Work in an evil World
Notes
Transcript
TURN— ECC. CH. 3… V. 16
TURN— ECC. CH. 3… V. 16
!! OPEN in PRAYER !!
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Introduction: An Evil World Awaiting Justice
Introduction: An Evil World Awaiting Justice
One of the hot topics of today is the idea of SOCIAL JUSTICE.
WORLD = EVIL, MUST BE FIXED.
RESULTS: AVERAGE PERSON—DESPERATE for “SYSTEMIC CHANGE” — NEARLY RELIGIOUS ZEALOT
SOME PEOPLE—RIOTING, FREE T.V. from WALMART
OTHERS— GENUINELY WANT CHANGE.
(Q) How is this tackled from a CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE?
JUSTICE = GOOD THING
WE’RE HERE to SERVE GOD… LOVING GOD & NEIGHBOR...
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So, is the EVERYDAY CHRISTIAN
supposed to DEVOTE their LIVES
to CHANGING THE WORLD....OR THEIR WORLD?
--- LIVING/WORKING in EVIL WORLD—FILLED W/ INJUSTICE & OPPRESSION— WHAT’S it LOOK LIKE?
(T) I think the TEXT this morning will SPEAK to SOME of THESE ISSUES... and I PRAY IT’S HELPFUL... in your life.
!! READ PASSAGE — 3:16-4:6...
The teacher says,
Passage Reading: Ecclesiastes 3:16-4:6
Passage Reading: Ecclesiastes 3:16-4:6
16 Moreover, I saw under the sun that in the place of justice, even there was wickedness, and in the place of righteousness, even there was wickedness. 17 I said in my heart, God will judge the righteous and the wicked, for there is a time for every matter and for every work. 18 I said in my heart with regard to the children of man that God is testing them that they may see that they themselves are but beasts. 19 For what happens to the children of man and what happens to the beasts is the same; as one dies, so dies the other. They all have the same breath, and man has no advantage over the beasts, for all is vanity. 20 All go to one place. All are from the dust, and to dust all return. 21 Who knows whether the spirit of man goes upward and the spirit of the beast goes down into the earth? 22 So I saw that there is nothing better than that a man should rejoice in his work, for that is his lot. Who can bring him to see what will be after him?
Evil Under the Sun
4 Again I saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun. And behold, the tears of the oppressed, and they had no one to comfort them! On the side of their oppressors there was power, and there was no one to comfort them. 2 And I thought the dead who are already dead more fortunate than the living who are still alive. 3 But better than both is he who has not yet been and has not seen the evil deeds that are done under the sun.
4 Then I saw that all toil and all skill in work come from a man’s envy of his neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.
5 The fool folds his hands and eats his own flesh.
6 Better is a handful of quietness than two hands full of toil and a striving after wind.
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Passage Preaching:
Passage Preaching:
(RECAP/TRANSITION):
FROM REFLECTING on SEASONS (CH. 3)
to REFLECTING on LIFE in FALLEN WORLD
GOD’S MADE EVERYTHING BEAUTIFUL in ITS TIME...
—> BUT THIS WORLD is MESSED UP.
TODAY:
TEACHER SHARES a FEW EVILS (4??)
HOW MANKIND OUGHT to LIVE in LIGHT of THESE EVILS...
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Thought 1: First Evil: Injustice in Bad Places
Thought 1: First Evil: Injustice in Bad Places
16 Moreover, I saw under the sun that in the place of justice, even there was wickedness, and in the place of righteousness, even there was wickedness.
FIRST EVIL (UNDER the SUN) = INJUSTICE FOUND in WORST PLACES
INJUSTICE HURTS....BUT ESP. WHERE JUSTICE = EXPECTED
COURT:
TAKING BRIBES
CONDEMNING INNOCENT—FREEING GUILTY.
CHURCH:
FILLED W/ SINNERS—BUT EXPECTED to ACT UPRIGHTLY (SOMEWHAT!)
WICKEDNESS in RIGHTEOUS PLACES ISN’T NEW!
