The Foolish Wise Man | Sunday Message

Hey there Victor, listening to the Greg Laurie part just a ministry supported by harvest partners on Greg Laurie encouraging you if you want to find out more about harvest ministries. To learn more about how to become a harvest partner, just go to harvest.org. We are going to turn two passages in the message that is titled the foolish wisemen. Okay, so I was having dinner with my family last weekend my little grandson Christopher turns to me and he says Papa will you remember me tomorrow. Think of course I'll remember you tomorrow then he says that's Christopher there and the screen good looking little guy's name. They says will you remember me one week from now. I said of course I'll remember you one week from now. Christopher will you remember me one month from now. Of course I'll remember you one month or now.

Then he says not not.

I responded, who's there is it I thought you said you would remember me is pretty clever here before us are the words of David to his son Solomon things that he wants Solomon to remember because Solomon was going to now carry on the rain of the house of David he was going to rule in his father's place and so he says son remember what I'm going to tell you. And these are things that we can learn from as well. See David it done his job. He completed his task at God and set up a forum I love acts 1336 that says for David, three serve the purpose of God in his generation, fell asleep, but the way this phrase fell asleep means to die and it's only used to describe the death of a Christian, never a non-Christian. I love this picture fall asleep.

I don't know about you but for me, happy hour is in that know when you're young you need to sleep you fight going to bed at night.

You know, but he did needs a believer dies, so he fell asleep but what did he do before he did that we read.

He served the purpose of God in his generation. What a beautiful and concise statement. That is, it shows what our objective should be as Christians because the fall asleep course dying now. Have we gone the job God set before us.

You serve the purpose of God. So what is the purpose of God memory state that what is your purpose in life and for some people it's just long life. I hope I live long, which is not a bad thing to aspire to long life is not the objective fulfilling God's purpose for your life is the object of life is not measured by duration, but by donation. Would've you donated one of you done with your life. The rest to come a moment when we pass from money to meaning from possessions.

The purpose from success to significance.

I mean really what is success. Organist see Solomon break it down for us. In a few moments when he chase after all the things our culture says are the measures of success and will give us his conclusion about those things but ultimate success is serving the purpose of God in our generation so David had a big dream he wanted to build a house for the Lord, the up to this point the Israelites had a tent set up, also called the tabernacle, the The ark of the covenant in their David wanted to build a house for the Lord to have been saving up all of his money getting the building supplies ready, but the Lord was talking to let him do what he wanted to do so first Chronicles 28 verse two we read David rose up to his feet and said my brothers are my people.

It was my desire to build a temple the ark of the Lord's covenant God's footstool dressed permanently.

I made the necessary preparations for building it.

But God said to me, you shall not build a temple to honor my name for you are a warrior and you shed much of what stop there. Sometimes God says no. Sometimes God says slow sometimes God says grow. Sometimes God says go, we don't usually like it when God says no. I know why no well we don't always know what he says nobody has his reasons maybe got a said notice. Some of you, you had certain dreams that you did not realize you dreamt of a successful ministry and it didn't happen.

You dreamt of greater success in your business and that didn't happen either. Maybe you would hope for romance and marriage, and that didn't happen for you and so you feel God is let you down and look at what David does here instead of crying over spilled milk. Is anyone ever cried over spilled milk anyway instead of crying over it. David wisely pivots to what God has done for him first Chronicles 28 verse four yet. David says the Lord God of Israel is chosen me from among all my father's family be king over Israel forever and he chosen the tribe of Judah rule, he chose my father's family so you saying hey I want to talk about what God is done for me, not just what he didn't do what I wanted him to do that brings me to point number one if you're taking notes. Focus on what God has given you, not in what he did not give you focus on what God is giving you none Woody did not give you. Have you been blessed by God. Yes, can you count his blessings are so many, that's a good thing to do because you can say why did this happen, or why didn't that happen are. This is really a letdown. Yeah, maybe it is a maybe you look back later life and say thank you Lord for say no and medication, but then on the other hand, look at all that he has done for you.

