​First Presbyterian Church of Blackwood
21 E. Church Street
Blackwood, NJ 08012
Sermon Notes (Stewardship Sunday ~ November 15, 2020)
Rev. Dr. Mouris A. Yousef, Pastor
 
“A Holy Nation for a Holy God!”
Exodus 19:1-6; 1 Peter 2:9-10
 
I heard the story of the Preacher who wanted to cover all the Prophets on one Sunday morning, so he started with the major prophets.  He spent twenty minutes on Isaiah, twenty minutes on Ezekiel, and another twenty minutes on Jeremiah.  At this point the congregation was getting restless, so the Preacher said I better get into the minor prophets and let me start with Hosea.  “Now where do I place Hosea?” the preached asked.  A gentleman in the back pew said, “he can take my seat.  I am leaving.”  I don’t want to be like this preacher this morning because the call to holiness is a Biblical call that is found throughout the Bible from Genesis to Revelation.  The topic is very broad, and we can spend a few hours just scratching the surface of this great topic, but I will be short and right to the point this morning.
 
As you may remember, during the month of November, we are looking at 1 Peter 2:9-12.  “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”  This is a tridimensional image of our identity as Christians.  It describes the identity of those whom God has called to His kingdom. 
 
The last two Sundays, we had the chance to unpack how the Christian community is a community that is chosen, or handpicked, by God, and how God in His amazing grace, made us a royal priesthood, a privilege that is only made possible under the New Covenant.  This morning, we get to the last part of Peter’s tridimensional description of the Christian community.  Peter says we are a “holy nation.”  The Church has been called to be a holy community.  What is at stake here?  What is holiness?  How do we live this out?
 
First: What is Holiness?
The Church is called “ἔθνος ἅγιον” ~ “a holy nation.”  The word “Holy”, ἅγιος “hagios” in Greek, means “set apart” or “dedicated.”  In other words, we have been set apart by God for God’s purposes.  We are in the world but not of the world.  Under the Old Covenant, according to Exodus 19:6, Israel was meant to be a holy nation, set apart from the other nations.  Israel was called to be different – to worship only one God and to faithfully obey that God, to have a different set of standards and morality.  They were not to follow the pagan practices of the other nations.  As you know, they miserably failed to be that set apart nation.
 
Yet, in Christ, God has formed a “new nation”; it’s called “the Church of Christ.”  The church has been called to be a community like no other; a holy community; a set apart community.  The Church is the new spiritual nation which is based neither on ethnic identity nor geographical boundaries but rather on believing in one heavenly King, Jesus Christ, who is the true King of kings and Lord of lords. 
 
In Revelation 7: 9-10, the apostle John gives us a glimpse of the Church in heaven.  He says, “After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”  “A great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language.”  This is the holy nation that has been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb.
 
Second: How Do We Live This Out?
How do we live this out?  How are we called to be set apart?  In what ways are we as Christians called to be set apart?  Let me offer two simple yet profound ways.  Meantime, I encourage you to test yourself to see whether or not you are set apart in these ways.  
 
We Are Set Apart in Our Ambitions
There are only two people we can truly live for: self or God.  Christians no longer live for themselves, but for God.  Our only agenda in life is to honor God and glorify Him.  People who do not know God live for themselves.  Yet, when a Christian thinks about their next decision—the next place they’ll move to, when a Christian thinks about starting a family, when a Christian thinks about going to work— they’re aiming at God.  They ask, “How can I make much of God?”  The center of the target is God’s will to be done in our lives.  Therefore, our ambitions, dreams and desires should have God at the center.  The world could care less about this, but that’s why Christians are set apart in their ambitions.

We Are Set Apart in Our Actions
Every activity has purpose for the Christian, even the smallest ones like eating and drinking.  Christians do not drink a glass of orange juice the same way someone of the world does. We receive that glass with gratitude—a gift of God’s provision.  Our actions—the “what” we do and the “how” we do it—are meant to display our gratitude and love for God.  That’s why in whatever we do, ultimately, we do for God’s glory.  Our actions have purpose.  They are not random; they are intentional.  So the question that should occupy our minds is: Do my actions help expanding God’s Kingdom?  Do they help others to encounter the love of Jesus?  This way, the pledge cards we are presenting today become more than an amount of money we give to this congregation; rather, an action of love and a sign of commitment to God’s Kingdom.
 
Friends, to the degree that we are “set apart” from the world is the degree to which our lights will shine brightly in the world. You are not meant to blend in like camouflage.  If your ambitions, actions, and affections resemble the world, your light bulb is out.  But if your ambition is to please God, and your actions seek to bring God glory, and your affections match the very heart of God, you are surely a bright light in a dark place.  Friends, we need to test ourselves in this, lest we become deceived.  Sometimes we honestly think we live for God, but we’re actually very selfish in our thinking and our planning.  Friends, let’s remember that the Church in its most basic identity is a holy community through which God works actively in and through human beings and actions in the midst of a concrete, historical community.  May it be so.  Amen.

First Presbyterian Church of Blackwood
21 E. Church Street
Blackwood, NJ 08012
Sermon Notes (Sunday ~ November 8, 2020)
Rev. Dr. Mouris A. Yousef, Pastor
 
2 Chronicles 26:16-21; 1 Peter 2:9-10
 
Life can be tough and challenging sometimes.  I believe that when life gets tough, we have two choices.  We can either look down or look up.  We can either think about what we lack or consider what we already have.  We can either look at our suffering and pain or seek more grace and strength from God.  When life gets tough, we can either allow the world and our circumstances to define us or let God and His unfailing love do so.
 
Writing to the first century Christian community exiled and scattered throughout the provinces of Asia Minor, the apostle Peter charged those persecuted Christians to neither allow the world nor the present circumstances to define who they are.  He reminded them that they are God’s elect.  In 1 Peter 2:9-10, he wrote, “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.  Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”
 
As I mentioned last Sunday, 1 Peter 2:9-12 is the passage I have chosen for our stewardship campaign this year.  My goal is to help us discover or rediscover our identity in Christ.  1 Peter 2:9 offers a three-dimensional definition of our identity as Christians.  “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation,” says 1 Peter 2:9.  Last week, we got to unpack the first part of this statement, “But you are a chosen people.”  Yes, Christians were rejected by Rome, they were mostly rejected by their communities including their own families, but they are chosen, embraced, and loved by the Almighty God. 
 
