Make Your Days Count | Ecclesiastes 9

Honestly, a lot of what will ultimately matter is what is will ultimately matter is what is written written written on your tombstone. on your tombstone. on your tombstone. Caleb Mathis, father, Caleb Mathis, father, Caleb Mathis, father, son, husband, friend, son, husband, friend, son, husband, friend, you know. Maybe, well, I you know. Maybe, well, I you know. Maybe, well, I don't know if they'll write don't know if they'll write don't know if they'll write " " " podcast host" there, but But those are the kinds of podcast host" there, but But those are the kinds of podcast host" there, but But those are the kinds of things that will things that will things that will really really really matter. matter. matter. This is Crossroads Daily. No This is Crossroads Daily. No This is Crossroads Daily. No experts, no experts, no experts, no perfect people, just perfect people, just perfect people, just candid conversations about what candid conversations about what candid conversations about what happens when happens when happens when the Bible appears in the Bible appears in the Bible appears in real life. real life. Welcome to Crossroads Daily. Welcome to Crossroads Daily. My name is Caleb. My name is Caleb. My name is Caleb. I am Miko. I am Miko. I am Miko. And I'm Vivian. And I'm Vivian. And I'm Vivian. And I'm Zach. And I'm Zach. And I'm Zach. And we're still in And we're still in And we're still in Ecclesiastes, just the Ecclesiastes, just the Ecclesiastes, just the next chapter. We are next chapter. We are next chapter. We are in the ninth chapter of in the ninth chapter of in the ninth chapter of Ecclesiastes. We Ecclesiastes. We Ecclesiastes. We try to try to try to glean all the glean all the glean all the wisdom we can wisdom we can wisdom we can from one of the Bible's from one of the Bible's from one of the Bible's books of wisdom. And, uh, books of wisdom. And, uh, books of wisdom. And, uh, don't turn it off, but don't turn it off, but don't turn it off, but today we're today we're today we're going to talk about going to talk about going to talk about death. death. How exciting. How exciting. Such a lofty topic. Such a lofty topic. Such a lofty topic. Honestly, I think Honestly, I think Honestly, I think she'll be she'll be she'll be elated. I think we elated. I think we elated. I think we will find some will find some will find some wisdom there. This is an excerpt from wisdom there. This is an excerpt from wisdom there. This is an excerpt from this chapter that I this chapter that I this chapter that I remember. It's remember. It's about about people's lives, right? And then people's lives, right? And then people's lives, right? And then it says in verse 5 and then in it says in verse 5 and then in it says in verse 5 and then in verse 6: “The time will come verse 6: “The time will come verse 6: “The time will come when the memory of when the memory of when the memory of them will disappear. Their them will disappear. Their them will disappear. Their love, their hatred love, their hatred , and their envy , and their envy , and their envy will perish, and they will will perish, and they will will perish, and they will no longer have a no longer have a no longer have a portion in anything that is portion in anything that is portion in anything that is done under the sun."

done under the sun." done under the sun." So, basically, the good So, basically, the good So, basically, the good life, the bad life, the life, the bad life, the life, the bad life, the hopes, the dreams, the jealousies hopes, the dreams, the jealousies —at some point, it all —at some point, it all —at some point, it all ends. ends. ends. Yes. All this will Yes. All this will Yes. All this will end someday. Are end someday. Are end someday. Are you making such a you making such a you making such a drastic transition? Are you drastic transition? Are you drastic transition? Are you thinking about death? thinking about death? thinking about death? Is this something you Is this something you Is this something you allow yourself to allow yourself to allow yourself to think about, think about, think about, to ponder? Is it to ponder? Is it to ponder? Is it something that you something that you something that you think about, "I'll put it off think about, "I'll put it off think about, "I'll put it off until I know, until I have to until I know, until I have to until I know, until I have to , or , or , or until I get older, or until I get older, or until I get older, or something like that." something like that." something like that." Yes. Yes. My grandmother always My grandmother always said, "Life is said, "Life is said, "Life is short, eat dessert short, eat dessert short, eat dessert first." first." first." Perhaps. It's hard Perhaps. It's hard Perhaps. It's hard to argue with to argue with to argue with grandma. grandma. grandma. Maybe twice. Maybe twice. Maybe twice. Maybe twice. Maybe twice. Maybe twice. Sounds like wisdom to Sounds like wisdom to Sounds like wisdom to me. me. me. That's right. That's right. That's right. Does she have a chapter in Does she have a chapter in Does she have a chapter in this book? I do this book? I do this book? I do n't know. I don't know where n't know. I don't know where n't know. I don't know where it is here, but I'm still it is here, but I'm still it is here, but I'm still looking for that section. No, looking for that section. No, looking for that section. No, man, I feel like man, I feel like man, I feel like I've I've I've attended more attended more attended more funerals than I'd funerals than I'd funerals than I'd like in the last year. My dad, a like in the last year. My dad, a like in the last year. My dad, a family friend, a family friend, a family friend, a work colleague—they all work colleague—they all work colleague—they all left somehow left somehow left somehow prematurely. And as much as prematurely. And as much as prematurely. And as much as I wanted to I wanted to I wanted to avoid it, I think what avoid it, I think what I took away from it was I took away from it was I took away from it was this: What would I want this: What would I want this: What would I want people to say at my people to say at my people to say at my funeral? What things do I funeral? What things do I funeral? What things do I think people think people think people should say should say should say about me? And that, I about me? And that, I about me? And that, I think, really think, really think, really changes the way I live changes the way I live changes the way I live now, you know?