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WHEN IT’S a PLACE DESIGNATED
—for JUSTICE & RIGHTEOUSNESS—
WICKEDNESS STINGS a LITTLE MORE…DOESN’T IT?
NOTHING NEW UNDER the SUN...
FIRST EVIL— WICKEDNESS/INJUSTICE in WORST PLACES...
(T) BUT THERE’S GOOD NEWS...
In verse 17, the teacher concludes,
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Thought 2: Another Evil-Death
Thought 2: Another Evil-Death
17 I said in my heart, God will judge the righteous and the wicked, for there is a time for every matter and for every work.
3:1 --“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven”
INCLUDING TIME for JUDGMENT
(T) GOD WILL SORT it ALL OUT—HE’S a GOD of JUSTICE:
(v18) I said in my heart with regard to the children of man that God is testing them that they may see that they themselves are but beasts.
TESTING = SIFTING
GOD = ULTIMATE JUDGE— SORTING OUT GOOD FROM EVIL...
… THOSE WHO ARE HIS—THOSE WHO’VE REJECTED HIM...
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PEOPLE CAN’T FOOL GOD.
COME to CHURCH & FOOL PEOPLE— PUT on “CHRISTIAN FACE”
GOD KNOWS the TRUTH.
Jeremiah 23:23-24, “Am I a God at hand, declares the Lord, and not a God far away?
24 Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? declares the Lord. Do I not fill heaven and earth? declares the Lord.”
JEREMIAH’S DAY—ISSUE = FALSE PROPHETS
GOD SAYS: HE’S NEAR & FAR!
YOU CAN’T ESCAPE an OMNIPRESENT GOD!
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—EVER HEARD? ATHEIST’S DEFINITION of INTEGRITY??—
CHRISTIAN ACKNOWLEDGES— GOD = ALWAYS WATCHING…NEVER TRULY ALONE.
“NEVER LEAVE, NOR FORSAKE” = COMFORT DURING HARDSHIP
FEARFUL THING WHEN WE HIDE & SIN.
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GOD TESTS…SIFTS… HE WILL JUDGE the RIGHTEOUS & WICKED
DO YOU TRUST HIM?…THAT HE’LL TAKE CARE of IT?
CHRISTIANS DON’T HAVE to OPT for REVENGE— GOD WILL REPAY....
FORGIVE—GOD WILL TAKE CARE of SINNER
I. FIRST RESPONSE— TRUST GOD W/ EVILS of LIFE— HE’S a BETTER,, MORE JUST JUDGE THAN US!!
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(T) CONCLUSION to SIFTING??
PEOPLE ACT LIKE BEASTS
—> ANIMALS HAVE NO CONCEPT of RIGHT or WRONG
DOMESTICATED—PUSHING OTHERS AWAY to BE FED/DRINK
WILD— EAT ANYTHING to STAY ALIVE—
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CONTRAST: MAN = CREATED in IMAGE of GOD
NOT APE’S HITTING D.N.A. LOTTERY
GOD’S PUT a MORAL COMPASS WITHIN
MORALITY TESTIFIES to GOD’S EXISTENCE!
SO OFTEN PEOPLE ACT LIKE ANIMALS
(T) TEACHER SADLY REFLECTS— PEOPLE DIE LIKE ANIMALS:
(v19-21) 19 For what happens to the children of man and what happens to the beasts is the same; as one dies, so dies the other. They all have the same breath, and man has no advantage over the beasts, for all is vanity. 20 All go to one place. All are from the dust, and to dust all return.
WE MIGHT BE MADE in IMAGE of GOD—DIFFERENT THAN ANIMALS...
BUT WE ALL DIE.
2ND EVIL: DEATH
DEATH WASN’T PART of ORIGINAL CREATION.
ALL SIN—INJUSTICE—DEATH—SUFFERING = CONSEQUENCE of FALL
Genesis 3:19 (ESV)
19 By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”
**TEACHER—THIS POINT in HISTORY— DOESN’T KNOW the END of the STORY**
(V21) 21 Who knows whether the spirit of man goes upward and the spirit of the beast goes down into the earth?
LIFE LIVED— “UNDER the SUN” — THERE’S NO DIFFERENCE in OUR DEATH from an ANIMALS...