God handpicked YOU to be on His team.  It’s not that we deserved to be chosen, as if we were the best honeydew melon or tomato in the produce aisle.  No, God chose us, bruised and rotten as we are by nature, simply by His grace.  Because of Jesus we went from one side of the meter –guilty – to the other side of the meter – justified – all because of what Christ has done.  And, as Romans 8:31 reminds us, “If God is for us, who can be against us?”
 
Royal Priesthood
This morning we get to the second section where Peter says we are “a royal priesthood.”  Peter continues to unfold who we are based on who God has made us to be.  Peter says, “You are a royal priesthood.”  These chosen believers were called out from the world to be a royal priesthood.  For an audience that was probably primarily Jewish, this would have stood out.  In the Old Testament, the monarchy and the priesthood were strictly separated.  Priests came from the lineage of Aaron, from the tribe of Levi.  Only priests could approach God at the temple; only they could offer the sacrifices.  The rest of the Jews could not.  Kings come from the tribe of Judah.  They were also special in Israel because they were anointed with oil by a priest.  This means they were equipped and empowered by God to do the task of ruling Israel and setting an example to the surrounding nations.
 
But again, these privileges were not for regular Jews and they were strictly separated.  We see the strict separation of these two roles in two kings that were judged by God for trying to combine the priesthood and the kingship.  King Saul was anxious to go to battle, and instead of waiting for the priest Samuel to come and offer a sacrifice to the Lord, he decided to do it himself.  In 1 Samuel 13:8–14, God told him that because of this, God had sought a man after his own heart to rule.  Saul was judged for trying to merge the priesthood and the kingship.
 
We also see this in 2 Chronicles 26:16–21 with a king named Uzziah.  Uzziah became very successful, and therefore, prideful.  He felt that because he was so great, he could burn incense in the temple—again a work specifically for the priest to do.  The priests gathered together to confront him and said, “You will not be blessed by the Lord because you have been unfaithful.”  King Uzziah became angry at this and reached out to burn the incense, and leprosy broke out on his forehead because God judged him.  He then stepped down from being king and passed the kingship to his son.  He died a leper.
 
Therefore, the privilege of being “a royal priesthood” would have stood out to the original audience.  It was impossible to happen.  It was a privilege beyond anyone’s imagination.  The only way this is possible is through Christ and under the New Covenant.  Do you see the generosity of our God?  In the Book of Revelation 1:6, John gives glory to Christ for making us “kings and priests to His God and Father.”  This never crossed anyone’s mind, but in Christ, the impossible becomes possible.  So what do we do with this profound truth?  Put on your priestly robe.
 
Put on Your Priestly Robe
Any priest had two major responsibilities.  First, they talk to people about God.  They bring God to the daily lives of the people.  Second, they talk to God about people, their circumstances, their challenges, and their burdens.  There is no better time to take our priestly responsibilities seriously than today.  This has been a tough year for a lot of people.  The pandemic has taken a toll on every single aspect of our lives.  Needless to say, this past week has been a rough one too.  There is a lot of tension in the air because of the election.  You can tell how divided and broken our nation has become.  Friends, we need to argue less and pray more.  We need to pray for God’s healing and reconciliation.  We need to offer more grace and less criticism.  Our nation needs our prayers.  Our world needs our prayers.  It’s time to put on your priestly robe.  We are to intercede for our nation, for the light of the gospel to go forth, and for the needs of God’s people around us.  This is a tremendous job that God has called us for.
 
Friends, what a privilege God has given us in Christ to be “a royal priesthood” to our God.  In many ways, this can seem daunting.  Don’t let it be.  Instead, begin to practice your priesthood in small ways.  Pause and pray about the things that are going on around you.  Pay attention to the needs of God’s children around you.  If you get a sense that God might be nudging you into an action of grace and mercy, trust God as you step forward.  This is the heart of good stewardship of time, talent, and treasure.  Keep your eyes open to see how God moves in and through your actions.  Amen.

First Presbyterian Church of Blackwood
21 E. Church Street
Blackwood, NJ 08012
Sermon Notes (Sunday ~ November 1, 2020)
Rev. Dr. Mouris A. Yousef, Pastor
 
Exodus 6:6-8; 1 Peter 2:9-12
 
          Who are you?  Who am I?  It’s probably the most profound question in life.  People can achieve so many things but still not know who they really are.  Often times we try to find our identity in our race, in our family, in our job, in our money, in our talents or our appearance.  But none of these things really tell us who we truly are.  Without knowing who we are, no matter how good life may seem, we’re lost.  
 
Today we kick off our Stewardship Season.  The focus of our season this year will be rediscovering our identity as children of God.  Who am I?  Who are we as a congregation?  So, this morning and over the next couple of weeks, we will be looking at 1 Peter 2:9-12 as our key Scripture passage for our Stewardship Season this year.  The concept of identity is both revolutional and transformative. 
 
I don’t know when was the last time you read Peter’s First letter, but let me refresh your memory of the background of this book.  Peter’s First letter was written around 67 AD.  It was written to Christians who were scattered in various places in Asia Minor.  They had to flee to these places because of persecution.  They left everything behind; their property, their family and friends.  They literally got uprooted.  It was so painful.  They lived in Asia Minor as foreigners and they seemed strange.  They spoke differently; they dressed differently; their lives were so different.
 
You can add to that another huge difference.  They neither worshipped Caesar nor acknowledged him as Lord.  This of course put them in direct confrontation with the Roman Empire.  They refused to conform to the values and lifestyle of the Greco-Roman culture.  They refused to chase after material things and fleeting pleasures.  In short, Christians in Rome suffered of what we call today, “Identity Crises.”  Who we are?  What we are here for?
 
Peter wrote his First letter to encourage those Christians.  He reminded them of their new identity in Christ.  In 1 Peter 2:9 we read, “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”  Here is a three-fold description of our identity.  In Christ, we are “a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation.”  This morning and the next couple Sundays, we will explore this three-dimensional description and what it means for our lives today.  So this morning we shall cover the first part.  “You’re a chosen people.”  Two observations:
 
First: Consider the Privilege
One of the greatest aspects of our faith is knowing that we are chosen by God.  Do you remember in school being chosen by the teacher because you knew the answer?  Do you remember being chosen by your peers to play on a sports team?  I am sure that these situations bring back great memories about being selected in front of your peers and classmates.  Peter tells the scattered and struggling believers that God has chosen them to be on his team.  Consider the joy of this truth.  Consider the strength we are able to draw from it.  Consider the comfort those persecuted Christians could find in this truth.  I would rather have God on my side and face all the troubles of the world; and I would not want to have a smooth sailing away from God.
 
