THE WRONG FOCUS!

Living with Purpose  •  Sermon  •  Submitted   •  Presented   •  41:52
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This Week’s Theme: Purposed Questioned
Word for the Week is Vanity: It literally means a breath , but figuratively it means unsubstantial, worthless, meaningless, fleeting, or incomprehensible.
Memory verse: Psalms 94:11 (NKJV) The LORD knows the thoughts of man, That they [are] futile.
Sermon Focus: Apart from serving the LORD, life is meaningless.
Sermon Passage: Ecclesiastes 1:1-14
Ecclesiastes 1:1–14 NKJV
The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem. “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher; “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.” What profit has a man from all his labor In which he toils under the sun? One generation passes away, and another generation comes; But the earth abides forever. The sun also rises, and the sun goes down, And hastens to the place where it arose. The wind goes toward the south, And turns around to the north; The wind whirls about continually, And comes again on its circuit. All the rivers run into the sea, Yet the sea is not full; To the place from which the rivers come, There they return again. All things are full of labor; Man cannot express it. The eye is not satisfied with seeing, Nor the ear filled with hearing. That which has been is what will be, That which is done is what will be done, And there is nothing new under the sun. Is there anything of which it may be said, “See, this is new”? It has already been in ancient times before us. There is no remembrance of former things, Nor will there be any remembrance of things that are to come By those who will come after. I, the Preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem. And I set my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under heaven; this burdensome task God has given to the sons of man, by which they may be exercised. I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and indeed, all is vanity and grasping for the wind.
Introduction: Start with things that will show the value of purpose.

What is this for?

What do I do with this?

These questions reveal the NEED TO UNDERSTAND AN OBJECT’S PURPOSE.
PEOPLE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE PURPOSE FOR THINGS!
CONSIDER THESE QUESTIONS

Why should I use this or learn how to use this?

How can this help me?

THESE QUESTIONS REVEAL THAT WE CAN KNOW THE PURPOSE BUT WILL NOT USE USE THE ITEM BECAUSE WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND HOW IT WILL PROFIT US!
What benefit is to doing it this way rather than the way I have always do it
ALSO CONSIDER THAT

Many jobs are not completed and many tasks are not pursued because people do not understand the purpose.

WHEN PEOPLE DON’T UNDERSTAND THEIR PURPOSE, THEY LIVE THEIR LIVES PURSUING THINGS THEY THINK WILL MAKE THEM HAPPY
THIS IS WHY KING SOLOMON WROTE
Ecclesiastes 1:2 NKJV
2 “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher; “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.”
All that is in this world IS FUTILE
ALL THAT IS IN THIS WORLD IS FLEETING
ALL THAT IS IN THIS WORLD IS INCOMPREHENSIBLE
all that is “under the sun”)
IS empty and unable to permanently satisfy.
The things of this world PROMISE SATISFACTION but they deliver only frustration.
(If we do not learn this truth the easy way, through information, then we must learn it the hard way, through experience. Solomon devotes 1:12–6:12 to proving this thesis)

The Main Point: Apart from serving the LORD, life is meaningless.

LABOR APART FROM THE LORD
MEANINGLESS
WORK THAT IS NOT AN ACT OF WORSHIP TO GOD
MEANINGLESS
TOIL NOT TOWARDS HIM
MEANINGLESS
THE OLD SAINTS SAID IT THIS WAY, “ONLY WHAT YOU DO FOR CHRIST WILL LAST!”

Ecclesiastes 12:10 NKJV
The Preacher sought to find acceptable words; and what was written was upright—words of truth.
Ecclesiastes 12:13–14 NKJV
Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all. For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil.
WITHOUT KNOWING AND PURSUING OUR PROPER PURPOSE IN LIFE

