man
Okay, we're in Ecclesiastes chapter number 11 tonight, and it's a shorter chapter actually and so the sermon might be a little short now
Every time I say that though my wife reminds me
She's like every time you say the sermon is gonna be shorter ends up being longer
And so I'm I'm gonna try to stick to that
She wasn't complaining about it because she loves my preaching and so
But it might be a little short because it's only about ten verses very practical things here
And so let's get right into it if I were to title this chapter
It would be the right kind of liberal Christian the right kind of liberal Christian
I'll explain what I mean to you what I mean by that just a bit look at verse number one
It says cast thy bread upon the waters for thou shalt find it after many days
Give a portion to seven and also to eight for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth
So the first thing we're gonna look at here in verses one and two is the value of being a liberal
Okay, so it's actually valuable to being a liberal now when we think of a liberal number one
We think of like the Democratic Party right, but when we think about it from a Christian perspective
We think of like people who go to like fun centers, and they listen up. You know
CCM and their compromises and the lukewarm and they wear skinny jeans
And you know they have low standards
And I mean the list goes on and on and on and on and on right that's typically mean when we talk about liberal Christians
Like oh that church is liberal that person's liberal
You know you got the guy with with the mohawk the pastor with the mohawk up on stage
And you know he's preaching behind a glass podium or something like that
That's what we think of when we say liberal whereas the biblical definition of a liberal is
actually referring to someone who's generous someone who is
Basically gives liberally, I mean you think of what the Bible says in James chapter number one
It tells us if any of you lack wisdom
Let them ask of God who giveth to all men liberally and a braided not
So what is that talking about it says when we lack wisdom in this world if we don't have the wisdom to make certain decisions
God instructs us to ask him for that wisdom Lord
Give me wisdom for this specific decision and the Bible says that God will give it to us liberally
What does that mean he'll be generous with the wisdom that he imparts into our lives and in fact?
He says he not only gives it to us liberally, but he will not abrade us for it
What does it mean to a braid it means to like rebuke or?
Reprove or correct you know you think of someone who's just constantly asking you for something and just wears you out
He said no. I don't want to give that to you. You know that's a braiding them
Okay, stop bothering me
You're annoying me kid
You know that would be like a braiding someone for something that they asked for
Whereas God says no. I'm not gonna abrade you if you ask me for wisdom in fact. I'll distribute that wisdom to you
liberally
Generously, that's what it means to be a liberal okay, so that's the right kind of liberal
Okay
The right kind of liberal Christian according to the Bible is the Christian who is very generous with the resources that God has given
To them and this is what this is referring to in
Verses 1 & 2
He says give a portion verse number 2 to 7 and also to 8 for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth
Turn with me if you went to Luke chapter 14 hold your place here in Ecclesiastes chapter 11
So obviously the opposite of being a liberal is actually being stingy right hoarding the resources that you have
Not being a blessing to others not distributing the resources that God has given to you to be a blessing to someone else
Strengthening someone else's hand with the resources that you have you know even though. It's in your hand
God considers that to be a stingy person a person who's just unwilling to depart or
unwilling to impart a
Resource whether that be finances food clothing to another individual because they're in need of it
God expects us to be liberal and you know when we think of God the example that God gives to us
You know he gave us his son right and how much more is he willing to give us everything?
Else if he's willing to give us his son sacrifice his son for us
God is very gracious and generous with us you know aside from the fact that salvation was free
Even above that God has been very generous with us whether he's blessed us with a job. He's blessed us with good health
He's blessed us with a spouse with children with a great church
And you know we should never have this attitude of well
You know God's been generous with others, but he's not generous with me
You know I'm still lacking these things folks if you just count your blessings
If you just think about what God has done for you no matter
What state you're in no matter what you're lacking you will always be able to come up with a very
Extensive list of things that God has done for you and every good gift and every perfect gift coming from above from the Father of
Lights in whom there is no
Variableness neither shadow of turning the Bible says so God gives us gifts every single day
The fact that you're breathing is a gift from God
You know the very fact that you're in this church is a gift from God right hey
How about this the fact that you live in America is a gift from God?
I mean America we understand is Babylon, and it's wicked and has all these issues
But folks I mean Babylon is a lot better than than whatever you know than India. Let's just be honest okay
Babylon is a lot better than than than Korea or than Communist China, okay?
You
Know I'm a Babylonian unfortunately
I was born in Babylon, but you know I thank God that I was I was born here
Because this is where I heard the gospel. This is where I found church. This is where I met my wife
This is where I'm raising my children
This is where I'm pastoring a church
And this is where God has me and you know where I'm able to serve him in this country
Hey, thank God for those things okay, and and recognize that God has been liberal to you therefore
With that in mind we should also be liberal with others okay and be gracious to them
You're in you're in Luke
I'm gonna read to you from a different from a couple different verses here Isaiah 32 verse 8 says this but the liberal
Deviseth liberal things and by liberal things shall he stand so a person who's generous is
Constantly devising ways he can be generous or she can be generous right just thinking about ways to be a blessing to others
And it says and by liberal things shall he stand what does that mean well because he's constantly sowing
Generosity and graciousness he's gonna be able to stand by those things as well
You know the world says this what goes around comes around right the Bible actually says you reap what you sow
So if you're sowing generosity you're sowing graciousness
You're being bountiful without what you give to others
You're gonna reap the benefits of that in the future or even
Sooner than that the Bible says in Proverbs chapter 11 verse 24
There is that scatter it listen to this get increases
What does it mean to scatter means you disperse something right and it kind of goes against logic because you think there's someone if you're?
