The Mysterious God

INTRODUCTION

WELCOME

Good Morning

Thank you to Hilton

TRANSITION

3 weeks left in our series on Ecclesiastes

In this morning - turn there (first 8 verses)

PERSPECTIVE

Today’s passage is meant to challenge our normal perspective - a perspective that can feel normal but lacks clarity.

I recently experienced this with my own eyes - hard to see things at a distanced and starting to play the trombone as I read from things in my hand.

I went to the eye doctor and discovered that I needed multi-focus lenses. This was just a nice way of calling me old.

So I purchased the glasses and put them on and immediately felt sick. Somethings were clear but then everything felt distorted and made my stomach nauseous. I was convinced they made a mistake and something wasn’t right with the glasses. I would try to wear them some but then take them off at other times. Finally I just decided to wear them - even though I was afraid of failing off the stage some Sundays.

Now they feel normal and everything is clear and I only get headaches if I forget to put them on right away.

The same things is true of us spiritually and today’s passage serves as a pair of glasses meant to clarify our perspective on life.

Near-Sighted Culture - we look at our lives from the perspective of youth - beauty - success - comfort - happiness

Ageless skin - Kim Kardashian’s body foundation

Value Youth

Prosperity - billionaire and friends

From what position do we stand - looking at our lives?

For much of our culture - we start from the position of youth

We start of the position of what we do know to try and understand what we don’t know.

I believe this part of Ecclesiastes is helping us to look at our lives from the position | from the perspective of old age, nearing death so that we can truly understand what we think we know.

When we start with what we know - life feels certain, controllable, predictable, manageable

This leads to disappointment, grief, frustration

When we start with what we don’t know - life is mystery, uncontrollable, unpredictable,

This leads us to trust in God, freedom, enjoyment of what life has to offer.

BRIDGE

We will look at 3 things we don’t know

3 things we do know

PRAY

READ Chapter 11:1-6

3 THINGS WE DON’T KNOW

(#1) HOW TO PREDICT THE FUTURE (1-2)

HOW TO PREDICT THE FUTURE

Two strange scenarios: Throwing bread in the water and giving portions to others. (we’ll get back to theses)

Main Point: “You do not know what disaster may happen on earth”

Verses 3 & 4

We can try to read the signs of clouds and trees

In the end we don’t know when disaster might strike

Illustration

The billionaire , Chris Cline, along with his daughter and several others where recently in the news after they died in a helicopter crashed on July 4.

No signs, no indication, yet there is no way to predict the future.

Cameron Boyce, the Disney actor who recently died at the age of 20 in his sleep.

Application

In many ways, we know this to be true but live as if it weren’t true.

I make my weekly calendar, in fact, I’ve begun thinking about 2020 and sermon series and planning (this isn’t bad)

I live in a perspective that I have control, that life is manageable.

What would a perspective of mystery change in our hearts and minds?

I would still plan but my immediate response would probably be filled with more gratefulness and less worry about the future.

I would strive less and enjoy the moment more.

I would savor the day as if it were my last M&M in the bag.

(#2) HOW TO DO WHAT ONLY GOD CAN DO

Read verse 5

HOW TO GUARANTEE SUCCESS & AVOID FAILURE

Think about all the new babies we have in the congregation

How does the spirit, the life, the image of God - come to flesh and bones in the mother’s womb. The miracle. We can understand cells and division and marks the stages but how do we explain the essence of life itself.

As we look at creation we realize that God is the one who creates and we manage.

God created the world out of nothing. From nothing he created something

We then are encouraged and can made something from the timber in the tree and the rocks in the ground.

We are finite - he is infinite

Again, our lack of knowing and our inability to know can lead us to the joy of mystery | of wonder | of awe.

I think this is in part what Jesus means in

“Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

(#3) HOW TO GUARANTEE SUCCESS & AVOID FAILURE

Read verse 6

We all want to succeed. I don’t like failings. I don’t like losing. The whole idea of strategic planning is to succeed in life - to make our plans, follow through and achieve success. Pick the right school, the right job, the right place to live, the right spouse, the right car

Then God comes along and says - interesting perspective you have there. Try these glasses on for a moment and we see with greater clarity

In reality we don’t know what will succeed and what will fail. - Now what should we do with this perspective.

