The Search For Meaning Pt. 2

Intro

Worldly wisdom is futile, vanity, striving after the wind

Futility in Pleasure (1-11)

According to U.S. News and World Report, medical studies have suggested that all cholesterol is not the same. There is “good cholesterol” and “bad cholesterol.”

Good cholesterol consists of high-density lipoproteins, or HDLs. Bad cholesterol consists of low-density lipoproteins, or LDLs.

Bad cholesterol clogs arteries and leads to heart attacks.

“Good cholesterol,” writes Rita Rubin, “seems to carry cholesterol out of the coronary-artery walls, thus preventing blockages. Studies show the rate of coronary heart disease falls as HDL levels rise.”

Just as all cholesterol is not the same, the Bible says all pleasure is not the same. There is good pleasure and bad pleasure. Good pleasure is healthful, self-controlled, and obedient to God’s commands. Bad pleasure is self-indulgent, addictive, and disobedient to God’s commands.

(healthy choice ice cream)

Solomon knew that our days are numbered

sought after pleasure

engaged in every pleasure

while keeping his wisdom, did not over indulge

parties, drink, beauty, treasure

“I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure”

compared his work to his pleasure and found it vanity, no profit

World says do what feels good to you

fulfill the desires of your heart

Jeremiah 17:9 ““The heart is more deceitful than all else And is desperately sick; Who can understand it?”

Matthew 15:19 “For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders.”

Proverbs 4:23 “Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life.”

protect it, it can drown you or save you

pleasure can be a distraction

Several years ago our family visited Niagara Falls. It was spring, and ice was rushing down the river. As I viewed the large blocks of ice flowing toward the falls, I could see that there were carcasses of dead fish embedded in the ice. Gulls by the score were riding down the river feeding on the fish. As they came to the brink of the falls, their wings would go out, and they would escape from the falls.

I watched one gull which seemed to delay and wondered when it would leave. It was engrossed in the carcass of a fish, and when it finally came to the brink of the falls, out went its powerful wings. The bird flapped and flapped and even lifted the ice out of the water, and I thought it would escape. But it had delayed too long so that its claws had frozen into the ice. The weight of the ice was too great, and the gull plunged into the abyss.

pleasure can distract you from the truth

not all pleasure is bad, but pleasure that does not show off God is

Futility of Wisdom (12-17)

King of v. 12 is Adam

everyone after Adam must make choices involving wisdom and folly

wisdom is better than folly, but still adds nothing to days of your life

So pleasure, now wisdom cannot bring happiness and meaning? what now!

what is the purpose of life then?

Futility of Worldly Legacy (18-26)

Since nothing added to my days, I hated my labor

i will die and someone else will enjoy the fruit of my labor without any labor of their own

Don’t abandon all things!

in moderation, they are good, but should not be the sole motivation and meaning for our lives

God has given us pleasure, wisdom, and legacy

God given

death comes to the wise and the fool alike

so pleasure and labor should not be our only activity. they are not ment to be our obsession

Conclusion

Our pleasures should be things that bring pleasure to God

working with hands to provide for family can bring pleasure, but not overtake you

having a hobby is good, but don’t let it overtake you

let us then pursue what will make an eternal difference, a true difference

use our talents, gifts, desires, and loves to reach others with the gospel

Solomon says at the end of this book all we can do is trust God and follow His commands

lets do that!

pleasures only temporary

but God has something for you that will last forever!…forgiveness, salvation, mercy, and grace.