Scattering something let's talk about money or food or resources if you scatter that how do you increase if you're actually?
You know devoid or you're actually void of those resources, how is it that you're increasing well in God's economy
That's how it works. He's talking about being generous with others. You're scattering to give to the needs of others
What will God do he will increase your resources?
So it says there is that scatter it yet increases, and there is that withholdeth more than his meat
But it tendeth to poverty okay, so then you have the other person who has resources like well
No mine. My name is Jimmy and I'll take all you give me and they and they hold more than his meat in other words
They don't necessarily need it
They're there. They're holding on to that which they need and then some so to speak and
It says, but it tendeth to poverty now. What's a great example of?
Something like this someone who is just stingy someone who is withholding more than his meat and it tends to poverty
Babylon the United States of America
Right why because they're constantly withholding our money
Through taxes and taking all this money and what happens well is it any?
Coincidence that United States of America is also in tremendous debt
You're constantly living in debt. I mean, I don't know what the number is today. Well does anybody know like it's in the trillions obviously, right?
tens of trillions of dollars
Good night
But yet
Constantly taking taxpayers
Money and through wicked means and all these things. So the the concept here is this when you scatter your resources
You're generous with others
God will allow you to increase your resources if you withhold more than his meat then God will allow you to go into poverty
Okay, he says the liberal soul shall be made fat and he that water it shall be watered also himself
He that withholdeth corn the people shall curse him
But blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth it he that diligently seeketh good procureth favor
But he that seeketh mischief it shall come unto him. So the concept is very simple
God blesses you with something. You need to make sure that you devise a way to give it away
Now you'd have to give it all away
But devise a way that you can be liberal with the resources that God has given to you
You said why well so that God can increase you you can increase your resources your finances
You know, whatever you have if you are liberal and generous with it
God will make sure that you receive it often tenfold. Okay, look at Luke 14 verse 12
It says here then said he also to him that bade him
When thou makest the dinner or supper call not thy friends nor thy brethren neither thy kinsmen nor thy rich neighbors
Lest they also bid thee again and a recompense be made thee
but when thou makest the feast call the poor the maim the lame the blind and
Thou shall be blessed for they cannot recompense thee for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just
So think about this, you know, God not only blesses us for our efforts of being generous in this lifetime
We admit we can receive a payment so to speak in this lifetime
But even in the life to come and the Bible specifically says hey when you bless people who aren't able to pay you back
Don't worry if they can't pay you back. You'll be recompensed at the resurrection
Okay
This is why it's important if someone ever asks you for money
Okay, here's my advice to you if someone ever asks you for money
What you do and then they say hey, I'll pay you back. Just say no, it's just a gift
Just take it if you're able to do it obviously, okay
They say can I get a hundred dollars and either hundred dollars for X Y & Z, you know, obviously consider the cause of the poor
Okay, we should consider and say well, what is it that you need?
You know, maybe you can get it
but if it's a matter of you know
They need money for whatever just some regular cause or some need that they have and they need cash or something like that
And you impart it unto them don't expect it back
Okay, and and and if they say I promise to give it back to you just say don't even promise me that
It's better than just not to vow that I'd rather just give it to you as a gift. Okay, and just kiss it
Goodbye, okay, but you're not really kissing it goodbye because you're gonna see it again at the resurrection of the just
Because it says there
They cannot recompense thee for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just you say man
This person hasn't paid me back this this money of X Y & Z. Well, you know what just kiss it
Goodbye, and you'll get it back in the resurrection
Because God sees it all he sees what you sacrifice he sees what you're generous with
He sees what you're liberal with and if no one ever thanks you if no one ever thanks you for the general for your generosity
Don't worry about it. God beholds the evil and the good
Okay, he sees every work that you do and you will be recompensed go to Matthew chapter 6 if you would
So this is the concept that we see in Ecclesiastes chapter number 11
When he says let me read it to you again, it says in Ecclesiastes 11 verse 2 give a portion to 7 and
Also to 8 for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth
So this is some really good advice here. Okay. What is he saying?
If God has blessed you with resources look for seven people to be a blessing too. And in fact look for eight
Why because he says you don't know what evil is gonna come upon the earth. What does that mean?
you're not you don't know what's gonna be you don't know what's coming down the pipeline and
You might have riches today. You might have an abundance today, but you may not have it tomorrow
You may not have it three months from now. You may not have it a year from now
So be generous with what you have today so that in case if you ever lose those resources
Because you blessed seven yay eight
Those people will remember you in the long run
Okay, there'll be a blessing to you because you so generosity to them you were liberal with your resources to them when they were
In need and so in like manner they will recompense you as well. You say well, I don't know
I was a blessing to seven people and you know, I was in need and they still didn't you know, help me out
And they weren't liberal with me. They were you know, they were withholding corn for me
You know, they didn't seem to remember me during these times. Okay. Well, there's still the recompense of the just okay
There's still the resurrection and God's not gonna let you go without you understand. This is just practical advice to say
Hey always look for people to be a blessing too. I mean doesn't the Bible say as we therefore have what?
