I pray we are all ‘Joining The Wise Men’. They saw the supernatural work of God and they wanted details. This ‘Star’ was no normal occurrence; A miracle that makes Jonah look explainable. They knew what the set up of the stars was, Christ’s Star was outside the natural. These guys were Astronomers, they studied the stars…they knew what should be where at certain times of the year. They had seen the normal stars, so this one stood out…They were willing to believe miracles can happen, are you?

Matthew 2:1-16

Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, 2 “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him.”

• About that time…actually TWO YEARS after Christ was born!
• ‘Wise Men’ = Magi / Astronomers (Two Places they came from)
  • Arabs (As descendants of Ishmael they would know scripture)
    • Facade on the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem
  • Persians (Descendants of people led by Daniel, they would know scripture)
• Came to Jerusalem; general location of Star (not visible when they arrive)
• Star was foretold: Numbers 24:17 “I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel…”
  • Messianic prophecy, they found the scripture once they had seen the star
• This whole process of figuring it our may have taken a while, then to travel…
• They showed up asking about ‘The King of the Jews’ who had been born

3 King Herod was deeply disturbed when he heard this, as was everyone in Jerusalem. 4 He called a meeting of the leading priests and teachers of religious law and asked, “Where is the Messiah supposed to be born?” 5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they said…

• Herod was disturbed because he was an ‘Illegitimate King’! (everybody knew it)
• Knowing they spoke of the Messiah, he consulted the experts on Scripture
• The exact location was to be Bethlehem…

“for this is what the prophet wrote: 6 ‘And you, O Bethlehem in the land of Judah, are not least among the ruling cities of Judah, for a ruler will come from you who will be the shepherd for my people Israel.’” (Micah 5:2 & 4)

• Maji would know of Numbers (1300 BC) but not of Micah (700BC)
• Bethlehem was David’s hometown

7 Then Herod called for a private meeting with the wise men, and he learned from them the time when the star first appeared. 8 Then he told them, “Go to Bethlehem and search carefully for the child. And when you find him, come back and tell me so that I can go and worship him, too!”

• Herod doing everything on the sly
• “Find him for me so I can kill him, um, I mean worship him”

9 After this interview the wise men went their way. And the star they had seen in the east guided them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were filled with joy!

• Why were they filled with Joy? They were in the right place!
• What was this ‘Star’? Perhaps The Shechinah Glory of God
• It came and went some… not a normal star
• Being where God is working fills you with joy!

11 They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

• House, not stable
• Three gifts, but we don’t know how many guys
• Gold for a King / Frankincense used by Priests / Myrrh to embalm the dead
• The three gifts underline the Messiah’s offices as prophet, priest and king.

12 When it was time to leave, they returned to their own country by another route, for God had warned them in a dream not to return to Herod.

• They listen to God not Herod
• They had played their role: to give credence to what God was doing

13 After the wise men were gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up! Flee to Egypt with the child and his mother,” the angel said. “Stay there until I tell you to return, because Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.”

• Joseph had experience with ‘God Dreams’ and knew what to do
• Herod would be a threat (because he was threatened) until he died

14 That night Joseph left for Egypt with the child and Mary, his mother, 15 and they stayed there until Herod’s death. This fulfilled what the Lord had spoken through the prophet: “I called my Son out of Egypt.” (Hosea 11:1)

• More prophecy connected to Jesus’ life

16 Herod was furious when he realized that the wise men had outwitted him. He sent soldiers to kill all the boys in and around Bethlehem who were two years old and under, based on the wise men’s report of the star’s first appearance.

• Since his plot to secretively find the Messiah had been thwarted he went big
• This is how we know the wise men were not there at the birth of Christ
• It was two years later!

Application Questions:

How do you react to something that is beyond explanation (Miracles) in your life?

What are ways you can follow some ‘Wisemen’ to be where God is working?

How might you specifically be willing to take chances and be persistent to see God working?

Why might there be a connection between miracles you have seen and your belief in miracles?

The conclusion about the Star of Bethlehem: It cannot be explained by science. It was a special, supernatural light created by God just as we are, to be a celebratory sign of the birth of His Son made man. Simply put, it was a miracle of light to herald a miraculous virgin birth of the One sent to save us. Hallelujah!

