The Vanity of Wisdom
Notes
Transcript
TURN— ECCLESIASTES
Between Proverbs/Song of Solomon
Pg. 575/576? Pew Bible
PICKING UP—V. 12-18 TODAY
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!!OPEN in PRAYER!!
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Introduction: The blessings of the information age and its curses…
Introduction: The blessings of the information age and its curses…
Now, I’m sure you know,
we live in a day and age
when you can get an answer to nearly every question you have
in a moment’s notice….
SMART PHONES—YOU CAN JUST ASK!
TEASPOONS in TABLESPOON
SQUIRREL’S HEART BEAT
TIME in TOKYO
SUMMARY of ROMAN EMPERORS
WEATHER
ANY RANDOM FACTS
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WHERE DO WE GO,, WHEN WE HAVE TOUGHER QUESTIONS?
ASKING PHONE, MEANING of LIFE:
“According to the late 20th century philosophers Bill and Ted, life’s purpose is to be excellent to each other and party on, but that’s just two dudes’ opinions.”
WHATEVER THAT MEANS.
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WHAT ABOUT OTHER DIFFICULT QUESTIONS HUMANS WRESTLE WITH?
· Is there a God?
· What happens to us after we die?
· Why do bad things happen to good people?
· How did we get here?
CAN FIND “A” ANSWER…IF NOT “THE” ANSWER...
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INTERESTING: LIVING in DAY & AGE W/ MORE INFORMATION ACCESS THAN ANY OTHER....STILL HAVE QUESTIONS.
We’re all going to die with unanswered questions.
SPEND LIFE—SEEKING & SEARCHING:
YOU’LL BE EXHAUSTED
UNFULFILLED
NOT ALL QUESTIONS = ANSWERABLE...
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ALL the TIME—PEOPLE ASK ME QUESTIONS...
FREQUENTLY, MY RESPONSE = “I DON’T KNOW”
PEOPLE DON’T HAVE to TRY to STUMP ME.
NONE of US WILL HAVE ALL ANSWERS—THIS SIDE of ETERNITY...
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SO WHAT’S the POINT?
WHAT’S the POINT of SEARCHING OUT ANSWERS…WHAT GOOD DOES it DO?
END RESULT?
HOW DO WE LIVE:
WORLD W/ PROBLEMS & UNANSWERED QUESTIONS
WORLD W/ ANSWERS WE DIDN’T WANT
THESE ARE the TEACHER’S PONDERINGS TODAY...
WHAT BENEFIT do WE GET FROM WISDOM & KNOWLEDGE?
TEACHER’S SEARCH for UNDERSTANDING,, MEANING & PURPOSE— (1:12-2:26)
CONCLUSION COMES—END of CHAPTER 2
(T) TODAY—LOOKING @ VS. 12-18....
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Passage Reading:
Passage Reading:
Ecclesiastes 1:12–18 (ESV)
12 I the Preacher have been king over Israel in Jerusalem.
13 And I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven. It is an unhappy business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with.
14 I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind.
15 What is crooked cannot be made straight, and what is lacking cannot be counted.
16 I said in my heart, “I have acquired great wisdom, surpassing all who were over Jerusalem before me, and my heart has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.”
17 And I applied my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is but a striving after wind.
18 For in much wisdom is much vexation, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.
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Recap: A Life of Vanity
Recap: A Life of Vanity
Last Wk:
VANITY/EMPTINESS of LIFE— SHOULD CAUSE US to LONG for SOMETHING MORE...
TOIL—DOESN’T ACCOMPLISH MUCH
SUCCESS DIES WITH US
STUFF GOES to DUMPSTER
“UNDER the SUN” — LIFE = FILLED W/ VANITIES...
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MORE to LIFE,, THAN LIFE UNDER the SUN...
—>> TEACHER’S AIM—GET US UNCOMFORTABLE/ LONGING FOR MORE.
SHOWS UNCOMFORTABLE REALITY of LIVING APART from GOD—SHOCK US AWAKE.
