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.