Wisdom is Expressed in Humility

Practical application: The nitty gritty…it is a blessing…not so great at the time. This is at the heart of the Discipleship Process; refinement and shaping. Teachability born of Humility is the essential attitude of the Serious Disciple, for us, Jesus Christ’s Body, it is true Wisdom.

This Book & today’s passage , define wisdom from Human & Heavenly standpoints: Big Picture and Daily Picture (Eternal Perspective creates Relationally Skillful Living)

Big Picture of Humility & Teachability: Salvation: The necessary humility to surrender. Daily Picture: Embody the Humility Christ modeled & taught to bless others and ultimately glorify God!

So is Wisdom about Skillfully living relationally with Humility & Grace here ‘Under The Sun? Or is Wisdom express in being teachable and humble before God and surrendering your life to His purposes and ways focused on eternal things? Yes! Both and Each!

At the core of Wisdom is humility because the enemy of Wisdom is Pride. Pride destroys Wisdom & Pride is the father of all sin. The denial of Pride is the crucial mistake you and I can make: “I am not being proud, I’m just right”

Pride keeps us from being who God wants us to be; under the sun and eternally. So we can choose to value and intentionally pursue humility & teachability. Our text today points us in God’s direction and gives us practical ways to: Recognize Pride / Surrender Control of our need to be right & ‘Know It All’ / Let the reality of God’s sovereignty drive our value of being meek & teachable / Focus on problem areas to watch for Pride leading to lacking wisdom.

Ch. 10

1 As dead flies cause even a bottle of perfume to stink, so a little foolishness spoils great wisdom and honor. 2 A wise person chooses the right road; a fool takes the wrong one. 3 You can identify fools just by the way they walk down the street! 4 If your boss is angry at you, don’t quit! A quiet spirit can overcome even great mistakes.

• The application of wisdom includes the exclusion of ALL foolishness
• There is no wisdom in false bravado: Wisdom is about being teachable!
• Humility is necessary for teachability

5 There is another evil I have seen under the sun. Kings and rulers make a grave mistake 6 when they give great authority to foolish people and low positions to people of proven worth. 7 I have even seen servants riding horseback like princes—and princes walking like servants!

• It is a lack of humility that clouds the judgement of people in power
• Kings and Rulers are known for their lack of humility & teachability
• Arrogance in leadership is the norm ‘Under the Sun’

Arrogant Leadership is Rejected in Christ’s Kingdom

But Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:25-28

8 When you dig a well, you might fall in. When you demolish an old wall, you could be bitten by a snake. 9 When you work in a quarry, stones might fall and crush you. When you chop wood, there is danger with each stroke of your ax.

• There are inherent risks associated with whatever you undertake
• The wise approach is a humble approach: realistically accessing the situation

10 Using a dull ax requires great strength, so sharpen the blade. That’s the value of wisdom; it helps you succeed. 11 If a snake bites before you charm it, what’s the use of being a snake charmer?

• Utilize the skill and resources that you have to minimize risk and danger
• Success is good…are you humble enough to glorify God with it?

12 Wise words bring approval, but fools are destroyed by their own words. 13 Fools base their thoughts on foolish assumptions, so their conclusions will be wicked madness; 14 they chatter on and on. No one really knows what is going to happen; no one can predict the future.

• What are wise words?
• Your ‘World View’ colors your analysis of events and circumstances
• Foolish Assumptions: A ‘World View’ that doesn’t recognize the ‘World Maker’
• Bad data in = bad conclusions
• The less than humble desire to predict the future: foolishness!

15 Fools are so exhausted by a little work that they can’t even find their way home. 16 What sorrow for the land ruled by a servant, the land whose leaders feast in the morning. 17 Happy is the land whose king is a noble leader and whose leaders feast at the proper time to gain strength for their work, not to get drunk.

• A basic definition of a fool is one who doesn’t value work
• Worthy leadership knows the right time to do things
• Doing things at the right time is about giving your emotions and time to others
• Are you teachable about how you set priorities and manage your time?