I. LIFE CAN BE FUTILE

Ecclesiastes 1:1 NKJV
1 The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.
Verse 1 - Reveals to us who the author of this work is:
(1) one who addresses an assembly (“the Teacher”);
(2) “the son of David;”and
(3)“King in Jerusalem.”
When we combine together these statements along with those from verse 12,
Ecclesiastes 1:12 NKJV
12 I, the Preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem.
We can conclude that Solomon is the author of Ecclesiastes.
Why? David had only one son, Solomon, who reigned over all Israel from Jerusalem.
“The TEACHER” is a translation of the Hebrew word “Ko-he-leth” (meaning “one who addresses an assembly”).
The word “Koheleth” is translated Ecclesiastes by the Septuagint translators and is translated “Der Prediger” (“the Preacher”) by Martin Luther. Our K.J.V. uses the Septuagint’s translation of “Koheleth” as the title for our book and it uses Luther’s translation of “Koheleth” as the alternate title for our book and as the translation of “Koheleth” in the text of the book.
Ecclesiastes 1:2 NKJV
2 “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher; “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.”
Fleeting which has in view the vapor-like (cf. Jas 4:14) or transitory nature of life;
Futile or meaningless, which focuses on the cursed condition of the universe and the debilitating effects it has on man’s earthly experience;
Incomprehensible or Enigmatic which gives consideration to life’s unanswerable questions. Solomon draws upon all 3 meanings in Ecclesiastes
THE QUESTION
Ecclesiastes 1:3 NKJV
3 What profit has a man from all his labor In which he toils under the sun?
The Hebrew word translated “gain” means profit, gain, increase, or surplus.
This word is used ten times in Ecclesiastes but it is not used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
What profit is there in laboring for a lifetime for the things of this world which cannot give us the one thing that we most desire and need?
WHICH IS satisfaction and contentment?
John MacArthur said that the phrase “under the sun” means “in the realm of the cursed and ruined creation.”
This phrase is used twenty-nine times in Ecclesiastes, but it, like the word translated “profit,” is not used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
A person who compares the amount of effort given TO OBTAIN wealth, GAIN power, AND the small satisfaction obtained, what remains that he can call a profit?
IS IT WORTH THE TROUBLE?
ARE YOU WASTING YOUR TIME AND EFFORT?
DOES THE END RESULT JUSTIFY THE WORK PUT INTO IT?
HEAR THE ANSWER (1:4–11)
The labors of fallen man are futile (1:4)
Ecclesiastes 1:4 NKJV
4 One generation passes away, and another generation comes; But the earth abides forever.
One generation comes on the scene, labors for the things under the sun, finds no satisfaction and rest, and goes on its way from this earth.
Another generation comes on the scene, labors but finds no satisfaction and rest, and passes from the scene.
Solomon provides three illustrations of this labor (1:5–7)
The labors of the fallen creation are futile (1:5–11)

A. CAN BE REPETITIVE

A. Life can seem like the repetitive cycles of the sun.
Ecclesiastes 1:5 NKJV
5 The sun also rises, and the sun goes down, And hastens to the place where it arose.
(a) The illustration of the sun (1:5)—The sun arises and hastens (pants) to complete its circle and return to its starting place.
Here we see labor (activity) but no progress toward the goal of satisfaction and rest.

B. CAN BE DIRECTIONLESS

B. Life can seem like the directionless flow of the winds.
Ecclesiastes 1:6 NKJV
6 The wind goes toward the south, And turns around to the north; The wind whirls about continually, And comes again on its circuit.
(b) The illustration of the wind (1:6)—The wind blows (labors) from the south and then from the other points of the compass, and then from the south again.
Again we see much labor but no progress toward the goal of satisfaction and rest.
ENDING

