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.

First Presbyterian Church of Blackwood
21 E. Church Street
Blackwood, NJ 08012
Sermon Notes (Sunday ~ August 30, 2020)
Rev. Dr. Mouris A. Yousef, Pastor
 
Ecclesiastes 6:1-9; Mark 8:35-37
 
You may know that under King Solomon, the Kingdom of Israel was in its golden age.  Solomon reigned 40 years during which Israel enjoyed peace, prosperity, and gained the respect of the neighboring nations.  But even during these times of peace and prosperity, Solomon wanted the people of Israel to understand that success and prosperity don’t last long.  All human accomplishments will one day disappear, and we must keep this in mind in order to live wisely.  If we don’t, we will become either proud and self-sufficient when we succeed or sorely disappointed when we fail.  Solomon’s goal was to show that earthly possessions and accomplishments are ultimately meaningless.  Only the pursuit of God brings real satisfaction.  Therefore, we should honor God in all we say, think, and do. 
 
In Ecclesiasts chapter 6, Solomon is trying to help us think through the folly of seeking to enjoy life apart from God.  In Ecclesiastes chapter 6, Solomon asks an important question: what would you do when the world is not enough?  German Philosopher Immanuel Kant, said, “Give a man everything he wants, and at that moment, everything will not be everything.” 
 
An airline pilot was flying over the Smoky Mountains and pointed out a lake to his co-pilot. “See that little lake?  When I was a kid, I used to sit in a rowboat down there, fishing.  Every time a plane would fly overhead, I’d look up and wish I was flying it.  Now I look down and wish I was in a rowboat, fishing.”  When the world is not enough.
 
Satisfaction that is based on the things of this world is an elusive pursuit.  We go after what we think will make us happy, only to find it doesn’t. Often times, we were happier before we started the quest.  How can the world not be enough?  How is it possible for a person to have all that he/she desires and still not find satisfaction?  We see this lack of satisfaction in our astronomical rate of consumer debt.  We’re not satisfied with what we have so we go into debt to live just a bit better than we can afford.  Then, we suffer anxiety with the pressure of being able to pay all our bills.  Dissatisfaction is a mark of our culture.
 
Ecclesiastes 6 is just what the doctor ordered.  Solomon had the “world,” but as he has throughout Ecclesiastes, he is lamenting that the world is not enough.  He is still not satisfied. In Ecclesiastes chapter 6, Solomon shows the emptiness of several of the categories of life that we’re told bring satisfaction.  They didn’t for Solomon and won’t for us.  Here is a list of things left Solomon deeply dissatisfied:
 
First: Wealth, Possessions, and Honor vv.1-2
Listen to what the Preacher says in Ecclesiastes 6:1-2, “There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, and it lies heavy upon humankind:  those to whom God gives wealth, possessions, and honor, so that they lack nothing of all that they desire, yet God does not enable them to enjoy these things, but a stranger enjoys them. This is vanity; it is a grievous ill.”  Neither wealth, possessions, nor social statues can bring us satisfaction. 
Our world is obsessed with money and status.  What kind of car we drive, where we live, the clothes we buy, job title, etc.  It’s an endless list, but it doesn’t satisfy.  We may have everything but satisfaction.  The irony is, as verse 2 indicates, “but a stranger enjoys them.”  The stranger is never identified.  It could be an adversary; it could be sickness; it could be domestic conflicts that drain the zest out of life.  For some, the “stranger” is death.  Solomon says it’s “a grievous ill.”  Wealth, possessions, and social status never bring lasting joy.  They’re here today, gone tomorrow. 
 
Second: Family vv. 3
Solomon says in verse 3, “A man may beget a hundred children.”  In Bible days, having lots of children was a sign of God’s blessing.  It was an agrarian culture. More children helped you be a successful farmer.  It was an economic asset to have a big family.  Also, in a culture where you often had to defend yourself, having your own in-home army, gave you an advantage. But the Preacher says, having a big family, having a hundred children, doesn’t guarantee satisfaction because satisfaction is found by first enjoying God, then His blessings.
 