Now:
TEACHER = RECOUNTING HIS QUEST for MEANING/PURPOSE in LIFE
FIRST PURSUES AFTER WISDOM & KNOWLEDGE...
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Text:
Text:
(V12-13) The Teacher’s Experience/Testimony
(V12-13) The Teacher’s Experience/Testimony
12 I the Preacher have been king over Israel in Jerusalem. 13 And I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven. It is an unhappy business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with.
(V12) — REINTRODUCTION...
EITHER SOLOMON
WRITTEN in REFLECTION of SOLOMON’S LIFE
—Solomon Background—
3RD KING in ISRAEL
SON of DAVID
GRANTED WISDOM BY GOD
WROTE MANY PROVERBS/SONGS/ETC
WE’RE CALLING HIM “the TEACHER/PREACHER”
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(V13A) TEACHER APPLIES HIS HEART— FIGURING OUT (WISDOM) ALL THAT is DONE UNDER HEAVEN
TRYING W/ ALL HIS MIGHT—FIGURE LIFE OUT!
MEANING in LIFE??
PURPOSE??
QUESTIONS WITHOUT ANSWERS??
IN LIGHT of SEEMING VANITY of LIFE— LET’S GET ANSWERS.
“IS THERE REALLY NO BENEFIT to ALL OUR TOIL???”
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DEVOTING HIS LIFE to STUDY/SEARCHING = HONORABLE
NOT PARTYING IT UP/WASTING HIS LIFE—HE’S SEARCHING for ANSWERS...
(T) HOW’S THIS TURN OUT??
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(V13B) Preliminary Conclusion
(V13B) Preliminary Conclusion
LIFE = UNHAPPY BUSINESS GOD HAS GIVEN to MANKIND.
1ST EXPLICIT MENTION of GOD in ECCLESIASTES
SEARCHING OUT ALL DONE UNDER HEAVEN… SAD CONCLUSION.
*UNHAPPY = HB: “EVIL”*
TEACHER’S CONCLUSION: “LIFE KINDA SUCKS.”
OUCH.
THE LOT of HUMAN BEINGS UNDER HEAVEN— MISERABLE.
(T) WHY DOES HE SAY THIS? — HE’S GOING to ANSWER...(V14-15)
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(V14-15) The Teacher’s First Conclusion
(V14-15) The Teacher’s First Conclusion
14 I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind. 15 What is crooked cannot be made straight, and what is lacking cannot be counted.
EVERYTHING UNDER the SUN— EMPTY/POINTLESS— LIKE CHASING/SHEPHERDING WIND.
HUMAN BEINGS LOT = UNHAPPY BUSINESS— BECAUSE NATURALLY LIFE = VAIN.
REMEMBER:....ULTIMATE CONCLUSION: LIFE UNDER SUN = APART from GOD
TEACHER = RECOUNTING HIS JOURNEYING...
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Last Wk:
APART from GOD—LIFE = EMPTY & MEANINGLESS
CLUMPS of CELLS—BIG ROCK—FLOATING THROUGH SPACE— HAPPENSTANCE.
NATURAL LIFE— FUTILE— EMPTY— LIKE STRIVING to CATCH WIND.
(T) Why does he conclude this??
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(v15) CONCLUSION: LIFE = UNCHANGEABLE
(v15) CONCLUSION: LIFE = UNCHANGEABLE
CROOKED CAN’T BE MADE STRAIGHT
LACKING CAN’T BE COUNTED...
WHAT’S THAT PROVERB MEAN???
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TEACHER CONCLUDES—THERE ARE PROBLEMS THAT CAN’T BE FIXED.
Illustration: **CRUMPLE SOMEONE’S BULLETIN/ ANNOUNCEMENTS PAPER**
CAN THIS BE UNCRUMPLED,, ONCE IT WAS CRUMPLED...
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POINTS to FUTILITY of LIFE— MANY THINGS in LIFE WE REALLY CAN’T CHANGE....
MANY THINGS in your LIFE—YOU WOULD CHANGE if YOU COULD— BUT YOU CAN’T.