now, you know? now, you know? Yes. Yes. Yes. Because I don't do what I Because I don't do what I Because I don't do what I want them to want them to want them to talk about. talk about. talk about. Yes. Yes. Yes. Maybe I should Maybe I should Maybe I should start doing the things start doing the things start doing the things I want them to I want them to I want them to talk about. talk about. talk about. Zach was so cool Zach was so cool Zach was so cool at video games. at video games. at video games. Yes. That's it Yes. That's it Yes. That's it , you know what , you know what , you know what I mean? I don't want it to I mean? I don't want it to I mean? I don't want it to be, "he got be, "he got be, "he got pumped up in Call of Duty," pumped up in Call of Duty," pumped up in Call of Duty," you know? It's like...what you know? It's like...what you know? It's like...what you do that you do that you do that really gives...it's not like really gives...it's not like really gives...it's not like you just want the you just want the you just want the best speech, but I best speech, but I best speech, but I want to have a life that want to have a life that want to have a life that means something, means something, means something, you know? So, what am I you know? So, what am I you know? So, what am I doing today to doing today to doing today to get there? get there? get there? That's right. That's right. That's right. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. I would say my Yes. I would say my Yes. I would say my philosophy is you don't philosophy is you don't philosophy is you don't know when you're going to die. know when you're going to die. know when you're going to die. At least most At least most At least most people don't know when people don't know when people don't know when they will die. So for they will die. So for they will die. So for me, that means I me, that means I me, that means I think about it a lot think about it a lot think about it a lot because I'm getting older. And so I because I'm getting older. And so I because I'm getting older. And so I think: well, if this were think: well, if this were think: well, if this were my last day, what my last day, what my last day, what would I want? So I would I want? So I would I want? So I try to live try to live try to live every day like this. every day like this. every day like this. It means doing It means doing It means doing things that I things that I things that I think will create think will create think will create great memories with great memories with great memories with people I people I people I truly care about, rather than truly care about, rather than truly care about, rather than putting off what I putting off what I putting off what I want to do by saying, want to do by saying, want to do by saying, "Oh, I don't have "Oh, I don't have "Oh, I don't have time for this or this time for this or this time for this or this trip right now." I better trip right now." I better trip right now." I better do it now, because do it now, because do it now, because I might not I might not I might not get this get this get this chance again. And also chance again. And also chance again. And also to keep the list of grievances to keep the list of grievances to keep the list of grievances as short as possible, because as short as possible, because as short as possible, because I don't want to go through life I don't want to go through life leaving an leaving an leaving an unresolved conflict unresolved conflict unresolved conflict with someone with someone with someone dear to me, or even dear to me, or even dear to me, or even someone I'm not someone I'm not someone I'm not that close to, so that that close to, so that that close to, so that it becomes the memory it becomes the memory that will remain about that will remain about that will remain about me. So

me. So me. So Absolutely, yes. There Absolutely, yes. There Absolutely, yes. There seems to be a seems to be a seems to be a country song about this or country song about this or country song about this or something. something. something. Probably there is. Probably there is. Probably there is. Which one exactly? " Which one exactly? " Live as if you Live as if you Live as if you were dying." were dying." were dying." Dude, seriously, Tim Dude, seriously, Tim Dude, seriously, Tim McGraw. Well, because. McGraw. Well, because. McGraw. Well, because. Yes, you should have Yes, you should have Yes, you should have heard that. heard that. heard that. That was cool. That was cool. That was cool. There's actually a rap There's actually a rap song: If you song: If you song: If you had 24 hours to had 24 hours to had 24 hours to die, what would you do die, what would you do ? I was just listening to your ? I was just listening to your ? I was just listening to your podcast, I think it was podcast, I think it