In 1528, Martin Luther, the leader of the 16th century Protestant Reformation, wrote the great hymn, “A Mighty Fortress is our God.”  In the second stanza Luther says:
 
Did we in our own strength confide,
our striving would be losing,
were not the right Man on our side,
the Man of God's own choosing.
You ask who that may be?
Christ Jesus, it is he;
Lord Sabaoth his name,
from age to age the same;
and he must win the battle.
 
Friends, consider the privilege of being chosen by God to be on His team.  Yes, the world may despise us, but we are honored and treasured in God’s eyes.
 
Second: Consider the Responsibility
As we think about this profound truth of being chosen by God, we also need to remember our responsibility.  We are a people belonging to God.  With great privilege comes great responsibility.  Deuteronomy 7:6 says, “The LORD your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession.”  This is a covenant relationship.  God is committed to us and He expects us to be committed to Him.
 
“I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God,” says the Lord in Exodus 6:7.  As a response to this amazing Grace, “you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation,” God also says in Exodus 19:6.  It’s a great privilege that comes with a huge responsibility.  God didn’t want his people to lose sight of their identity and their calling.
 
Because of their sin and disobedience, Israel as God’s chosen people failed to live up and live out their calling.  In 1 Peter 2: 9 Peter uses the same exact terminology said about Israel to describe the New Testament Church, the Church of Jesus Christ.  In Jesus, God fulfilled His glorious plan for His people.  In Christ, God included all peoples of all nations—anyone who repents and believes in Jesus.  Race doesn’t matter.  Social position doesn’t matter.  Gender doesn’t matter.  Ethnicity doesn’t matter.  Education doesn’t matter.  Anyone who receives Jesus becomes a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and God’s special possession.  
 
Friends, God has chosen you.  This truth in itself should make you shout out with joy.  In the midst of our trials and suffering, God has chosen us for hope.  Yes, “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed,” says the apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 4:8-9.  Friends, in Christ, you’ve been chosen by God; a great privilege as I said, that carries with it a great responsibility.  What does this mean to YOU in this Stewardship Season?  What is God calling you to be?  What is God calling you to do?  I hope you can wrestle with this question this week and in the weeks to come.  Amen.

First Presbyterian Church of Blackwood
21 E. Church Street
Blackwood, NJ 08012
Sermon Notes (Sunday ~ October 25, 2020)
Rev. Dr. Mouris A. Yousef, Pastor
 
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14; Acts 10:1-8
 
We come this morning to the end of our study in the book of Ecclesiastes.  After all the roads Solomon has taken us, we finally arrive at the one destination where we need to be; the presence of God where we see the true value of our life.  This morning, we’re going to look at the final two verses of Ecclesiastes, chapter 12:13-14: “The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God, and keep his commandments; for that is the whole duty of everyone.   For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil.”
 
The Qoheleth, the Preacher, King Solomon, saved the best for last.  At a concert, the biggest hit is the song that closes the show and dessert is saved for the end of a good meal.  The same is true in Ecclesiastes. The entire book has thus far explored the meaning of our fleeting life, and now gives us the bottom line for how to keep life aligned with God’s will.
 
Before giving us his grand finale, his big idea, Solomon reminds us of who he is.  Ecclesiastes 12:9-10 says, “Not only was the Teacher wise, but he also imparted knowledge to the people.  He pondered and searched out and set in order many proverbs.  The Teacher searched to find just the right words, and what he wrote was upright and true.”  We are reminded that not only is Solomon wise, he was appointed by God as a teacher who spent his entire life researching the meaning of life.  To earn our trust and open our ears, Solomon reminds us who he is and what his primary mission was.
 
So before saying goodbye to us, the Preacher in Ecclesiastes wants us to consider just how meaningful our lives are.  What I would like to do this morning is to briefly examine the Preacher’s final statement.  What does the Preacher have in store for is us today?
 
First: It’s Time to DecideIn Ecclesiastes 12:13, Solomon says, “The end of the matter; all has been heard.”  Throughout the book, Solomon summarized what this world offers: vanity—all is vanity, chasing after the wind, going in circles.  In Ecclesiastes, Solomon taught us that everything under the sun is fading away quickly.  It won’t last.  So why keep reaching for it?  We have an alternative: life under the hand of God.  And here at the end of the book, it’s time to become decisive for him.  God is asking, “What are you waiting for?  You have all the information you need to make a decision.”  What are you waiting for?
 
At some point, we have to make up our mind.  Will we keep searching for meaning in this world or will we accept our meaning from God?  Will we keep searching for our identity in what we have, or will we accept the truth of who we are.  We have to land on one side or the other.  We want to think it through and weigh the options, but we can’t sit on the fence forever.  We gotta make up our mind—how are we going to live this one life we have?
 
Some of us aren’t sure where we land yet.  You’re still exploring.  You need time to think it through.  Ask the Lord for help.  But maybe some of us are just refusing to commit. We want to keep our options open. We want to be spiritual but not committed.  I will pray for those too.  Remember, this world’s offers are shiny; they look great.  But they’re empty in the end.  A mist. Vain.  Solomon proved that to us, and we’ve lived long enough to feel it.  But look at God’s offer in the gospel.  Look at the kind of life our awesome God offers.  If you’re looking for a meaningful life, here it is.  Here at the end of this book, God wants you to decide.
 
Second: It’s Time to Obey The Preacher invites us to decide and he also wishes we all make the right decision.  “Fear God, and keep his commandments; for that is the whole duty of everyone,” says Solomon in Ecclesiastes 12:13. “Fear God and keep his commandments,” Solomon says; first fearing, then following.  Obedience comes from fear.  We can’t reverse this order.
 
But what does it mean to fear the Lord?  We think of fear primarily as synonymous with scared, but the Bible primarily means something else.  Fearing God is more reverence and awe than terror and fright.  To fear God is to see God as God.  To fear God is to come to a realization that God is the one you’ve been looking for all your life.  He’s all you need.  In Him is the totality of everything your heart longs for.
 
Pastor Tim Keller says, “When the Bible talks about the fear of God, it means an inner state, an inner condition of awe and amazement and wonder before the magnitude of the love and the power and the greatness of God.  It’s an inner condition of awe and respect, of fear and trembling, of amazement before not only the power and the holiness but the love and the mercy of God.”
 
