Sermon Tone Analysis
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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.
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