was podcast, I think it was a couple of days ago, and they a couple of days ago, and they a couple of days ago, and they asked, since asked, since asked, since the song is about 10 years old, the song is about 10 years old, the song is about 10 years old, if you were to remake it if you were to remake it , what would your , what would your , what would your verse be today or verse be today or verse be today or something, but I don't something, but I don't something, but I don't know. But listen, this is know. But listen, this is know. But listen, this is crazy, because I thought it was crazy, because I thought it was crazy, because I thought it was just me just me just me . I often think about this . I often think about this . I often think about this . And has it . And has it . And has it always been like this or did it always been like this or did it always been like this or did it start recently start recently start recently ? ? ? I haven't kept track of how I haven't kept track of how I haven't kept track of how long this has been going on, but long this has been going on, but long this has been going on, but I know, as you said, that it's like I know, as you said, that it's like I know, as you said, that it's like imagining what imagining what imagining what people would say about me people would say about me people would say about me in this situation. And in this situation. And in this situation. And sometimes such reflections sometimes such reflections sometimes such reflections become difficult, but for become difficult, but for become difficult, but for example, example, example, just today I was just today I was just today I was picking up my 2- picking up my 2- year-old son for school year-old son for school , and we were playing a game , and we were playing a game , and we were playing a game like a like a like a bear is always chasing us, and bear is always chasing us, and bear is always chasing us, and he looks at me: he looks at me: he looks at me: "Dad, bear!", and I: "Dad, bear!", and I: "Dad, bear!", and I: "Where?" There. Let's run and "Where?" There. Let's run and "Where?" There. Let's run and we're running or something we're running or something we're running or something to his class and to his class and to his class and he wanted to play he wanted to play he wanted to play today as we were today as we were today as we were running to the car. He running to the car. He running to the car. He was saying, "Daddy, bear, was saying, "Daddy, bear, " and I was a little " and I was a little " and I was a little annoyed because it annoyed because it annoyed because it was hard to was hard to was hard to get him dressed in the morning, and get him dressed in the morning, and get him dressed in the morning, and the thought literally the thought literally the thought literally flashed by as I was flashed by as I was flashed by as I was saying, "Come on, Zion, it's saying, "Come on, Zion, it's saying, "Come on, Zion, it's time to go, we have to time to go, we have to time to go, we have to go." And he was in a go." And he was in a go." And he was in a playful mood, and playful mood, and playful mood, and I thought, "Man, I thought, "Man, I thought, "Man, what if this is the what if this is the what if this is the last time I last time I last time I play bear with him?"

play bear with him?" These thoughts just These thoughts just come, you know, come, you know, come, you know, and then on the last and then on the last and then on the last eight steps to the eight steps to the eight steps to the car I'm like, "Oh, car I'm like, "Oh, car I'm like, "Oh, I see him, let's run." And I see him, let's run." And I see him, let's run." And for me it changes for me it changes for me it changes everything in those moments, I don't everything in those moments, I don't everything in those moments, I don't know if it's something that know if it's something that know if it's something that lingers and lingers and lingers and just changes my just changes my just changes my mindset or my mood mindset or my mood mindset or my mood for the whole day, but in those for the whole day, but in those for the whole day, but in those moments it definitely moments it definitely moments it definitely does something, so yeah, it does something, so yeah, it does something, so yeah, it happens a lot. I happens a lot. I don't know if this makes don't know if this makes me weird, but I'm a me weird, but I'm a me weird, but I'm a runner. But it's really runner. But it's really runner. But it's really strange, I strange, I strange, I like running, and like running, and like running, and my favorite places my favorite places my favorite places to run are to run are to run are cemeteries because no one can cemeteries because no one can cemeteries because no one can beat me. There's beat me. There's beat me. There's usually usually usually no one