When we fear God, He becomes the centering point for our life.  Fearing God infuses our life with meaning.  And when God is first in our affections, He is also first in our plans.  He sets the tone for our life.  Fearing comes first and obedience follows.  In Acts chapter 10, Luke tells us about a man named Cornelius who was a “devout man who feared God.”  Because Cornelius feared God, he gave generously, and he prayed constantly.  In fact, the Bible says that his generosity and prayers have ascended as a memorial before God.  The product of a God-fearing life is an amazing product and very honoring to God.  The fear that the Bible speaks about, therefore, translates into loving obedience.
 
Friends, everything begins and ends, rises and falls, succeeds and fails, based upon our fear of God.  Proverbs 1:7 says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”  May we choose wisdom over folly today.  It’s time to decide.  It’s time to obey.  All has been said, Solomon would say.  Which way are you taking?  “Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve,” Joshua challenged the people in the past and I want to put the same challenge before you today.  Whoever has ears, let them hear.  Amen. 

First Presbyterian Church of Blackwood
21 E. Church Street
Blackwood, NJ 08012
Sermon Notes (Sunday ~ October 18, 2020)
Rev. Dr. Mouris A. Yousef, Pastor
 
Ecclesiastes 12:1-8; James 4:13-17
 
As you may remember, since July, we’ve been examining together the book of Ecclesiastes.  We have followed King Solomon, who, by the way, calls himself the Preacher, we have followed the Preacher on his journey to find the true meaning of life.  As King Solomon started out his quest to find the meaning of life, he only found himself going in circles; going down cul-de-sacs; going in turnabouts, and discovering that all of the things that he pursued without God left him right back where he started, only tired for the energy he had invested in the journey.  
 
As we get to the last chapter of Ecclesiastes, it seems that Solomon ties up all the loose ends.  Solomon has taken us through the journey and has helped us understand that life without God is a meaningless experience.  As I said, it’s like being in a cul-de-sac, it’s like going around about.  It keeps you spinning, but it gets you nowhere.  It just leaves you empty and exhausted.  Throughout Ecclesiastes, the Preacher offered many metaphors to describe this reality.  He said that life without God is like chasing the wind.  It’s like vanity.  It’s like a puff of smoke.  Life without God, Solomon has demonstrated in many ways, is meaningless.
 
In the 12th chapter of Ecclesiastes, Solomon reaches his final conclusion.  We will get the chance today and next Sunday to look at this chapter.  In the first part of his conclusion, in Ecclesiastes 12:1-8, the Preacher reminds us and invites us to seriously consider the truth that we are creatures of time.  Time is important.  We are born and one day, we die.  Our journey here on earth has a beginning and it also has an end.  Between these two moments, our birth and our death, our beginning and our end, God has given us a purpose to fulfill, a mission to accomplish, so beware of time. 
 
Solomon kept the best until last and in his conclusion, the Preacher offers us some helpful insights.  Let me briefly share a couple of Solomon’s insights as he concludes Ecclesiastes:
 
First: Remember Your Creator
“Remember your creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come,” the Preacher says in Ecclesiastes 12:1.  Two times in this last chapter, verses 1 & 6, Solomon says, “Remember your creator in the days of your youth.”  When we are young, we think we don’t need to be serious about God now.  There’s time for that later.  We will get serious about God when we’re older.  But Solomon says, “Get your stuff with God together when you’re young so you can carry that into your adult years, and you will have this solid foundation that will give you such stability as you face the storms of life.” 
 
Do it as young as you can because before you knew it, the days of trouble will come.  “What is your life?” asked the apostle James in chapter 4:17. “For you are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.”  A mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.  I read this week about a little boy who asked his grandmother how old she was and she said, “I’m 39 and holding.”  The little boy thought for a moment and said, “Grandma, how old would you be if you let go?”  Time flies by, doesn’t it?  Therefore, we need to remember our creator as early as we can.  The word “remember” means to fully get involved.  To make a room for God in your lives.  To take God seriously.
 
Then we get to verses 3 to 7.  These verses could be depressing.  Take a deep breath, everybody over 40.  Solomon is gonna give us a little picture, sort of poetically and metaphorically about getting older.  I will not cover the whole list but let me give you a few examples.
 
He starts out by saying in verse 3: “In the day when the guards of the house tremble,” well, the ghuards of your house are your arms and your hands.  As we get older, they start to tremble.  “The strong men,” those are your legs, your knees, and your shoulders weaken and you walk bent over.  And then it says: “When the grinders cease because they are few.”  That means you’re losing your teeth.  And then it says: “When the windows grow dim.”  That means your eyesight isn’t very good.  “The doors on the street are shut.”  That means you can’t hear what’s going on outside anymore.  Then the Preacher talks about “all the daughters of song are brought low” which means your voice starts to quiver and weaken.  Then we become afraid of heights and afraid of falling when you walk down the street.  As we age, “the almond tree blossoms” which means your hair turns white.  And then it says, “all must go to their eternal home, and the mourners will go about the streets.”  That’s a funeral procession.  Embrace your aging thankfully, the Preacher would say, and do something for God and His kingdom. 
 
Second: It’s Never Too Late to Start Over
But what should I do if I never had the chance to surrender my life to Christ when I was younger?  What should I do if I never considered following Christ?  What should I do if I really never made a room for God in my life?  “Do it now,” Solomon would say.  As long as we breathe, it’s never too late.
 
A couple months ago, I met with a man about my age whose life is on the edge. He has been going through a tough time and it seemed there is no hope.  I listened to him as he opened his heart to me and after about an hour, he asked me, “What should I do now?”  “Start over,” I said.  The fact is, everyone experiences failure in life.  Life is never an unbroken series of victories.  We all have setbacks and losses, and sometimes a defeat can seem to overwhelm you. 
 
In Job 17:11, Job said, “My days have passed, my plans are shattered, and so are the desires of my heart.”  This is a picture of a man who was so overwhelmed, so broken, but by God’s grace he was restored and he accomplished God’s purposes in his life.  Some of us may feel like Job today, “My days have passed, and my plans are shattered.”  Have you ever felt like that?  Then let me remind you.  Our God is the God of new beginnings.  It’s never too late to start over.  God is able to take a minus in your life and turn it into a plus.  God specializes in turning crucifixion into resurrection.  Jesus Christ was nailed to the cross so that you could have a second chance – a new beginning.  So whether you’re in your twenties, fifties, or eighties, remember your creator.  That’s still a chance to do that.  Let’s love God and honor God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Amen.