18 Laziness leads to a sagging roof; idleness leads to a leaky house. 19 A party gives laughter, wine gives happiness, and money gives everything!

• Wisdom is about doing what needs to be done when it needs to be done
• Ecc. 3: For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven
• These are all things that have value: ‘Under The Sun’

20 Never make light of the king, even in your thoughts. And don’t make fun of the powerful, even in your own bedroom. For a little bird might deliver your message and tell them what you said.

• It is wise to stay humble regarding those who have power over you
• You don’t know what might be repeated…(lots of ‘little Birds’ out there)
• Wisdom expressed in humility is not saying things you don’t want repeated

Ch. 11:1-6

1 Send your grain across the seas, and in time, profits will flow back to you. 2 But divide your investments among many places, for you do not know what risks might lie ahead.

• Branching out into new markets & diversification of your investment (change)
• It is wise because it recognizes our lack of control & builds ‘God Dependance’
• The ultimate humility of being ‘The Created’ under the authority of ‘The Creator’

3 When clouds are heavy, the rains come down. Whether a tree falls north or south, it stays where it falls. 4 Farmers who wait for perfect weather never plant. If they watch every cloud, they never harvest.

• It rains when it wants to, trees fall where they want to…nature is beyond control
• As we are able to manipulate nature more we are drawn to more pride
• Mystery is a good thing
• Deal with what you have instead of expecting things to be perfect / ‘your way’

5 Just as you cannot understand the path of the wind or the mystery of a tiny baby growing in its mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the activity of God, who does all things. 6 Plant your seed in the morning and keep busy all afternoon, for you don’t know if profit will come from one activity or another—or maybe both.

• There is so much that is beyond us, if we are humble enough to admit it
• Do we have a clear picture of God / Good Theology based on Scripture?
• A proper appreciation for God’s all encompassing power (World & Word)
• The awe and wonder of God / The ‘Fear of God can and will make us humble

Application Questions:

How much do you value being humble & teachable?

How well and often do you recognize pride in your life?

What is the connection between foolish over-talking and teachability?

It what ways are humility and doing things at the proper time connected?

Why should you pursue Humility?

Eternal Vision Provides Meaning

The struggle for meaning is as old as humankind. Where meaning comes from in our lives, how our lives can have eternal meaning is what this Scripture is revealing. Eternal life gives us ‘Eternal Perspective’. This is where we discover meaning and purpose: in the person and work of Jesus The Christ.

Chapter 7:15-29

15 I have seen everything in this meaningless life, including the death of good young people and the long life of wicked people. 16 So don’t be too good or too wise! Why destroy yourself? 17 On the other hand, don’t be too wicked either. Don’t be a fool! Why die before your time? 18 Pay attention to these instructions, for anyone who fears God will avoid both extremes.

• Extremes are meaningless to pursue or default to
• A wise & healthy life begins with the fear of God and is expressed in balance

19 One wise person is stronger than ten leading citizens of a town! 20 Not a single person on earth is always good and never sins. 21 Don’t eavesdrop on others—you may hear your servant curse you. 22 For you know how often you yourself have cursed others.

• Wisdom is better than position (Western Culture often values the opposite)
• Wisdom leads to a real assessment of yourself (Romans 12:3)

For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.

• Don’t go in search of what you should not be exposed to
• Recognize the capacity of others to sin based on YOUR capacity to sin

23 I have always tried my best to let wisdom guide my thoughts and actions. I said to myself, “I am determined to be wise.” But it didn’t work. 24 Wisdom is always distant and difficult to find. 25 I searched everywhere, determined to find wisdom and to understand the reason for things. I was determined to prove to myself that wickedness is stupid and that foolishness is madness.

• You can’t make yourself wise, you can only cooperate with God doing it
• True wisdom, God’s wisdom, is totally beyond us. It is His alone to give
• Using our mental faculties to understand the mind of God will always fall short
• You get stuck in a humanist / temporal perspective

26 I discovered that a seductive woman is a trap more bitter than death. Her passion is a snare, and her soft hands are chains. Those who are pleasing to God will escape her, but sinners will be caught in her snare.

