendency now

about reform nothing indie cool governance in Savannah Bible.

And then there's another extreme as well, the number spiritual

Nevada. Let's just enjoy our life.

But the problem is we are enjoying the gifts of God, but

we are no longer enjoying the giver of these gifts.

It was only saying live life with enthusiasm and joy to the

glory of God. But then at the end of verse 9,

we will read. But know that for all these

things, God will bring you into judgment.

They are the height. Enjoy our lives.

At the end of the day, God is still our judge.

He sees into our hearts and He judges all that we do.

So we should never abuse our life and that's why we must also

be mindful. Actually, Jesus, the world

wanted to do something with Vito.

Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before

the evil days come, in the years drawn near of which you will say

I have no pleasure in them. Before the sun and the light and

the moon and the stars are darkened and the clouds return

after the rain. You wouldn't remember.

Does not need to look back. But you weren't remember who

did. It means for us to be mindful to

always think God into consideration in our lives.

So, young people, Solomon is speaking to you.

Do this in mind right now that life is messy.

It is vain somehow all have a Mama baby, but we should learn

to live boldly by faith and to rejoice in our lives.

And why was this advice given to the youth, but people back then

early as now that you, that is simple.

It is because you don't want to be an older bitter person.

You will not come again, bitter person.

We don't want to be the kind of person who never got what he

wanted in life, or we don't want to be the grumpy person who is

focusing only on the things that he didn't get rather than

appreciating the things that are given to them by God.

We don't need. We don't want to be the kind of

person who has a lot of disappointment because he felt

that God should have worked differently in his life.

You don't want to be that person who had pockets of sweetness in

your life but never rejoicing. And we don't want to be the

person who did not realise early in this life that life is

disappointing. I don't experience any that

first hand. That life is disappointing.

Market based. Also bitterness as a

disappointment. There is a story that was given

by Reverend Martin about two months made one months down in

the Galahad considerable Vanessa.

I don't. I know that because it was

inside if I'm doing something the longest.

Okay, so Madeline 11 and after that the procedure Cilla Sanlam

journey. But then after a while, you then

I began to complain. And when you go and then and

then the complainer, Michael could cook aliens.

Then further down, further down the track.

No complaining about your mom. I don't wanna keep you now and

then. You.

Yeah, that because they have you have done someone that enable

you be about 5 minutes. Nobody giving the advice.

Sometimes. Human unhappiness?

Not in frustrations and disappointments.

Nothing hungry, and it's a hard thing for us to carry those

imaginary things for 5 minutes. How much more convenient all the

rest of your life and don't want them so old bitter person style.

And because life is hard and it only gets harder adding last and

final heading. The life is hard, but the time

will come when you cannot live life anymore.

So if you don't remember your creator now man the joys that he

ring, the sovereignty that he has over our messy life.

Amiibo Satin is we will find life more difficult as we grow

older and old. I'm getting on with my Binas and

Athens verse 1 to 8. It gives us a description of

what will happen into our bodies.

Capable typhoid called age. So where's the people doing?

The keepers of the house, or your arms will tremble, where is

money? And then your strongman or your

lips, they will bow, Gina Nayo adding.

And then your grinders, you having money, then they will

cease and they will become you. And then the windows of the

house that pertains to our eyes, they will become new.

And then the doors of your ears, they will be shot, he said

again. He now you are and the daughters

of music or your musicians. It pertains to our voice.

Our voice will quiver. Sundaram, this must say that any

versified you will be terrified of heights and afraid of

falling. You cannot hit those high notes

anywhere you wanna hire. Boom command and then if you

have any hair left from the government only adding them.

Why now, flowers? Ohh.

And magic number. Lovely so and the time will come

when you have your funeral procession.

So sad we know that will happen in your life that silver ported

or the golden picture shall snap and will eventually break.

Life is hard now back but as we grow older life will get harder.

There's a time that you won't be really be able to live life

anymore. Make time about economies, wing

healing Santa, what animal is suffering and if you are not

mindful now of how messy life is, you will be bitter when you

come into your old age because life is going to be even harder.

Having easy now then how about adding retirement years?

Our retirement will be great because well days in the I hate

to break it to you, but our bodies in our mind will

deteriorate as well. So and then you ironic now

inside your retirement mode that environment more only to find

out that with the body that you have, you cannot enjoy life

anymore. And who knows why we don't in

the tragedy or we illnesses having Alvin No 2021.

That would be cool. We face bitterness if we don't

understand this lesson. Which way?

The purpose animator was the coming on that many of you, many

of our elders have learned this lesson early on that you might

traverse this difficult years with grace and joy and trust in

God. Go Megan.

Chocolate Grampy Laggy? Yeah, an idea from what the

Bible not Life is hard, and as you grow older it will be more

hard. So Satin, there was something

was not enough about that. If we will not get this, if we

will not learn this as early as now, then what will be our

conclusion in this life? I'm not giving conclusion when

nothing. I am not subversive.

Vanity of vanities, says the feature.

All is vanity. That will be our attitude.

So let's then learn that lesson. Now before we go, we should be

aware of another interpretation of verse 1 to 8 cause inverse

interpretation of Indiana. It talks about our body divide,

kami bosses snapping. There's another interpretation.

The preacher may not be talking here about old age, but rather

he may be wisely reminding us that the world is going to end

one day. That is the other interpretation

because the world is deteriorating.