First Presbyterian Church of Blackwood
21 E. Church Street
Blackwood, NJ 08012
Sermon Notes (Sunday ~ October 11, 2020)
Rev. Dr. Mouris A. Yousef, Pastor
 

Ecclesiastes 11:1-6; Philippians 2:25-30
 
Today we continue our journey in the Book of Ecclesiastes and we get to Ecclesiastes chapter 11.  As the Preacher, the Qoheleth, King Solomon, nears the end of his journey, his remarks are full of perspective and hope.  He becomes more pragmatic and practical, and less philosophical.   
 
In today’s Scripture, the Teacher invites us to be risk takers; something that most of us are not good at.  Most people want to play it safe and as a result, we are missing lots of blessings.  Someone said, “Do one thing every day that scares you.”  Jimmy Carter said, “Go out on a limb.  That’s where the fruit is.”  You’ll always miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.  Risk takers change the world.  Risk takers impact their communities and pave the road for others.
 
Some of us might say, “Wait a minute, godly people don’t take risks!”  We are to be wise and always consider the cost.  That’s true, but I see no contradiction between this and being a risk taker.  In fact, the Bible is full of people who took risks and achieved so much for the glory of God and the good of others.
 
Following God is all about being a risk taker.  Without the willingness to take risks … Abraham would not have left his land and his people to the land the Lord will show him; Moses would never have gone back to Egypt to lead the oppressed to the Promised land; Elijah would not have faced the prophets of Baal and call the nation back to worship the God of Israel; Esther would not have appealed to the King for the lives of her people; Daniel would not have prayed three times a day; David would not have stood before Goliath; Rahab would not have helped the Israelites; Peter would not have stepped out of the boat; Barnabus would not have embraced Saul of Tarsus; Paul would not have gone on his missionary journeys.  The Lord Jesus Christ Himself was a risk taker.
 
Taking risks is part of living by faith.  In Philippians 2:25-30, the apostle Paul introduces to us a Christian, a regular dude who took great risks for Christ. His name is Epaphroditus.  We don’t know much about Epaphroditus, but we do know he took risks for Christ.  Epaphroditus was sent by the Philippians to Rome to bring finances to Paul and to minister to Paul in any way.  In Rome, Epaphroditus became dangerously ill.  Paul says in Philippians 2:27, “He almost died” then in verse 30, he says, “He risked his life.”  Through his sacrifice, Paul was ministered to and the letter to the Philippians got carried to the believers in Philippi.  A good risk is one which is biblical, Spirit-filled, confirmed by the church and for God’s glory.
 
That’s what we’re looking at in our passage today from Ecclesiastes 11.  Solomon would tell us today don’t play it safe; take risks.  And he says two things:
 
First: Take Wise Risks
“Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days,” says the Preacher in Ecclesiastes 11:1.  What does this mean?  It obviously doesn’t mean getting soggy pieces of bread back that you’ve thrown into the waves.  Some translations put it this way: “Ship your grain across the sea; after many days you may receive a return.”  When Ecclesiastes was written, Israel had been transformed from a small agricultural nation to one that was right on the trading route between Egypt in the west and Asia and Europe in the East and North.
 
In Ecclesiastes 11:1, the Preacher tells us to take a risk, to engage in a trade, to wait for the goods to sell, and the ships to return with fine goods from foreign lands.  Nothing ventured, nothing gained. To “find it after many days” is to receive the reward that comes after risking a wise investment. Get out there and do something, the Preacher says.
 
Verse 2 continues “Divide your means seven ways, or even eight, for you do not know what disaster may happen on earth.”  Here again we have the element of risk.  Solomon says diversify your investments.  Be creative.  Be open to try and invest in seven or eight ventures.  Don’t withdraw from investing, because then you’ll lose out on any potential gain.  Invest boldly and wisely.  Don’t be idle.
 
Second: Don’t Wait for Perfect Conditions
Here is what the preacher says in verses 4-6, “Whoever observes the wind will not sow; and whoever regards the clouds will not reap.  Just as you do not know how the breath comes to the bones in the mother’s womb, so you do not know the work of God, who makes everything.  In the morning sow your seed, and at evening do not let your hands be idle; for you do not know which will prosper, this or that, or whether both alike will be good.”
 
Don’t wait for the perfect conditions because if you wait, you will not do anything.  The picture here is for a farmer who is waiting for a day with minimal wind to scatter their seeds.  That way you could scatter the seeds evenly over the field.  But this perfect weather may never come, so at some point, you have to take the risk.  Friends, if we wait until we are “less busy” or until we think it is the right moment, we will do nothing.  At some point, you just have to scatter the seed trusting the sovereignty of God.  We need to see that the results are in his hands.  We are not in charge of results. We are in charge of being faithful with what God has given us.  The rest is up to God.
 
So What?
This may be one of the easiest passages in Ecclesiastes to explain, but one of the hardest to apply because we are prone to play it safe.  Life and ministry are risky.  There is a risk in loving.  There is a risk in commitment.  There is a risk in sharing our faith.  There’s a risk in giving financially to support ministries. There’s risk in going to the mission field.  There’s risk in almost everything that we do.
 
Be a good steward.  Be proactive.  Be wise with your life.  Cast your bread upon the water, for you will find it after many days.  In the morning sow your seed, and at evening do not let your hands be idle.  Do something.  Don’t be idle.  Invest in what is lasting and eternal.  Sow the seeds of love and hope and trust God to cause them to grow.  Recognize the providence of God.  In the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

First Presbyterian Church of Blackwood
21 E. Church Street
Blackwood, NJ 08012
Sermon Notes (Sunday ~ September 27, 2020)
Rev. Dr. Mouris A. Yousef, Pastor
 
Ecclesiastes 10:1-4; 2 Galatians 5:7-10
 
You may have heard a version or another of this powerful proverb.  The proverb can be traced back to the 13th century A.D.  and it highlights the importance of small things.  Small things matter.  This is a lesson that we get to learn over the years and sometimes we learn it the hard way.  The proverb goes like this: “For want of a nail, the shoe was lost.  For want of a shoe, the horse was lost.  For want of a horse, the knight was lost.  For want of a knight, the battle was lost.  For want of a battle, the kingdom was lost, and all for the want of a horseshoe nail.”  It’s almost impossible to believe that because of a missing horseshoe nail, the kingdom would eventually fall.
 
This morning we continue our sermon series in the Book of Ecclesiastes, and I believe this is our 13th lesson in Ecclesiastes.  I hope you’ve gotten some wisdom out of all of this.  In Ecclesiastes, Solomon, who calls himself the Qoheleth, which means the Preacher or the Teacher, has been pressing home a very sobering message.  His basic message is that life without God, life without a real saving knowledge and relationship with and of God is empty–it’s meaningless; it’s vain; it doesn't make sense; it’s for no end or no purpose–there’s no sense to it at all.  Solomon wants us to get this transforming truth.  So throughout Ecclesiasts, the Qoheleth is inviting us to think hard about life and how we’re living our life.
 