So David immediately reflects all that God is done for him. He chose me. David says I just a little shepherd kid watching a bunch as she and the Lord shows me in mainly the king over all of Israel.

So focus on what God is giving you none of what he did not give you. Now David is going to give his final words to his successor Solomon his son. This is David son with Bathsheba and one day we need to will give our final work. Maybe we won't even know were giving our final words but we will first Chronicles 20 verse nine, Solomon my son learn to know the God of your father intimately worship and serve them with your whole heart and a willing mind so if you want to serve the purpose of God in your generation number one focus on what God is given to you, not on what he did not give you number two have an intimate relationship with God is and that with the Christian life is all about friendship with God a relationship with the Lord. Verse nine. Learn to know the God of your father intimately. You know, I think there's a lot of people that know about God that don't know God, you know, people may think they know you because they finally went social media okay finding know about you, if that's a no what you want them to know about you right because you posted what you wanted posted you never posted an unflattering photograph of yourself work for you posted this certain life you wanted people to believe. Perhaps that you were living and they think that's reality. Maybe it is. Maybe it isn't. But the truth is you have to have a relationship with someone to really know them and I wonder if David could already see a wayward and in his son. He could see that Solomon was kind of skewing the wrong direction.

David would reflect back on his own sins, and they were considerable. He didn't want to see Solomon repeat that, but what you have to say in it for the credit of David is despite his sins, he always knew where to turn.

He always turned back to God.

David said in Psalm 27 for one thing of I desired of the Lord and that will I seek after that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, and behold the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple. So David had that priority. The apostle Paul also had it when he said my determined purpose in life is to know Jim so know the God of your father house.

Can we serve the purpose of God in our generation number three serve God with a whole heart and a willing mind.

Serve God with a whole heart and a willing mind is he when a person really knows God. The want to serve God. Serving God to me is not drudgery. It's not a duty, it's a delight and it's a privilege.

Let me say it another way, I think it's really fun to serve God in any way he wants me to serve if it's a one-on-one exchange with someone with perhaps I can help them or speaking to a group of people. It's really up to the Lord.

I just think it's a privilege that God Almighty would say I want to speak through you.

I want to use you and sometimes I hear people say that I just burned out or burned out a ministry while I'm in doing this 50 years and I've been burned out yet so I don't know what to say to that. Maybe you burned out because you're not walking intimately with God because the reality is when you're walking closely with God's service to the Lord is the overflow of that. It's not something you force yourself to do it's something you want to do so. David says serve God, not listen, I get tired anybody else. I never get tired of the Lord's work. I do get tired in the Lord's work.

So I take a little time off, recharge and come back. Thankful for the opportunities before me, but serve them with a whole heart. You know some people are afraid to completely commit their life to God what I say Lord I go where you want me to going to do what you want me to do you can to make me do the worst thing ever.

You can make me marry a really ugly girl a really lame guy and you're going to call me to the mission field in the worst place on earth. What is wrong with you. God's plan for you is better than your plan for yourself using it so the point of it is you need to re-look at God in the new like the way that is presented in Scripture and I love also David says he says serve the God of your father. He's he modeled this later. Solomon talks about how David faithfully serve the Lord so he was a good example. Not a perfect example as we seem but a good one and only ask is, could you say this to your son or your daughter or your grandchild paint listen serve God like dad serve God serve the Lord like mom is serve the Lord follow my example live for Christ, as I live for Christ Cemetery blood pressure well. The apostle Paul said follow my example as I follow the example of Christ in first Corinthians 11 months so David is a look I've modeled it for you. You should walk in this now now Solomon is ascending to the throne and what a beautiful throne. It was Chuck Swindell points out in his excellent book on the life of David all the David it accomplished during this rate the nation of Israel is now unified under one flag. They have a royal capital Jerusalem of the Israeli armory Army is in position in is respected by their enemies and they literally conquered the Philistines at this moment, righteousness and a hunger for God was prevalent. The boundaries of Israel have been extended from 6000 to 60,000 mi.�, prosperity has been brought in by extensive trade routes David and set up the sounds of the songs and Psalms of David can be heard in the air and throughout the land. What a legacy saw your son, know the God of your father serve him with an undivided heart.

