Times of your Life

I. Age differences

A. 13 - teenager now

B. 20 - finally not a teenager/life ahead of you

C. 30 - wondering about choices realizing you are narrowing your paths

D. 40 - “over the hill”, early midlife thoughts, “how did I get here so fast”, question yourself and your choices, some become fools in worldly-focused decisions

E. 50 - “half a century”, realize that “midlife” might be optimism (100?), feeling the miles in the body

F. 60 - retirement on the horizon, “am I ready for it?”, choices are extremely limited, start unloading things you accumulated over the years

G. 70 - ?? I hope content and enjoying being able to serve God with less work restraint.

H. 80 - Well, if I make it that are and of reasonably sound in mind and body then I’ll update the sermon and let you know.

II. Though the years may seem many and a life can seem long, its is like a mist, James 4:13-17

III. Accounting for your life

A. Give an account

1. Romans 14:12
2. Matthew 12:36-37
3. Hebrews 4:11-13
   • So use God’s word to be ready for the accounting

B. Misguided

1. Matthew 7:21-23
2. 1 Corinthians 4:1-5

C. We may be wrong about others judgment (not our job)

1. James 4:11-12
2. Romans 14:10-12

D. Others may be wrong about us

1. Isaiah 51:4-8
2. 2 Peter 3 (skim then read the 8-13)
3. 1 Peter 1:4-11

E. Our salvation is through faith in God’s saving power

1. Ephesians 2:1-10
2. Colossians 3
3. 1 John 2:1-6

IV. Since God is the only one whose judgment ultimately matters, and he offers salvation and meaning in our lives through His Son, we must answer the question, “What will you do with your life?”

A. How we live our lives is not completely out of our control, though others may have a say in obligations we must meet and things to which we must give our time.

B. Live your life for treasure, pleasure, and a lasting legacy?

C. Ecclesiastes demonstrates the foolishness of this.

1. Treasure is vulnerable to loss from investment loss, thieves, and moochers then ultimately fails to satisfy our deepest needs.
2. Pleasures become routine and fail to provide the excitement and distraction over time.
3. Work becomes a burden because one realizes that all the labor in the heat of the day is building things that will not last and accumulating money that does not satisfy.
4. Legacy? Few things last long on the earth and the memories of people is even shorter
   • Even things that are built and still exist, the people who built them are forgotten. Names on a plaque, pictures in a history book but no emotional connection to them.
   • Memories of people fade over generations. Even historical figures are remembered for key things they did and not really known for who they are. And they do not know that others remember them.
   • Ecclesiastes 9:2-6

D. God’s design:

1. Luke 12 Summarize
   • Do not stress about the things of this world

Persecution and turmoil: God who watches the sparrows watches you. Focus instead on honoring God.

Clothing

Dwelling

Instead, be generous with what you have and be willing to accept unfairness understanding what has eternal value.

Instead of don’t worry be happy, don’t worry - trust God’s care.

Be diligent to do God’s work so you will be ready whenever He comes.

Be at peace, as much as depends on you.

1. “There is nothing better”
   • Ecclesiastes 2:24-26
   • Ecclesiastes 3:9-15
   • Ecclesiastes 3:19-22
   • Ecclesiastes 5:18-20
   • Ecclesiastes 8:15
   • I include: Ecclesiastes 9:7-10
2. Titus 2:11-14 - The core description of our life
3. Romans 12: What this life looks like in action

V. How will you live your life and for whom will you live your life? Only one way brings peace.