Solomon says that people try so hard to fill this vacuum, this emptiness.  There are all sorts of ways that people attempt to find meaning and fulfilment in this life.  He says that some people try to find or create meaning in money, in pleasure, in vocation, in family, in education, and in so many other things.  Solomon says, in themselves, all these things are not bad or evil, but they will fail to provide meaning for life.  Only in a relationship with a loving God that we find meaning and purpose in life.  Life will be meaningless without the ONE who created this life and gave it meaning.
 
Then the Preacher comes to chapter 10.  Suddenly we get this unassociated list of parables and proverbs.  What are we supposed to do with this?  How does this fit with the flow of the Qoheleth argument?  Well, remember that Solomon is still dealing with folly and wisdom.  This whole chapter, Ecclesiastes 10, though it may seem like a rambling set of unconnected proverbs is actually a meditation on foolishness and what it means to be a fool.  One single thought for this morning: a little folly can do a lot of damage.
 
A Little Folly Can Do a Lot of Damage
“Dead flies make the perfumer’s ointment give off a foul odor; so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor,” says the Preacher in Ecclesiastes 10:1.  A little folly can do a lot of damage. Don't underestimate folly.  Just one little dead fly can make the best perfume stinks.  One bad apple ruins the whole barrel.  A little match can burn down a forest.  “Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines,” says Song of Songs 2:15.  Little foxes do spoil the vine. The little foxes in our spiritual life can do so much harm.  Unless they are chased away, these foxes will damage the vine and life’s tender grapes will be destroyed.  “A little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough,” says Paul in Galatians 5:9.  A small mistake can mess up a wonderful reputation.  Ecclesiastes 10:1 is actually packed with meaning, and I want to point out two things this morning:
 
First: Our Character has a Fragrance
Ecclesiastes 10:1 reminds us that our character has a fragrance.  In this passage the wise person’s character, is compared to perfumer’s oil and the fool’s character is compared to dead flies. The point that Solomon is making here is that wisdom shows.  Our character shows, or, to use the particular sense being emphasized here, you can literally smell character.  For the wise person, it’s a glorious fragrance.  But for the foolish, it’s a stinky odor, like dead flies.  In 2 Corinthians 2:15, Paul wrote to the believers in Corinth saying.  “For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.”
 
Second: Folly is a Heart Problem
Folly is a heart problem, shows itself in character and conduct.  In Ecclesiastes 10, the Preacher argues that folly is essentially a heart problem, that it shows in our character and conduct.  In Ecclesiastes 10:2-3, Solomon says, “The heart of the wise inclines to the right, but the heart of a fool to the left.  Even when fools walk on the road, they lack sense, and show to everyone that they are fools.”  Folly is a heart problem.  A wise person’s heart directs them towards the right, but a foolish person’s heart directs them towards the left.  
 
Friends, little things do matter.  Little good things can have a great impact on those around us.  In the same way, little bad things can leave a sour taste in somebody’s mouth.  Let’s never forget that our character has a fragrance.  What kind of aroma we spread around us?  Let’s also remember that folly is a heart problem.  May be we need to examine our heart and pray the words of King David in Psalm 139:23-24, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts.  See if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”  Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.  Amen.

First Presbyterian Church of Blackwood
21 E. Church Street
Blackwood, NJ 08012
Sermon Notes (Sunday ~ September 20, 2020)
Rev. Dr. Mouris A. Yousef, Pastor
 
Ecclesiastes 9:11-12; 2 Timothy 4:6-8
 
A teenage boy was once asked, “What do you want to be when you grow up?”  Influenced by the threat of nuclear war, the reality of terrorist attacks around the world, and the most recent pandemic, the boy thought for a moment and then replied with just one word: “Alive.”  I believe all of us today join this teenage boy in his wish.  We want to be alive.  From the dawn of time, the love of life lies deep in the human heart.
 
This morning we continue working our way through the book of Ecclesiastes and we get to chapter nine.  It’s been a great journey teaching and preaching from Ecclesiastes and although we didn’t get to study the book verse by verse, I believe we covered all the major themes found in Ecclesiastes.  In chapter nine, the Preacher continues to tackle the topic of wisdom and folly and our focus this morning will be Ecclesiastes 9:11-12.  In today’s passage, the Preacher addresses the brokenness of our world and our response to such brokenness.  So, what does the Preacher in Ecclesiastes nine have for us today?  Two short observations:
 
First: Life is not Always Fair
Listen to the words of King Solomon in Ecclesiastes 9:11-12 “Again I saw that under the sun the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the intelligent, nor favor to the skillful; but time and chance happen to them all.  For no one can anticipate the time of disaster. Like fish taken in a cruel net, and like birds caught in a snare, so mortals are snared at a time of calamity, when it suddenly falls upon them.”
 
Life is not always fair.  Many of us have had experiences that confirm the truth of the words of the Preacher in Ecclesiastes nine.  All our carefully laid plans have fallen apart; all our dreams that we had what it took to succeed in some particular area of life crumbled, and we could not understand why.  We had to learn, as this text says, the race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong.  We experience today the same exact thing the Preacher of Israel noticed three thousand years ago.  It’s not always the fastest runner winning the race.  It’s not always the best leader becoming CEO.  It’s not always the strongest soldier winning battles.  It’s not always the highest skilled worker getting the promotion.  It just doesn’t always work out that way.
 
“Time and chance happen to them all,” says the Preacher in Ecclesiastes 9:11.  In other words, there are elements of circumstance that have to fall together even before someone with great abilities can accomplish his or her goals.  You have to be the right person, at the right place, at the right time. 
 
The message that King Solomon wanted to share with us today is that life is not always under our control.  The illusion that the secular media presses upon us all the time is that we can handle our life by our choices.  It’s your life!  You can live it the way you please. 
 
But Ecclesiastes reminds us that it cannot be done that way.  “Time and chance happen to them all.”  Just when you think you have something under control, it can all fall apart.  Disasters come when we least expect them.  Our inability to see the future means we cannot anticipate or prevent all of the evil that might conspire against our labors.  “For no one can anticipate the time of disaster.  Like fish taken in a cruel net, and like birds caught in a snare, so mortals are snared at a time of calamity, when it suddenly falls upon them,” says the Preacher in Ecclesiastes 9:12.  What is the wise response to the brokenness and unfairness of life?
 