Go and if that wasn't enough.

The Lord himself appears to Solomon in a dream and that's found in first Kings three just to the story but we read that the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream and God said what do you want and I will give it to you. Imagine that for a moment if God appeared to you tonight.

It said, ask whatever you want and I will give it to you is telling the story to my granddaughters, Estelle, and Lucy the other night and I said Lucy what would you do if God said, I'll give you whatever you want. Lucy said I would ordered shot low lava crunch cake from Domino's.

I don't even know what that is, the judge understand. Lucy loves sugar so much.

You've heard of the heatseeking missile.

She says a sugar seeking missile that there's some cookies hidden somewhere in the house behind other things on the top shelf. Lucy will find so she's Connecticut empty, but really what would you ask for the Lord appears he will give you whatever you want. Who really whatever any house any car any relationship I said what ever you want to ask for Solomon smart just a kid. He says well Lord is a big responsibility. I need wisdom to rule over your people because I'm just young man and I don't even know what I'm doing here and you bless my father and now I need that blessing in my life as well so give me wisdom to rule your people.

The Lord said call saw you asked for the right thing because you didn't ask for wealth or riches or honor or even the death of your enemies. I want to give you what you prayed for him to make you the wisest man alive and not only that, but I'm in a bless you with well, to bless you with power and all these other things so that brings us to point number four. Put God first in your life and everything else will find its proper balance. Put God first and everything will find its proper back Jesus said seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added to you. Okay, what was he talking about. Prior to that he said don't be like nonbelievers because all they think about is what the going to eat what they're going to drink what they're going to where we might add. With the going to dry weather going to live with their career will be, he says, but seek first God's kingdom. That's not to say you shouldn't think about what you wear a look at some of you. You should think more about I'm looking at you right now know not something wrong with him and I have this for lunch that's okay. I wanted to pursue this career path, that's fine. But he said seek first the kingdom of God, so is not saying don't think about the other things he should say and think more about God's rule and reign in your life. Put God first in your life.

Is this not what prayer is. Jesus said in John 15.

If you abide in me and my words abide in you, you shall ask what you will and it shall be done unto you about what an awesome promise. Another translation would go as follows Jesus speaking. If you maintain a living communion with me and my word is at home in you. You can ask at once. Whatever your heart desires and it will be yours. But the reality is if I'm maintaining a living communion with God and intimate relationship with him and his word is at home and me. I'm not going to be praying for chocolate lava crunch cake.

Maybe I'll get that to say Lord I need wisdom I want to be in the center of your will. I want to live a life that honors and glorifies you. I want to serve you in my generation that's what prayer is aligning myself with the will of God. So everything's going Solomon's way. He is a man of great wisdom so wise in fact that the Queen of Sheba came to sit at his feet. It was just his telephone and enjoy.

But somehow Solomon managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. Despite the fact that he had this all given the him despite the fact that God himself appeared to him and gave him this incredible wisdom. Solomon starts a slow descent into sin, starting with compromising his relationship with God, prayed a beautiful prayer when they did build and dedicate the Temple and first Kings chapter 8 he tells everybody and is okay, let's keep the commandments of God. Let's do what God says.

But apparently Solomon thought more about doing as he said not doing this he did because he himself contradicted that straight out of the gate. He goes and marries a nonbelieving woman, a woman that does not believe in the God of Israel.

First things he says he made an alliance with Pharaoh and married one of his daughters.

