back to the Old Testament to the Book of Ecclesiastes, Ecclesiastes in the Old Testament.
What manner of persons ought we to be?
Well, you know what, if we're people who just, our job is everything, I mean, does that really
make sense in light of the fact that it's going to be dissolved someday, it's going
to be gone someday?
I mean, you just, those who just want to just work toward wealth and retirement and financial
security, hey, if that's what you're living for, you are living for something that is
temporary.
You know, I mean, what manner of person ought we to be?
What he's saying is, you know, if you understand what I'm preaching tonight, you'll live for
God because you'll know that's the only thing that's permanent.
That's the only thing that's going to last.
That's the only thing that can't be taken away from you is what you do for God.
Only one life so soon has passed and only what's done for Christ will last.
And so we need to make sure that we're investing in eternal things, that we're not laying up
treasures on this earth where moth and rust doth corrupt and where thieves break through
in steel, but that we're laying up for ourselves treasures in heaven where neither moth nor
rust doth corrupt and where thieves do not break through nor steal, for our treasure
is there will our heart be also.
And we can't see those treasures in heaven.
I don't take inventory every once in a while, like, you know, let me see how, let me pull
out the Golden Street Journal and see how my investments in heaven are doing.
And see, oh, I was a little down this week, I was kind of a slacker.
You know, oh, whoa, whoa, it's way up, I did a bunch of soul winning or something.
You know, it's not like that, we don't, we can't see it.
But that's what matters.
That's what's eternal.
We believe it by faith.
We know that God will reward us.
We know that he's coming quickly.
His reward is with him to give every man according as his work shall be.
And we need to understand that that unseen reward in heaven is the only thing that's
permanent.
And whatever we lay up on this earth is temporary.
You say, oh, I've got gold and silver, it's all temporary.
It doesn't matter what's in the portfolio.
Your wealth is temporary and you could die today.
You could die tomorrow.
Would it really be the first time anybody your age died if you died tomorrow?
And there are all kinds of ways that God could just snap his fingers and just snuff out your
life like that.
But you know what?
God has us on this earth for a reason.
I don't fear death.
I don't worry about death because I'm going to be on this earth as long as God wants me
to be on this earth.
And here's the way that I see it.
As long as I'm more valuable to God alive than dead, He's going to keep me around.
And that's a biblical concept.
I had you turn to Ecclesiastes, but, you know, let me read for you from Philippians.
You don't have to turn there.
Here's what Paul said in Philippians, "For me to live is Christ and to die is gain.
But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labor.
Yet what I shall choose I want not," watch this, "for I'm in a straight betwixt two,
having a desire to depart and to be with Christ," which is far better.
I mean, going to heaven's great. Nevertheless, to abide in the flesh is more needful for
you, he tells the Philippians. I'd love to go to heaven, but I'm here because that's
better for you. You guys need me, he's telling the Philippians, right? And I love what he
says next, "And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with
you all for your furtherance and joy of faith." He said, "I'm not worried about dying because
I know how much the Philippian church needs me, so I'm sure God's going to keep me around
to help them out." And so that's encouraging to any of us if we realize, "Hey, I'm serving
God. I'm working for Him. I'm a net positive force on this earth. You're a net positive
force on this earth if you're soul winning and loving people and edifying the brethren
and so forth." And so that gives you the confidence, "Of course I'm going to stick around because
God's using me here. And if God decides that my death serves His purpose, serves His glory,
serves His agenda, then it's not a big sacrifice to ask me to die at a half vapor instead of
a full vapor because it's just a vapor anyway." And so the apostle Paul knew that he was going
to stick around because he's more valuable alive than dead.