there, so you don't have to no one there, so you don't have to no one there, so you don't have to avoid cars. It's avoid cars. It's avoid cars. It's very quiet there, I very quiet there, I very quiet there, I think it's very think it's very think it's very peaceful. I live right peaceful. I live right peaceful. I live right next to a very next to a very next to a very old cemetery, and old cemetery, and old cemetery, and so, you know, I need to so, you know, I need to so, you know, I need to somehow somehow somehow distract myself while distract myself while distract myself while running. So I running. So I running. So I look at the look at the look at the tombstones, you know? tombstones, you know? tombstones, you know? And these, I mean, And these, I mean, And these, I mean, these are old people who these are old people who these are old people who came from Ireland, came from Ireland, came from Ireland, well, sometime in the 1700s, 1800s well, sometime in the 1700s, 1800s well, sometime in the 1700s, 1800s , and it's strange to , and it's strange to , and it's strange to think that these people think that these people think that these people lived in Cincinnati, where lived in Cincinnati, where lived in Cincinnati, where I am now, and nobody I am now, and nobody I am now, and nobody knows about them. Well, no one knows about them. Well, no one knows about them. Well, no one alive knows them now alive knows them now alive knows them now , right? Everything , right? Everything , right? Everything they worried about, they worried about, they worried about, fought for, or fought for, or fought for, or yearned for— yearned for— nobody knows about it, nobody knows about it, nobody knows about it, right? And that's essentially what right? And that's essentially what this poem is about: this poem is about: their memory is forgotten. And something about their memory is forgotten. And something about their memory is forgotten. And something about that, you know, that, you know, that, you know, clicks in my head: there are clicks in my head: there are clicks in my head: there are things that seem things that seem things that seem extremely important to me

extremely important to me extremely important to me , but in the , but in the , but in the grand scheme of grand scheme of grand scheme of things, they things, they things, they don't really matter. No, don't really matter. No, don't really matter. No, how I love my how I love my how I love my children matters. children matters. children matters. It's not that nothing It's not that nothing It's not that nothing matters; How I matters; How I matters; How I love my children love my children love my children matters, how I matters, how I matters, how I love my wife matters, love my wife matters, love my wife matters, how I how I how I love my God love my God love my God matters. But, you know, matters. But, you know, matters. But, you know, the balance in my the balance in my the balance in my banking app matters banking app matters banking app matters very little very little very little , right? Things like me , right? Things like me , right? Things like me mowing mowing mowing the lawn so we don't the lawn so we don't the lawn so we don't look like slackers look like slackers look like slackers on the street. Yes. on the street. Yes. on the street. Yes. In the end, does it really In the end, does it really In the end, does it really matter? Yes. matter? Yes. matter? Yes. The grass will die The grass will die The grass will die at some point anyway. Like at some point anyway. Like at some point anyway. Like me. I don't know. It's just a me. I don't know. It's just a me. I don't know. It's just a nice reimagining nice reimagining , even if it , even if it , even if it came from a strange came from a strange came from a strange place. Hmm, that takes place. Hmm, that takes place. Hmm, that takes some pressure off me. some pressure off me. some pressure off me. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes, it's so Yes. Yes, it's so Yes. Yes, it's so true, and I don't even true, and I don't even true, and I don't even know. It really know. It really know. It really puts everything in its puts everything in its puts everything in its place, in terms of the place, in terms of the place, in terms of the things that you things that you things that you said are most important. said are most important. Things that you are Things that you are willing to fight for, or willing to fight for, or willing to fight for, or that you strive for, that you strive for, that you strive for, devoting so devoting so devoting so much of your time, much of your time, much of your time, energy, and effort to, and in the energy, and effort to, and in the energy, and effort to, and in the end end , when you are gone, yes , when you are gone, yes . It doesn't . It doesn't . It doesn't matter anymore. Yes.