• The ‘Seductive Woman’ is often used as a metaphor for passions of the flesh
• Illegitimate pleasures are traps, snatching us away from God’s will & fellowship
• Not desiring to please God, doing ‘what we know to be sin’… it enslaves us!
• ‘Sinners’ = Ongoing Unrepentant Rebellion (Living only for this life)

27 “This is my conclusion,” says the Teacher. “I discovered this after looking at the matter from every possible angle. 28 Though I have searched repeatedly, I have not found what I was looking for. Only one out of a thousand men is virtuous, but not one woman! 29 But I did find this: God created people to be virtuous, but they have each turned to follow their own downward path.”

• ‘The Qoheleth’ concludes, from HIS observations: Serious lack of virtue!
• Men only .1% better than women (one in a thousand vs zero in a thousand)
• The search for virtue in fallen mankind is like chasing the wind… Hevel
• We are made in HIS image but sin; ‘Unrepentant Rebellion’ destroys our virtue
• This is all meaningless with solely temporal perspective,

Chapter 8

How wonderful to be wise, to analyze and interpret things. Wisdom lights up a person’s face, softening its harshness.

• When we can interpret life from God’s / Eternal point of view it limits frustration
• Eternal perspective gives joy & contentment; relieves stress, confusion & anger

2 Obey the king since you vowed to God that you would. 3 Don’t try to avoid doing your duty, and don’t stand with those who plot evil, for the king can do whatever he wants. 4 His command is backed by great power. No one can resist or question it. 5 Those who obey him will not be punished.

• Obedience to the authority God has placed us under is the ultimate expression of Wisdom (Eternal Perspective)
• God’s sovereignty is enacted though earthly authorities: God’s power thru them
• Obedience to who you are placed under is obedience to God
• The promise of obedience
• Every knee will eventually bow… all will be made to obey, we get to choose to!!

Those who are wise will find a time and a way to do what is right, 6 for there is a time and a way for everything, even when a person is in trouble. 7 Indeed, how can people avoid what they don’t know is going to happen? 8 None of us can hold back our spirit from departing. None of us has the power to prevent the day of our death. There is no escaping that obligation, that dark battle. And in the face of death, wickedness will certainly not rescue the wicked.

• Prioritizing what God prioritizes no matter the circumstances
• Today is the time to obey…you don’t know what is going to happen tomorrow
• We have no control over our mortality, this life is finite
• It is scary business, totally unavoidable
• Evil ways of manipulating circumstances in life are of no help
  • It is implied that SOMETHING (SomeONE) can rescue…just not wickedness

9 I have thought deeply about all that goes on here under the sun, where people have the power to hurt each other. 10 I have seen wicked people buried with honor. Yet they were the very ones who frequented the Temple and are now praised in the same city where they committed their crimes! This, too, is meaningless.

• Hurting others while exerting power over them = Oppression
• Being powerful enough to control public image of you
• Powerful enough to fabricate a religious persona when you are a criminal
• The injustice is depressing you have nothing but a temporal perspective

11 When a crime is not punished quickly, people feel it is safe to do wrong. 12 But even though a person sins a hundred times and still lives a long time, I know that those who fear God will be better off. 13 The wicked will not prosper, for they do not fear God. Their days will never grow long like the evening shadows.

• The rule of law, applied equally as humanly possible, is important to humanity
• A wicked 70, 80 years VS ETERNITY with God in Perfection & Glory?
• What is forming your days? Here and now or Eternity?
• He is not speaking of earthy prosperity but rather eternal prosperity (Heaven)

14 And this is not all that is meaningless in our world. In this life, good people are often treated as though they were wicked, and wicked people are often treated as though they were good. This is so meaningless!

• More meaninglessness, really?
• ‘In this life’ There is not perfect justice…not possible in our fallen world
• People can be misjudged & people can misjudge…

15 So I recommend having fun, because there is nothing better for people in this world than to eat, drink, and enjoy life. That way they will experience some happiness along with all the hard work God gives them under the sun.

• ‘Under The Sun’ …If all you care about is THIS life under the sun…
• Unless you find some other purpose to live this life for: ‘Party Up!’
• Your meaningless enjoyment will be your ‘some happiness’

GOSPEL

16 In my search for wisdom and in my observation of people’s burdens here on earth, I discovered that there is ceaseless activity, day and night. 17 I realized that no one can discover everything God is doing under the sun. Not even the wisest people discover everything, no matter what they claim.