(IF NOT) YOU’D CHANGE SOMETHING for OTHERS...
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Examples:
HORRIBLE TRIAL—YOU’D CHANGE—BUT CAN’T…CIRCUMSTANCES OUTSIDE of YOUR CONTROL...
HEALTH ISSUES YOU’RE STUCK WITH— YOU’D CHANGE,, BUT CAN’T.
RELATIONAL ISSUES—YOU’D CHANGE,, BUT CAN’T.
PROBLEM PEOPLE—YOU’D CHANGE, BUT CAN’T.
THINGS W/ JOB— YOU’D CHANGE, BUT CAN’T.
PERSONAL: BROKEN TOE in MARATHON TRAINING
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Bigger Picture:
“BAD THINGS HAPPENING to GOOD PEOPLE” —CAN’T CHANGE.
NATURAL DISASTERS/
POVERTY/
WORLD HUNGER— CAN’T CHANGE…MAYBE HELP?? BUT CAN’T CHANGE.
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ALL of US HAVE SOME CROOKED THING— WE CAN’T MAKE STRAIGHT—
SOMETHING THAT DOESN’T “ADD UP”
ALL of US HAVE CRUMPLED BALL of PAPER WE CAN’T UNCRUMPLE…SOMEWHERE.
ALL of US HAVE PROBLEMS WE CAN’T CHANGE…THINGS WE JUST HAVE to LIVE WITH.
“WE HAVE to PLAY the CARDS WE’RE DEALT...”
TEACHER’S CONCLUSION: LIFE = FUTILE— SO MUCH WE CAN’T CHANGE.
FIGURED it ALL OUT— IT’S an UNHAPPY BUSINESS,, EMPTY,, UNCHANGEABLE “UNDER the SUN”
ISN’T THIS a SAD, SCARY PART of the TEACHER’S JOURNEY??
(T) And the teacher further reflects on his life and his wisdom in verse 16
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(V16) Teacher’s Experience/Testimony
(V16) Teacher’s Experience/Testimony
16 I said in my heart, “I have acquired great wisdom, surpassing all who were over Jerusalem before me, and my heart has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.”
TEACHER ONCE AGAIN RECOUNTING LIFE— PERSONA of SOLOMON
One scholar has said, “This was no idle boast, but a statement of Biblical fact. Solomon was the wisest man who ever lived, and he had taken the quest as far as he could, which made him the ultimate test case.”[1]
IF ANYONE COULD KNOW the END RESULT—IT’D BE HIM....
(T) But WHERE DID THIS ALL LEAD???
(V17-18) Teacher’s Final Conclusion
(V17-18) Teacher’s Final Conclusion
17 And I applied my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is but a striving after wind. 18 For in much wisdom is much vexation, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.
ONCE AGAIN— TEACHER = APPLYING HIS HEART—
1ST- APPLIED HIS HEART— FIGURE OUT LIFE UNDER the SUN
2ND- APPLIED HIS HEART— KNOWING WISDOM—KNOWING RIGHT from WRONG—FIGURING LIFE OUT
ONCE AGAIN—QUEST REMAINS UNFULFILLING
THIS TOO = VANITY—STRIVING AFTER WIND!
(T) WHY WERE HIS EFFORTS WASTED?? WHY VANITY??
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(V18) Teacher’s Final Conclusion
(V18) Teacher’s Final Conclusion
SOMETIMES the ANSWERS DON’T MAKE US FEEL BETTER.
SOMETIMES UNANSWERED QUESTIONS ARE BETTER—BECAUSE the ANSWERS HURT.
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TEACHER’S SEARCHINGS:
WISDOM— RESULTED in VEXATION, FRUSTRATION, IRRITATION
WHY??
THE WORLD DOESN’T MAKE SENSE…DOESN’T ALWAYS ADD UP.
Examples:
“BAD PEOPLE” LIVING to OLD AGE…
“GOOD PEOPLE” DYING YOUNG...
OLD MAN in COUDERSPORT— RIPE OLD AGE— HATED GOD.