ATHEISTIC WORLDVIEW— NO DIFFERENCE in OUR LIFE/ DEATH than the ROADKILL ROTTING on SIDE of the ROAD...
PROGRESS of REVELATION— WE KNOW the END of the STORY—WE’LL HIT THIS LATER…
(T) So, in LIGHT of EVILS SO FAR..., and OUR IMPENDING DEATH....
WHAT ARE WE to DO??
The teacher answers in verse 22, he says:
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Thought 3: Preliminary Conclusion
Thought 3: Preliminary Conclusion
22 So I saw that there is nothing better than that a man should rejoice in his work, for that is his lot. Who can bring him to see what will be after him?
SO MUCH WE CAN’T CONTROL.
1. WORLD = GOING to BE UNJUST
GOOD LAWS HELP—BUT PEOPLE ARE SINNERS—
WE’RE ALWAYS GOING to HAVE PROBLEMS!
IF LEGISLATION WERE the ANSWER— WE WOULD’VE FIXED IT ALL BY NOW!
2. WORLD = FILLED W/ DEATH
**THESE = THINGS WE CAN’T CHANGE!**
THERE WILL BE NO PERFECT UTOPIA
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**DISCLAIMER**
DOESN’T MEAN CHRISTIANS SHOULDN’T EVER GET INVOLVED.
SOME GOD PUTS INTO POLITICS, LEGAL SYSTEM, ETC...
—> THE AVERAGE CHRISTIAN ISN’T BURDENED to FIX SOCIETY.
TRUST GOD = a BETTER JUDGE
HE’LL SORT OUT ALL INJUSTICES/PROBLEMS...
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W/ PROBLEMS WE CAN’T CHANGE/CONTROL
WE CAN CONTROL OUR PERSPECTIVE: REJOICING in TOIL
FOCUSING on OUR AREA of CONTRIBUTION
BEING a FAITHFUL CHRISTIAN in the WORKPLACE
PERHAPS: NOT CHANGING the WORLD…
… BUT SLOWLY CHANGING YOUR WORLD— IMPACTING OTHERS??
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WORK = GIFT from GOD
REJOICE in the DAILY GRIND...
WHAT YOU CAN DO to CONTRIBUTE...
(T) And as if the WORLD NOT FILLED W/ ENOUGH EVILS...
TEACHER WILL HIT a FEW MORE...
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Thought 4: More Evil Under the Sun
Thought 4: More Evil Under the Sun
4 Again I saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun. And behold, the tears of the oppressed, and they had no one to comfort them! On the side of their oppressors there was power, and there was no one to comfort them.
1ST...WORLD = FILLED W/ INJUSTICE & WICKEDNESS...
2ND… WORLD = FILLED W/ DEATH.
NOW, 3RD… WORLD = FILLED W/ OPPRESSION.
NO HELP
NO COMFORT
POWERFUL WHO OPPRESS
OPPRESSED = POWERLESS to CHANGE ANYTHING
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(T) IT’S SO BAD—TEACHER CONCLUDES:
2 And I thought the dead who are already dead more fortunate than the living who are still alive. 3 But better than both is he who has not yet been and has not seen the evil deeds that are done under the sun.
WORLD = SO MESSED UP— BETTER TO NOT EXPERIENCE IT!
(T) And the teacher has one final evil to document today. Look at verse 4,
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Thought 5: Final Evil/Complaint
Thought 5: Final Evil/Complaint
(V4) 4 Then I saw that all toil and all skill in work come from a man’s envy of his neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.
WICKEDNESS in PLACE of JUSTICE/RIGHTEOUSNESS
DEATH
OPPRESSION
ENVY = MAN’S MAIN MOTIVATION.
SERIES of EVILS—WE PROBABLY WOULDN’T ADD THIS to LIST...
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ENVY = HARSH TASKMASTER— BUT VERY EFFECTIVE ONE...
KEEPING UP W/ JONESES ISN’T NEW!
HEBREW for JONES??
HOW MANY PEOPLE WORK HARD— TO KEEP UP W/ OTHERS??