• Activity to relieve burden doesn’t work, ‘No rest for the wicked’
• It is not about ‘figuring out’ God,
• It’s about surrendering you life to Christ and the Gospel
• The are things beyond our discovery

Application Questions:

What are habits / lifestyle choices that help you have more eternal perspective?

How can you get others to participate in your self-evaluation?

What authority Structures have you been placed under? How is your obedience?

Who do you know that has obvious meaning and purpose in their life? Why?

‘The Wisdom of Choosing Relationships Over Things’

We need Christ in our lives in order to value people over things…It is an ongoing fight, connected to how I view and approach God. The Writer of Ecclesiastes came to know the meaninglessness of things, and he had it all! He also understood who God was and His relational nature.

Chapter 4

Again, I observed all the oppression that takes place under the sun. I saw the tears of the oppressed, with no one to comfort them. The oppressors have great power, and their victims are helpless. 2 So I concluded that the dead are better off than the living. 3 But most fortunate of all are those who are not yet born. For they have not seen all the evil that is done under the sun.

• The reality of evil can be discouraging
• From an earthly standpoint it can seem like there is nothing worse than this life
• People oppress others so they can hold on to wealth & power (things)

4 Then I observed that most people are motivated to success because they envy their neighbors. But this, too, is meaningless—like chasing the wind. 5 “Fools fold their idle hands, leading them to ruin.” 6 And yet, “Better to have one handful with quietness than two handfuls with hard work and chasing the wind.”

• The drive to compete based on comparison is a dead end street
• Idleness is no good but so is workaholism…
• Wisdom is found in balance: a time to work and a time to recreate

7 I observed yet another example of something meaningless under the sun. 8 This is the case of a man who is all alone, without a child or a brother, yet who works hard to gain as much wealth as he can. But then he asks himself, “Who am I working for? Why am I giving up so much pleasure now?” It is all so meaningless and depressing.

• Working to amass wealth while living a life devoid of relationships is worthless
• The lie people tell themselves: “when I’m rich then I will have relationships”

9 Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. 10 If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. 11 Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? 12 A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.

• The goodness we can enjoy in this life is all about relationships
• We need each other
• We are made in the image of God who is relational in His very essence (Triune)
• The cord of three strands is you, me & Jesus

13 It is better to be a poor but wise youth than an old and foolish king who refuses all advice. 14 Such a youth could rise from poverty and succeed. He might even become king, though he has been in prison. 15 But then everyone rushes to the side of yet another youth who replaces him. 16 Endless crowds stand around him, but then another generation grows up and rejects him, too. So it is all meaningless—like chasing the wind.

• You can be shrewd and play politics to get ahead, but the favor is fleeting
• Such popularity is a short lived thing until the ‘Next Fad’ comes along
• The eternal significance of of politic is ZERO (give unto Caesar…)

Chapter 5

5 As you enter the house of God, keep your ears open and your mouth shut. It is evil to make mindless offerings to God. 2 Don’t make rash promises, and don’t be hasty in bringing matters before God. After all, God is in heaven, and you are here on earth. So let your words be few.

• God is not interested in what we promise, He wants authentic relationship
• Carefully consider what you offer God, he knows where your heart really is

3 Too much activity gives you restless dreams; too many words make you a fool. 4 When you make a promise to God, don’t delay in following through, for God takes no pleasure in fools. Keep all the promises you make to him. 5 It is better to say nothing than to make a promise and not keep it.

• Hyperactivity is not what God is looking for, and volume of words have no value
• Only make promises to God that are sincere and be sure you keep them
• When in doubt listen (listening prayer)

6 Don’t let your mouth make you sin. And don’t defend yourself by telling the Temple messenger that the promise you made was a mistake. That would make God angry, and he might wipe out everything you have achieved. 7 Talk is cheap, like daydreams and other useless activities. Fear God instead.

• Measure your words in the community of God’s people (don’t over promise)
• Make good use of the time and energy you have out of reverence for God
• What does it mean to fear God?