YOUNG MAN— DIED in CAR CRASH.
WHY??
SOME PEOPLE SMOKE— LIVE 100 YEARS
OTHERS EXERCISE— DIE of HEART ATTACK.
WHY???
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TEACHER TRIES to PROCESS LIFE VIA WISDOM...
MAKE SENSE of THINGS THAT DON’T MAKE SENSE...
WORLD/LIFE = INCREDIBLY FRUSTRATING.
SOME QUESTIONS REMAIN UNANSWERED
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(V18B) BEYOND THIS: SOMETIMES INCREASING KNOWLEDGE INCREASES SORROW.
GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION: “The more you know, the more I hurts.”
SOME THINGS DON’T HAVE ANSWERS—FRUSTRATING
OTHER THINGS HAVE ANSWERS YOU WISHED YOU DIDN’T KNOW.
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BLESSINGS of INFORMATION AGE....HAS IT’S CURSES...
ANY TRAGEDY on PLANET EARTH—YOU HEAR ABOUT IT.
ANY MAJOR PROBLEM on EARTH—YOU HEAR ABOUT IT.
ANY WAR— YOU HEAR ABOUT IT
ANY WHACKO LEADER—YOU HEAR...
WE HAVE ACCESS— MORE INFORMATION— MORE “ANSWERS” THAN ANY OTHER GENERATION THAT HAS EVER LIVED....
DO YOU THINK WE’RE HAPPIER?
MAYBE WE WEREN’T INTENDED to BEAR ALL the WORLD’ S PROBLEMS...
MORE KNOWLEDGE HASN’T LED to LESS SORROW...
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ONCE AGAIN: TEACHER HAS LEFT US SAD
QUEST for MEANING—AIM to FIGURE LIFE OUT— CAN BE EMPTY....
REFLECTION: LIFE “UNDER the SUN”
THIS = the TEACHER’S JOURNEY
LACK of ANSWERS = FRUSTRATING
SOME ANSWERS = SORROWFUL
WHAT’S the POINT of IT ALL?
(T) SO WHAT’S the TEACHER SAYING to US, THIS MORNING??
Preaching Idea:
Preaching Idea:
The search for meaning through wisdom and knowledge apart from God will leave us empty-handed.
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Gospel: Knowing Peace with God
Gospel: Knowing Peace with God
W/ LIFE’S MANY PROBLEMS
UNANSWERED QUESTIONS
IF WE TRY & FIGURE IT OUT WITHOUT GOD—WE’RE NEVER GOING to BE SATISFIED...
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CHRISTIAN: GOD HAS GIVEN US—EVERYTHING WE NEED to KNOW in HIS WORD....
WHY’S THIS WORLD SO MESSED UP?? MANKIND HAS REJECTED GOD & HIS WAYS
ALL SUFFERING = CONSEQUENCE of the FALL—RESULT of SIN
SIN BROUGHT CORRUPTION to GOD’S “VERY GOOD” CREATION
SIN SEPARATES US from GOD
GOD ALSO REVEALS to US HOW HE PLANS to DEAL W/ IT ALL....
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GOD MIGHT NOT TELL US EVERYTHING WE COULD KNOW...
OR EVERYTHING WE WANT to KNOW...
BUT EVERYTHING WE NEED to KNOW...
GOD GRANTS US the ANSWER to LIFE’S GREATEST QUESTION: “HOW CAN I HAVE PEACE W/ MY CREATOR??
LIFE APART from GOD = EMPTY, FUTILE, WITHOUT HOPE...
GETTING ANSWERS VIA WISDOM & KNOWLEDGE—DISAPPOINTING…MANY QUESTIONS DON’T HAVE ANSWERS...
YOU CAN HAVE GOD in YOUR LIFE… HAVE PEACE WITH YOUR CREATOR— YOU CAN BE FORGIVEN— BUT IT’S a GIFT to BE RECEIVED BY FAITH.
YOU’LL NEVER HAVE it ALL FIGURED OUT.
AT SOME POINT—YOU HAVE to TRUST…EVEN if ALL QUESTIONS AREN’T ANSWERED...