Second: Trust in God’s Sovereignty
If this is the case, and if it’s true that no matter how carefully we plan or how hard we work, the swiftest might lose the race; the stronger army can be defeated; the smartest person does not always earn the most money; the most learned may not receive favor; and the wisest can go hungry, what is the wise response?
 
Scripture repeatedly commends wise planning and hard work, yet we need to remember that we live in a fallen and broken world.  We also remain subject to two powerful forces: “time” and “chance.”  One important observation here is that we need to know that in Ecclesiastes, the Preacher does not view chance as a force operating outside of God’s oversight.  Ecclesiastes has a strong doctrine of divine providence that understands the Lord as having established a set time for every matter under heaven (3:1–8).  Therefore, we know that our brokenness and failures happen for a reason.
 
The point of Ecclesiastes 9:11-12 is not to dissuade or to discourage us from planning or to make us cynical about what we can do to live successfully; rather, the Preacher’s aim is to keep us humble and to remind us of our proper place in creation.  We are called to be diligent and wise, but events are never entirely under our control.  God is sovereign, and we are not, and that truth should encourage us, as we plan, to trust finally and wholly in the Lord and not in our plans.
 
So, my friends, plan hard, work harder.  Do your part!  And then rest easy.  God is in control of both our talent and our time.  We know that the winds sometimes only blow in ways that ships don’t desire.  Be ready for life’s detours. 
 
The realities of the brokenness of our world, human inability, time and chance, should drive us to seek God’s mercy and grace.  The randomness of life should drive us to God.  No wonder that toward the end of his life, Paul was able to say, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” 2 Timothy 4:7.  Paul didn’t mean that he never lost a battle, he never got discouraged running a race, he never struggled spiritually, but Paul says, looking at my spiritual journey since that day I met the Lord Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus, I can say one thing: when faced with the randomness of life, trust in God’s sovereignty.  Who wins the race of life, then?  It’s those who trust in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him.  In the Name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen!

First Presbyterian Church of Blackwood
21 E. Church Street
Blackwood, NJ 08012
Sermon Notes (Sunday ~ September 13, 2020)
Rev. Dr. Mouris A. Yousef, Pastor

​Ecclesiastes 8:16-17; James 1:5-8
 
As we continue this morning our series in the book of Ecclesiastes, I want to refresh your memory that the second half of Ecclesiastes has a special flavor to it.  As I mentioned last week, there is a shift that begins in chapter 7 and continues through the end of the book, through chapter 12; a shift that you cannot miss.  It seems that the Preacher has gained a new perspective.  He decided to view life through a different lens.  His journey of wrestling with what life is all about has come to an end.  One evidence of this change, of this shift, is the frequent occurrence of two important terms, “wise” and “wisdom.”  They appear almost 35 times in the latter half of the book.
 
Highlighting the importance of gaining wisdom, Solomon opens chapter 8 with these words, “Who is like the wise?  Who knows the explanation of things?  A person’s wisdom brightens their face and changes its hard appearance.”  The Message translates Ecclesiastes 8:1 this way, “There’s nothing better than being wise, knowing how to interpret the meaning of life.  Wisdom puts light in the eyes and gives gentleness to words and manners.”  Wisdom is a very broad concept and it can be defined in many different ways.  What is wisdom?  How can a person acquire wisdom?
 
I like this story of the writer who arrived at an ancient village to write a book about the wise man in that village.  “People say you are a genius.  Are you?”, the writer asked.  “You might say so,” said the wise man with a smile.  “And what makes one a genius?” asked the writer.  “The ability to see,” said the wise man.  The writer was betwixt and between.  Scratching his hair with one hand and rubbing his tummy with the other, he muttered, “To see what?”  The wise man quietly replied, “To see the butterfly in a caterpillar, the eagle in an egg, the saint in a selfish person, life in death, unity in separation, the divine in the human and the human in the divine.”  What a great statement the wiseman made!  Being wise is having “the ability to see.”
 
Having examined very carefully and found out the vanity of many things in life, Solomon now in the second half of Ecclesiastes turns his heart to seek wisdom.  If you remember from our reflections in Ecclesiastes 6, Solomon offered us a long and detailed list of good things, in fact, great things, but they never brought him lasting joy.  Solomon talked about wealth and possessions, social status and honor, family and social life, longevity, achievement and successful careers.  These are all great things, but they left King Solomon discontent.  They never filled the emptiness of his heart.
 
As we get to chapter 8, Solomon’s heart is set to pursue one thing: wisdom.  Wise up, Solomon would invite us today.  What is wisdom?  How can we gain wisdom?  Is it even possible to gain wisdom?  According to Ecclesiastes, who is a wise person?  This morning, we will briefly address and examine these questions.
 
What is Wisdom?
Wisdom and knowledge are both recurring themes in the Bible; they are related but not synonymous.  The dictionary defines wisdom as “the ability to discern or judge what is true, right, or lasting.”  Knowledge, on the other hand, is “information gained through experience, reasoning, or acquaintance.”  Knowledge can exist without wisdom, but not the other way around.  One can be knowledgeable without being wise.  Wisdom, therefore, is the appropriate application of knowledge.  From a spiritual point of view, wisdom is a capacity of the mind that allows us to understand life from God’s perspective.
 
So, if we are to ask King Solomon today to briefly describe to us a life of wisdom, what would he say to us?  What does a life of wisdom look like?  The more I study Ecclesiastes, the more it becomes clear to me that Solomon would summarize the life of wisdom in two fundamental ways:
 
First: Bring God into the Center of Your Life
The first piece of advice Solomon would give us today in order to cultivate a heart of wisdom, we need to bring God to the center of our lives.  A life of wisdom is a Christ-centered life.  Whether you are young or old, rich or poor, busy or got plenty of time on your hand, healthy or sick, let God be at the very center of your life.  I know in the 21st century American culture, this is easier said than done.  Our culture has deliberately chosen to reject God and God’s ways.
 
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom” says Solomon in the book of Proverbs 9:10.  “Fear” in this context is not the fear one has of an enemy; it’s not being frightened, rather, it is honor and love for the Lord.  Such fear is manifested in reverence and awe, in obedience to what God has revealed in order to live a life that pleases Him in gratitude for His salvation and grace.
 
Since the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, the surest way to become wise is to pursue the knowledge of God and take it to heart. As we come to know more about Him, the foundation for wisdom becomes firmer in our lives, and we grow in our ability to discern things according to God’s revealed truth.  We come to know the Lord primarily through the prayerful reading, preaching, and teaching of His Word. If you want to be wise, you must know the God of Scripture.
 
