A Wandering Appetite
Notes
Transcript
TURN— ECC. CH. 6— V1-9
OPEN in PRAYER
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Introduction: Advertising & the Elusiveness of Contentment…
Introduction: Advertising & the Elusiveness of Contentment…
the AVG AMERICAN—SEES COUNTLESS ADS in GIVEN DAY
DEPENDING on SOURCE— HUNDREDS to THOUSANDS...
TV—ADS
YOUTUBE—ADS
SOCIAL MEDIA—ADS
KNOW IT’S BAD WHEN THEY CUSTOM-TAILOR IT to YOU...
SEARCH for SOMETHING— IT FILLS YOUR FEED...
DRIVING—BILLBOARDS—ADS
RADIO/PODCASTS—ADS
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MANY ADS: SOW DISCONTENTMENT
HAPPY W/ YOUR LIFE AS IS?? DON’T NEED THEIR STUFF...
---EXAMPLES---
MAKE YOU DISCONTENT—NEEDING MORE.
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LIFE = GOOD...UNTIL:
YOU SEE WHAT YOU DON’T HAVE...
OR PERHAPS WHAT OTHERS HAVE...
(T) THANKFULLY— GOD’S WORD SPEAKS to US on the SUBJECT
TEACHER FOCUSING ON THIS TODAY...
CH. 6— V1-9...
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Passage Reading
Passage Reading
There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, and it lies heavy on mankind: 2 a man to whom God gives wealth, possessions, and honor, so that he lacks nothing of all that he desires, yet God does not give him power to enjoy them, but a stranger enjoys them. This is vanity; it is a grievous evil.
3 If a man fathers a hundred children and lives many years, so that the days of his years are many, but his soul is not satisfied with life’s good things, and he also has no burial, I say that a stillborn child is better off than he.
4 For it comes in vanity and goes in darkness, and in darkness its name is covered. 5 Moreover, it has not seen the sun or known anything, yet it finds rest rather than he. 6 Even though he should live a thousand years twice over, yet enjoy no good—do not all go to the one place?
7 All the toil of man is for his mouth, yet his appetite is not satisfied. 8 For what advantage has the wise man over the fool? And what does the poor man have who knows how to conduct himself before the living? 9 Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the appetite: this also is vanity and a striving after wind.
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Recap:
Recap:
TEACHER CONTINUING—SIMILAR LINES
LAST WK:
WE OUGHT TO ACCEPT OUR GOD-GIVEN LOT WITH JOY.
MONEY DOESN’T SATISFY
MONEY DOESN’T LAST
FIND ENJOYMENT W/ LOT in LIFE—WHETHER RICH or POOR
LOT = PIECE of the PIE
CHALLENGE: NOT USING “LOT” in NEGATIVE TERMS...
(T) TEACHER CONTINUING on SIMILAR SUBJECT—CONTENTMENT...
BEGIN—LOOKING @ ONE… COULDN’T ENJOY WHAT HE HAD...
LOOK W/ ME @ VS. 1-2...
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Passage Preaching
Passage Preaching
Thought 1: The Evil of Unenjoyment (v1-2)
Thought 1: The Evil of Unenjoyment (v1-2)
There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, and it lies heavy on mankind: 2 a man to whom God gives wealth, possessions, and honor, so that he lacks nothing of all that he desires, yet God does not give him power to enjoy them, but a stranger enjoys them. This is vanity; it is a grievous evil.
GREAT EVIL—HEAVILY LAID...
CONTRARY to LAST WK… GUY WHO HAS a LOT—NO ABILITY to ENJOY IT.
GOD GRANTS WEALTH,, POSSESSIONS,, HONOR—WITHOUT ABILITY.
WORKING HARD—NOT ENJOYING FRUITS of LABOR… GO to SOMEONE ELSE…
SITUATION = LIKELY ONE of 2 POSSIBILITIES...
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I. WORKS HARD—UNWILLING to ENJOY STUFF/MONEY.