STORIES— WOMEN WANTING to BE STAY @ HOME MOMS...
BUT THE FAMILY NEEDS a:
NEWER SUV
BIGGER HOUSE
A LOT of PEOPLE COMPLAIN ABOUT NEED for 2 INCOMES...
… BUT LIFESTYLE is OFTEN WHAT MANDATED the SECOND INCOME...
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2 INCOMES
WORKING OVERTIME
WORK…WORK…WORK…WORK...
THERE ARE APPROPRIATE TIMES:
PAYING OFF DEBT
SAVING for HOUSE/DOWNPAYMENT
TIME of FINANCIAL EMERGENCY— CAR DIED
(Q) HOW MANY WORK THEIR FINGERS to the BONE—JUST to KEEP UP W/ OTHERS??
How often is ENVY actually the ROOT of our DRIVE??
BE SUCCESSFUL LIKE THEM
HAVE STUFF LIKE THEM...
(T) NOW WORK ISN’T EVIL…BUT it OUGHT to BE DONE in BALANCED WAY...
(V5-6) 5 The fool folds his hands and eats his own flesh.
6 Better is a handful of quietness than two hands full of toil and a striving after wind.
(V5) WORK ISN’T EVIL
THE FOOL FOLDS HIS HANDS
HE’LL EAT HIS OWN FLESH = COME to POVERTY/STARVE
(T) BUT WORK— IN MODERATION— IS GOOD.
(V6) MODERATION
2 OPTIONS:
ONE HANDFUL W/ QUIETNESS
TWO HANDFULS W/ TOIL—STRIVING AFTER WIND
HOW MANY HANDFULS do you NEED to be HAPPY?
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??? ILLUSTRATION W/ COINS???
BROTHER JONES HAS 2 HANDFULS.
BIGGER HOUSE
NEWER CAR
BOAT W/ TWO ENGINES
CAMPER HAS a WASHING MACHINE & SECOND STORY
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WHAT is MISSED… IS the COST....
THE TOIL/STRIVING AFTER WIND.
AREN’T HOME W/ KIDS—TUCKING in BED— THEY’RE on a WORK-TRIP.
AT HOME—TAKING PHONE CALLS/ANSWERING EMAILS
VACATION?? DOING WORK.
MARRIAGE on ROCKS—
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SUCCESS/MATERIAL THINGS = TIP of ICEBERG
DO YOU WANT WHAT’S UNDER the SURFACE?
PERHAPS—IT’S BETTER to ENJOY 1 HANDFUL W/ QUIETNESS
WORK 40 HOURS, NOT 60
ENJOY TIME W/ FAMILY
DRIVE USED CAR
CAMPGROUND CLOTHES’ WASHER
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(T) So what’s the teacher saying to us?
Preaching Idea:
Preaching Idea:
· In a world filled with evils, the believer ought to trust God, live quietly and simply choose to enjoy their toil.
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Gospel: From Dust to Glory
Gospel: From Dust to Glory
TO BE FRANK—THE WORLD is GOING to be FILLED W/ EVILS....
INJUSTICE
DEATH
OPPRESSION
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NOT END of the STORY:
2 Peter 3:13 (ESV)
13 But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
GOD WILL SORT OUT ALL INJUSTICES
&& WE KNOW BETTER than the TEACHER— HE DIDN’T HAVE the WHOLE STORY!
CHRIST,, 2ND COMING,, ETERNAL LIFE.
NEW CREATION— RIGHTEOUSNESS!!
THAT’S GOOD NEWS—
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BAD NEWS— WE’RE PART of the PROBLEM...
WE CRY OUT for JUSTICE—BUT WE’RE PART of the PROBLEM...
WICKEDNESS in PLACE of JUSTICE— BAD
DEATH — BAD
OPPRESSION — BAD
ENVY?? CAN WE LET THAT SLIDE??
10TH COMMANDMENT— YOU SHALL NOT COVET (ANYTHING that is YOUR NEIGHBORS)
WE LOOK @ BIG THINGS…BUT GOD CARES ABOUT LITTLE THINGS TOO....