Opportunity let us do good into all men
especially those of the household of faith
So the Bible actually says this
You know
Before your blessings to the people out there with your resources. You should actually put your brethren and your sisters in Christ first
Because it says especially they of the household of faith
God actually favors people in the house of God more than the people out there when it comes to being a blessing with resources
Now obviously we want to be a blessing to people out there and the number way we do that is by giving them the gospel
right and
They're like, well, I'm in need well go buy him a meal
You know, I'm hungry go buy him a meal if they need something to say come to church
You know come to church and look folks any person who has a church to go to will not go without
Okay, I remember my father-in-law telling me a story about
One of the one of the men in the church and this man was was, you know, he was basically successful spiritually speaking
he was doing well with his family, but he came to church with just nothing and
You know, my father-in-law wasn't necessarily
Jumping at the at the opportunity to just help every Tom Dick and Harry that he ran into
You know, they kind of have to prove that they were actually in need and they were willing to come to church and be a
Part of the church and do all that. Well, this guy did that and he kind of got his life together
You know and you know, I think that's great
I think it's great to help people but I think we need to make sure that we help those who are in our church
Okay
and
Here's the thing people have this attitude that like well church
Church should just be doing like
You know all all this public service and and help people with money all the time and get people food all the time
No, it's not a food drive
It's not a restaurant
This is not you know
first works
You know drive-through or first works ATM or first works thrift store
first works Baptist Church
Our responsibility is to preach the Word of God here. This is a local church for believers
You know the people out there don't determine what we do in here
Oh, I can't believe you guys do it what you should be doing what Jesus would do
You don't know what Jesus would do. So shut up
You haven't even read the Bible. Don't tell me what Jesus would do. You don't even know Jesus
You know, oh, yeah, that's not what Jesus would do. How do you know?
Find Jesus in the Bible for me. Where is that? Show me a verse with Jesus in it
You won't be able to do it because you haven't even read it
Your your view of Jesus is the guy with the dress
You know
Don't even get me started on that. What I'm saying is this and don't let people guilt-trip you out there and
To being generous towards the wrong people
You know
We need to follow biblical guidelines and mandates that says we need to favor God's people and be a blessing to God's people
Obviously consider the cause of the poor and not just you know
Just not be wise what the resources that God has given to us, you know, we need to be good stewards
Obviously, you understand and look folks. Let me just say this, you know it
If someone in our church and I don't think this has ever happened if it has I didn't hear about it
I don't think it's happening now
But if someone in our church is in need is just going around asking for money to different people. That's a problem
That's a problem
You understand, you know
If there's someone who is in need and they ask someone for money and they give them that money and it just kind of big
It kind of becomes like a pattern
That's a problem folks
You know, if a man do not work neither should he eat that's what the Bible says and
So look at Matthew chapter 6
So this is what Ecclesiastes 11 is talking about. It's talking about making sure you sow as much as as much
Generosity as you possibly can because it's gonna come back around to you one day
Matthew 6 verse 1 says take heed that you do not your alms before men
Alms is basically almost like a like a gift you're given to someone maybe someone who is poor
This is not referring to tithing at all, okay
It's an offering to someone else take heed that you do not your alms before men to be seen of them
Otherwise ye have no reward of your father which is in heaven
Can someone explain this to the tick-tockers out there and the instagramers?
Or they're just like they have a hundred dollar bill and they go to the poor guy and they're like, here you go
You know, it's like what is that
There's so much of that going around
Where they're just like they just want everyone to see the hundred dollar bill and the twenty dollar bill that they're giving out
Why because they want to be seen of men now god forbid any of those should be any Christians
Obviously unsafe people they just don't know any better sometimes and they do it for vainglory
But god forbid that some believer out there would partake in something like that
And it's just like I'm about to do a good deed a roll roll the camera
Pull up the iPhone real quick. Let's get this in 4k. I
Was just take heed that you don't do it before men to be seen of men verse 2 therefore when thou doest thine alms
Do not sound a trumpet before thee as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets
That they may have glory of men verily I say unto you. They have their reward. Yeah, they have their likes
They have their hearts. They have their thumbs up. They have their comments and oh, man
You're so you're such a good person and this is how it needs to be and all these. Yeah, that's your reward
But when thou doest alms verse 3 let not thy left hand know what thy right hand do it now
Obviously, this is figurative, right?
It's not like, you know, there's a split personality between your hands or something like that
It's basically saying be so discreet that something as close as your hands, you know
They know what each other is doing would even know the good alms that you're doing
It's basically saying just be as discreet as you possibly can
Don't sound a trumpet
That thine alms may be in secret and thy father would seeth in secret himself shall reward thee
openly
So look, you know, it's there's nothing wrong with wanting to be rewarded for doing something good
God is saying this is the formula that you need to use in order to be rewarded though
Okay, you need to make sure you do it in secret
You need to make sure that you have the right motives don't sound a trumpet so that God can reward you
Openly, all right, go to 2nd Corinthians chapter number 8 2nd Corinthians chapter number 8 talking about being a liberal Christian
Hey be a liberal Christian. We first work Baptist Church needs to have liberal Christians in it. Amen
Make a soundbite out of that one
We need to be liberal
Liberal be as liberal as the day is long
Why cuz it's good for you to be a liberal Christian
It's good for us to be generous with the resources that God has given to us and to be a blessing to others
Look at 2nd Corinthians 8 verse 1
Now it's good for us just because it's good to just depart from finances and resources and goods
It's good to just give that stuff away. But also on top of that just you receive a reward because of it
Okay, look at verse number 1 moreover brethren
We do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed upon bestowed on the churches of Macedonia
How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty
Abounded unto the riches of their liberality. So this church is actually they're struggling they're going through affliction
They're experiencing deep poverty
But in spite of that, they're very rich in their liberality. What does that mean? They're still very generous what they have
I mean think about the widow who gave over what two mites and
Percentage wise she actually gave more than anybody else who put money into the Treasury because she gave all of her savings basically, right?