Third: Longevity vv. 3 & 6
Twice in verses 3 and 6, Solomon says, “A man may beget a hundred children, and live many years … Even though he should live a thousand years twice over, yet enjoy no good—do not all go to one place?”  Solomon’s point is that if your life is marked by pain, hardship, calamity and tragedy, what good is it if you live even 2,000 years?  It’s just 2,000 more years of sorrow and those who live such lives want to live shorter ones, not longer.  Longevity isn’t everything.  In fact, long life is not an end in and of itself.  It’s the quality not the quantity of our days that count.
 
Fourth: Work and Careers vv.7-9
In verse 7-9, the Preacher gives us one last thing that doesn’t satisfy the longing of human’s heart, namely our careers or professions.  Finding satisfaction in our careers is often an elusive dream.  Solomon warns us that work can’t bring ultimate fulfillment, but many still don’t believe him.  So people keep switching jobs and fields, thinking satisfaction is out there somewhere but to no avail.
 
Personally, I find genuine joy in my job.  I hope you do too.  Work is a gracious gift from God. Work makes life compelling.  It teaches us about ourselves and gives us the pleasure of fruitfulness. But if you approach your job as the reason for living, you’ll end up down one more dead end.  “All human toil is for the mouth, yet the appetite is not satisfied,” the Preacher says in Ecclesiastes 6:7
 
So, what does the Preacher is saying to us today?  Simple.  Have the world; own the world, but without God, you will still be discontent. It’s only when God is at the center of our life that we experience real joy in the gifts that God gives. The fear of the Lord is not just the beginning of knowledge; it’s also the source of satisfaction.  “What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?” says Jesus in Mark 8:37.
 
Friends, I think the ability to enjoy life comes from within.  It’s a God-thing. It’s a matter of character not circumstances.  Having money, family, a job, and living a good long life are all blessings, but we must first find our satisfaction in God and then enjoy what God has given us while we can.  Satisfaction is found by enjoying God and then His blessings.  If we reverse that, we’re in trouble. God first and everything else comes after that.  This order is important because it puts everything into perspective.  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 ~ August 23, 2020)
Rev. Dr. Mouris A. Yousef, Pastor
 
Ecclesiastes 5:1-7; 1 Peter 5:5-7
 
There's a story about a man who, leaving church one Sunday, complained about the music.  “I didn't like the hymns you chose today,” he said.  The Pastor simply replied, “That's OK; we weren't singing them for you.”  The Pastor may have been too blunt, but he made a good point.  In our consumer-oriented world, we sometimes think church services are just for us; but we aren’t spectators attending a show—we’re participants in the greatest and most uplifting enterprise in the universe – worshiping God.
 
Though we are blessed in doing it, our worship is not for ourselves, but for God.  We are praising God for His power, His glory, His majesty, His wisdom, His holiness, His goodness and His grace.  The late William Temple (1881-1944), archbishop of Canterbury, put it well in his often quoted definition of worship: “To worship is to quicken the conscience by the holiness of God, to purge the imagination by the beauty of God, to open the heart to the love of God, and to devote the will to the purpose of God.”
 
Worship has always been so central and so vital to the people of God.  I am glad that the Preacher dealt with the topic of worship in Ecclesiastes 5.  As I mentioned last week, in Ecclesiastes 5, the Preacher takes our eyes off the vanities of this life to what is enduring and lasting, to worship.  It’s a shift from the temporary to the eternal; from what is meaningless to what is purposeful.  No vanity in worship. 
 
So in chapter 5, the Preacher gives us some valuable advice as when we come to worship.  How can we make the most out of our worship experience?  How can we allow God to transform our lives as we encounter Him in worship?  God wants us to be refreshed, renewed, and energized when we come to worship Him.  In Ecclesiastes 5:1-7, the Preacher offers four important ways to enhance the quality of our worship; four ways to make the most out of our worship.  Last Sunday, we covered a couple thoughts and this morning, I will underscore two more ideas.
 
First: Get Ready to Meet God
We should never forget that the destination of worship is to meet God.  When you come to worship, be ready to meet God.  “Guard your steps when you go to the house of God,” the Preacher says in Ecclesiastes 5:1.  This means we approach God with care; we are on holy ground.  We are in the presence of the Most High.  We come hungry.  We come willing.  We come expecting God to speak to us.
 
Second: Listen to God
The Preacher offers a second advice.  It has to do with listening to God.  In Ecclesiastes 5:1 he says, “Guard your steps when you go to the house of God; to draw near to listen is better than the sacrifice offered by fools.”  Often times, the Prophets warned the people of Israel for not listening.  “Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.”  God wants us to listen to Him.  When we come to worship, be ready to hear God’s voice; more importantly, be ready to follow where God leads.
 