8 Don’t be surprised if you see a poor person being oppressed by the powerful and if justice is being miscarried throughout the land. For every official is under orders from higher up, and matters of justice get lost in red tape and bureaucracy. 9 Even the king milks the land for his own profit!

• Don’t be naive regarding those in power, they don’t have our well being in mind
• When you get into that machine it owns you, it’s about things, not relationships
• Classic politician lie: “I care about the little people’

10 Those who love money will never have enough. How meaningless to think that wealth brings true happiness! 11 The more you have, the more people come to help you spend it. So what good is wealth—except perhaps to watch it slip through your fingers! 12 People who work hard sleep well, whether they eat little or much. But the rich seldom get a good night’s sleep.

• The lure of wealth is never satisfied, and wealth never satisfies anyone
• The more you have the more people want things from you, not relationship
• Contentment with what you have brings peace, riches bring worry

13 There is another serious problem I have seen under the sun. Hoarding riches harms the saver. 14 Money is put into risky investments that turn sour, and everything is lost. In the end, there is nothing left to pass on to one’s children. 15 We all come to the end of our lives as naked and empty-handed as on the day we were born. We can’t take our riches with us.

• Hording wealth and seeking to multiply it rots your soul (things over people)
• It can lead to losing everything!

Then he said “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.” Then he told them a story: “A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops. He said to himself, ‘What should I do? I don’t have room for all my crops.’ Then he said, ‘I know! I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I’ll have room enough to store all my wheat and other goods. And I’ll sit back and say to myself, “My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!”’ “But God said to him, ‘You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?’ “Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.” Luke 12:15-21

16 And this, too, is a very serious problem. People leave this world no better off than when they came. All their hard work is for nothing—like working for the wind. 17 Throughout their lives, they live under a cloud—frustrated, discouraged, and angry.

• We would like to think we make a difference getting things
• You will never have enough, someone will always have more
• The only difference we make is in people’s lives; by being a blessing from God

18 Even so, I have noticed one thing, at least, that is good. It is good for people to eat, drink, and enjoy their work under the sun during the short life God has given them, and to accept their lot in life. 19 And it is a good thing to receive wealth from God and the good health to enjoy it. To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life—this is indeed a gift from God. 20 God keeps such people so busy enjoying life that they take no time to brood over the past.

• Contentment is the key (Paul Philippians 4)
• True contentment is found in a real relationship with God

Summary: We are to fight against Oppression that crushes peoples souls. We are to pursue contentment & balance between work and recreation. Relationships are what really matter & what makes life meaningful (partnership). The approval of people & success is short lived, everyone will be replaced / forgotten. God is concerned with the condition of our hearts not the words of our mouths. God is not pleased with our heartless religious activities, He wants obedience. We should expect earthly powers to be unjust. Wealth doesn’t bring peace and the hording of it brings disaster. Life that is lived for only earthly things will frustrate & depress. We are to be content with what we have and attribute it to God.

Application Questions:

How can you pursue contentment by balancing work and recreation?

How can you intentionally honor and appreciate others to build relationships?

How can you build a lifestyle of generosity with your resources and time?

How can you focus on pleasing God with obedience rather than pleasing people?

The Height of Futility

Ecclesiastes Chapter 2

1 I said to myself, “Come on, let’s try pleasure. Let’s look for the ‘good things’ in life.” But I found that this, too, was meaningless. 2 So I said, “Laughter is silly. What good does it do to seek pleasure?” 3 After much thought, I decided to cheer myself with wine. And while still seeking wisdom, I clutched at foolishness. In this way, I tried to experience the only happiness most people find during their brief life in this world.

• Hedonism; pleasure is the way to find meaning
• Searching for wisdom in a state of intoxication is holding on to foolishness!
• Some have a life so hard, intoxication is the only happiness they can find

4 I also tried to find meaning by building huge homes for myself and by planting beautiful vineyards. 5 I made gardens and parks, filling them with all kinds of fruit trees. 6 I built reservoirs to collect the water to irrigate my many flourishing groves.