C. CAN BE NEVER-ENDING

C. Life can seem like the never-ending flow of the rivers into the oceans.
Ecclesiastes 1:7 NKJV
7 All the rivers run into the sea, Yet the sea is not full; To the place from which the rivers come, There they return again.
(c) The illustration of the rivers (1:7)—The rivers all hurry in labor to the sea and then they through evaporation, transportation, condensation, and PRE-cipitation return to the place of their origin.
BACK RIGHT WHERE I STARTED
NO PROGRESS
Once again we see labor but no progress toward the goal of satisfaction and rest.
DO YOU SEE THE PATTERN?
DO YOU SEE IT?
YOU HAVE A LOT OF LABOR WITH LITTLE TO NO SATISFACTION
MASSIVE EFFORT WITH MINIMAL RETURN
TREMENDOUS TRAVAIL WITH INADEQUATE RETURN
IT’S A HAMSTER WHEEL
PAINS WITHOUT PROGRESS
ACTIVITY WITHOUT ADVANCEMENT
ENERGY WITHOUT EXPANSION
This goes on and on in endless cycles. The stage remains the same and the play remains the same but the actors are constantly changing.
THOSE WITHOUT CHRIST ARE NOT ABLE TO FIND JOY AND REST
BUT CHRISTIANS
THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN REGENERATED, RECONCILED, AND REDEEMED, KNOW
THE LORD SAID IN THE OT
Isaiah 55:1–2 NKJV
1 “Ho! Everyone who thirsts, Come to the waters; And you who have no money, Come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk Without money and without price. 2 Why do you spend money for what is not bread, And your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, And let your soul delight itself in abundance.
COME THOSE THIRSTY FOR A NEW LIFE
COME THOSE WHO SPENT MONEY ON WILL NOT BRING NORISHMENT.
COME THOSE WHO HAVE WASTED YOUR ENERGY ON THINGS THAT WILL NOT SATISFY
LEAVE YOUR SELF EFFORT BEHIND AND LISTEN TO THE LORD.
IN THE NT
JESUS CALLED US FROM THE HAMSTER WHEEL OF WEARINESS WHEN HE SAID COME TO ME
Matthew 11:28–30 NKJV
28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
JESUS CALLED US FROM THE MISERY GO ROUND WHEN HE SAID TAKE MY YOKE UPON YOU
I KNOW THERE SHOULD BE SOME WITNESSES TO GOD’S ABILITY TO TURN YOUR LIFE AROUND
WHO SHOWED UP
Rough BUT Left Righteous
Soiled; Left Washed
Broken; Left Blessed
Bound; Left Delivered
I CAME TO CHRIST
WEARY BUT LEFT RESTFUL
FRUSTRATED BUT LEFT SATISFIED
There is NO PROFIT in laboring for the things under the sun, for this labor, like the labors of all things of the ruined creation,
THESE LABORS does not lead to REAL contentment and rest but it leads in a circle to the result of frustration and more labor.
THEREFORE, MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS
STOP TRYING TO FIX YOUR LIFE
TURN IT OVER TO JESUS
STOP TRYING TO SOLVE IT
TURN IT OVER TO JESUS
STOP TRYING TO HANDLE IT
TURN IT OVER TO JESUS
AND WHEN YOU TURN IT OVER
YOUR PROBLEM CAN BE SOLVED
Receive it Thankfully
Hold it Loosely
Use it Wisely
Give it Freely
Invest it Eternally

II. LIFE CAN BE FRUSTRATING

Ecclesiastes 1:8 NKJV
8 All things are full of labor; Man cannot express it. The eye is not satisfied with seeing, Nor the ear filled with hearing.
ALL THINGS ARE WEARISOME
ALL THINGS ARE TEDIOUS
A. No matter how much your eyes see, you will not be satisfied.

A. THE VASTNESS

Ecclesiastes 1:8 NKJV
All things are full of labor; Man cannot express it. The eye is not satisfied with seeing, Nor the ear filled with hearing.
The vastness of this labor (1:8)
This vastness is found in all the things which make up the ruined creation (mineral things, vegetable things, animal things, and human things).
Its extent is so great that the lips of man cannot tell the whole of it, the eyes of man cannot see the whole of it, and the ears of man cannot hear the whole of it. How vast and how great these labors must be!

B. THE SAMENESS

Ecclesiastes 1:9 NKJV
That which has been is what will be, That which is done is what will be done, And there is nothing new under the sun.
The sameness of this labor (1:9–11)
GRASS IS STILL GROWING TODAY AS IT DID ENOCH’S DAY
TREES ARE STILL GROWING TODAY AS IT DID ABRAHAM’S DAY
ANIMALS ARE STILL LABORING TODAY AS THEY DID IN DAVID’S DAY
MEN AND WOMEN ARE STILL WORKING TODAY TO PURSUE
FAME AND FORTUNE LIKE ACHAN DID IN HIS TIME
STILL WORKING TODAY TO PURSUE
POWER AND PLEASURE
STILL WORKING TODAY TO PURSUE
EDUCATION the same things that men will pursue in times future.
Ecclesiastes 1:10 NKJV
Is there anything of which it may be said, “See, this is new”? It has already been in ancient times before us.
THIS IS NEW!
SEEKING ACCEPTANCE BY TEARING OTHERS DOWN IS NOT NEW CAIN DID THAT
SEEKING FAME BY TRYING TO OUTDO OTHERS IS NOT NEW.
LA-MECH DID THAT.
SEEKING TO CONTENTMENT, SATISFACTION, AND REST IS NOT A NEW THING. SO DON’T SAY IT.
THE ONES WHO SAY THAT THEY ARE SEEKING CONTENTMENT OUTSIDE OF GOD HAVE FORGOTTEN THAT ALL GOOD AND PERFECT GIFTS COME FROM HIM.
THE
Ecclesiastes 1:11 NKJV
There is no remembrance of former things, Nor will there be any remembrance of things that are to come By those who will come after.

III. LIFE CAN BE A FAILURE

Ecclesiastes 1:11 NKJV
11 There is no remembrance of former things, Nor will there be any remembrance of things that are to come By those who will come after.