James 2:10–11 (ESV)
10 For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it.
11 For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.
WE’VE ALL SINNED—FALLEN SHORT of GOD’S GLORY
BIG THINGS
or LITTLE THINGS
JESUS CAME to SAVE US from OUR SINS— WHETHER THEY WERE BIG or SMALL
IF YOU WANT YOUR SPIRIT to RISE & GO to GOD
IF YOU WANT to GO from DUST to GLORY
YOU NEED JESUS.
GOSPEL:
OBEYED in OUR PLACE
DIED in OUR PLACE
TRUSTING in HIM—WE FIND GRACE.
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Call:
HERE WITHOUT HOPE
WITHOUT ASSURANCE
WITHOUT CHRIST
I’D LOVE to SPEAK W/ YOU...
YOU CAN KNOW TODAY WHERE YOU’RE GOING AFTER DEATH THAT is SURE to COME!
(T) And for those who do believe,
I want to ADMONISH us BRIEFLY in closing REGARDING the NATURE of OUR WORK...
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App: Finding Joy, Not Competition, in Toil, in the Midst of an Evil World
App: Finding Joy, Not Competition, in Toil, in the Midst of an Evil World
· The teacher tells us this morning that in the MIDST of LIFE’S EVILS:
we ought to trust God’s judgment,
live quietly,
and simply rejoice in our toil.
NOT OUR JOB to CHANGE the WORLD...
LIVE FAITHFUL CHRISTIAN LIFE— WITNESS for CHRIST in YOUR SPHERE of INFLUENCE...
CHANGE YOUR WORLD...
GOD WILL HANDLE WORLDWIDE INJUSTICE & OPPRESSION
WE CAN LOVE OUR NEIGHBOR
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LIVING QUIETLY— ADMONITION ALIEN to US....
1 Thessalonians 4:11–12 (ESV)
11 and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you,
12 so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.
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1 TIMOTHY CH. 2— PAUL ADMONISHES CHRISTIANS to PRAY FOR THOSE in AUTHORITY:
1 Timothy 2:2 (ESV)
2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.
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WITH COUNTLESS EVILS WE CAN’T CHANGE— TRUST GOD & FOCUS on WHAT WE CAN CHANGE:
REJOICING in OUR WORK
WORKING in MODERATION
WHEREVER YOU TOIL...
WHEREVER YOU CONTRIBUTE...
YOU CAN & SHOULD FIND ENJOYMENT in IT!
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ALSO AVOID the IDOLATRY of WORKAHOLISM…
ENJOY in MODERATION W/ QUIETNESS...
DON’T WORK BASED OFF ENVY…
YOU DON’T NEED the LATEST & GREATEST X, Y, Z to BE HAPPY...
YOU WON’T BE HAPPY WHEN YOU “CATCH” BROTHER JONES...
AS SOON as YOU UPGRADE:
YOUR CAR
YOUR HOUSE
YOUR GARAGE
YOUR DOG
YOUR CAT
YOUR PICKET FENCE
YOUR BOAT
YOUR CAMPER
YOUR…WHATEVER...
THEY WON’T NOTICE or CARE
THEY’LL BE UPGRADING TOO…YOU’LL STILL BE BEHIND.
THINGS ARE OKAY, DON’T LET THINGS HAVE YOU.
WANTING THINGS is ONE THING—BUT DON’T STRIVE to “KEEP UP” OUT of ENVY....
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PERHAPS WORKING 40 HOURS is ENOUGH— RATHER THAN 70-80....
FUNERAL TESTIMONY this WEEK..:
PREACHER (GRAY HAIR) SAYS,
“NO ONE’S EVER TOLD ME,, ON THEIR DEATH-BED,, I WISHED I WORKED MORE”
Teacher:
ONE HANDFUL W/ QUIETNESS
= BETTER THAN TWO HANDFULS W/ ENDLESS TOIL
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Closing:
WILL YOU CHOOSE to REJOICE in YOUR TOIL TODAY?
& SEE it AS a GIFT
& ALSO CHOOSE to ENJOY THAT GIFT in MODERATION?
Close in Prayer
**communion service**