PEOPLE SO TIGHT W/ MONEY—FORGETTING IT’S a TOOL to BE USED...
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FINDING a BALANCE = HARD...
ENJOY LIFE— BUT LIVE WISELY.
DON’T WANT to EAT DOG-FOOD in RETIREMENT
BUT ALSO DON’T WANT to WAIT TILL RETIREMENT to ENJOY LIFE.
Proverbs 21:20 (ESV)
20 Precious treasure and oil are in a wise man’s dwelling, but a foolish man devours it.
IT’S UNWISE/FOOLISH to DEVOUR ALL YOU HAVE...
EXPECTING GOVERNMENT to TAKE CARE of YOU
YET WHAT GOOD is PRECIOUS TREASURE & OIL if YOU CAN’T ENJOY SOME of IT?
I. PERHAPS— GUY HAD STUFF—WASN’T WILLING to EASE GRIP...
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II. OR...PERHAPS HE DIED B4 ENJOYING.
UNCLE DON—DYING RIGHT BEFORE RETIREMENT
DEVASTATING—LOSING SPOUSE… & LOST, UNFULFILLED DREAMS
RATHER BE UPSET W/ MONEY THAN BROKE
BUT STILL UNFATHOMABLY HARD.
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PEOPLE—NEED to BALANCE...
GOD BLESSED YOU? ENJOY IT— DON’T IDOLIZE IT...
YET ENJOY in MODERATION
DON’T WANT to BE BROKE in OLDER AGE...
ACCUMULATING THINGS WITHOUT ENJOYMENT— VANITY
EMPTY—MEANINGLESS—EVIL
(T) And the teacher is going to FURTHER OUTLINE the TRAGEDY
ONE WHO ISN’T ABLE to ENJOY…GOD-GIVEN GIFTS...
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Thought 2: A Harsh Reality (v3)
Thought 2: A Harsh Reality (v3)
3 If a man fathers a hundred children and lives many years, so that the days of his years are many, but his soul is not satisfied with life’s good things, and he also has no burial, I say that a stillborn child is better off than he.
MAIN PROBLEM TODAY— INABILITY, UNWILLINGNESS… ENJOY the GOOD...
HYPOTHETICAL:
FATHERING 100 KIDS (FAMILY = BIG DEAL in THOSE DAYS)
LIVES MANY YEARS
LIFE = GOOD…
HAD EVERYTHING YOU COULD WANT...
BUT SOUL NOT SATISFIED W/ LIFE’S GOOD THINGS...
DOESN’T RECEIVE PROPER BURIAL… PROB. DEATH WASN’T MOURNED—NO “CLOSE” RELATIVES
HARSH TRUTH: IT’D BE BETTER IF HE WAS NEVER BORN.
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HOW COULD HE HAVE SO MUCH & NOT BE SATISFIED?
IT HAPPENS ALL the TIME.
IF IT TAKES THINGS—SUCCESSES…YOU’LL PROBABLY NEVER HAVE ENOUGH.
A LIFE WITH GOOD—WITHOUT ENJOYMENT— NOT WORTH IT.
One scholar has summarized, “A long life without enjoyment … is far worse than no life at all.”[2]
(T) And the teacher is going to FURTHER COMMENT.... HARSH ILLUSTRATION.... (V4-5)
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Thought 3: Harsh Reality Explained (v4-6)
Thought 3: Harsh Reality Explained (v4-6)
4 For it comes in vanity and goes in darkness, and in darkness its name is covered. 5 Moreover, it has not seen the sun or known anything, yet it finds rest rather than he.
UNBORN CHILD—KNOWS NONE of LIFE’S STRUGGLES & HARDSHIPS
YET GOES to SAME GRAVE & FINDS REST...
LIFE WITHOUT ENJOYMENT ISN’T WORTH LIVING—BECAUSE LIFE = HARD.
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6 Even though he should live a thousand years twice over, yet enjoy no good—do not all go to the one place?
TEACHER CONCLUDES W/ WILD HYPOTHETICAL....