matter anymore. Yes. matter anymore. Yes. Do you understand what I mean? And I don't Do you understand what I mean? And I don't Do you understand what I mean? And I don't know about know about know about the memories you the memories you the memories you leave behind for your leave behind for your leave behind for your loved ones. loved ones. loved ones. Mhm. Mhm. Mhm. But other than that, right? But other than that, right? But other than that, right? Even if you know, it's Even if you know, it's Even if you know, it's your legacy, right? You your legacy, right? You your legacy, right? You see the names of different see the names of different see the names of different people on buildings. people on buildings. people on buildings. Like that. Like that. Like that. I don't know that I don't know that I don't know that person's name. Okay, they person's name. Okay, they person's name. Okay, they gave money for this gave money for this gave money for this building or something, building or something, building or something, but for them, when they but for them, when they but for them, when they left, it didn't left, it didn't left, it didn't mean anything anymore. It's mean anything anymore. It's mean anything anymore. It's completely unimportant to them. completely unimportant to them. completely unimportant to them. Do you understand what I mean? Do you understand what I mean? Do you understand what I mean? You know, you don't You know, you don't You know, you don't get get get any benefit from this. You are any benefit from this. You are any benefit from this. You are gone. Do you understand what gone. Do you understand what gone. Do you understand what I mean? Maybe it's I mean? Maybe it's I mean? Maybe it's your family's prestige, your family's prestige, your family's prestige, and I'm sure they and I'm sure they , you know, shouldn't , you know, shouldn't , you know, shouldn't just throw the just throw the just throw the baby out with the bathwater baby out with the bathwater , but it really , but it really , but it really helps to look helps to look helps to look at things from a different at things from a different at things from a different perspective. Like, what are perspective. Like, what are perspective. Like, what are you really you really you really living for? What really living for? What really living for? What really matters? matters? matters? It got me It got me It got me thinking: thinking: thinking: Honestly, a lot of the things Honestly, a lot of the things Honestly, a lot of the things that really matter that really matter are what they write on are what they write on are what they write on your tombstone. your tombstone. your tombstone. Caleb Mattis: father, Caleb Mattis: father, Caleb Mattis: father, son, husband, friend, son, husband, friend, son, husband, friend, you know. Maybe, I don't know you know. Maybe, I don't know you know. Maybe, I don't know if they'll write " if they'll write " podcast host" there, podcast host" there, podcast host" there, but...Maybe. But but...Maybe. But but...Maybe. But these things are what these things are what these things are what will happen...

will happen... will happen... You see, you really have You see, you really have You see, you really have become better. You have a become better. You have a become better. You have a little bit of your little bit of your little bit of your grandmother's wisdom. grandmother's wisdom. grandmother's wisdom. Oh yes. Oh yes. Oh yes. You're giving away the base here, You're giving away the base here, You're giving away the base here, dude. dude. dude. No, but it's true. This is No, but it's true. This is No, but it's true. This is true. In the end, so true. In the end, so true. In the end, so few things few things few things matter. matter. matter. Yes. Yes. Yes. And what's terrible is what I And what's terrible is what I And what's terrible is what I realize: these are the very realize: these are the very realize: these are the very things I do things I do things I do last. last. last. M-hm. You know. M-hm. You know. M-hm. You know. For example, I For example, I For example, I focus on focus on focus on accounts. I accounts. I accounts. I focus on focus on focus on work, mowing the work, mowing the work, mowing the lawn, you know, and things like that lawn, you know, and things like that lawn, you know, and things like that . I need to . I need to . I need to change this. change this. change this. Yes. There Yes. There is definitely is definitely wisdom in such a change in priorities. wisdom in such a change in priorities. wisdom in such a change in priorities. Yes. Yes. Yes. Eat dessert first. Eat dessert first. Eat dessert first. Here it is. Grandma Here it is. Grandma Here it is. Grandma said so. Maybe even said so. Maybe even said so. Maybe even eat two. eat two. eat two. Hello Grandma Ruth. Hello Grandma Ruth. Hello Grandma Ruth. Hello to Grandma Ruth and Hello to Grandma Ruth and Hello to Grandma Ruth and all the grandmothers in the world. all the grandmothers in the world. all the grandmothers in the world. Okay, the thought of Okay, the thought of Okay, the thought of death can be death can be death can be depressing, but it depressing, but it depressing, but it can also be can also be can also be extremely extremely extremely enlightening. So enlightening. So enlightening. So today's challenge: today's challenge: today's challenge: contemplate your contemplate your contemplate your own death in any own death in any way you can. Don't way you can. Don't despair. despair. despair. In depression. In depression. In depression. Truth? Not to Truth? Not to Truth? Not to spoil your spoil your spoil your mood, but to let you mood, but to let you mood, but to let you know: your days know: your days know: your days will end. Let this will end. Let this will end. Let this influence how you influence how you influence how you use the time use the time use the time God has given you God has given you God has given you today. today. today. Invest in other Invest in other Invest in other people. Take steps people. Take steps people. Take steps forward, forward, forward, call, call, call, hug, forgive— hug, forgive— whatever you need to whatever you need to whatever you need to do. It is do. It is do. It is our relationships with our relationships with our relationships with others that live the others that live the others that live the longest after longest after longest after we leave this we leave this we leave this world. See you world. See you world. See you next time.