God doesn't care if you have a million dollars. He just cares regarding the percentage of what you give
Understand like is it is it sacrificial to you? Okay, are you are you being generous with what you have verse 3 says for to their
Power I bear record. Yea beyond their power
They were willing of themselves praying us with much entreaty that we would receive the gift
And take upon us the fellowship of the ministry of the Saints go to chapter 9 if you would chapter 9
Look at verse number 1 of 2nd Corinthians 9 for us touching the ministry into the Saints and it's superfluous for me to write to you
For I know the forwardness of your mind for which I boast of you to them of Macedonia
The dikea was ready a year ago and your zeal hath provoked very many
Yet have I sent the brethren lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this behalf that as I said you may
Be ready less happily if they of Macedonia come with me and find you unprepared
We that we say not ye should be ashamed in this same competent boasting. So what is this talking about?
It's talking about you know, the church of Corinth basically
Stated hey, we're gonna give to this cause here
We're gonna take up an offering and be a blessing to the church, right and the Apostle Paul's coming in saying well
I've told everyone that you said that and
Your zeal has provoked very many
So make sure you still have that same desire in that same zeal when we come and pick up that money
Because if not, then you know, you're gonna be ashamed, okay, he's basically saying like hey you need to follow through
Whatever you say you need to follow through on because here's the thing
You know, there's a lot of people that will do something like this and they only do it for the praise of men
But
They're not necessarily willing to put anything in I think of like Ananias and Sapphira
right
Well, they claimed that they were gonna sell all their property and give that and then they kept packed
They kept back part of the price and they ended up dying because of it. Okay in the book of Acts
And I called out North Valley Baptist Church on Sunday
I'm gonna do it again today
People get offended at that was just like go look it up yourself
But for example, you know Jack Treiber will get up before his church and take up these crazy offerings to pay for their streets
or whatever
To pay for their fountains and their ivory there the hundredth piano that they already have
okay, and
You know, they have services outside I guess but they have like they do it differently right for the hike
What is it? It's like a drive-thru service
You got parking lot so everyone comes in a car
Okay, and he'll preach and they'll like honk and stuff like that and so, you know
I'm serious
true story
but he'll take up these offerings because he's characterized by doing these outlandish offerings to pay for the the
Crazy debt that they have because they're always in debt because they withhold more than his meat. You know, I mean
But you have them basically
What he'll do is he'll take up an offering and he's like who's willing to give like $100 honk
Like no one's honking and stuff and then he calls out like a specific section and someone will like honk
I know that car right there, you know, they call out the brother or whatever and so, you know
There's tons of people that do this, but I promise you there's probably a lot of them they honk and then later on
They don't even give that or whatever. Yeah, I promise you there. I'm pretty sure there's people out there that do that. Okay?
Cuz he doesn't like like every service and he puts people on the spot
And he even he's done it, you know, he's done it in his church building too because he'll call out the name and stuff and you know
It's great, you know and then you know people love that because you know
Then they get all this attention Wow brother so-and-so is giving $1,000 home. Yeah, you know this guy's spiritual. He's godly. Oh, man
It's nonsense folks. It's vainglory
And here's some advice for North Valley Baptist Church sell all the pianos do you have
Sell and I'm not for selling in the church but
But they are so obviously it would not bother them at all
Sell their pianos sell their buses sell his wardrobe
His wardrobe alone can pay for like half the debt. I'm sure
Sell the things are just unnecessary. I'm not against churches having nice things if it doesn't make them go into debt
Hey, it's okay to beautify the the house of God
Right make it look decent and nice and beautiful if it doesn't make you go into debt
right
Because at that point if you're going into debt, you're not really doing it because you love the Lord
You're probably doing it because you want the praises met
You want people to look at what you got going on? You're trying to keep up with the Joneses keep up with the Paul chapels. Oh
Sorry, did I say that?
I
Mean from a biblical perspective no church should ever be in debt
And if our church ever went into debt for whatever reason which I don't think will ever happen
Then this is what we'll do. We'll just cut a bunch of extra stuff out. We won't have
Activities, you know, but one things that will never change is like tracks
You know obviously paying the bills, but I don't think that will ever happen. I
Don't think that will ever have I think God will always provide for our needs
We try to be as generous as we possibly can with the things that we have
Look, you know, we're gender. We're trying to be generous with the song books that we have
Look if hey anybody in here if you don't have a song book take a song book home Freddy
Take a song book home. If you want a song book, you know, if you don't have a song we'll take it
You know, I mean be be you know, you don't have to take a whole stack
Okay one per family, please, you know
But the things that the church are free
Activities are free
You know everything that we do is completely free wife because we want to practice this principle of being generous
So that God will continue to bless us and and and you know, and so we can continue to serve God you understand
How did I get off on that
Look at verse five. Oh
We're talking about the people who are boasting, you know, they're like, oh, yeah, we're gonna help we're gonna help Macedonia
We're gonna help them of Macedonia and Acaya
We're gonna help these new and he's like, all right
You better keep that promise cuz I've been bragging to everyone that this is what you're gonna do
So you better be ready ready with that money
Where's my money?
