Foundations of Godly Living

TEXTEcc. 11:9-12:1

INTRODUCTION:

A.      REMARKS DIRECTED TO YOUNG AND OLD NEED TO HEAR.

B.      CHOICE WORDS OF SOLOMON:

          1.  Rejoice in thy youth - Happiness & pleasure good; judgment.

          2.  Remove sorrow from thy heart - Do nothing that you will be sorry for later.

          3.  Remember thy Creator - The beginning of wisdom( Prov.1:7 ).

C.      "I WANT A GOOD LIFE."  REQUIRES A GOOD FOUNDATION.

          1.  A philosophy of live - values - what we hold important.

          2.  A good character - ethics - what we hold to be right.

          3.  Faith in God - faith - what we hold to be true.

I.      DEVELOPING  PHILOSOPHY OF LIFE - VALUES.

A.      "A PARTICULAR SYSTEM OF PRINCIPLES FOR THE CONDUCT OF LIFE."

          1.  The foundation from which decisions are made and by which

                   you are motivated.

          2.  Not only determines what you do but what you don’t do.  Forms a circle around

                   you which tends to limit & confine your attitudes and deeds to that which is

                    consistent with its meaningful purpose and outlook.

B.      TOO MANY HAVE NO POSITIVE PHILOSOPHY OF LIFE.

          1.  "No direction of home, a complete unknown, like a rolling stone."

                   Temporary satisfaction.

          2.  Results:  frustration, boredom, rebellion, lack of responsibility, SIN, suicide.

C.      WHERE WILL WE GO FOR THIS PHILOSOPHY, FOR WORTHWHILE     VALUES?

          1.  Where is wisdom?  Who knows all?( Prov.1:7; Rom.11:33-36 ).

          2.  Who made me? Who knows me best?( Psalm 139: 1-6 ).

          3.  Where does he reveal what is important?( Psa. 119:1052 Tim. 3:16-17 ).

          4.  Jesus is our standard( John 1:4Col. 2:8-10 ).

D.      VALUES AS TAUGHT BY JESUS:

          1.       The spiritual over the material( Mat. 6:33 ).

                   a.       Priorities, who is Master?( Mat.6:24; 1 John 2:15-17)

                   b.       How important is this?( Mat. 16:26 ).

          2.       The moral (pure) over the immoral & unholy( Rom. 12:9 ).

                   a.       Specifically related to uprightness and purity of conduct...a way of life.

                   b.       To be true to what is right in God’s sight; honesty, fairness, compassion

                             are moral.  Includes proper attitudes & conduct toward the opposite sex.

                   c.       The heart must be kept pure. 

                             i.        Negative.( Mat. 5:28 )

                             ii.       Positive. ( Phil. 4:8 ).

          3.       The lasting over the temporary.

                   a.       Satisfaction NOW, can’t wait, future unimportant.

                   b.       Worldly pleasures for the moment( 1 John 2:15-17 ).

                   c.       How long are you going to be a teenager? 

                                      What percentage of your life?

                   d.       Compared to eternity?( 2 Cor. 4:16-18; Mat. 6:19-21 ).

          4.       The positive over the negative.

                   a.       Christians are happy people( Phil. 4:4-7 ).

                   b.       We live life with confidence( Phil. 4:13 ).

                   c.       Effects outlook and disposition - and relationships.

          5.       Humility over egotistical pride and self-image.

                   a.       We want to look good to others and self.  Much effect.

                   b.       What we need:  a strong sense of what is really important  which gives

                             self-confidence without pumping up our heads( Rom. 12:3 ).

                   c.       Pride is a problem( Prov. 16:18Luke 14:8-11 ).

                   d.       What does God regard( 1 Pet. 5:5-7 ).

          6.       A specific cause for which to live( Phil. 1:27; Jas. 5:19-20Luke 13:24 ).

II.     DEVELOPING A STRONG AND RIGHTEOUS CHARACTER

        ETHICS.

A.      "MORAL STRENGTH, SELF DISCIPLINE, FORTITUDE, ETC."  ( Webster )

          "THE COMBINATION OF EMOTIONAL, INTELLECTUAL AND MORAL

          QUALITIES THAT DISTINGUISHES AN INDIVIDUAL." ( Computer )

          THE INNER MAN’S QUALITIES.

B.      GOOD CHARACTER:  "A RECOGNITION OF CERTAIN MORAL TRUTHS

          THAT ARE RIGHT, AND AT THE SAME TIME HAVING A STRONG

          DETERMINATION AND CONVICTION TO LIVE IN ACCORD WITH

          THOSE MORAL TRUTHS."

C.      BASIC QUALITIES OF GOOD CHARACTER:

          1.       Respect for God

                   a.       God’s standard is supreme( Prov. 14:12 ).

                   b.       God made and knows us( Acts 17:24-29Rev. 4:11 ).

          2.       Honesty.

                   a.       How does God regard deceit?( John 8:44Rev. 21:8 ).

                   b.       Be honest & of honest reputation( Mat. 5:33-37 ).

          3.       Dependability.  From an honest heart.

                   a.       Parable of the talents( Mat. 25:14-30 ).

                   b.       Extends beyond religious responsibilities( Eph.5:5-8 )

                   c.       Can you be depended on( Psalm 15:4Ecc. 9:10 ).

          4.       Self-control, self-discipline.

                   a.       Our hardest work( 1 Cor. 9:25-27 ).  Buffet our bodies.

                   b.       Our daily conduct - Paul’s problem( Rom. 7:15, 18-19 ).

                   c.       Our tongue( Eph. 4:29 ).

                   d.       Our thoughts( Phil. 4:8 ).

                   e.       Involves a conscious effort to do right( 1 Tim. 4:7-8 )

          5.       Being just and fair( Micah 6:8Mat. 7:1-5 ).

          6.       Courage.

                   a.       Trial will come( John 15:202 Tim. 3:12 ).

                   b.       Not all in the form of persecution.

                   c.       The Lord is on our side( Rom. 8:31;  Phil. 4:4-5 ).

          7.       Morality.

                   a.       Again, related to uprightness and purity of conduct,.how you live.

                   b.       We have rules!  animals don’t.  Must we live like hogs and cattle?

                   c.       Rom. 1:21ff., 24f., 26f. 28-32.

                   d.       How do we maintain morality( James 1:13-15 ).

          8.       Decency.

                   a.       Conforming to standards of taste, propriety, morality and modesty."

                   b.       Demands respect and sensitivity toward others.

                   c.       Involves general behavior and speech( Eph. 5:3-5 ).

                   d.       Involves dress( 1 Tim. 2:9 ).

                             i.        "sexy" clothes( Mat. 5:28Mat. 18:5-7 ).

                             ii.       Unintentional, rebellion or pride of stylishness.

                                      We must adorn ourselves with "shamefastness."

CONCLUSION:

A.      A PROPER PHILOSOPHY AND A GOOD CHARACTER ARE ESSENTIAL

          FOR THE BEST LIFE YOU CAN LIVE.

B.      DO YOU BELIEVE ON JESUS?