GIVE the GUY 2,000 YEARS...
IF HE CAN’T FIND ENJOYMENT/CONTENTMENT—HIS LIFE = STILL NO BETTER!
REF:
Ecclesiastes 2:24 (ESV)
24 There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God,
“FIND” = CAUSE the SOUL to SEE
HERE—2,000 YEARS WITHOUT CAUSING SOUL to SEE...
IF YOU CAN’T FIND CONTENTMENT & ENJOYMENT
W/ GOD’S PRESENT BLESSINGS…
YOU WON’T FIND IT IF YOU WERE GIVEN 2,000 YEARS.
2,000 YEARS of DISCONTENT = FAR WORSE THAN NO LIFE AT ALL
(V6B) ALL GOING to ONE PLACE—SAME GRAVE
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LONGEST AGE in BIBLE 969 YEARS— NONE HIT 1,000 YEARS… TEACHER DOUBLES IT for FUN.
ARE YOU WILLING to SEE the GOOD GOD HAS WROUGHT in YOUR LIFE??
WILLING to ENJOY IT?
DAVE R. — 3 THINGS,, GIVE,, SAVE,, SPEND??
(T) For the teacher WILL CONTINUE on DISCONTENTMENT.... and SAYS in V.7....
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Thought 4: Conclusion, Finding Contentment (v7-9)
Thought 4: Conclusion, Finding Contentment (v7-9)
7 All the toil of man is for his mouth, yet his appetite is not satisfied.
PEOPLE STRUGGLE to ENJOY— FEEL DON’T HAVE ENOUGH...
HUMAN APPETITE ISN’T SATIABLE...
WE WORK— TO EAT— TO WORK— TO EAT— TO WORK TO EAT—....
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NOT JUST PHYSICAL APPETITE,, HOW ABOUT APPETITE for THINGS?
WE WORK—TO BUY—TO WORK—TO BUY—TO WORK—TO BUY...
IF WE EXPECT THINGS to FILL US— IT DOESN’T WORK!
HUMAN BEINGS ARE WANTING MACHINES!
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CASE of BOTH WISE & POOR....
8 For what advantage has the wise man over the fool? And what does the poor man have who knows how to conduct himself before the living?
DISCONTENT WISE— HAS NO ADVANTAGE OVER FOOL…STILL HAS UNMET DESIRES...
POOR MAN W/ GOOD CONDUCT— OBVIOUSLY HAS SAME PROBLEM...
UNMET DESIRES PLAGUE ALL of HUMANKIND...
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(T) TEACHER OFFERS POWERFUL CONCLUSION (V9):
9 Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the appetite: this also is vanity and a striving after wind.
SIGHT of EYES = WHAT YOU HAVE
WANDERING of APPETITE = WHAT YOU WANT.
NLT: “Enjoy what you have rather than desiring what you don’t have.”
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TEXT BEGAN W/ EVIL— UN-ENJOYED PROSPERITY
TEXT ENDS W/ GOOD (BETTER)— SIGHT of EYES—WHAT YOU HAVE…& ENJOYING IT...
CHALLENGE: IF ENJOYMENT…SATISFACTION…CONTENTMENT…
...IS “OUT THERE” YOU’LL NEVER ARRIVE.
IF YOU NEED MORE to BE HAPPY—YOU’LL NEVER HAVE ENOUGH. APPETITE ISN’T SATISFIED (V7)
CONTENT W/ WHAT GOD HAS GIVEN...
INSTEAD of HOPING FOR: WHAT HE MIGHT GIVE...
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CONTENTMENT ISN’T a FUTURE DAY ON CALENDAR.
IT CAN ONLY BE FOUND in the PRESENT.
WE PROBABLY ALL HAVE THINGS WE STILL WANT—THIS WILL NEVER CHANGE…
WE WILL ALL ALWAYS WANT. OUR WANTER is ALWAYS WORKING...
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BUT I CAN’T LOOK @ FUTURE: WHEN I HAVE “X” I’LL BE HAPPY...