• Examples of worldly endeavors that we measure purpose by
• Notice he doesn’t mention doing any of this for other’s enjoyment…

7 I bought slaves, both men and women, and others were born into my household. I also owned large herds and flocks, more than any of the kings who had lived in Jerusalem before me. 8 I collected great sums of silver and gold, the treasure of many kings and provinces. I hired wonderful singers, both men and women, and had many beautiful concubines. I had everything a man could desire!

• The accumulation of ‘Stuff’
• The striving for Status
• Comparison
• ‘Everything’ one could desire…

9 So I became greater than all who had lived in Jerusalem before me, and my wisdom never failed me. 10 Anything I wanted, I would take. I denied myself no pleasure. I even found great pleasure in hard work, a reward for all my labors. 11 But as I looked at everything I had worked so hard to accomplish, it was all so meaningless—like chasing the wind. There was nothing really worthwhile anywhere.

• Every pleasure was explored
• No boundaries
• ‘Hard Work Is it’s own reward’ Is that true?
• What does it all amount to?

12 So I decided to compare wisdom with foolishness and madness (for who can do this better than I, the king?). 13 I thought, “Wisdom is better than foolishness, just as light is better than darkness. 14 For the wise can see where they are going, but fools walk in the dark.”

• Basic assumption: Wise people will have a better life because of their wisdom
• Viewing the world from a humanistic / Non Spiritual point of view

Yet I saw that the wise and the foolish share the same fate. 15 Both will die. So I said to myself, “Since I will end up the same as the fool, what’s the value of all my wisdom? This is all so meaningless!” 16 For the wise and the foolish both die. The wise will not be remembered any longer than the fool. In the days to come, both will be forgotten.

• The reality of our world: Everyone dies!
• All the wisdom ‘under the sun’ cannot change that fate
• All the wisdom of this world cannot cure the issue of our own mortality

17 So I came to hate life because everything done here under the sun is so troubling. Everything is meaningless—like chasing the wind.

• The phrase ‘under the sun’: speaks of life without the influence of Heaven
• What is more futile than chasing the wind?

The realization of the futility of life can be valuable if we let it open our eyes to what really matters!

18 I came to hate all my hard work here on earth, for I must leave to others everything I have earned. 19 And who can tell whether my successors will be wise or foolish? Yet they will control everything I have gained by my skill and hard work under the sun. How meaningless!

• This is a realization of how little control we have…
• This world goes on without us after we go… (perspective as you age on this)

20 So I gave up in despair, questioning the value of all my hard work in this world. 21 Some people work wisely with knowledge and skill, then must leave the fruit of their efforts to someone who hasn’t worked for it. This, too, is meaningless, a great tragedy.

• Fortunes, Reputations, Legacies, & Institutions…all squandered by heirs
• People have searched for ways to guide the future after they die for centuries
• What can we leave behind that is of eternal value?

22 So what do people get in this life for all their hard work and anxiety? 23 Their days of labor are filled with pain and grief; even at night their minds cannot rest. It is all meaningless. 24 So I decided there is nothing better than to enjoy food and drink and to find satisfaction in work. Then I realized that these pleasures are from the hand of God.

• Is all your hard work and worry worth it?
• Obsession with work is a dead end street
• What makes any of these pleasures ‘Legit’ is recognizing God’s part in them

25 For who can eat or enjoy anything apart from him? 26 God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy to those who please him. But if a sinner becomes wealthy, God takes the wealth away and gives it to those who please him. This, too, is meaningless—like chasing the wind.

• Is there fulfillment or meaning gained from life without a relationship w/ God?
• The God given things are not found outside of a right relationship with Him
• The real control rest in the hands of God, and we can’t judge His ways

Hedonism / Intoxication / Self Fulfillment / Building / Creating / Accumulation / Status & Accomplishment: ALL ARE MEANINGLESS!!!

YOU CAN’T TAKE IT WITH YOU!!!

NOTHING HAS MEANING…APART FROM GOD / JESUS CHRIST!!!

Application Questions / Exercises:

In the pursuit of your dreams, specifically where does God fit in?

How do you evaluate whether something has eternal significance or not?

List three things you control completely. Ask someone you are close to if you’re right.

Ask one person you admire what gives their life meaning & purpose.