8. A Wise and Happy Life

Introduction

Eccles 8:1… Do you want a wise and happy life? // When you think about a wise and happy life, what comes to mind? // Prosperity, justice, success, contentment, family…

God wants us to be happy, but we need to understand what happiness is.

It’s not what the TV preacher who’s asking for your money tells you.

It’s not what the news outlet that’s using you for ratings and ad revenue tells you.

It’s not what the commercials that are selling you their product tell you.

It’s not what social media posts that compete for your attention tell you.

It’s not what the politicians who are trying to get reelected tell you.

It’s not what celebrities who are selling you their movie or their album tell you.

God doesn’t need us or anything from us. His actions toward us and word to us are simply and purely out of his love for us—for our good.

Body

If you want a wise and happy life… obey the king (Eccles 8:2-9).

Exposition: King = human authority (President, Governor, CEO, boss, teacher, parent, etc.)

Why should we obey the king?

Because God establishes authority (Eccles 8:2), and authority is a good thing.

If we can’t submit to human authority, we will struggle to submit to God’s authority.

Because if we follow the law, we’ll avoid a lot of trouble in life (Eccles 8:5).

What if I disagree with the king? What if the king is a fool? … See Rom 13:1, written when Nero was emperor.

Eccles 8:3-5… Obey the king, even when you disagree with him—even when he’s wrong (unless he commands you to sin).

Eccles 8:5-6… Raise your concerns at the right time and in the right way.

How can I obey a king I disagree with? See Eccles 8:7-9… God is a higher authority, and he will ultimately balance the scales.

Eccles 8:8 should give us pause. When we own sin, sin owns us.

Illustration: Eccles 8:5-6… It’s probably not a social media rant… It’s definitely not gossip or slander…

Application: Four Simple Questions to Discern the Time and Procedure

Is my heart right? // Motives, truth, justice, love vs. anger, pride, contempt

Is the relationship right? // Ask forgiveness, repentance, trust, love

Is the moment right? // Can the concern be heard? Is it time to discuss?

Is the method right? // Building up vs. blowing up… private vs. public… in-person vs. text

If you want a wise and happy life… fear God (Eccles 8:10-13).

Exposition

Eccles 8:10… Worship with your lips but not with your life is vanity… You’re not a Christian because you go to church.

Eccles 8:11… Because God is patient and gives us time to repent, we think he’s not aware of our sin (or doesn’t care) and we’ll get away with it. How foolish! Eccles 8:12-13.

What does it mean to fear God? It means to take God seriously. Matt 12:36-37; 16:27.

We sometimes overemphasize God’s grace and undermine God’s judgment. He will balance the scales. The wicked will get their reward. Rom 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Grace doesn’t mean you don’t work, it means you don’t deserve.

Illustration

Application: I want to live to hear my Savior say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

If you want a wise and happy life… find joy (Eccles 8:14-9:1).

Exposition: How do we find joy?

Stop worrying about everything you don’t understand and can’t control (Eccles 8:14, 17).

If you can’t change it, why worry about it? If you can change it, why worry about it? If it’s in your hands, do something. If it’s in God’s hands, trust him.

Find your lane and run in it (Eccles 8:15).

In high school, I ran the 300m hurdles… stay in your lane.

Let God rule the world.

Illustration: “It’s God’s universe, and it’s God’s way. You might have a different way. But you don’t have a universe.” —J. Vernon McGee

Application: When I trust God with the world and my life, I’m free to simply enjoy the life he’s given me under the sun.

This is my Father's world: O let me ne'er forget That though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the Ruler yet. This is my Father's world: Why should my heart be sad? The Lord is King: let the heavens ring! God reigns; let earth be glad!

Conclusion

If you want a wise and happy life… obey the king, fear God, and find joy.

Psalm 131… Have you put your hope in Jesus both now and forever, for your life today and your life for eternity?