BECAUSE THEN YOU’LL WANT SOMETHING ELSE...
ANYONE ELSE GET KINDA OBSESSIVE/EXCITED ABOUT NEW STUFF??
DO ALL the RESEARCH ETC.??// TUNNEL VISION
CRAZY: ALL THOSE MET DESIRES BECOME OLD
TESTIMONY— RUNNING @ TRAIL:
CAR to GET THERE
VEST
HEADPHONES
ETC.
ALL NICE,, THANKFUL,, BUT STILL HAVE OTHER THINGS I’D LIKE to OWN.
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WE ALL “WANT” BUT HAS GOD NOT TAKEN CARE of US?
GOD DOESN’T PROMISE to FULFILL WANTS…BUT NEEDS…
DOESN’T PROMISE AMERICAN DREAM
DOESN’T PROMISE 2-CAR GARAGE, PICKET FENCE, PUREBRED DOG
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JESUS on PROVISION:
“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matt. 6:33).
(Q) DO YOU KNOW WHAT GOD HAS PROMISED,, as OUR PROVIDER,, ACCORDING to SCRIPTURE? (ALL THESE THINGS)
FOOD & CLOTHING.
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APOSTLE PAUL: 1 TIM. CH. 6—
“6 But godliness with contentment is great gain, 7 for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. 8 But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content” (1 Tim. 6:6-8).
FOOD & CLOTHING.— MOST BASIC of HUMAN NEEDS...
THANK GOD—EVERYONE HAS CLOTHES & NO ONE LOOKS STARVING...
THESE ARE the ONLY THINGS WE’RE PROMISED.
CHURCH—IF GOD HAS MET OUR MOST BASIC HUMAN NEEDS of FOOD & CLOTHES—
HE’S MET HIS OBLIGATION as OUR PROVIDER...
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HE HASN’T PROMISED US HOME-OWNERSHIP...
LET ALONE 3,000 SQ FT +
JESUS DIDN’T HAVE a HOME— LK. 9:58
58 And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”
HE HASN’T PROMISED US a NICE CAR—LET ALONE 2—LET ALONE ONE THAT PARKS ITSELF
HE HASN’T PROMISED US 3 VACATIONS— BALCONY ROOM on CRUISE...
MODERN AMERICANS = VERY CONFUSED on WANTS & NEEDS.
HE KNOWS OUR NEEDS B4 WE ASK...
FOOD & CLOTHING...
&& NOT EVEN STEAK
& DESIGNER JEANS
& 50 PAIRS of SHOES...
BLACKSTONE = BONUS.
HONESTLY: IF WE AREN’T HAPPY W/ WHAT WE’VE GOT…
WHY WOULD WE EXPECT HIM to GIVE US MORE?
IF WE’RE DISCONTENT W/ GOD’S PRESENT BLESSINGS...
...WHY SHOULD HE BLESS US FURTHER W/ MORE STUFF & DISCONTENTMENT
PERHAPS WE OUGHT to FIND ENJOYMENT & CONTENTMENT in GOD’S PRESENT GIFTS to US...
(T) Truly, I believe the teacher is saying to us today:
Preaching Idea:
Preaching Idea:
· If you can’t find contentment with what God’s given you today,
you won’t find it tomorrow either…
o And church…this is TRUE NO MATTER HOW MANY TOMORROWS HE GIVES YOU… UP to 2,000 YRS...
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Gospel: Living Water
Gospel: Living Water
PROBLEM: HUMAN BEINGS — HAVE INSATIABLE DESIRES
PART of PROBLEM— WE TRY & FILL GREATEST DESIRE W/ WRONG THINGS…
WE TRY & FILL OUR LIVES:
W/ STUFF
W/ SUCCESS
THINKING THIS = MAKES US HAPPY
TRUE & LASTING SATISFACTION MUST COME from SOMEWHERE GREATER...
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B4 SOUL = SATISFIED W/ LIFE’S GOOD THINGS…
...NEEDS to BE SATISFIED W/ RELATIONSHIP W/ GOD...
