Proper 13 (August 3, 2025)

Undivided Attention: Undivided Perspective - Part 8

Text: Ecclesiastes 1:1–2, 12–14; 2:18–26 Supporting Texts: Colossians 3:1–11; Luke 12:13–21

In the name of Jesus. Amen.

We are now in the eighth week of our summer journey — a nine-part series called Undivided Attention.

When we began back in June, we recognized that we live in a world where a thousand things compete for our attention. The danger isn’t just distraction — it’s devoting ourselves to what will not last while ignoring what matters for eternity.

We said then that we don’t just need to be  free from distraction — we need to be freed from it. We need power from above to give our undivided attention to what truly matters, both now and for eternity.

And that is only possible because of a Savior who is always focused on us.

On the Day of Pentecost, Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to give His followers power and focus.

And still today, through His Word, He grants those gifts to His disciples.

Over these past weeks we’ve looked at Undivided Commitment, Undivided Peace, Undivided Mission, Undivided Loyalty, Undivided Devotion, and Undivided Prayer.

Each week has called us to center our hearts more fully on Christ.

Today’s focus is Undivided Perspective.

Money. Possessions. Perhaps more than anything else, these have the power to turn our attention away from what is truly important.

It’s no surprise, then, that Jesus so often teaches about wealth.

Christ wants us to understand that it is our heavenly Father who provides these resources.

But He also wants us to understand  why He gives them — what they are useful for… and what they are not useful for.

These resources cannot give purpose or meaning to our lives here on earth. They cannot give us security for eternal life.

Yes — the blessings God gives can bring some joy. But far more importantly, they are tools for serving God and others.

So this morning, we give our undivided attention to what Christ says about the useful resources our gracious Father provides.

We’re going to hear from the wealthiest man who ever lived — King Solomon —

and from the wisest Teacher who ever walked the earth — our Lord Jesus Christ.

And both will point us to the same truth:

If our gaze is fixed only on what is “under the sun,” we will always come up empty.

But if our gaze is lifted to the things above, we will find a treasure that endures forever.

Which brings us to Solomon’s blunt opening line:

“Vanity of vanities… all is vanity.”

I. Earthly Pursuits: Vain and Vaporous (Law)

Solomon speaks with the authority of experience. He searched for meaning under the sun —

in pleasure,

in work,

in possessions,

in wisdom itself.

And the verdict?

“What does a man gain from all his labor at which he toils under the sun?” (Eccl 1:3)

Nothing lasting. Nothing you can keep.

The problem isn’t that work, or wealth, or wisdom are evil in themselves. They are gifts of God.

The problem is when they become the center — when they become the point of life rather than gifts for life.

Jesus illustrated this mistake through the parable of the rich fool (Luke 12).

His fields produced more than he could store. His solution? Tear down his barns, build bigger ones, and say to himself: “You have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”

But that very night, God said:

“You Fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?”

That’s Solomon’s point exactly: You work, you store, you build — and then you die, and someone else inherits it all. And sometimes they squander it.

It’s not just death that robs these things of their value. It’s also the restlessness of our own hearts.

“All his days his work is pain and grief; even at night his mind does not rest.” (Eccl 2:23)

Have you been there? You’ve worked yourself to exhaustion,

but you can’t sleep because your mind is still calculating the bills, the deadlines, the “what ifs.”

This is life under the sun — where meaning is measured by what we can see, touch, and count.

Solomon calls it chasing the wind. You can pursue it endlessly, but it will always evade your grasp.

But this is not how God intends us to live as His children. His desire is for us to lift our focus from the temporal to the eternal, to set our minds on things above because the temporal of this world will fade, whereas the eternal will endure.

II. A Heavenly Mindset: Treasures That Last (Gospel)

Solomon doesn’t leave us in despair, and neither does Jesus.

They both guide us toward a new perspective — not one bound under the sun, but one rooted in the eternal.

“Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things,” Paul instructs us in Colossians 3, “for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.”

Here’s the turning point.

Life without God is vanity. Life with God is full of purpose — in every task, no matter how mundane

Solomon offers this profound insight in Ecclesiastes 2:24:

“There is nothing better than to eat and drink and find enjoyment in one’s toil. This too is from the hand of God, for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment?”

Life’s meaning isn’t discovered in manufacturing significance through personal achievements, but in accepting the significance God pours into it.

When your identity, your worth, and your hope are anchored in Christ, your perspective changes.

How could it not? Jesus stepped into our vanity-filled world — not to add more to the pile of human achievements, but to bear our sin, to carry our futility to the cross, and to give us a life that death itself cannot take away.

In His life, He perfectly trusted the Father for all things.

In His death, He bore the penalty for all our misplaced treasures and divided loyalties.

And in His resurrection, He broke the power of death, securing for us an inheritance that will never perish, spoil, or fade.

In Holy Baptism, you were joined to that saving work.

You were buried with Christ into His death — the old, self-absorbed, treasure-chasing life was crucified with Him.

