Living Wisely: Embracing Purpose and Integrity

And living this way profoundly affects the way we live in anticipation of the next life. See, if we get the first two things right of our character, who we're becoming and living wisely, that's all preparation for what is to come. But if we don't get those first two things right of who our character is forming into or what it's forming into, and we're not pursuing wisdom today, it can adversely affect our life. It can affect our hope for the future. [00:34:49] (37 seconds)


I hope as we've been walking our way through this book, and really every other time we open the scriptures, every time we hear from God, that you are gleaning nuggets of truth for your life and understand that God is calling you not to just carelessly walk through this world in anticipation of heaven to say, you know, it doesn't matter. It's all figured out. It's all under the blood of Jesus. I'm going to make it home. And it, you know, I'm just going to walk until I get there. [00:37:21] (32 seconds)


Solomon is speaking to our character. I hope you know this. But your character matters. Who you are matters. Who you are when no one is looking matters. Solomon says that living with a good name is one of the most valuable things that you can possess. It's not chasing after wealth and possessions, fame and fortune, status and authority. Those things don't matter in the grand scheme of life. Even life under the sun. [00:42:31] (50 seconds)


Everything you do in the presence of people and everything you do in private shapes your character and your personal integrity. When people think of you, what comes to mind? How about those closest to you? If you were to ask your spouse or your children or grandchildren or your neighbor or that close friend or that person that you have worked alongside for many years, if you were to ask them, who do you say I am? What would they say about you? Your character absolutely matters. [00:43:42] (46 seconds)


Death has more to teach us about life. Death has more to teach us about life than going to a party. It's better to go to a house of mourning than to a house of feasting. What Solomon is saying is that when you go to a funeral, something profoundly happens. You come to grips with your own mortality. [00:49:58] (25 seconds)


If you've ever been to a funeral, however it is shaped, whether there's a casket there, or an urn, or if the casket's closed or opened, or maybe it's just a gathering of people to celebrate someone's life that is no longer here, what you begin to understand is that there's someone missing in a profound way. And so when you go to a funeral, you come to grips with your own life. That life will come to an end. [00:50:09] (33 seconds)


Solomon says, be ready. No matter when it occurs, we should be ready to meet the Lord. Moses understood this when he prayed in Psalm 95. These words, teach us to number our days that we may present to you a heart of wisdom. Teach us to number our days. What is he saying? Teach us to understand that we only have a limited, finite amount of time here on earth. [00:53:02] (27 seconds)


Solomon says what is good for man during this lifetime is that you're corrected in this life while you live. Verses 5 and 6. It is better to listen to the rebuke of a wise man than for one to listen to the song of foals. For as the crackling of thorn bushes under a pot, so is the laughter of a foal, and this too is futility. Plainly stated, it's better to be corrected by a wise person than to listen to foolish laughter. [00:55:37] (37 seconds)


Correction that comes from a wellspring of wisdom is better than going to a comedy club. We like to laugh. We like to laugh. Most people don't want to hear correction, though. But correction is life-giving. We all need correction from time to time. Let's just be honest with ourselves. Let me ask you this. Are you perfect? You need correction, then. [00:56:18] (35 seconds)


Solomon calls us to take the long view of life. Don't we live in a world where people are too caught up in the moment? Something bad happens and in that moment they react. And when they react, they make all sorts of decisions that bring trouble and peril upon their life. Because they reacted to a moment. Solomon says, take the long view of life. Begin to understand that God is sovereign. That he's the king. [01:02:49] (45 seconds)


And we know that God causes all things to work together for our good. To those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose. I need to be reminded of those verses when it seems like life is skidding off the road. That God causes all things to work together for good for those who love him. That taking the long view keeps us from living as many people do. [01:04:28] (32 seconds)