YOLO! Be more dog!
Ecclesiastes 9:1-12
Today, the seatbelt sign is on: this YOLO series in Ecclesiastes is starting its final descent. Where we’ve got to: life can seem random, at times, utterly meaningless – hard to find meaning. Ecclesiastes says, life is ‘hevel’/ vapor/ mist, temporary – whether good or bad. Life is best understood, makes more sense, with God, the Author of Life. So ‘fear’ God – acknowledge the reality of God all around you. That’s true wisdom. So, live wisely.
Today, we can’t control all that happens to us/others. The one certainty is that everyone dies. But not everyone truly lives. YOLO – you only live once. So, make your life count. Many focus on adding years to life; Ecclesiastes says, don’t forget to also add life to years.
Ecclesiastes has realised, we all live under the same sun. Whether holy Jo(e)s or rotten Toms. “All share a common destiny – the righteous and the wicked, the good and the bad, the clean and the unclean, those who offer sacrifices and those who do not.” v.2 That common destiny, destination, is death.
Fly long haul and there’s a real mix of passengers. A few are in First Class: cocktail bar, fine dining, full beds… They’re First Class people. On another level to the rest of us – literally. Others are in Premium Economy. For their upgrade, they’ve got an extra centimetre of legroom, a bag of pretzels, and a miniature can of coke. And aren’t they so smug about it. Then, there’s the rest of us in economy in the wooden shack at the back, with its benches and outside toilet – all peddling to power the water fountain in First Class. But, they’re all flying under the same sun, and to the same destination. They’re even all going to land at the same time. Ecclesiastes says that’s us. We’re all on the same flight, heading in the same direction – towards death. Yes, some seem to have it easy, others a far tougher time. But death takes no account of whether you turn left or right when boarding.
Some think the solution is to try for an upgrade. To try and impress God; scrub up, look and sound religious, do some good deeds – and make sure God takes note of us. “As it is with the good, so with the sinful; as it is with those who take oaths, so with those who are afraid to take them.” v.2
I recently spent three nights/ four days at a ‘silent order’ Franciscan monastery on retreat. I discovered that even monks can be mischievous. One of the monks had tattoos and old ear-stretchers. If we’d been able to speak, I so wanted to ask, how did you get from that life to this life.
Chapel happens 5 times a day, 7 days a week, 52 weeks of the year. A bell is rung 5 minutes before, then two minutes before, then just before it’s about to start. That week the oldest, most infirm monk with the shakes, was on bell duty. Each time, five minutes before the start, he’d shuffle into the corridor and pull the big rope to sound the bell, ad then take his pew in the chapel. Two minutes before the service, he’d stand up, shuffle out the corridor and pull the big rope bell again, and then return to the chapel and sit down on his pew. Then, just as the service was about to start, he’d stand up, shuffle out again to pull that big bell rope, before returning back into chapel and sitting down. On the last day it occurred to me, we’re all here. We all know there’s only five monks and three guests – and we’re all here. Why still make him go out each time to ring the bell to call us to worship, when it’s obvious, we’re all here? Each time, just as the oldest, most infirm monk came back in, it would take him time to sit down (it was clearly a struggle for him.) Each time, the nano second his rear-end finally reached his pew, the rest of the monks would immediately stand up to start the service. I watched the expression on that old monk’s face; his silent mutter. Why did the other monks make him sit down, knowing he was immediately going to have to stand up again? It seems even monks have a mischievous side. “As it is with the good, so with the sinful; as it is with those who take oaths, so with those who are afraid to take them.” v.2
Ecclesiastes says, as long as we’re alive, there is hope. We can make good choices; we can enjoy life, as God intended.
Video: BE MORE DOG [O2, the mobile phone network ran an advert in which a cat lamented about its lack of fun. The cat watched dogs, with their zest for life, having so much more fun. So the cat vowed to ‘be more dog’. To live life as a dog. The advert encourages us all to ‘Be more dog!’] 
Ecclesiastes tells us to be more dog. “Anyone who is among the living has hope. Even a live dog is better off than a dead lion!” v.4 In ancient times, dogs were not considered cute, fun characters - “people’s best friend” Dogs were held in contempt: unclean, revolting scavengers. Proverbs 26:11 “As a dog returns to its vomit, so fools repeat their folly.”
Lions, on the other hand, were regal, majestic, powerful – what Proverbs 30:30 calls the “King of the beasts”. Better to be a living dog, than a dead lion. Better to be alive in economy, than drop dead in First Class. 
Be more dog. Have a zest for life.“Go, eat your food with gladness, and drink your wine with a joyful heart, for God has already approved what you do.” v.7 Eat, drink and be merry. Qoheleth (Ecclesiastes) is not saying, get wasted, be a glutton… Instead, enjoy life - whilst you still can. Take pleasure in what it means to be alive. And do it with “a joyful heart.” Receive it as a God-gift. The Message says: ‘God takes pleasure in your pleasure.’ That’s powerful. Do you consider that ‘God takes pleasure in your pleasure.’?
Franciscan monks take a vow of poverty, obedience, and chastity. So, no puddings, no in-between-meal snacks (at least, none that I could see!) Yes, the Bible tells us to take up our Cross daily, and that active Believers can expect some suffering and trials along the way. Peter said God can use the heat of these trials to helps refine / purify us. Paul promised Timothy (if you like to claim the promises of God for your life, don’t forget to claim this one!): “All who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” 2 Timothy 3:12
And yet, the other truth is that God blesses, is generous, there is feasting as well as fasting. Enjoy that meals with friends. It’s a God-gift.
“Always be clothed in white, and always anoint your head with oil.” v.8  In a hot and dusty climate, white clothing keeps you cooler, and oil protects the skin. Ecclesiastes says, it’s OK to consider what you wear (don’t be anxious about it), but it’s OK to wear nice clothes. Sometimes what you need is a haircut or spa day. If you get the opportunity, receive it as a God-gift.
“Enjoy life with your wife, whom you love, all the days of this meaningless life that God has given you under the sun – all your meaningless days. v.9 This is not making a general comment on the role of women or marriage. After all, the Scriptures are for all people, men and women. Rather, significant/ intimate relationships can also be a God-gift.
“Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the realm of the dead, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom.” v.10 Life is a precious gift, so live life to the max - today. Don’t wait till it’s too late. None of us know how much time we have left. Don’t put off till tomorrow: learning that skill or language; cultivating that relationship; spending more time with family; getting ‘clean’; living for/serving Christ… for tomorrow may never come. Seize every opportunity. YOLO – you only live once. So, be more dog.
Faced with death, some give up on life; they say, what’s the point? Ecclesiastes says, faced with death (as we all are), grab life. Do you have a ‘bucket list’? If not, take time to make one. If yes, does it need topping up? YOLO – be more dog!
Jesus said, I have come to give you life in all its fullness, vivid colour, widescreen… Some people, even some Christians, are focused on the after-life. For them, it’s all about getting to Heaven. Jesus turned things upside down; He was all about getting Heaven to Earth. Living now, doing and being with Him. Jesus went to the Cross to smash the power of sin, death
Whether you turn left or right when boarding, or are a Holy Jo(e) or a Rotten Tom, risen Christ is here for you – right now, in THIS moment.
07840 046020   DannyBrierley@ChesterRoadBaptist.org.uk