Ecclesiastes 4:1-8 Loneliness

Loneliness Oct 22, 2017

When sin entered the world through Adam’s disobedience, loneliness also entered the world. Adam who delighted in God’s gift of a woman Eve rejoiced by singing, “this is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh” (). Yet as soon as he sinned, he hid from God, He blamed his wife for his sin rather than taking responsibility for it. Both husband and wife became lonely in the marriage. Their son Cain killed Abel and their loneliness deepened. Cain also is lonely ().

I. Oppression Causes Loneliness –

A. Oppression

1. The exploitation of others for one’s own profit without considering the others needs

2. For example – cheating someone through theft, deceit, excessive interest on loans, etc. – , ,

3. Human trafficking

4. Abuse in marriage

B. Loneliness –

1. The oppressed have no comforter

2. They are powerless –

C. The grateful dead?

1. How are we to respond – tears, righteous rage?

2. Praise for the dead

3. Better is the one who never existed

4. Those who are grievously oppressed would be better off dead??

5. Jesus Christ is friend of the oppressed –

6. The Bible teaches us to visit the widow and the orphan in their affliction– ;

II. Success Results in Loneliness –

A. Envy motivates people to isolate the successful person –

1. People want what the wealthy person has

2. The solution of the envious is to “raise taxes” on the successful

3. The temptation is to steal from them because the successful will always be able to make more money

B. Envy motivates laziness –

1. Life is stacked against me

2. There is nothing I can do to succeed, so I’ll do nothing

3. In the United States, 10 million able bodied men are not working or seeking work

4. Our God warns us against laziness – ;

5. Diligence is required to gain wealth –

6. “In the United States most millionaires became millionaires in their lifetime; they do not inherit it.” The Millionaire Mind

III. Contentment is the Cure for Envy –

A. Not workaholism –

1. The one who has no end to all his labors

2. Or is never satisfied with the money he has

3. And never asks who am I doing this for?

4. Will be lonely!!

B. The solution is contentment –

1. One handful is better with quietness –

2. Than two-handfuls with toil and false hopes –

3. Godliness with contentment –

4. Lead a quiet life –

5. Eat your own bread –

Loneliness is a serious health epidemic in the United States. The feeling of loneliness increases the risk of death by 26%. Christ has provided His church to deal with the loneliness we all feel in some form. Jesus Christ was totally alone and forsaken () so that you would never be forsaken. Hallelujah!

the risk of death by 26%. Christ has provided His church to deal with the loneliness we all feel in some form. Jesus Christ was totally alone and forsaken () so that you would never be forsaken. Hallelujah!