Second: Remember that All that Glitters is Not Gold
The second advice Solomon would give us today is to remember that all that glitters is not gold.  Solomon would remind us that not everything that looks precious or true turns out to be so.  Throughout the course of our study in the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon kept reminding us that there are lots of things in life that would promise joy, satisfaction, and contentment, but at the end of the day, they fail us.  Let’s not be deceived by the lies of the world.
 
Gaining the heart of wisdom is a challenging process and it’s also a life-long journey.  In Ecclesiastes 7:23-24 Solomon said, “I am determined to be wise”— but this was beyond me.  Whatever exists is far off and most profound—who can discover it?”  In Ecclesiastes 8:17, he also said, “Much they may toil in seeking, they will not find it out; even though those who are wise claim to know, they cannot find it out.”  Fortunately, the apostle James tells us in James 1:5, “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you,”
 
Friends, the Lord offers wisdom freely; however, most don’t bother to ask and, therefore, receive.  Let’s ask God this heart of wisdom.  Let’s “look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure” as Proverbs 2:4 says.  Let’s remember the words of Psalm 119:130, “The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.”  To get wisdom we must fear God, study His Word and prayerfully desire to understand life from God’s perspective.  Amen.

First Presbyterian Church of Blackwood
21 E. Church Street
Blackwood, NJ 08012
Sermon Notes (Sunday ~ September 6, 2020)
Rev. Dr. Mouris A. Yousef, Pastor
 
Ecclesiastes 7:1-6; Luke 6:20-26
 
“Wisdom for Better Living” is the title of my Meditation today and I believe it captures the spirit of the words of Ecclesiastes chapter 7.  Ecclesiastes chapter 7 marks the second half of the book.  In this chapter, King Solomon pauses, and he seems to reflect on the wisdom he has shared in the previous six chapters.  The key word in today’s scripture is “better”; it’s mentioned 5 times in six verses.  In Ecclesiastes 7, the Lord shows us that some of the medicine that tastes the worst has the best cure.  In these verses, Solomon is going to goad us into thinking outside the box. 
 
Most Bible commentators would tell us that there is a shift in Ecclesiastes 7.  You can easily notice it.  It’s a different way of looking at things; a different way of looking at life.  You could say that the Preacher has gained a new perspective.  From chapter 7 on, the Preacher’s focus becomes less man-centered and more God-centered.  His journey of wrestling with what life is all about is ending; he is beginning to come back home.  Some evidence of this change is the frequent occurrence of two terms, “wise” and “wisdom.”  They appear almost 35 times in the latter half of the book.
 
The Preacher’s new perspective is illustrated by seven examples in chapter 7.  King Solomon was able to see things differently.  The apostle Paul said the same thing in Philippians 3:7, “Whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.”  So this morning and next Sunday, we will be exploring how Solomon looked at things differently at eventually, this led him to better living.
 
First: Reputation is Better than Riches
“A good name is better than fine perfume,” says the Preacher in Ecclesiastes 7:1.  This parallels the words of Proverbs 22:1 which similarly reads: “A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold.”
 
Just to clear up any confusion, the Bible is not talking about our actual names.  My name is Mouris.  There is nothing fancy or unique about that as thousands probably shar it.  I’m talking about what your name implies; your reputation and the character you possess inside.  It identifies who you are from a moral and ethical standpoint.  Essentially it is what you are all about.  When people hear your name mentioned, what do they immediately think of you?
 
That’s amazing when you think about it.  Your good name is better than all the money in the world!  Does that seem odd? It certainly doesn’t fit with what our culture thinks about having money.  A good name still provides more value than money.  Why?  Because riches are fleeting, but a good name is eternal.  Riches could be with us one minute and gone the next.  We can’t take riches with us once we leave this world at the time of our death.
A good name, however, is theoretically eternal.  How many men and women of history are still being spoken of in a positive light?  Solomon invites us today to think about our own legacy.  How will your legacy be remembered and portrayed by family, friends or colleagues once you are gone?  Will they focus on the value of your life or only remember that you cared about yourself and your wealth?  What kind of legacy we are leaving behind?  “A good name is better than fine perfume.”
 
Second: The House of Mourning is Better than the House of FeastingIn verses 2-3, the Preacher introduces a few statements that totally go against what most people would think today.  “A good name is better than precious ointment, and the day of death, than the day of birth.  It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting; for this is the end of everyone, and the living will lay it to heart.  Sorrow is better than laughter, for by sadness of countenance the heart is made glad,” says the Preacher in Ecclesiastes 7:1-3.
 
What does the Preacher mean by these words?  How can the day of death be better than the day of birth?  How can going to the house of mourning be better than going to the house of feasting?  How can sorrow be better than laughter?  I would rather go to a wedding not a funeral, a happy occasion not a sad one. 
 
People prefer to go to festivals which brings them happiness and there is nothing wrong with that.  But Solomon wanted to remind the people back then and us today with an important truth.  Life, our life, my life and your life, has a beginning and it also has an end.  Unfortunately, lots of people forget this truth.  The present world we see today is not permanent.  The unseen ‘soon to come’ God’s Kingdom is permanent! 
 
What King Solomon is saying is simple: Death is the destiny of everyone who lives. Therefore, those who are alive should consider the reality of their own deaths in order to gain a heart of wisdom.  Our death is imminent.  The mortality rate is still 100%.  The wise will lay this to heart.  It’s important to think about the shortness of our lives and the certainty of our deaths because we are all prone to spend our days pursuing things that have no eternal value.  In other words, it is crazy to live our lives without ever thinking about the end of our lives.
 
The Bible teaches us that living with our end in mind creates a life of wisdom and purpose. So even when we think about our own mortality, when we visit the “house of mourning, may we live there with an unshakable joy in our Master who is currently preparing a “house of feasting” and a “house of pleasure” for all who trust Him. 
 
Friends, today’s Scripture passage will shock us for sure.  It puts right before our eyes some of the most unusual logic or perspective we will ever encounter.  In fact, Jesus did the same thing.  In Luke 6 he said, “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.  “Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you will be filled. “Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.”  So today, as we remember the Lord’s death and gather around the Lord’s Table, let’s remember that the death that Jesus died, senseless and brutal as it seemed at the time, is God’s amazing logic and plan for our redemption.  The common person cannot comprehend it.  But it is the wisdom of a holy God, whose thoughts are not our thoughts neither His ways our ways.  Let us draw near with humble thankfulness.  Amen.