No Regrets

This week will conclude our very brief look at the book of Ecclesiastes. We have learned that God is sovereign and has given us a purpose, that life has a point. Last week we saw that a close relationship with God is the true answer to loneliness and failed expectations. This week we are looking at living without regret.

Solomon at this point is an old man looking back at his many years. He has accomplished much, but he has many regrets. He sees his many mistakes and longs to teach us not to get caught up in the trappings he did.

In chapter 12, he begins his final remarks with the imperative to, “remember your Creator in the days of your youth.” He’s not simply saying to acknowledge God intellectually and move on. No, he’s saying to revere God and seek Him while you are young. Don’t waste your life pursuing the meaningless things He talked about throughout the book, but set a goal to fix your eyes on Christ all of your days.

Solomon poetically discusses how death will one day begin to take over the body and your time will be up. Don’t wait until it’s too late to serve God. One day your hearing will be gone, your vision will be bad, your strength will fail and you may be left with regret, unless you begin today to seek the Lord and serve Him.

Begin with the End

Solomon’s advice is to consider the end of your life and begin to make decisions today to pursue God and make the best of this life. You have a Creator and He knows what is best for you.

What type of person do you want to be?

No, not what job do you want, or how much money do you want, but what type of person do you want to be at the character level?

Character building doesn’t happen by accident. You will not wake up one day and find yourself being godly, gracious and happy. You have to intentionally pursue Christ and His Word to find the instructions for life (2 Peter 1:3-11).

In order to end well, you have to run well. As we conclude 2015 and begin 2016, what has distracted you from pursuing Christ this year? What has been an encouragement? What goals should you set for the New Year?

Set SMART Goals for each area of life.

In Luke 2:52 says that Jesus grew in 4 areas: Wisdom, Stature, Favor With God and Favor With Man. How can we follow Jesus’ example in our own growth?

What are your intellectual and academic goals?

What are your physical and health goals?

What are your spiritual growth goals?

What are your social goals?

Think of goals for life and goals for 2016. Here’s a grid to help you make good smart goals in each of these four areas. Think short term and long term.

S – stands for Specific – you should be clear about what you want to happen

M – stands for Measurable – you should be able to track your goal

A – stands for Action – what small specific actions must you take to achieve this goal

R – stands for Realistic – can you actually achieve this goal? Is it doable?

T – stands for Time – set a time frame for you to accomplish this goal

If you take Solomon’s challenge to not waste your life, but to remember your Creator today by setting goals to grow, you will live a meaningful and purpose filled life. Don’t wait until tomorrow. Don’t wait until you have a “real job” and a family. Don’t wait until college. Start today and bring glory to God!