And you were raised with Christ to a new life — a life no longer defined by what you can accumulate under the sun, but by what has been secured for you in heaven.

This is why the pressure dissolves to make your life mean something through your own achievements.

Your life already bears infinite worth — grounded in the love of the One

who created you,

redeemed you,

baptized you into His death and resurrection, and calls you His own forever.

So, how do we bring this heavenly perspective into our everyday lives?

III. Living with an Undivided Perspective

So what does this mean for Monday morning?

It means you can work hard — but not let your work define you. You are more than your job. Your worth is not tied to your productivity or your paycheck.

It means you can enjoy God’s gifts — but not mistake them for the Giver. The house, the car, the retirement account — they are tools for living, not the measure of life itself.

It means you can hold your possessions with an open hand — because your true treasure is in heaven.

Paul says in 1 Timothy 6:

“Godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.”

That’s undivided perspective — to live each day with gratitude for what God provides, without being enslaved to what we lack.

This perspective also reshapes our decision-making. When you understand earthly things fade, you start investing in what lasts. You seek opportunities to serve others, recognizing people as God’s children, not obstacles to your plans. You use your time, energy, and resources in ways that reflect Christ’s love and priorities.

And it means you live with hope. When the market dips, when the roof leaks, when the unexpected expense hits — you don’t have to panic. Because your security was never rooted in those things.

Jesus says in

Luke 12:21 NASB95

“So is the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”

To be rich toward God is to treasure Christ above all, to trust His promises more than you trust your portfolio, and to live as though His kingdom is the one thing you cannot afford to lose.

Living with an undivided perspective doesn’t make you careless — it makes you free. Free to give. Free to serve. Free to rejoice in the good gifts God gives, without being crushed when they are taken away.

Conclusion

So yes, apart from God, Solomon is right:

“Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.”

But in Christ, the verdict is transformed:

Beloved of God.

Redeemed.

Heir of eternal life.

The world chases after the wind. But you have been caught by grace.

The world builds bigger barns. You have a mansion prepared in heaven.

The world fears losing what it has. You rejoice in what cannot be taken from you.

May God give us all this undivided perspective — that we may live fully in this world, but with our eyes fixed on the One who gives us a kingdom that will never fade.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Prayer of the Church – August 3, 2025

P: Let us pray for the whole Church of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs.

For the Church and the Gospel Gracious Father, You have seated Christ at Your right hand and given Him all authority in heaven and on earth. Set our minds on things above, where Christ is, and give us undivided hearts to treasure Him above all. Bless Your Church throughout the world. Strengthen pastors, teachers, missionaries, and all servants of the Word, that they may faithfully proclaim Christ crucified and risen. Keep us rich toward God, using the gifts You entrust to us for the work of Your kingdom. Lord, in Your mercy, C: Hear our prayer.

For Faith and Perspective Almighty God, You have promised to provide for all our needs of body and soul. Defend us from the love of money and from seeking security in what will not last. Teach us to receive our daily bread with gratitude and to share gladly with those in need. Give us grace to live with an undivided perspective, investing our lives in what endures forever. Lord, in Your mercy, C: Hear our prayer.

For Our Nation and Our Communities Lord of the nations, bless our country and those who govern. Grant wisdom to our leaders, peace within our borders, and justice for all. Protect those who serve in the military, law enforcement, fire, and rescue, and all who work in dangerous places. Restrain those who would do violence, and uphold what is good and right. Lord, in Your mercy, C: Hear our prayer.

For the Hurting and the Sick Merciful Lord, draw near to all who are suffering in body, mind, or spirit. Today we remember especially Alissa Reep, Gabe Jensen, and Arlyss Moline. Uphold them with Your strong and loving hand. Give skill and compassion to their caregivers, peace to their minds, and healing according to Your will. Assure them that their lives are hidden with Christ in God, and that when He appears, they will appear with Him in glory. Lord, in Your mercy, C: Hear our prayer.

For the Newly Baptized Heavenly Father, we give You thanks for the baptism this day of Eli Vincent Erickson. Guard him in the faith You have given, keep him safe from the evil one, and cause him to grow in grace and in the knowledge of his Savior. Bless his parents, Jurni and Jade, that they may bring him up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Lord, in Your mercy, C: Hear our prayer.

For Worthy Reception of the Sacrament Holy Lord, as we prepare to receive the body and blood of our Savior, grant us repentant hearts and a living faith. Protect us from trusting in earthly riches, and instead teach us to treasure the forgiveness, life, and salvation You set before us in this holy meal. Lord, in Your mercy, C: Hear our prayer.

For a Godly Focus Almighty God, give us holy wisdom to see through the illusions of this passing world. Keep us from being enticed by temporary pleasures, and direct us to the salvation promised to those who trust in Christ. Fill us with joy in knowing that our names are written in heaven. Lord, in Your mercy, C: Hear our prayer.

Into Your hands, O Lord, we commend ourselves and all for whom we pray, trusting in Your mercy; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. C: Amen.