Third: Humble Yourself Before God
The Preacher says, when you come to worship, remember to approach God with humility.  Ecclesiastes 5:2 says, “God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few.”  The Apostle Peter wrote in 1 Peter 5:5-6, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble. Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.”  To see God reigning in power, wisdom, and love produces only one response: humility and worship.  We bow before Him. We fall before Him.
 
“God is in heaven and you are on earth,” says the Preacher.  In actuality, this is a statement of perspective, not distance.  One of the great benefits of gaining a proper perspective of God is that we not only gain a view of the throne of God, we gain a view from the throne of God. Once we have entered into God’s presence, we look down on our world from His perspective. We find that what we thought was a mountain was a molehill.  What seemed great and mighty in the world’s eyes turns out to be small and insignificant in God’s eyes.  On the other hand, when we thought we were weak, we became strong because we were in the presence of God. Or, what we thought was foolish actually became wise from God’s vantage point.
 
Fourth: Fulfill Your Vows
A vow is a serious promise, a covenant made to God or to others.  It was a common way of making a commitment in ancient times as it is in our own culture today.  We make promises and we are expected to keep them.  In Ecclesiastes 5:4, the Preacher says, “When you make a vow to God, do not delay fulfilling it; for he has no pleasure in fools.  Fulfill what you vow.”  In the Middle Eastern culture, a person will die before bringing shame on himself or herself with a broken vow.
God is big on fulfilling vows.  God’s nature is righteousness and truth.  God always honors His Word.  God never breaks a promise.  Here these great words from the book of Numbers 23:19 “God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind.  Does he speak and then not act?  Does he promise and not fulfill?”  And because God is faithful toward His promises, He expects the same of His people. 
When we accepted Christ as Lord and Savior, we made vows to the Almighty God.  We made a vow to seek first God’s Kingdom and His righteousness.  We made vows to gather together with the Body of Christ for worship, Bible study, prayer, and fellowship.  We made vows to support the mission and ministry of our local congregations through the using of our time, talents and financial giving. We made vows to be Christ’s ambassadors in the world carrying His light and love to the world.  We made a vow to take our faith seriously.  Have we kept these vows?
 
Friends, worship should be one of the most uplifting experiences.  It should be the highlight of our week.  In Ecclesiastes 5, the Preacher says, in worship we meet the Almighty God, we get to listen to His voice directly speaking to us, in humbling ourselves before God, we are lifted up gaining a new perspective from the throne of God, and eventually, we learn how to fulfill our vows, our commitments to God.  That’s way I value our time together.  Worship is a marvelous adventure into the presence of the God of the universe.  It is a wonder-filled ride into a new dimension of life. I hope and pray that we will never take this opportunity for granted, but every time we come, we come with anticipation to be transformed to the likeness of Christ.  Amen.

First Presbyterian Church of Blackwood
21 E. Church Street
Blackwood, NJ 08012
Sermon Notes (Sunday ~ August 16, 2020)
Rev. Dr. Mouris A. Yousef, Pastor
 
Ecclesiastes 5:1-7; Hebrews 4:14-16
 
Today we travel on through our series in the book of Ecclesiastes, and we get to chapter 5.  I believe, as someone said to me after worship last Sunday, this series is timely for God’s people because it takes our eyes off the vanities of this life to what is enduring and lasting.  Ecclesiastes may seem to drive us to despair, but in reality, it gives birth to an unfailing hope.  It’s the hope of God’s presence, sovereignty, and faithfulness.  Ecclesiastes tears down, but it also builds up.  It helps us to figure out what we should keep and what we should throw away.  Ecclesiastes speaks about the true meaning and purpose of life and where to find it.
 
Ecclesiastes chapter 5 begins a transition from the vanity of life in the world to the everlasting value of worshipping our Almighty God.  As you may have noticed, God is mentioned 6 times in 7 verses.  It’s a shift from the temporary to the eternal; from what is meaningless to what is purposeful.  Ecclesiastes chapter 5 invites us to think about the value and importance of worship.    No vanity in worship.  In chapter 5, the Preacher gives us some valuable advice as when we come to worship.  How can we make the most out of our worship experience?  How can we allow God to transform our lives as we encounter Him in worship?   
 