Verse five therefore
I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren that they would go before unto you and make a beforehand your bounty
Whereof ye had had noticed before that the same might be ready as a matter of bounty and out of covetousness
So he's like so just in case, you know, I sent some guys ahead of me to go make sure you have that money
Like, you know, he's just trying to make sure that they fulfill their promise there. But this I say
Verse six, but this I say he would soweth sparingly
Shall reap also sparingly and he that's so with bountifully shall reap also bountifully
So it's like the if you sow a little bit if you're only a little generous then you're only gonna get a little bit back
It's just the law of numbers
But if you're gracious if you're generous if you are liberal with the resources you have you are going to receive
Bountifully as well verse 7 every man according as he purposeth in his heart. So let him give not grudgingly
Or of necessity for God loveth a cheerful giver
So it's not like all right fine here take the songbook. I guess now someone comes to you the pastor. Can I get a song?
I mean, I guess I
Mean, yeah
You're asking me I guess, you know
Or is like can I get this money? Yeah, I have this bill that I need pay. Can I borrow this money?
Yeah, you know you can have it. I guess I mean like
Yeah, it's like the only thing I have but I mean I have a family but I guess yeah
That's like grudgingly
Understand cuz then you're making the person feel really bad about it. It's like, you know, what never mind
I'm good, you know
He says
God loves a cheerful giver
That's not like yeah take this thousand bucks anything else
He's he's saying like have a good attitude about it
You know, don't put the person through a guilt trip
Who's asking for that?
You know take it and and the reason he's saying he loves a cheerful giver speak. Why would a person be cheerful when they give
Because they understand the system
They understand what they're doing
They're like take it because I can never I'll give God
And here's the thing you can never ever I'll give God
Never you can never I'll give God whatever you give to someone else to be a blessing to you
Will always receive more than what you gave
It's always the way it works
Verse 8 says in God is able to make all grace abound toward you
That he always having all sufficiency in all things may abound to every good work as it is written
He had to disperse the broad he had given to the poor his righteousness remaineth forever
Now he that ministered seed to the sower both minister
Bread for your food and multiply your seed sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness being enriched in everything to all bountiful ness
Which cause it excuse me, which caused it through us Thanksgiving to God
So he's saying look as a church because he's talking specifically about churches, right?
He say be generous because you need to be generous in order for God to bless you so you can continue to serve God
And that's one of the reasons why I think our church should be generous so we can continue doing missions
So we can continue doing soul winning
We can continue preach the gospel and and here's the thing the Bible says in Ecclesiastes that money answer with all things
That's true. Like how are we supposed to pay the bills with money?
How are we supposed to get invitations for the church with money?
How are we gonna take this mission strip with money? That's what it means when it says money answer with all things, right?
So, how do we get the money? Well, this is how we get it by being generous to others
We pray for it. We're generous with others
We seek to be as good stewards as we possibly can with what God has given to us and God will bless us for it
Okay
Go back to Ecclesiastes if you would
So this is the this is the principle here. He says hey be a liberal Christian
Be liberal be liberal as the day is long. Okay
Be as liberal as the day is long
Seek the people in the church to be a blessing too
Okay
And he says give a portion to seven verse two and also to eight for that knows not what evil
Shall be upon the earth and look folks. God is not mocked for whatsoever man. So at that shall you also reap? Okay
So don't be weary in well-doing for you shall reap if you faint not and do season you shall reap if you faint not
Look at verse three
Let's move on here. So point number one is this hey
Just if you get nothing from the sermon get this be a liberal
Be a liberal we welcome liberals to this church. Amen
We want to we want to build liberals in this church. We want to disciple people to become liberal Christians at our church
Okay, it's a good attribute to have to be generous to be gracious with people
Etc, you know, hey when we go out to eat and you know
There's someone maybe he's a little down in the on the on the dumps and you know
They're just they're not doing well financially pay for their meal
Look to pay for the meals of other people. Okay, look for those seven. Yay. Look for those eight sometimes
Verse three says if the clouds be full of rain
They empty themselves upon the earth and if the tree fall toward the south or toward the north in the place where the tree fall
There it shall be what is this talking about just saying look you need to be able to accept the inevitable
It's basically saying look the clouds be full of rain. They're gonna empty themselves upon the earth
Can't really do anything about that
The tree falls toward the south toward the north and the place where the tree falls there. It shall be I
Know that sounds really profound
He's like hey when the tree falls wherever he lands. That's where it's gonna land
What is he saying he's basically saying this
Some things are just inevitable and don't worry about the things that you cannot change. You can't change the weather. You're not DARPA
I'm just kidding. Okay
You know, you can't change the weather. You can't change where trees fall. Don't worry about the things that you cannot change
Concern yourself with the things that you can improve that you can change
I think of this really corny quote, but the corny quote actually makes a lot of sense
God grant me the serenity to accept the things that I cannot change
Courage to change the things that I can and wisdom to know the difference
I feel like I see these in little frames and bathrooms or something, you know, like
The bathrooms is like it's like the lighting is all dark, but you have that one little quote right there, you know
Like thanks for that reminder
But it's true it's like we need the peace of God
I'm sorry. Does anybody have that in the restroom? I didn't mean to offend anybody here if you do. Hey, I love that quote
That's why I'm using it, right?