Next thing you know he's offering sacrifices to her false gods because one thing always leads to another effectively. Solomon was unequally yoked together with an unbeliever disabled is that even the Bible says don't be unequally yoked together with nonbelievers for what fellowship does light have with darkness. Now we don't think a lot about yoking today that this is basically a yoke like you have two oxen right here plowing your field. So one of your ox is oxen. This is a boxer oxen. I don't know what is coming oxen. Thank you very much will you experts know I do know is one of the oxen is vibrant and strong alive. These pulling his weight and the other oxen is dead. Okay is dead, dragging the corpse of an ox. In what way do you think your plow will pull Kino take a relationship you have a living, vibrant believer and a nonbeliever who is going on there said what's way will the relationship pull would all pull them up. You say hey if they pull you down. I will give them this weekend our relationship series that were titled titling my doing this right talk about the importance of finding a believer in when you do get married, but another translation of second Corinthians 614 talks about the unequally yoked puts it this way. Don't become partners with those who reject God talking to make a partnership out of right and wrong. That's a partnership that's more is like best friends with Doc excellent translation there.

But that's exactly what he did, he enters into this relationship with the nonbeliever and then he just goes further down.

He compromises his morality.

It wasn't enough to marry one nonbeliever.

He started a collection 700 in total 700 wives and 300 more concubines. What you know any mothers-in-law that is well this guy is just going down in flames right now and know he talks about it we go over to Ecclesiastes chapter 1 ask you to turn their and he talks about what happened. Basically, Solomon says here's limited.

I've heard certain things are wrong. I know God says certain things are sin, but I don't know that personally. So I'm in a go myself and experience everything this culture offers and then decide for myself if I agree with God.

We know how that's can I go to a citizen. Ecclesiastes 113, I set my heart to seek and search up by wisdom concerning all that is done under heaven that phrase seek needs to seek an explorer to investigate the roots of a matter he's going to experience it himself. Starting with the pursuit of knowledge. That's a pretty noble pursuit. I want to pursue knowledge and learning, and he writes about it in Ecclesiastes 116 look on wiser than any of the kings ruled in Jerusalem before me. I have greater wisdom and knowledge in any of them. I work hard to distinguish wisdom from foolishness. But now I realize this is like she seen the wind for the greater my wisdom, the greater my grief while really and some people think what I gathered degree unifying get a college education that's now being paid for by the other Americans which I don't agree with. By the way, but where you get that education will kind of college are you going to get up from there so many universities indoctrinating students with this crazy woke ideology today. I'm wondering if were helping or hurting some of these kids not to mention the fact were spending hundreds of thousands of dollars for I actually googled some courses that some universities are offering none of these are made up. These are for real at Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina. They have a course titled one of Harry Potter is real federally help you in life Columbia College in Chicago has a course zombies in popular media, Tufts University in Medford Oregon as a course demystifying the hipster I don't even find the mysterious to start with why should I demystify them college in Portland Oregon offers a course on juggling just so were looking to hire somebody wanted to major in juggling and I'm also an expert on demystifying hipsters right another university. I just read this this week is offering a courtside Taylor Swift while you're ready for anything in life now, aren't you, here's a real point, the pursuit of knowledge is a good thing. But if the pursuit of knowledge is not include God. It's not a good thing to God needs to be a part of. That's what Solomon is really saying. So Solomon shifts gears. Okay, how many go from being a brainiac to a party animal done that hold you know, education thing, and I found a rather empty eye miniatures party. I believe with the beastie boys said I've got a fight for my right to party that are no Solomon and heard the beastie boys, I doubt it.

Ecclesiastes 21. He said I said to myself, let's give pleasure a try. Let's look for the good things in life. I found this too was meaningless. It's silly to be laughing all the time what caused good does it do to seek only pleasure and he did it by drinking Ecclesiastes to three I thought I'll cheer myself with wine while still seeking wisdom but I just found it empty. You know people love to drink.

You know the get a little tipsy little hi little drunk, they start laughing delivered everything, everything's funny to a table full of people drinking they think it's all Larry is always a great time last night when I do know is pretty drunk, but it's fun, except when that cop pulled me over the DUI that wasn't so much yelling here's the thing I have seen the disruptive power of alcohol in so many lives.

I was raised in an alcoholic home. I dealt with drunk people for the first 17 years of my life. I saw what alcohol does. I saw adult relationships destroy I saw the habit get brought in the my own life and that's why I don't drink today.