John 20:29 (ESV)
29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
the CHRISTIAN LIFE BEGINS BY FAITH
PUTTING TRUST in CHRIST—LORD & SAVIOR— DIED for YOUR SIN & WAS RAISED...
THINGS YOU CAN’T SEE,, BUT CAN BELIEVE.
THROUGH FAITH in HIM— PEACE WITH GOD— MEANING in LIFE
LIVING for ETERNITY,, NOT JUST TEMPORARY
LIVING for GOD & OTHERS,, NOT for SELF
CALL: IF YOU’RE HERE— & DON’T HAVE SALVATION…
… DON’T HAVE ASSURANCE— TALK to ME AFTER SERVICE
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App:
App:
(T) FOR THOSE FORGIVEN...
CAN I REMIND US—WE’RE ALL GOING to LIVE W/ UNANSWERED QUESTIONS...
THIS is WHERE FAITH COMES IN...
WE KNOW the CHRISTIAN LIFE BEGINS BY FAITH—BUT WE FREQUENTLY DON’T WANT IT to CONTINUE it BY FAITH… WE WANT ANSWERS.
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HALL of FAME of FAITH CHAPTER:
Hebrews 11:1 (ESV)
1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
Hebrews 11:6 (ESV)
6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
NATURE of FAITH— BEING ASSURED of THINGS YOU HOPE FOR BUT CAN’T SEE....
IF WE COULD JUST WALK BY SIGHT— WE WOULDN’T NEED FAITH!
2 Corinthians 5:7 (ESV)
7 for we walk by faith, not by sight.
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YOU CAN TRY & FIGURE it ALL OUT— COME UP EMPTY
COME UP FRUSTRATED
COME UP SORROWFUL
OR you CAN TRUST GOD.
CHRISTIAN—HE’S GIVEN US EVERYTHING WE NEED to KNOW ABOUT LIFE, SALVATION...
LET’S BE CONTENT W/ WHAT HE’S GIVEN
FREQUENTLY PEOPLE ASK ME ALL SORTS of QUESTIONS ABOUT THEOLOGY—END-TIMES, ETC.... AND THERE’S a LOT WE DON’T KNOW...
MAYBE THERE’S a REASON HE HASN’T TOLD US EVERYTHING,, AND WE SHOULD TRUST HIM??
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No matter who you are. Whether you’re a Christian or not.
Each and every one of us is going to die with some unanswered questions.
GOING to BE: THINGS WE WISH WE KNEW…BUT DON’T.
GOING to BE: THINGS WE WISH WE DIDN’T KNOW…BUT DO.
THINGS THAT ARE CROOKED WE WISH WE COULD STRAIGHTEN...
MUCH DOESN’T “ADD UP”
THIS = the RIDE WE’RE ON—PERHAPS WE OUGHT to FEAR GOD & ENJOY the RIDE.
TRUST THAT GOD is SOVEREIGN & GOOD.
HE’LL DO WHAT is GOOD in HIS EYES...
UNANSWERED QUESTIONS?? THAT’S OKAY. I’LL WALK BY FAITH & TRUST HIM.
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DOESN’T MEAN QUESTIONS ARE WRONG—OR OSTRICH APPROACH is BEST—
BUT WE MUST ACCEPT WE’LL NEVER KNOW IT ALL.
LET’S NOT EXPECT MEANING to BE FOUND in the ANSWERS...
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IF WE KNOW the LIVING GOD THROUGH HIS SON JESUS CHRIST— WHAT MORE COULD WE ASK FOR?
ONE DAY ALL of OUR QUESTIONS WILL BE ANSWERED—OR THEY WON’T MATTER ANY MORE....
AND SO, CHRISTIAN… ARE YOU WILLING to WALK BY FAITH,, W/ UNANSWERED QUESTIONS??
& TO TRUST—THAT GOD KNOWS WHAT HE’S DOING?
OR DO YOU EXPECT to FIGURE IT ALL OUT?
!!Close in Prayer!!