Sarah make a note make sure we put that in our restroom, too
Something some things we can't change and you know, I I've I've
Seen that a lot of people stress out about things that they can't change
things that they have no power over you know, and
And you're gonna go crazy if that's you
The Internet is filled with people who are stressing out about things that they can't change
I
Feel people like that every post every every comment is about things that they cannot change
I rather just kind of focus on the things that I can't change
Okay, and in fact look at verse 4 he that observed the wind shall not sow and he that regarded the clouds shall not reap
The Bible says so what is this telling us the person who is looking at the cloud that he cannot change?
Well, he's not gonna go so why cuz he's too busy
looking at social media
about the cloud of tyranny
He's regarding the clouds he's regarding the wind and therefore he's not gonna sow and you know what he's not gonna repeat it
So in other words, you know, we need to put in the effort to change what we can in spite of that which is inevitable
Okay, it's inevitable
The destruction of America is inevitable folks, right?
It's inevitable
It is inevitable. It's gonna happen. It's gonna take place one day
God's gonna judge America. In fact, he's already judging it
Okay
But here's the thing. We shouldn't just so we shouldn't just observe the destruction
observe gay Pride Month
Who wants to observe that?
Observe that I don't want to look upon that that filth and disgusting this you gotta put up with this stuff for a month
an
Entire month folks, that's why you know
You say well, you know, we need to observe it because we need to preach on it
We need to yeah, I get that but you know what? I'd rather just go so I
Rather go reap. So while everyone else is freaking out about the moral decline of our country, which is you know, obviously it's grievous
It's vexing
You know, we can be doing simultaneously is actually so any repeat
Preaching the gospel preaching the Word of God hitting on these things, you know, I'm not going to go to some gay pride parade
to preach against the sodomites
Observe the clouds without rain
Those who are twice dead plucked up by the roots
I'd rather just preach an hour-long sermon here with people that agree with me
I'll get like the whole church to say amen
You understand and then go do some soul winning win people win people to Christ
and
So we need to make sure that we put in the effort in spite of the things that we cannot change
Yeah, America's on a decline, but we can still win souls to Christ
America is gonna be destroyed but we can still raise our families for God
America's on a decline but you know
We can still love our wives as Christ also loved the church and gave them some for it
Wives can still reverence their husbands. We can still raise our children in the nurturing the admonition of the Lord
We can still fulfill our God-given responsibilities in spite of the fact that America is still gonna be destroyed
You know, we can still preach against the sodomites even though they're taking over America
right
we can still preach against adultery and sodomy and pedophilia and murder and
Abortion even though it's inevitable that people are still going to do it. We can still preach against it
We
Don't want to be the kind of people to just make excuses why we can't do those things
Okay, and from a practical perspective you think of people who like, you know, oh, you know
It's windy outside. I can't go work
Well, it's a little cloudy. I can't work today. These are the same people who say the line is without
You know, I shall be slain in the streets where they come up with all these reasons why they can't work
Okay, all these reasons why they can't get a job why they can't work folks man is made to work
Go to work. Amen
Keep yourself busy
Do work don't look at don't observe the wind don't regard the clouds. Don't look at it as a reason
Well, you know today's just not a good day to work
This is a little cloudy. It might rain today. It's a little too hot a little too muggy little just go work
The line is always gonna be there
And let me say this the guy who said this in Proverbs the line is without
He was actually probably telling the truth, right
Cuz he's in the Middle East
You know, there's like wild animals over there hurt. There's like lions. There's like bears that kill children and stuff
Okay, right. It's like animals there. I
Mean he's still a little weenie for not going
It's supposed to work anyways, you know
He's still a little punk
For not for not working even though the lion potentially could be out there
But how much more the person who lives in the United States of America folks?
There's no lions outside
There's no bears. There's no she bears. You can call someone you can call the man of God Baldy
Go up that Baldy probably no she bears are gonna come out. This is not the wild here. Okay, you have no reason
There's no excuse not to work. Okay, I
Yeah, but the economy is crashing it's just
Everything's just going so bad folks for the Christian. There's always work to do
Always work God will not allow you to go without there's always something to do. There's always work to find
It can be done. Okay verse number five as thou know
It's not what is the way of the spirit nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child
Even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all
So here he just kind of segues into this subject of things that we just can't understand and
He gives us some examples here. He says we don't know the way of the Spirit and
You think of what Jesus said?
You know the the wind blows where it listeth and you can't he compares that with the Spirit and a person being born again
It's like we understand how it works in a sense of you believe and the Spirit comes to live within you
But the intricacies of that we don't really understand, right?
Or how bones do grow in a womb of her that is with child like we don't understand how that can happen
But God makes it work
He says even so thou knowest not the works of God that maketh all
So instead of stressing over like how does that work though? How do the bones?
How is like there's another life in there like the bones are growing at the eyeballs are being made sin use
How is that even possible? Well, just know this. It's just the work of God and
sometimes that
Causes us to marvel other times it causes frustration
It's like why is this happening to my life? Why am I allowed to go through this trial?