I don't see any reason for it. I don't see any value in it and not only advice he is getting quiet in her like that.

And not only have I seen this in the lives of nonbelievers I've seen in the lives of believers you know they come to Christ, so we don't live that way anymore. We've given those things up. I know were drinking a little bit down a little bit more and all of a sudden you're having the same problems and nonbelievers are having because it is what it is and I've even seen this affect people in ministry and churches be destroyed by drinking Solomon say this is a dead end street. It's silly to do this it empty. To do this so he's through process of elimination finding out what it isn't about before he finds out what it is about. Then he talks about building you chose okay I tried drinking and partying. I tried the education was build a massive estate all build multiple estates of the most incredible gardens and in the most amazing singers on earth anyone.

Solomon want to be could have come and sing for him. He writes about it in Ecclesiastes 2 for I had beautiful vineyards at huge homicide.

Beautiful concubines hide everything a man could desire, but I look at everything I worked so hard to accomplish.

It was also meaningless.

It was like she seen the when there was nothing really worthwhile anywhere.

So okay it's not here it's not there is on this other place where residents are now Solomon is whittling it down is coming to its conclusion, the house of David dispatch from David to Solomon. Here's what I've learned just what you learn. That was right all along. All that advice he gave me was spot on. I should of taken it. So here is the conclusion.

Ecclesiastes 12 one.

Remember the creator in the days of your youth before the difficulties come in the years draw near, when you say I have no pleasure in them. Another translation don't let the excitement of you, cause you to forget your creator.

I know some of you are young. I know some of you think you're young but you are young.

Please learn from the mistakes of generations before you. You don't have to go out there and make the same mistakes. That's what Solomon is saying I wasted so many years of my life. I wish I discovered this earlier and now his conclusion. Are you ready Ecclesiastes 1213. Let's hear the conclusion of all matter for God and keep his commandments. This is man's all and God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether be good or bad Solomon say listen, take this from a seasoned pro I know what I'm talking about. If you leave God out of your life you're going to be empty in your life will be meaningless. But if you want a full life than doing God says so here it is fear God and keep his commandments.

First, to fear God. That doesn't mean be afraid of God. Some people are afraid of God go P he loves you to fear God means to reverence God means to respect God in any it means to be in awe of God. You know he's not your celestial good buddy Damon. Jesus is my homeboy know isn't Jesus is the Lord and he is the Savior and is a creator.

Have some respect, but yet this loving Lord and powerful creator does want friendship with you so you enter into this friendship would you fear God, one good definition I've heard of the fear of God is all wholesome dread of this wholesome dread of displeasing him.

I think that's pretty accurate so fear God. Solomon says, is when I burn, fear God and keep his commandments get thrown away most of his life trying to figure this out and we bristle at the idea of commandments and absolute. That's why America is unraveling before our very eyes were pushing on every God-given boundary set there for our own protection were trying to redefine what God is clearly defines keep his commandments.

Don't think of the commandments as bars of the key to keeping you in think of them as walls around your home, keeping the enemy out there for your good company viewed in the Disneyland razor and don't be embarrassed. It's a how many of you have been on the Toby arrived. You know what I'm talking about. I like that. I went on that not too long ago as an adult member there. It is the appropriate right this funny little cars made out of fiberglass and when you get in you. Do you do of an accelerator and brake, but there are these big concrete barriers are going to keep you inside of the safety of the October you're right it's okay that there for your protection for little kids can pretend they're driving right having a good time but I wouldn't take a Netopia card out on the streets of a major city and drive around what you that's not safe that guys vulnerable that Carl is not designed to put that back up there we have different. We did this in the art department. You have to enjoy it from a meditates so this isn't what this car is designed to do your minds every time a number of years ago I was riding a Vespa scooter and it said it was freeway rated by that.

How can the scooter be freeway rated this can go fast enough to go to freeway so I was riding around in Santa Barbara and there was this one spot work I could get on the freeway and there was an immediate offramp, and it would save me a lot of time instead of taking the surface streets so I revved up that little scooter as fast as they could go. You know those tiny little wheel and I got it as fast I could go on.

