Tragedy of an Undedicated Life

Text: Ecc.12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

Intro: Dedicate = To devote to the service or worship of a divine being or to set apart for a definite use or service.
The entire book of Ecclesiastes is dealing with man and his place, purpose and destiny under the sun. i.e man's purpose in THIS life.

I. The great philosophical question of the ages:
WHAT IS THE MEANING OF LIFE?
Ecc. 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

Phil.3:18 (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:
19 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)

II Tim.3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

A. Some of the ways in which Satan has brought about the corruption of man's purpose.
Satan is the guru who has inspired it all.
He inspired Madison ave. to come up with a slogan, "You only go around once. Grab all the gusto you can get!"
He inspired song writers; "Enjoy yourself. It's later than you think."
'I Did it MY way!"
He inspired the 'New Morality'; "If it feels good, do it!"
He summed it all up in a cutesy little saying; "Life is uncertain, eat dessert first"
Hedonism was born in the Garden of Eden when Eve looked upon and desired the forbidden fruit and man has been susceptible to its deceptive beckoning ever since.

If man is meant to do those things which he personally enjoys, there IS NO WRONG! the Klan, the terrorists, the killers, etc. all are doing that which they think best and that which pleases them.
God did indeed create man that he might enjoy His creation but he intended him to enjoy it in a state of innocence. Sin changed the paradigms of the 'Purpose of Life.'

I. Life is too precious to be used aimlessly.
A. It is treasured by man, himself. Satan knows this and is ready to use the knowledge for his purposes.
Job 2:4 And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life.

B. We once had a plaque on our wall which made a very true statement :
"Only one life, ‘twill soon be past;
Only what's done for Christ, will last"
therefore;
1.I Cor.10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
2.Only the scriptural works of a dedicated life will be left of this life in eternity.

C. It is precious because of its possibilities. These are not those things usually found in the history books or inscribed on monuments, but as acts of obedience to the Lord they are recorded in the book of life.
1.Out of all material creation, man is the only living creature who can choose to worship and serve his creator.
a. Here is pure joy for both God and man, In worship, man sees Christ as a sinless man, bearing our sins, and God sees him as the Son of God cleansing sins and bestowing righteousness. In this there is fellowship between God and man through Christ.
II Cor.5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

2. The possibility of praise.
See Psalms 146-150
3. Because of it's brevity.
Psa.90:9 For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we spend our years as a tale that is told.
10 The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.

II. An undedicated life has no real happiness because it has no purpose. Like the soldier griping as he digs a hole in the morning so that he will have something to do in the afternoon filling it up
Man labors for money to buy food to have strength to labor to earn money to buy food.......
Hag.1:6 Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes.
7 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways.
Is activity all that man needs? Even a dog with running fits has activity!

III. It has no ultimate goal, therefore no hope.
I Cor.15:19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
If your highest goal is to make it through till next payday, you are a miserable example of humanity.
How much better to run the race, looking unto Jesus instead of looking over you shoulder!

IV. Dedication to the wrong purpose is folly.
A. The rich farmer.
Luke 12.20
But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? 'thou fool'
B. Rich man in hell.
Lu 16:20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,
Lu 16:23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
Lu 16:24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
Lu 16:25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.

V. Conclusion.
A. A purposeful life MUST begin at the cross
B. It must center around the living Christ and his will as found in the Bible.