Why is this happening to my life and we don't understand. Well, this is just the work of God
So instead of stressing out of like why is this happening? What we need to think about is this
Well, this is just the work of God and maybe it's too high for me to understand and I just need to go with the
Flow there. Okay
Verse 6 says in the morning sow thy seed and in the evening withhold not thine hand in other words be generous
For thou knowest not whether shall prosper either this or that or whether they both shall be alike good
Now this is probably my favorite verse of this passage of scripture of this chapter
Because he's saying this look in the morning. So your seed in the evening be generous
He goes because you don't know which one's gonna prosper
and
In other words, he's basically saying you need to have your fishing pole and all types of ponds
Or rivers or lakes or I don't know Jacob wouldn't know better than I would
You need to have what a river lake. Give me some
Ocean okay have different poles and all oceans the Atlantic Ocean Pacific Ocean
Basically have your fishing pole in multiple areas because you don't know which one's gonna be biting and
You know a good spiritual application to this when it comes to the spiritual things is
This matter of receiving rewards right for the things that we were doing in our body
We obviously understand that winning souls to Christ produces rewards
But so does fulfilling our God-given roles so does suffering for Christ so does persecution
So does you know doing good to your brothers and sisters in Christ in the house of God all of these dude
You say which one produces the most? I don't know
So this is what you do. Just do them all
So be a good wife
Be a good husband be a be an obedient son daughter win souls to Christ disciple them try to get them baptized
You know be generous to others do it all
Seek to do it all so you can receive a full reward for the things that you're doing
because here's the thing in the morning win someone to Christ in
The evening disciple that person because you don't know which one shall prosper
Either this or that or whether they both shall be alike. Hey at the end you might see whoa
I'm getting a lot of payback for all this stuff
It's all bountiful. I'm receiving an exceeding great reward for every single thing that I've done, but the point is this
Have your fishing rod and every single pond because you don't know which one's gonna produce the most
So it's important to just do it all man
And look this is a good uh from a practical perspective this is good advice when you're trying to get a job
Fill out multiple applications. Amen
Apply to multiple places because you don't know which one shall prosper
Look at verse number seven truly the light is sweet and pleasant thing
It is for the eyes to behold the Sun but if a man lived many years and rejoicing them all
Yet let him remember the days of darkness for they shall be many all that cometh is vanity now this thing seems kind of sad
But it's just it's just a reality of things. Okay
He's saying this look if you have many years to live, you know, enjoy them rejoice in them
But don't forget the days of darkness. What does that mean that the bad times?
Okay, the bad old times the days that are not good. Why because they shall be many
He's like he's like you're not just gonna have a bad day sometimes it's just a bad life. I
Know that's not your Joel's thing sermon that you want to hear
It's like that's not what I wanted to hear. Yeah, but that's just the reality of things, you know
Sometimes life is bad
Now here's the thing no matter how bad it gets for you this side of eternity if you're saved
Still the best day ever
I mean think about this your worst day here is still the best day for some unsafe person
The worst possible day that you can have here on this earth is still an unsafe person's best day ever
Why because when they die they split hell wide open?
So you say look remember the days of darkness for they shall be many and you know what I've noticed as I grow older
My wife she was looking at my head she's like you got a gray hair
quiet
You watch that mouth. I'm just kidding. I thought I was like, are you serious? She's like, yeah, you finally got one right there
I'm all I'm all let me see it. Let me do
Not in plug it
But apparently more will grow if you do pluck it
But you know as I get older I
Start realizing that sometimes the days become darker
What does that mean? It's like you start noticing more evil in this world
Sometimes the evil days start coming more often, you know when you're young is like just once Christmas and you know
Just go home mom, and you know, just be with my brother and sister
Life is good kind of thing. But as you grow older you start noticing that the days are evil
I mean doesn't the Bible say that?
Redeeming the time for the days are evil. So the Bible says
And so you may think to yourself not me everything's going fine and Danny for me
Everything's all good and well, yeah wait till you start getting to like late 30s
40s 50s you will experience evil in your life and
evils are necessary
There's just necessary and he tells us look remember the days of darkness and remember this in
the days of adversity consider
Why does God allow evil days to come upon us because it makes us wiser
It helps us to sympathize with others who are going through evil days what if it like your entire life was just like great
Nothing bad ever happened. You never got sick. You never went broke. You never got your heart broken
You know, you never
Lost anything you were never robbed or stolen from and you never lost a loved one
Everything was just great the life that life does not exist folks
Because if it did you to be a horrible person
You would be a horrible horrible individual in this world because you've never experienced adversity or evil
It's good when the day the dark days come because they make us consider they humble us and they shall be many
verse 9 says rejoice O young man in thy youth and
let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth and walk in the ways of thine heart and
In the sight of thine eyes, but know thou therefore all these things God will bring thee to judgment
Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart to put away evil from thy flesh for childhood and youth or vanity
What is he saying? Well now he's instructing the young people. He's saying look. Hey young man
You got your strength and you know days are good and and everything's going well. Well, let your heart cheer itself
okay, and
Follow your hearts
Right walk in the ways of the heart follow your heart do whatever you want
Yeah, we all have our own volition our own will yeah, you can do whatever you want but
For all these things God will bring thee into judgment
What is he saying? Yeah, you can live however you want young man young lady, but here's the thing just know this
God will bring into judgment for every single one of those things
So what is he telling the young people? He's saying this just be wise
Don't live excessively
don't try to go out and sow your wild oats and get involved in fornication and drunkenness and having children out of wedlock and
And and living this this this lifestyle that's not pleasing unto God, you know, enjoy life
Let your heart cheer itself enjoy your youth and your strength
But live with the recognition that there are consequences to your actions
Don't think there's no consequence. I still got mom and dad
yeah, but you know what mom and dad are not always gonna be there and
God can take away mom and dad away from you like that
So it's best for you
To let your heart be cheerful, but you know what always consider be wise and the Bible says here in verse number 10
Put away evil from thy flesh
For childhood and youth or vanity. Hey young people now's the time to clean up your life before he ever gets dirty
Put
Away evil from thy flesh
Don't allow yourself to get involved in the uncleanness of this world
Make sure you learn how to live a life that's pleasing unto the Lord and in fact chapter 12 look at chapter 12 verse 1
Remember now that thy creator in the days of thy youth while the evil days come not
Nor the years draw nigh when thou shalt say I have no pleasure in them
Hey now's the time young people to read your Bible
Over and over and over again now is the time to pray now is the time to learn how to win souls to Christ
Now is the time to capitalize on your youth and the time that you're spending you know
Serving God, and it's not a waste
I'll finish with this I
Got saved when I was 21 years old very young man, okay?
