Being Joyful As A Realist

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=50 BGCOLOR="#333366" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>Being Joyful As  A Realist</B></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=165 BGCOLOR="#CCCC99" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="132" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 35 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id232.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Wisdom For Society"><U><B><IMG SRC="007151d0.gif" border=0 width="21" height="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id234.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Why Bother With Wisdom"><U><B><IMG SRC="008151d0.gif" border=0 width="21" height="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="20"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="35" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="20" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="13"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="27"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></B></div> <div> Previous/Next Sermon</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="www.stanbaker.org"><U><B>Home</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id2.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Biblical and Theological Studies"><U><B>Biblical and Theological Studies</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id3.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Church Ministry"><U><B>Church Ministry</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id15.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Sermon Notes"><U>Sermon Notes</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id4.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Links"><U><B>Links</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id5.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Personal"><U><B>Personal</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> www.stanbaker.org</div> <div> <A HREF="mailto:stan@stanbaker.org" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:stan@stanbaker.org"><U>stan@stanbaker.org</U></A></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=430 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>Ecclesiastes 9:1-18, “Being Joyful as a Realist,” Berean Bible Church, November 4, 2001am</B></div> <bR> <div> We think and act as though our happiness and joy and satisfaction in life depends upon our circumstances. Article: “Why I Prefer the Company of My Mother-in-Law” - her mother-in-law complimented and encouraged her and her mother tore her down and complained about her (“Attitude”).</div> <div> The reality that life is hard and short and uncertain - but it is possible to choose joy anyway. In “The Search for Satisfaction,” you will not find satisfaction in this life if you choose to allow circumstances to control your attitude.</div> <div> There are two appropriate responses to the realities of life.</div> <bR> <div> <B>I. Enjoy life on earth, because we will not always have it (vss. 1-10).</B></div> <div> A. Vss. 1-6: Death is our earthly destiny.</div> <div> B. Vss. 7-10: Enjoy life! (“gladness, joyful heart, enjoy,” celebration). “Meaningless,” brief, short. “With might,” with energy, passion, enthusiasm. It is God's gift.</div> <div> Calvin and Hobbes Cartoon: <I>Calvin: “I can't believe summer is almost over. Soon school will start. No more freedom. No more long days outside, no more fun.” Hobbes: “Well, let's go make the most of the time we have left!” Calvin: “Nah, I've reserved the rest of the month for moping.”</I> </div> <div> <I>Balance</I> your life, your work, your family. Invest and prioritize.</div> <bR> <div> <B>II. Trust God and avoid worry, because we don't have any earthly guarantees (vss. 11-18).</B></div> <div> A. Vss. 11-12: Wisdom is no guarantee of a trouble-free life. Examples: Lost job. Poor relationship with child. Failed marriage. Financial problems. Troubled friendships.</div> <div> B. Vss. 13-18: Wisdom, though valuable, is often unpopular and fragile (NRS: “One bungler”). </div> <div> C. Therefore, Trust God (vs. 1). Avoid worry. Matt 6:25-34. "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? . . . <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >33</FONT> But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >34</FONT> Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”</div> <div> Walt Emerson  said, “What lies around us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.”</div> <bR> <div> Enjoy life on earth, because we will eventually die. Avoid worry by trusting God, because we have no earthly guarantees. San Francisco Giants first baseman Andres Galarraga, when asked about having to share his position with another player, J.T. Snow, recalled his battle with cancer and said, "I almost died. I don't complain about too many things." (Comp. file, #467, “Complaining.”)</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> copyright, 2001, Stanley Baker</div> <div> www.stanbaker.org</div> </td> </tr></table></body>