Wisdom for Worship
While you and I are still living through the difficulties of a broken world, God wants us to be refreshed, renewed, and energized when we come to worship Him.  In His providence, God has set aside the Lord’s Day as a time to present ourselves to Him in corporate worship.  
 
But a true and authentic worship experience requires preparation; serious and real preparation.  When proper preparation is overlooked, great blessings are missed.  God never intended for us to show up for the worship service then we exit the same way we enter – unmoved, unchanged, unaltered – and, we’re happy to return next time.
 
The problem is most of us will be content just to be there; content with a “nice” service.  A few, however, seek more.  And those few leave wide-eyed with wonder of having experienced worship rather than merely endured worship.  King Solomon, writing three thousand years ago, gives us some helpful instructions in order to encounter the Almighty God when we come into His house.  In Ecclesiastes 5:1-7, the Preacher offers four important ways to enhance the quality of our worship, but for the sake of our time, I will cover two today and two next Sunday.
 
First: Get Ready to Meet God
The destination of worship is to meet God.  When you come to worship, be ready to meet God.  The Preacher wrote in Ecclesiastes 5:1, “Guard your steps when you go to the house of God.”  The phrase “guard your steps” means to proceed with reverence, to walk prudently, to tip toeing into the presence of God.  We come to the presence of God with dignity and respect.  We approach God with the same care as Moses when he encountered God in a burning bush and took off his shoes.  He was on holy ground, and he knew it.
 
Someone once said, we “do church” as many “do lunch,” casually and unprepared.  Our hearts and minds are not ready to encounter the Most High.  We don’t anticipate God’s presence or voice.  Consequently, we’re unable to experience the presence of God that will stir our souls, change our lives, and satisfy our hunger for meaning.
 
Let me encourage you to come to worship prepared to encounter God.  Pray before you come so you will be ready to pray when you get here.  Read the Word during the week so your heart will be soft when you worship with the body of Christ.  Come hungry.  Come willing.  Come expecting God to speak.  Come anticipating a memorable experience with the Creator of the universe.
 
Second: Listen to God
The Preacher offers further instructions for experiencing God in worship.  In Ecclesiastes 5:1 he says, “Guard your steps when you go to the house of God; to draw near to listen is better than the sacrifice offered by fools.”  The second advice is to listen to God.  The Bible has so much to say about listening.  In 1 Samuel 15:22, Samuel said these words to King Saul, “Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord?  To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.”
 
Often times, the Prophets criticized the people of Israel for “Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.”  God wants us to listen to Him.  The Prophet Isaiah wrote these great words to the nation of Israel; a nation that turned its back on God and whose heart grew dull.  In Isaiah 48:17-18, God says, “This is what the Lord says — your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go.  If only you had paid attention to my commands, your peace would have been like a river, your well-being like the waves of the sea.”
 
Sometimes we drag ourselves to the Lord’s house, we are physically present, but our minds are somewhere else.  Yes, my friends, sometimes instead of listening to what the Spirit says to us, we proof the bulletin for typos or we make the grocery list, or our to-do list for next week. And before you know it, the service is over and we got very little out of it or nothing at all because our minds were elsewhere. The Prophet Hosea says, “They sow the wind and we reap the whirlwind” Hosea 8:7.  We were not good listeners for sure.
 
Friends, I encourage you today to examine the quality of your worship.  When you show up for worship, do you get ready to meet God?  Do you get excited to encounter the Most High?  Are you listening to what the Spirit is saying?  Solomon concluded this passage by two important words: “Fear God.”  I like how the Message translation puts Ecclesiastes 5:7, “But against all illusion and fantasy and empty talk.  There’s always this rock foundation: Fear God!” 
 
The Hebrew verb “יְרָֽא” “Ya-ra”, to fear God, does not mean dread or terror; it means holy awe and respect.  It’s that deep sense of living in God’s presence and beholding His awesomeness.  In other words, we are to take God seriously.  Our temptation is to take God too lightly.  It’s true that the author of Hebrews 4:16 encourages us to approach the throne of grace with boldness, but we should never forget that God is the Almighty who has no equal.  We’re to approach Him with respect and reverence.  To Him alone be the glory now and forever more.  Amen!