We should learn this lesson now that the world is coming to an

end. And that is the second way of

looking into verse one way. So the whole currency.

King Solomon, he pictures a little house in the town that is

winding down its day-to-day activities.

He is coming and the things are stopping the people who grind

flour in the streets, they are closing their shops.

It's just that then the economy is going down.

The sounds in the street are gradually dying, the street

musicians are packing up, the lights are deeming and the

people are going to sleep and the only out sound is the

funeral taking place on the street.

Things are coming to an end. Imagine you scenario now, but

weekend about. After a very long day, I'll be

able to survive again if he's single and we'll send you money,

you know. And then the people are

gathering together in and dinner and then have a day what you

said. And then the streets are

becoming quieter. And then eventually the lights

will go off and everyone will go to sleep.

That is the picture that King Solomon is telling us, that the

world is coming to an end. It's not just that we are

getting older. That's why we must be mindful of

how we're Creator now. So, dear friends, how are we

going to apply this? Firstly, a word to the young.

Now we are living in this present time of distress around

the event K Bible study or prayer meeting.

Yeah, I think about asking Gasolina.

Fantastic. So we are we are we are living

in a time of distress. But what will you do?

I know if we are living on the time of this stress.

Does that mean that we should stop?

Definitely not. Could they making Solomon live

life pursue your dreams and thank God that you are still

able to do that in a more limited fashion.

See you haven't Marchant medical equipment, you can begin your

password. Tuberculosis.

I began the game and on top of that, because the the political

upheaval attacking there is I think the movie 19 two meetings

for two years, but nothing. I don't like some Bastille, I

think. And Buster.

So, Savoy, good evening. March in life is very hard, but

still they continue to live their lives.

So, you know, so young people live life boldly.

Life is messy, but don't let that paralyse you.

Aside from that, aside from that, you must know what is the

most important thing in our lives.

Let us ask ourselves, Are you sure of your salvation?

I don't live in your life for Christ in the midst of life's

messiness. It's the hope of Christ that's

gives you the power to continue in this life in all of the

uncertainties of the world. The thing that give comfort to

King Solomon is it the fact that he knew his own Creator.

So let us remember our Creator, King Solomon knew the justice of

God. He knew the love of God, he knew

the Kingdom of God in heaven, and he knew the name of this God

that he worshipped. And the name of his God is Jesus

Christ. He is not coming.

Judge the one who takes us to heaven.

So while you live like boldly here, that's because you have

home in a better life in heaven. Secondly, a word to the not so

young people chatting to my elderly person.

So stage them lately. Dear fathers, in faith, not

setting aside or forgetting the mothers, what is God's word for

you? Let's see another picture in

first John 2 to 14 Sabi Pudong, I have written unto you,

fathers, because you have known Him, that is from the very

beginning. So those of you who are older in

faith and have settled knowledge of Christ, you are growing old.

You are experiencing what the Bible says you will go through.

We are getting slower, you are experiencing fatigue, and you

may be very, very discouraged. But the advice of the Bible is

don't be bitter, dear beloved. It only means that you will be

meeting our Saviour sooner. And because of that, let us

remember Christ now. Let us continue to live boldly

however we can. And I'm not saying that we

should be rash conscience having Bible, but what I'm saying is

that we should be for Christ while we still.

And thirdly, a word for those who minister, for those who are

pastors, elders, deacons and ministry leaders.

As we look at our people and yearn for them to be spiritual,

to be mature, saying that we will experience discouragement

and we will ask questions like Pakistani Business Group

regarding prayers for parsimonious on the mail.

Yeah. Or why is my brother, who I've

been counselling for many days, still living in Syria?

Or why is this couple is still living in bitterness?

Or Kilmarnock and Makita, young people of Christ living a mature

faith, becoming mature Christians before it becomes too

late for them. Or can I go away relatives, the

solar system to the gospel? The one day they will become

believers and they will become Christians.

These are the questions that we ask ourselves.

But nobody. There's one thing in this life

that is guaranteed, that when you cast your bread, then if you

saw the gospel bring on the ground, there will be guaranteed

returns. The Word of God will accomplish

whatever it was sent to do, either for the hardening of the

hearts or the salvation of the souls.

And when you die to the world and lay down your lives, there

will be meetings. So let us not be discouraged.

And dearly beloved, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ came to be

born in this into this broken world as well is discouraging

the situation was discouraging in the situation.

I think coming on because he lived and he ministered as a man

and yet his family rejected him. His village wanted to stone him

to death. His disciples were a motley crew

of misfits, and the religious leaders opposed him.

Why not? You know when I'm coming on, I

Sabrina, there is much we've never press but one hour.

Lord did. Is he pressed on?

And because of that, He has now a Kingdom unto his name today.

And this is the hope that we have, brothers and sisters, that

it is our Lord who gives us the increase.

And let's all stand up for our soul of consecration.

Let's join our hearts in our voices and seeing our soul of

consecration. Teach me, O Lord, that way of

the diversification of some 119 here #240 we will be seeing

instances versus 1 before again. Teach me, O Lord, they way of

truth. Diversification of some 119 here

#240 we will be singing stands as one to four. 240.

There. You know the benediction from

Hebrews 13 when people 21 Now may the God of peace, who

brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd

of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equipped

you with everything good that you will do is will working in

us that which is pleasing in us, pleasing in his side through

Jesus Christ, to whom the glory forever and ever I mean.