JESUS & WOMAN @ WELL....
“Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, 14
but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life” (Jn. 4:13-14).
FETCHING WATER ROUTINELY— WE ALL HAVE to DRINK ROUTINELY...
LIVING WATER—THROUGH the HOLY SPIRIT— to THOSE WHO WILL COME...
DOESN’T MEAN YOU WON’T EVER WRESTLE W/ DISCONTENTMENT...
BUT YOUR GREATEST HUMAN LONGING WILL BE FULFILLED.
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YOU WERE MADE:
IN IMAGE of GOD
FOR WORSHIP of GOD
& FELLOWSHIP W/ GOD.
AUGUSTINE: “YOU HAVE MADE US FOR YOURSELF… & HEARTS ARE RESTLESS UNTIL THEY FIND THEIR REST in YOU”
TRY to FILL YOUR LIFE W/ STUFF— YOU’LL NEVER BE SATISFIED…NOT EVEN 2,000 YRS....
YOUR LIFE MUST BE FILLED W/ GOD.
A RELATIONSHIP W/ LIVING GOD THROUGH HIS SON JESUS CHRIST...
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SIN HAS US SEPARATED FROM GOD…BAD NEWS
GOOD NEWS:
Romans 5:8 (ESV)
8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:1 (ESV)
1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
THE GAP BETWEEN HUMANITY & GOD WAS BRIDGED THROUGH the CROSS...
THAT THROUGH FAITH in CHRIST—WE CAN BE FORGIVEN of OUR SINS— BE MADE RIGHT W/ GOD
&& RELATIONSHIP W/ LIVING GOD—FILLS the HOLE in OUR HEARTS—THAT CAN ONLY BE FILLED W/ HIM...
CALL:
HERE TODAY WITHOUT PEACE
WITHOUT ASSURANCE
QUESTIONS REGARDING FAITH
I’D LOVE to SPEAK W/ YOU AFTER the SERVICE TODAY...
(T) And now, FOR THOSE WHO BELIEVE,
CLOSING CHALLENGE:
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Application:
Application:
LAST WK— LOT in LIFE— VERY GENERAL.
THIS WEEK— SPECIFIC THINGS of LIFE
CHALLENGE: FIND CONTENTMENT in GOD’S PRESENT BLESSINGS in YOUR LIFE...
DISCONTENT PLAGUES ALL of US to SOME EXTENT
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WHEN DOING GOOD?
ADS RUIN IT,,
NEIGHBORS NEW X, Y, Z RUINS IT...
If you can’t find contentment with what God’s given you today,
you won’t find it tomorrow either…
NO MATTER HOW MANY TOMORROWS HE GIVES YOU.
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Ecclesiastes 6:9 (ESV)
9 Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the appetite: this also is vanity and a striving after wind.
CHALLENGE: LOOK OVER YOUR LIFE
WHAT DO YOU PRESENTLY HAVE to BE THANKFUL FOR??
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REMEMBER: GOD MEETS FOOD & CLOTHING?? HE’S MET HIS OBLIGATION.
***EVERYTHING ELSE is a BONUS FROM OUR KIND & GENEROUS GOD***
BACK of BULLETIN—THERE’S a LIST...
EVERYTHING YOU PUT on the LIST… IS A BONUS YOU WEREN’T ENTITLED TO.
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TAKE SOME TIME,, NOW,, AFTER SERVICE,, LATER TODAY…COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS...
HYMN SAYS:
o “Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God has done!”
Satisfaction and happiness WON’T COME when you ADD MORE THINGS to this list....
... IF YOU CAN’T FIRST FIND them with THE LIST you DO HAVE...
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TO KNOW the LIVING GOD & HIS SON JESUS CHRIST...
...TO HAVE OUR MOST FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN NEEDS MET...
...AND to KNOW GOD HAS GIVE US SO MUCH MORE...
TRULY WE ARE BLESSED MORE THAN WE DESERVE...AMEN?
Close in Prayer...
