Ecclesiastes 12:9-14

1. Scripture Reading Ecclesiastes 12:9-14

2. From the Faith of a Child 1 Samuel 15:17 17 So Samuel said, “When you were little in your own eyes, were you not head of the tribes of Israel? And did not the LORD anoint you king over Israel? Matthew 19:13-30

3. 13 Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” 15 And He laid His hands on them and departed from there. Jesus Counsels the Rich Young Ruler 16 Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?” 17 So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.” 18 He said to Him, “Which ones?” Jesus said, “ ‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’19‘Honor your father andyourmother,’ and, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”20 The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?” 21 Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” 22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. 

4. 23 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” 25 When His disciples heard it, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?” 26 But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” 27 Then Peter answered and said to Him, “See, we have left all and followed You. Therefore what shall we have?” 28 So Jesus said to them, “Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.

5. Part 1 • Big _____, of a little _____. Matt 19:13, 14 Faith Child 13 Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” a) When Saul was insignificant in his eyes he was significant in God’s eyes. b) His ability to prosper depended on his faithfulness to his God 2) Why callest thou me ______, there is none good but ______. Matt 19:17 Good c) When he played “the game” by his understanding or rules, then he was big in his eye and insignificant in God’s eyes. He went from being used of God to using God. God a) The Christian life starts with obedience to the commandments 17 So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.” b) Many people see the Christian life as a list of items to check off, Matt 19:18-20. If they have performed their duties, they have good standing with God 3) Who is at the center of your decisions? c) The young man had plans for this life and the life beyond, but he didn’t include God’s plan in his plan. • a) Are you deciding who will be pleased by your life, Matt 19:21-22 • 21 Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” 22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. • b) Have you convinced yourself that what you require is what God requires?

6. Part 2 • The definition of a rich man. One who has maximized the value of this life over the value of eternal life 2) Jesus said: If thou wilt be perfect, go, and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. Matt 19:21 3) Matt 19:22-24 22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. 23 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” a) Any discussion of treasure evokes thoughts of having more and keeping it. Why didn’t he just say wealth in heaven? Are there rich men in heaven? b) Treasure always has possession associated with it. It is something you gain with the intention to keep and for it to grow The camel story, hyperbole, and truth from God and how it came to be: http://www.angelfire.com/wy/Franklin4YAHWEH/camelthroughneedle.html http://www.biblicalhebrew.com/nt/camelneedle.htm

7. Jeremiah 17:5-8 Old testament Parallel to New Testament Truth Jeremiah 17:10   “ Cursed is the man who trusts in man       And makes flesh his strength,       Whose heart departs from the LORD. 6 For he shall be like a shrub in the desert,       And shall not see when good comes,       But shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, In a salt land which is not inhabited. 7 “ Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD,       And whose hope is the LORD. 8 For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters,       Which spreads out its roots by the river,       And will not fear when heat comes;       But its leaf will be green,       And will not be anxious in the year of drought,       Nor will cease from yielding fruit. Jeremiah 17:9 10 I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind,       Even to give every man according to his ways,       According to the fruit of his doings. 9 “ The heart is deceitful above all things,      And desperately wicked;       Who can know it?

8. Typical Fruit-bearing Believer • Many blossoms (sense of attractiveness, fits in with surrounding trees). Typical fruit bearing is dependant on the lifestyle of the individual instead of the future intent of the Caretaker. The tree decides what conditions are to be addressed and what needs to be changed. The demands of fruit bearing cause the tree to adjust on the basis of what appears to best at the time. 2) Filled out (speaks of age), tree has been pruned for attractiveness and shape (ornamental) not for fruit-bearing. Will this tree produce fruit? 3) Fruit is produced (wormy, small, bumpy, sour, thick skin). 4) Branches too high, long, knarled and thin. Available fruit isn’t easily harvested, special effort required, high maintenance, prone to disease and illness. 5) Limited life, unpredictable fruit bearing 6) Fruit has no strong attachment to the tree (much of the fruit falls to the ground on its own, fruit easily dislodged by shaking, moderate winds, etc.

9. Mature Fruit-bearing Believer • Minimum blossoms (selective fruit, only desirable • fruit is produced, consistent with the desire of the • Caretaker). A mature fruit bearing tree is fully dependant on the caretaker. The fruit quality and the duration are based on the time spent with the Caretaker allowing His goals, sculpting and fruit production to be the standard to measure growth and fruit quality. • Strong well-developed trunk and supporting limbs • (time with the Caretaker, willing to be changed and • sculpted). Will this tree produce fruit? • Full flavored, desirable and lasting fruit (time with • the caretaker and goal-centered. Tree is nurtured and • protected during times of dormancy). • Fruit is easily harvested without special equipment and • is available for the taking. • Long life, typically beyond a single generation with • continual predictable fruit. Because of strong branches • Desirable fruit is still produced in old age. 6) Spurs hold fruit until it is harvested.

10. Applications: • What kind of fruit are you ____________? manufacturing When you pick a piece of fruit to eat, do you care how it tastes? Is taste the only characteristic you use to judge the quality?  M Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh outh  A What attitude do your close friends experience? ttitude  N What do they see and hear? eighbors  U How do you treat your siblings? nderlings  F As time plays out what will be revealed? uture  A What fruit do your actions produce? ctions  C How do you respond to difficulty? haracter  T What do you dream about that isn’t readily known? houghts  U Where or what are your fears? nknowns  R What is the end result of your beliefs? eligion  I What do you really mean by what you do and say? ntentions  N How do you respond to the state of the world? ews  G Where your treasure is there will be your heart also oods

11. Applications continued: • Have your fruit rated for quality: Self-seeking Fruit is judged by the customer and the Caretaker, not the producer. If you are the only judge of the fruit you produce, you are misleading yourself. God-pleasing Needs pruning ___ ___ S M G ___ ___ A ___ ___ G N N ___ ___ U ___ ___ S F S ___ ___ A