sf762 - HOW CAN I BE HAPPY - 2 of 11 ANSWERING LIFES TOUGHEST QUESTIONS (Ecclesiastes 2 1)

Ecclesiastes 2:1

Introduction

One of the universal questions of life is "How can I be happy?"

Everyone is seeking happiness.

It is a primary motivator for most people.

Ø People will move

Ø People change jobs

Ø People will have surgery

Ø People will change churches

Ø People will get married

Ø People will get divorced

Solomon was uniquely qualified for this search for happiness.

Other than Christ he was the wisest man who ever lived.

He was the wealthiest man who ever lived.

He was a king, so he had lots of free time.

He was very successful.

In Ecclesiastes 2 it says he searched out five different things, education, pleasure, achievement, wealth, and success. Yet, none of these brought complete satisfaction.

1A. Solomon’s Search for Satisfaction (Ecclesiastes 2:1-11)

1B. Education does not satisfy. (1:16-18)

Education without godly wisdom will produce more questions than answers.

Education cannot satisfy.

2 Timothy 3:7 always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

No generation has had more knowledge, no generation has had a higher suicide rate.

2B. Pleasure does not satisfy. (2:1-3)

Solomon tried laughter. (2:2)

Ø We have a lot of laughter without happiness.

Ø A lot of times laughter just masks the real problem.

Solomon tried drugs and alcohol. (2:3a)

Ø The most unhappy people you'll ever meet you'll find at The Happy Hour.

Proverbs 20:1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, And whoever is intoxicated by it is not wise.

Solomon tried good times. (2:3b)

Ø Solomon went from one party to the next, trying to have a good time.

Ø It was fun, but nothing lasted.

Solomon tried sexual immorality. (2:8b, 10)

Ø He had many partners. – “a harem”

700 wives and 300 mistresses

Pleasure promises more than it can deliver.

3B. Achievement does not satisfy. (2:4-5, 20)

The greatness of your work will not bring satisfaction. (2:4-5)

Ø He built a great society and hoped to find satisfaction in working hard.

The intensity of your work will not bring satisfaction. (2:20)

4B. Wealth does not satisify. (2:7-8a)

Solomon became the wealthiest man who ever lived.

Ø He had everything money could buy. Yet, he said he wasn't satisfied.

Ø He took his money and became a patron of the arts.

Ø The Bible says it took him fourteen years to build his house.

He had far more money than any of us could ever imagine.

Ø Yet it proved meaningless because you always want more.

Howard Hughes was asked, "How much does it take to make a man happy?" He said, "Just a little more!"

5B. Success does not satisfy. (2:9-11)

Solomon had reached the top of the ladder. Only to discover that it was leaning against the wrong wall.

What do you do when everything you've ever wanted is not enough?

Ø Solomon had gotten it all, tried it all, spent it all -- but he was still unsatisfied. (2:11)

2A. Jesus’ Keys to Happiness (Matthew 5:3-10)

1B. Confess that you are a sinner. (5:3)

You must recognize that you are spiritually bankrupt.

You must understand that there is nothing you can do to change your situation.

You must call out to God for mercy.

Only God can meet your greatest and most desperate need.

Pascal says, God created a God shaped vacuum in your heart.

Augustine said, "Thou, O Lord, hast made us for Thyself and our hearts are restless until they find themselves in Thee."

2B. You must mourn over your sin and lost condition. (5:4)

The Bible calls this repentance.

Matthew 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."

3B. You must submit to God. (5:5)

Meek, humble, gentle, unassuming people

4B. You must hunger and thirst for God and His righteousness (5:6; John 6:35)

We are to seek Him first (Matthew 6:33)

Ø Jesus is heaven’s bread for man’s hunger!

We are to seek Him foremost (Matthew 10:37-38)

Ø Most folks want to seek blessings not righteousness.

Ø What we need to seek is not God’s blessings we are to seek Jesus! When you have Jesus, you are blessed.

We are to seek Him finally

Ø He is all that you will ever need.

5B. You must practice mercy. (5:7)

We show mercy when have pity on our enemies. (Luke 23:34)

We show mercy by confronting others with their sin. (2 Timothy 2:24-25)

We show mercy by praying for others.

We show mercy by proclaiming the gospel.

6B. You must cultivate a pure heart. (5:8)

Study God’s Word (John 15:3)

Submit to the leadership of the Holy Spirit (Hebrews 4:7)

Confess and turn from your sin. (Acts 3:19)

Seek God in humility and faith. (James 4:8)

Pray for purity (Psalm 51:10)

7B. You must build healthy relationships. (5:9)

Conflict destroys happiness.

Life is the sum total of our relationships.

Ø How many people do you know who built a great career but lost their marriage?

Ø Or made a lot of money but lost their kids?

Ø How many people in their older years have nobody around them, because they focused on possessions not people?

8B. You must live with an eternal perspective. (5:10)

Don't just look at the here and now.

Ø Doing the good thing, the right thing, in life is not always easy, not always fun, not always the most enjoyable thing. But it is always the best!

Application

You can have it all in life and still be miserable.

If you try to find happiness in education, pleasure, achievement, wealth, success rather than what Jesus talked about in the Sermon on the Mount.

If you feel unsatisfied with life, I have good news…

That means God is working in your life.

Ø He wants you to realize there is more to life than simply education, pleasure, wealth, accomplishments and success

Satisfaction is not a result of circumstances.

Satisfaction is the result of a living, growing relationship with the Lord!

Ecclesiaties 2:1

1A. Solomon’s ________________ for Satisfaction (Ecclesiastes 2:1-11)

1B. ____________ does not satisfy. (1:16-18; 2 Timothy 3:7)

2B. ______________ does not satisfy. (2:1-3)

Solomon tried _________________. (2:2)

Solomon tried drugs and alcohol. (2:3a)

Solomon tried __________ times. (2:3b)

Solomon tried ____________ immorality. (2:8b, 10)

3B. Achievement does not satisfy. (2:4-5, 20)

The ________________ of your work will not bring satisfaction. (2:4-5)

The _____________ of your work will not bring satisfaction. (2:20)

4B. ____________ does not satisify. (2:7-8a)

5B. _____________ does not satisfy. (2:9-11)

2A. Jesus’ Keys to Happiness (Matthew 5:3-10)

1B. ___________ that you are a sinner. (5:3)

You must recognize that you are spiritually bankrupt.

You must call out to God for mercy.

2B. You must _______________ over your sin and lost condition. (5:4; Matthew 4:17)

3B. You must ______________ to God. (5:5)

4B. You must _________ and _____________ for God and His righteousness (5:6; John 6:35)

We are to seek Him first (Matthew 6:33)

We are to seek Him __________________ (Matthew 10:37-38)

We are to seek Him __________________

5B. You must practice _____________. (5:7)

We show mercy when have ___________ on our enemies. (Luke 23:34)