I entered the freeway.

It was so scary. Everyone was passing me semi's are going but I'm I couldn't wait to get back off everywhere. That scooter was not design going to freeway, there are not freeway say let's make that very clear. God is giving you the commandments to protect you. Solomon says fear God and keep his commandments. How many of us had gone through life thinking this doesn't apply to them. How many marriages have to be destroyed.

How many children need to be deprived of both parents.

How many more lies maybe need to be destroyed by drinking and substance abuse.

How many more people need to live only consume things and never think of others you know some people love people and use money.

Other people love money and use people. Which one are you don't waste your life.

Solomon did largely he was the foolish wise man he self-destructed in slow motion house of David ups and downs, highs and lows, victories and defeats house just like ours, a family like ours. One day you're gonna wake up like David and have more life behind you than you have in front of you and I hope you won't say well I wasted my life. You know, we have two major dates in our life. The date of our birth and the date of our death.

We really don't decide either, but we have everything to say about that � in the middle right born this year died that year, but there's that � that's your part. Live that � well, let me loop back to what David said about life to Solomon, know the God of your father know him. That's the most important thing you know Jesus said in the final day of judgment.

Many will come to me, say, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name. Did we not do miracles in your name. Did we not cast out demons in your name and Jesus says that I will say to them depart for me.

I never knew you workers of iniquity in the phrase that Jesus uses. Therefore, knowing him means I never knew you intimately see these people knew about God didn't know God, you can live off the faith of your parents. Doesn't matter if your mom or dad love the Lord your grandparents. That's great.

Good legacy. It's up to you. You have to embrace it as your own. And really what this is all about is a relationship with God. Hey knock knock Jesus Jesus Christ. That's right standing at the door of your life and knocking saying if you hear his voice and open the door he will come in only I can open the door of my life. Jesus as I want this relationship with you. I want to forgive you of your sins.

I want to help you find the purpose and meaning of life because I have a plan just for you but that's for you to say come in for you to say go away no I'm not answering the door so when the close of the prayer I'm going to extend an invitation for you to come into this intimate relationship with God for you to ask Christ to come into your life so you can be forgiven of your sin and know that you go to heaven when you die, but also so you know what your life is really all about. And you can live well. Let's pray father I pray for everybody here. Everybody watching wherever they are. If they don't know you yet. Help them to come to you now and believe that will a heads up. Your eyes are closed and were praying together. How many of you would say Craig I need Jesus Christ right now I'm kinda like Solomon I've done those things are. I'm even doing those things and it's empty and I don't like it and I don't want to live this way anymore. I want Christ to come and live inside of me.

I want him to forgive me of my sin. Or you might say that I've drifted away. I'm a Christian. I know better, but I wonder often I need to return to the Lord. If you want Christ to come in your life if you want him to forgive you of your sin if you fallen away from the Lord, and you want to return to him again wherever you are, what you just lift her hand up and let me pray for you. Lift your hand up saying I need Jesus Christ today. I need my sin forgiven. Right now I want to go to heaven when I die.

Pray for me. Raise your hand up or I can see it please bless you, bless you of some of your watching the screen. Other harvest Riverside and outdoor. One of our overflow venues. This is for you to do.

You need to commit your life to Christ to recommit your life to Jesus. Raise your hand up as well. Wherever you are.

Anybody else you need to get right with God today you you want Jesus to take residence in your heart, raise your hand up, let me pray for you.bless each one of you pray this prayer out loud after me again as I pray this pray this out loud after me. Pray these words.

If you would please Lord Jesus, I know that I'm a sinner but I know that you're the Savior who died on the cross for my sin and rose again from the dead.

Jesus come into my life. I choose to follow you from this moment forward as my Savior and Lord is my God and friend in Jesus name I pray, amen.

Everybody, thanks for listening to this podcast to learn more about harvest ministries follow the show and consider supporting it. Just go to harvest.org and find out how to know God personally go to harvest.org and click on know God