Again - this isn’t meant to lead us to hopelessness but rather - a joyful trust in God.

Ok God, I’ve sought you, I’ve applied wisdom to the best of my ability but my ultimate trust is in you, not my ability to make the right decision.

I really wish I could go back to my younger self and say this in such a way that would produce genuine belief.

3 THINGS WE DO KNOW

(#1) HOLD LOOSE TO LIFE & POSSESSIONS

Look at verses 1 & 2 again

Scholars aren’t clear on the true meaning of these phrases.

Similarity

“Cast your bread” - literally send out

“Give a portion”

Three Most common Interpretations:

(1) Maritime Commerce

(2) Taking steps to spread out one’s financial resources (don’t put all your eggs in one basket - diverse portfolio)

(3) In older Jewish and Christian interpretations - taken to refer to giving to the poor - generosity - in which case finding it again represents others being kind in return. (I see this as the clearest and most historic interpretation)

“One of the greatest mistakes we can ever make is to think about our life, our wealth, or our possessions as if we can predict the future. You can’t… so be rich toward God now, while you can. What’s the point of your wealth if disaster next week might take it from you?”

David Gibson

Application

The uncertainty of life and our inability to predict the future should lead us to be generous toward others

(#2) NEITHER SUCCESS NOR FAILURE IS ULTIMATE

Look at verse 6

Our inability to guarantee success does not paralyze us but frees us to truly work and trust God.

Many people are so scared to fail that they never really try - they never fully engage in work or study or trying a new endeavor.

Being fired from work, redundancy, a failed exam, a negative review, an investment down the drain - so our lives are soon to follow because our identity is wrapped up in our own success

But what is failure wasn’t final? What if our identity was not so closely tied to our accomplishments and success?

What if you were free to work - to still rise early in the morning to begin and continue into the evening? What if you worked hard and trusted God with the outcome?

Because we know - that ultimately we have no control over the success or failure from our work.

(#3) WISE LIVING IS ITS OWN REWARD

(#3) Life Apart from God is Vanity

Look at verses 7 - 8

Life is good (7)

Remember - Vanity (8)

Life apart from God is meaningless (under the sun)

Vanity (hevel)

BUT - LIFE WITH GOD IS LI

CONCLUSION

LIFE WITH GOD

God is in control

God hasn’t quit

God is present

God is redeeming what was lost in the Garden of Eden because of our sin

QUESTIONS

From what perspective do you look at life?

From the perspective of perpetual youthfulness?

Maintaining youth, no wrinkles, smooth skin, healthy bodies. You have everything under control

OR - from the perspective that everyday is a gift and we don’t know if today is our day day?

Enjoying the freedom of mystery and the unknown

How much of your life is shapped my confident prede

Are you crushed by failures? Are over confident based on past successes? Where is your identity?

By faith - we are called children of God

Jesus work on the cross - gives us rest, gives us freedom

You can either strive to achieve what is impossible on you own - OR - you can remain in Jesus with a thankful, restful, joyful heart.

In response to the unknown, do you live with a hoarding mentality or a generous spirit toward God and others?

Some live in fear of the unknown and try to hoard all they can.

Jesus told a story to the crown in response to the pursuit of storing up wealth.

English Standard Version Chapter 12

The land of a rich man produced plentifully, 17 and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ 18 And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.” ’ 20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ 21 So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”

CLOSING THOUGHTS

I’m excited as the worship team prepare to lead us in this next song.

I believe this song is fitting as we move into the final weeks of our series through the book of Ecclesiastes.

This song helps us acknowledge what is broken because of sin in the world around us. How life’s pursuits leave us empty. Yet we are not left in this helpless state but rather, we see the worthiness of God - who would send his son - Jesus- into this broken world - to bear in himself the punishment we deserved.

IS HE WORTHY

Do you feel the world is broken (we do)

Do you feel the shadows deepen? (we do)

But do you know that all the dark wont stop the light from getting through? (we do)

Do you wish you could see all things made new (we do)

Is anyone worth

In any one whole?

Is anyone able to break the seal and open the scroll?

The lion of judah who conquered the grave - He is worthy!