We welcome you to Stone's Hill today!

A typical Stone's Hill service has:

* music (so feel free to sing out);

* some announcements (things that are upcoming that you can be a part of);

* a message out of the Bible (God speaks to us through his Word);

* and an opportunity for you to respond to the message (either immediately in the case of a decision that needs to be made OR in the future as you live out the message in your daily life.)

So relax and enjoy your morning! We're so glad you are here!

MESSAGE TEXT
Ecclesiastes 9:1-18
INTRODUCTION
Firestorms in dry California can be devastating. A firestorm occurs when heat from a wildfire creates its own wind system. Neighbor Conrad Grayson was trying to warn other neighbors and was frustrated because people weren’t reacting to his warnings with any sense of urgency. His message was “You have to get out now” – the fire is coming fast. He said some of the people wanted to pack some clothes or fight the fire in their backyard with a garden hose. He said they looked like they were packing for a trip. They were trying to save their televisions and computers and two-dozen of them never made it out of the fire.
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PROPOSITION
What I’m getting in Ecclesiastes 9 is that Solomon, who is nearing the end of his life, wants you to act with a sense of urgency. He sees the firestorm as he approaches his closing argument in his journal called Ecclesiastes, which means “the teacher” or “the pundit.” More than formulas for life success, Solomon just wants you to act now – while you can. Solomon’s language changes a bit in this last section. In Ecclesiastes 9, Solomon says in verse 10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might…
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Why? Solomon tells you why you want to be all in on life, paying attention to the important details, and living life with all your might. He teaches. He encourages. He reflects. But today in our text, more than anything - he urges. In view of the certainty of death and the unpredictability of life, it’s imperative to enjoy to the fullest the days God gives you. We cannot waste a single day.
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The imperative (command) mood is found five times (v.7-10): Solomon brings to expression this urgency by casting his advice in the form of commands: Go! Eat! Drink! Enjoy! Do! In another word – engage! Solomon is no longer merely offering advice; he is issuing orders. Solomon comes now against living a mediocre, passive, apathetic life. Solomon is going to urge you to action in FIVE different ways. He’s going to talk about…
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MESSAGE POINTS
10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might… Why?
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Death: You’re only alive so long to get things done. And nobody is guaranteed a tomorrow. So, time is of the essence. (v.1-6) 10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might…
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10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might…
Why? Family: You might be able to make a living at it and create and support a family that can enjoy the fruit of your labor with you (v.7-10)
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10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might…
Why? Opportunity: You have the capability now to do the things you want to do. You may not always have those same capabilities and freedoms. Life brings to us the unexpected (v.11-12)
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10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might…
Why? Stewardship: You will look at yourself in the mirror someday and wonder if you did your best – if you took all of the abilities that God gave you and used them to accomplish something meaningful (v.13-16).
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10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might…
Why? Legacy: You may want to share your life expertise and what you have learned with someone else someday - so they can glean from your wisdom and experience (v.17-18).
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CONCLUSION
*Invitation: There is the gospel in our text today. One way to see the wisdom of Jesus is to see how perfectly he illustrates the story that Solomon told about a city saved by wisdom. Jesus was as poor as anyone. He was homeless and destitute, and therefore he was totally dependent on God the Father for his daily bread. Jesus was also wiser than anyone, as we know from all the wise things he said. By his wisdom Jesus delivered the lost city of fallen humanity. The devil was coming against that city with all the powers of Hell. But Jesus delivered us, all by himself. How did he do it? He did it through something that seemed foolish at the time but actually turned out to be wise for salvation. Jesus saved our city by dying on the cross and then rising again.
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Giving our lives to Jesus Christ, in all his wisdom, is the wisest decision that we can ever make. Now our future is totally secure. We know for certain that when we die, we will go to Heaven. We also know that whatever happens in life, we have a loving Lord and Savior who will be with us to help us and to care for us. Time and chance may happen to all, but they also happen to be under God’s control. When we trust in him, therefore, we know that our lives are kept safe in the hands of our Savior, which is by far the wisest place for us to be. Christ isn’t loud and forceful but He awaits at your door.
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Like the wise, poor man was forgotten, we’ve forgotten God. But our “forgottenness” was put on Jesus. And keep in mind that God’s hands (referenced in Ecclesiastes 9:1) are now nail scarred. The world He created crucified Him. They washed their hands of Him. But make no mistake, the Sovereign Lord, who created the world and loves the world and was rejected by the world, is still in charge of world. This is good news for the believer. The Savior who called you and redeemed you is capable of taking care of you; He will never wash His hands of you; He will never walk out on you.