A. WE FORGET

MEN carelessly forgotten that men of former generations followed that pursuit and failed to find satisfaction and rest.
The men of future generations will be just as careless in forgetting the pursuits and failures of those who have gone before them.
GOD ORDAINED WORK. GOD WORKED, WHEN HE CREATED THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH.
GOD WORKED IN HIS CREATION OF MAN, THE BIBLE SAYS THAT HE BREATHED INTO HIM THE BREATH OF LIFE AND MAN BECAME A LIVING SOUL.
GOD INSTITUTED WORK
CORRUPT HUMANITY HAS LOST
PURPOSE OF MARRIAGE IS LOST
MULTIPLY GODLY LEGACY
MUTUALLY COMPLETE ONE ANOTHER
MIRROR THE IMAGE OF GOD
THE PURPOSE FOR WORKING - WE LABOR OUT OF OBEDIENCE
TO HONOR AND GLORIFY GOD
NOT JUST FORGETFUL BUT WE FOLLOW THE SAME THINGS

B. WE FOLLOW

Ecclesiastes 1:13 NKJV
13 And I set my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under heaven; this burdensome task God has given to the sons of man, by which they may be exercised.
He sought purpose in pleasure (2:1-3)
He sought purpose through the pursuit of knowledge (2:14-16).
He sought purpose in achievement (2:4-6).
He sought purpose in his possessions (2:7-8).
He sought purpose in making a popularity (2:9)
He sought purpose in making the world a better place (4:1-3)
He sought purpose in the pursuit of justice (8:14)
HE DID NOT LEARN BUT HE FOLLOW OTHERS DOWN THE WRONG PATH
ARE YOU FOLLOWING THE WRONG FOCUS
ARE YOU FOLLOWING THE
RHETORIC OF Politicians,
REPORTS OF THE News CHANNELS
THE OPINION OF Activists,
POSITIONS OF Professional Athletes,
THOUGHTS OF TV personalities,
ATTITUDES OF actors,
PREFERENCES OF professional singers,
FAVORITE IDEAS OF Facebook posts, family, friends, or coworkers.
WITHOUT CHRIST THEY ARE GIVING YOU THE WRONG FOCUS
YOU ARE ON THE weary-go-around,
SOLOMON REALIZED THAT REAL SATISFACTION ALUDED HIM
REAL REST ESCAPED HIM
THEREFORE, HE PROCLAIMED IN THE END
Ecclesiastes 12:13 NKJV
13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all.
WITHOUT FEARING GOD
LIFE IS FLEETING
WITHOUT OBEYING GOD
LIFE IS FUTILE
WITHOUT LOVING HIM
LIFE DON’T MAKE SENSE
WITHOUT SERVING HIM
LIFE IS VAIN
AREN’T YOU THANKFUL THAT
ALTHOUGH GENERATION HAS FORGOTTEN
GOD HAS MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR US TO KNOW
WHY WE ARE HERE
AREN’T YOU THANKFUL THAT
GOD DID NOT LEAVE US IN OUR IGNORANCE
AREN’T YOU THANKFUL THAT
GOD SENT HIS SON, OUR LORD AND SAVIOR ON A RESCUE MISSION
AND JESUS SAID
IN JOHN 4:26 I AM THE ANOINTED ONE
IN JOHN 6:35 I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE
I AM FROM ABOVE
I AM THE ETERNAL ONE
I AM THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD
I AM THE DOOR
I AM THE GOOD SHEPHERD
not to satisfaction and rest, but to frustration and despair.
NOW, WE LIVE WITH PURPOSE BECAUSE WE ARE
KNOW THE ONE WHO HOLDS TOMORROW
NOW, WE HAVE Life’s purpose
The service of God
Joshua 24:15 NKJV
15 And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
Seeking God's kingdom
Matthew 6:33 NKJV
33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
Doing the Father's will
John 4:34 NKJV
34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.
Finishing the divine task
John 17:4 NKJV
4 I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.
Completing the course joyfully
Acts 20:24 NKJV
24 But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.
Attaining Christlikeness
Philippians 3:13–14 NKJV
13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
SATISFACTION IS FOUND IN GOD THROUGH CHRIST OUR LORD
IN THINKING
HE KNOWS THE WAY
IN SEEING
HE SEES THE WAY
IN TALKING
HE TELLS THE WAY
IN GESTURES
HE SHOWS THE WAY
IN LIVING
HE LEADS THE WAY
IN BEING
HE IS THE WAY
APART FROM CHRIST WE CAN DO NOTHING
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