How Ecclesiastes Teaches Us to Put God First | Christian Sermon

2025-12-21 Gale Towles Ecclesiastes 11:9

Ecclesiastes teaches practical, daily wisdom: put God first by rejecting self-deception, embracing hard work, and choosing His ways over selfish impulses. Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for God will bring every act to judgment.

Detailed Summary

Ecclesiastes offers practical wisdom for daily living, beginning with the importance of self-talk and choosing to listen to God instead of self-deception. The preacher illustrates this with an 'X marks the spot' picture: we must honestly confront where we are spiritually and where we are headed, trusting that God's ways always lead to better places. He calls believers to reject the world's 'sit back and do nothing' mentality, urging instead the industrious spirit of Ecclesiastes: 'whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might.'

Drawing from Ecclesiastes 11:9, the speaker warns that 'follow your heart' must be guided by God's judgment, not selfish impulses. He challenges viewers to pursue righteousness rather than fleeting desires, illustrating this through personal stories: waking his sons each morning with spiritual encouragement, a family roadside adventure, and his own decision to pursue preaching over a career in the oil industry. These testimonies show that God faithfully provides when we choose the path that draws us nearer to Him.

As the message turns toward Ecclesiastes 12, the preacher reflects honestly on aging, humorously acknowledging hearing aids, glasses, and a slowing body. Yet the deeper question is not physical decline but spiritual readiness: 'Is my master there? Am I ready to cross the finish line?' He presses the core gospel truth that each person is personally accountable before God. No one can give an account for a spouse or child, only for themselves. The sermon closes with the sobering conclusion: 'Fear God and keep His commandments, for God will bring every act to judgment.' Individual choice and wholehearted commitment to Christ, entering through the narrow gate, is required for salvation.