Further Complications
Notes
Transcript
Turn to and read Ecclesiastes 1:12-18
At times, during our study of Ecclesiastes, we may stop to take a closer look at certain things. Such is the case tonight.
In Solomon’s attempt to find “meaning in life,” I see two additional complications that hindered his search.
The first one that we will look at tonight is...
Solomon’s Heart
Solomon’s Heart
Several times in this passage of Scripture Solomon references his heart:
Vs. 13 - “I gave my heart”
Vs. 16 - “I communed with mine own heart”
Vs. 16 - “my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge”
Vs. 17 - “I gave my heart”
The “heart” is a recurring theme throughout the book of Ecclesiastes.
I communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I am come to great estate, and have gotten more wisdom than all they that have been before me in Jerusalem: yea, my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.
In other words, Solomon went to his heart for advice.
In chapter 2, verse 10...
And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour.
In other words, whatever Solomon’s heart wanted, that’s what he went after.
Solomon followed his heart.
Solomon followed his heart.
And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith.
One article that I came across, entitled, “Why You Should Always Trust Your Heart,” said...
Your heart has no logic or reasoning power like your mind. It never tries to change your mind or advise you against something...It speaks the truth every time.
Your heart always knows what it wants and there is no changing its mind.
You can never fool your own heart. Trust your inner voice, it’s your heart talking to you.
http://abettertodaymedia.com/always-trust-heart/
Ever heard of Oprah? An article posted on her website entitled, “Why Being in Your Heart is Better Than In Your Head,” states...
[Your heart] has been described as the king, with the mind as the king's adviser. [Jesus Christ is King. His Word our advisor.] When faced with a decision, the king may ask his advisers for advice, may even send him out into the world to gather information, but ultimately it is the king that makes the final decision. Even though the advisers do not always agree with the king's decision, the king is invariably right, because the king's view not only sees the bigger picture but is also aware of the needs of others.
Read more: http://www.oprah.com/spirit/listen-to-your-heart-not-your-head/all#ixzz6DkaANk4E
The philosophy of the world is a simple one: Follow Your Heart!
Is it easy or difficult to follow your heart?
Why is it dangerous to follow your heart?
How do we know that it is dangerous to follow your heart?
Where does the Bible tell us that it is dangerous to follow your heart?
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
(I would encourage you to meditate upon Jeremiah 17:5-10. It is a wonderful passage of Scripture!)
The heart is deceitful.
The heart is deceitful.
A popular song says it this way:
…Blame it on your lying, cheating, cold dead beating,
Two-timing and double dealing
Mean mistreating, loving heart
Our heart lies. Our heart cheats. Our heart leads us away from the truth. Our heart leads us to believe that which is false.
Not only that but Jeremiah 17:9 also says:
The heart is desperately wicked.
The heart is desperately wicked.
Our heart is “incurable.” We cannot reform our hearts sufficiently to the point where we could ever trust our heart. Even as Christians, we must not place trust in our heart.
As one preacher (Sorenson, Understanding the Bible) wrote:
The fallen, sinful, human heart is first and foremost devious. It is deceitful. It is untrustworthy. It is a hatchery of lies. It is intrinsically dishonest. There is no human cure. Only God understands how wicked we truly are and how deserving of judgment we really are.
At this point in his life Solomon had forgotten his own advice which he penned for us in Proverbs 28:26:
He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: But whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.
What is the alternative to trusting your heart?
We must trust the Lord.
We must trust the Lord.
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; And lean not unto thine own understanding.
In all thy ways acknowledge him, And he shall direct thy paths.
But, really, how do we trust the Lord?
We must trust God’s Word.
We must trust God’s Word.
Turn to and read Psalm 119:41-48.
So shall I have wherewith to answer him that reproacheth me: For I trust in thy word.
I like what writer said:
We can’t trust everything we read on the Internet. We can’t trust everything we hear from our professors. We certainly can’t trust all the facts given by our politicians. We can’t even trust the fact-checkers who check those facts! Statistics can be manipulated. Photographs can be faked. Magazine covers can be airbrushed. Our teachers, our friends, our science, our studies, even our eyes can deceive us. But the word of God is entirely true and always true.
https://www.crossway.org/articles/3-things-we-must-believe-about-gods-word/
How do we trust God’s Word?
I believe that there are two ways in which we trust God’s Word.
We must know God’s Word. We must obey God’s Word.
Both of those are summed up in Joshua 1:8.
This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
So, the first complication which Solomon had was his heart. As they say, “The heart of the problem is a problem of the heart.” Next, and I’ll just give it to you and then we’ll come back to it in a couple of week.
Solomon’s Eyes
Solomon’s Eyes
I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.
Let’s pray...