And you know what I spent my 20s up until this point serving God
Literally from from the day that I got saved to this day. You know that's what I've been doing my entire time
And you know some people in their 20s would look at that and say man. What a waste
So you didn't go party you didn't go to the club
You weren't out there with all kinds of girls and all these things and drinking and smoking and do no I wasn't
On
Saturday I was in bed getting ready for church on Sunday
He said what were you doing on Friday preparing my Sunday school lesson to teach on Sunday
So what were you doing? Oh, you know the other nights reading my Bible just
serving the Lord
Putting away evil from my flesh
That's what I spent my 20s doing
And you know what someone could look at that out in the world and say what a way so boring
That's so lame
Yeah, but I guarantee you that same person in their 30s is gonna regret everything that they did in their 20s
Cuz it's typically in your 20s when you make the worst decisions of your life
It's true
And here's the thing ask me do you regret what you did in your 20s nope I'm a pastor now I
Got my own church. I have a wife. I got a fourth one on the way
I'm living the la vida loca over here, man
I'm having a good time serving God and guess what I'm not suffering any
Consequences of any stupid decision that I would have made in my 20s
And if I did make some dumb decision in my 20s it was in you know I was still serving God
I was still in church
I was still reading my Bible and you know what all things work together for good to them to love God
And it worked together for good for me, and so I'm still enjoying life
So yeah, you know I might have wasted my 20s by not learning how to you know hold my liquor
Smoke and do all this stupid stuff that people do in their 20s
Yeah, I might have missed out on those all those beloved hangovers
All the raunchy women of this world yeah, I missed out on all that, but that's a good thing that I missed out on that
Because now I'm in my 30s. I'm 35 right now
Gonna be 36 in November
November 8th
Just keep that in mind
Yeah, I'm gonna be 36, and you know what when I look back from the time that I got saved. I have no regrets whatsoever
No regrets. I don't have any regrets of reading my Bible instead of going out to play
Instead of going out and having parties and fun. You know I didn't do any of that
I'm thankful that on Friday evenings
You know they used to have this thing called are you right are you reformers unanimous and was helping like people overcome drug addiction?
You know I got involved in are you and I was teaching the Bible in are you I spent my Friday evenings all the way?
To like 12 o'clock midnight
Helping people overcome their drug addiction
instead of going out there and partying
Now obviously we're not gonna have an are you program here, but I'm saying like that's what I spent my 20s doing I
spent my Saturday mornings
You know visiting a bus route getting kids saved bringing them to church signing them up
That's the best way to spend your life is serving God
So what I'm saying is this young people you know and I it wasn't a short sermon
She was right
What I'm saying is this is don't envy young people don't envy the 20 year olds out there
who are supposedly having fun I
I
promise you they're not I
Promise you they're not and and and don't base it off of what you see on Instagram either
I don't know they look like they're having fun all this stuff
People put their best on Instagram right. I mean look just look at my pictures on Instagram
You got a photoshopped it. You know miss Ashley's issues. You gotta she gotta put the filters on there, and you know
Gotta make it look good amen
But that's not reality
I'm a lot bigger in person folks. I'm just kidding
What I'm saying is like don't look at your friends Instagram or social media platform or whatever and say wow you know they're having such
A good time. I promise you they're not
Serving God in your 20s teenage years is not a waste take it from someone who actually did it
Spent their 20s serving the Lord I have zero regrets and now oh yeah
Yeah, I was very disciplined in the beginning not having fun not sowing my wild oats not doing all those things
You know what I'm reaping the benefits today. I'm reaping it
This is the life and
So you know this is the the lesson that we learn here from Ecclesiastes 11 is be bountiful learn to be generous
But also you know give your your you your youth to God
You know spend your youth serving the Lord reading the Bible winning souls to Christ
I promise you you will not regret it. Amen. Let's bow our heads and have a word of prayer father
We thank you so much for your word, and thank you for Ecclesiastes
Lord and the wisdom you gave Solomon to pen down these words. I pray God that you'd help us Lord to continue to be
liberal
Liberal as the day is long help us to be as generous as we possibly can with people and obviously there's a
We need to use discretion Lord and be good stewards of what we have
But Lord if there's something in our hand
Help us not to withhold it from someone who needs it help us to give to them Lord
And I pray Lord that the that the young people in our church
We have so many young people that would give heed to those words and and make sure they serve God in their 20s and not
Make any stupid decisions Lord. It's better to just serve the Lord in their teenage years and their 20s and
And and reap the benefits thereof thereafter Lord, and I pray God that you'd help us to do so
We love you so much. We thank you pray these things in Jesus name. Amen