Life is Hard, but God is Good
Ecclesiastes: Everything Matters • Sermon • Submitted
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Transcript
Introduction:
Introduction:
Recap:
Recap:
Last week Solomon made the startling realization that everyone dies! Without any certainty of life after death Solomon has a fatalistic view of God’s sovereignty. It is a natural view to come to when you are not allowing the Word of God to permeate in our lives.
It is sad to think that Solomon has some real big encounters with God and he did not understand that God loves him. Family don’t measure God’s love for you by the ups and downs of life. Look to the cross to see the Love that God has for you.
Solomon’s wisdom lead him to suggest that everyone should just try and live the best life they can enjoying it to the fullest. For the believer we are to live life fully in service to the God and King of everything. After all “The chief end of man is glorify God by enjoying Him forever.” That is why we were created.
The last point we saw in last weeks sermon was the simple fact that sin can undo a lot of good that the wise person accomplishes. Beware!
vv 1-7) The shame of foolishness
vv 1-7) The shame of foolishness
[1] Solomon starts stating proverbs something a writing form he was very familiar with. He starts with an obvious statement: that a dead flies spoil a fine ointment and causes it to have a stench.
In the same way that one piece of bad fruit can ruin a whole basketful, a foolish act can ruin a persons life, even if they had a long consistent record of being wise.
Remember earlier that Solomon stated this:
1 A good name is better than precious ointment,
and the day of death than the day of birth.
One senseless act can blemish a person’s name, ruining their reputation, honor, or even their life.
18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.
For the believer this can ring true, the best news we have is that we serve a God of second chances and that our mistakes are covered by the blood of Christ. Yet we will still deal with the fallout of our mistakes, dealing with the consequences of foolish decisions.
[2-3] Solomon is trying to convey the idea of: A person’s heart determines their actions and words.
Consider Jesus’ words in Luke:
45 The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.
Foolishness is a sign of immaturity:
15 Folly is bound up in the heart of a child,
but the rod of discipline drives it far from him.
Notice how the corrupt heart betrays itself:
A corrupt heart pulls a person towards iniquity.
The Hebrew word “yaman” is means right, or right side, or right hand. Because the majority of people are right-handed, the right hand is often viewed as the hand of strength and dexterity. Compared to the left hand, which is seen as the weaker hand, and less skilled.
If you are left handed you are simply out of luck. Jokes aside, Solomon is simply meaning that a wise person leans towards what is honorable and strengthens his reputation, while the foolish man leans towards dishonor that will harm their reputation.
2. A Corrupt heart shows a person’s lack of sense:
“A fool doesn’t have to carry a placard on himself that says, I am a fool. The fact of the matter is that all he has to do is open his mouth. Sometimes he doesn’t even have to open his mouth to prove that he is a fool.” - J. Vernon McGee
As believers we have to be concerned about our testimony. One day soon we will stand before the Lord and give an account of everything that we say and do- whether good or bad. Scripture gives us insight into some testimonies that were marred and lives forever changed by moments of indiscretion:
Abraham’s influence was compromised because he declared Sarah was his sister rather than his wife. Pharoah ejected him from Egypt.
Noah’s testimony was damaged by one episode of shameful drunkenness.
David’s life and family were forever changed by one weak moment of indulgence in the lust of the flesh.
Moses’ destiny was altered by one rash act of frustration, impatience, and anger and was not allowed into the promise land.
God would still use all these men but their effectiveness as well as their testimonies were damaged by their personal failures. To avoid the same pitfalls we must be filled with the Spirit and clothe ourselves with the armor of God daily (Study Ephesians 6:10-18)
[4] In verse 4 Solomon offers advice on dealing with those in authority. The use of ruler here refers to someone who has power or authority at any level of government, not just a king. Solomon advises the readers with two things
1st: Do not quit or resign.
Don’t make an unwise decision based on hurt feelings, embarrassment, or anger. Even if you feel you have been wronged or disrespected, do not react by doing something that is foolish.
2nd: Be calm and correct the mistake.
The last thing we need is to be fueled by our emotions in a situation like this. It is always best to wait until you have calmed down and gain control of yourself before acting. Remember what Scripture says:
1 A soft answer turns away wrath,
but a harsh word stirs up anger.
I believe we can apply this to many given situations. Employer and employee to parent and child to husband and wife.
31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
[5-7] Solomon recognizes the danger of having unqualified people in positions of authority. It is simply bad for everything involved- the king, the nation, and the people.
As true of leadership positions in the government, the same is true in the church: Where the wrong people occupy leadership positions. That is why the NT gives strict and very specific guidelines in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1.
How should leaders be chosen in the church? The apostles established three basic criteria for the church at Jerusalem in their selection of the first deacons:
3 Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty.
They were to be men of good reputation with solid, consistent testimonies.
They were to be men who were filled with the Holy Spirit and who showed evidence of such in their lives.
They were to be men who possessed and displayed wisdom.
When it comes to ordaining or appointing people to leadership positions within the church I want to be biblically sound:
22 Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, nor take part in the sins of others; keep yourself pure.
vv 8-20) Folly and wisdom on display
vv 8-20) Folly and wisdom on display
[8-11] Solomon is trying to offer practical, down-to-earth advice in daily life. The examples he is going to use are from those who are foolish and because of that they will suffer because of their foolishness. Basically if a person doesn’t plan or take the precautions to avoid them they will suffer the consequences. Let’s break them down:
1st: Plan when digging a hole. Now we do not know if this is malicious or not. It could be that this person is trying to trap an animal or his neighbor. but what ends up happening is they cover it, foolishly forgetting where it is located, and later fall into it.
The obvious lesson here is to be diligent in keeping good records.
2nd: Plan when demolishing a wall. While demoing anything a person must be vigilant and aware of what is going on around them. Keeping your head on a swivel, paying close attention to our surroundings and expect the unexpected.
3rd: Plan when working in a stone quarry or when splitting logs. When it comes to occupations there are built-in hazards. A wise worker will anticipate what could go wrong. They will prepare in advance for the dangers that go along with their task. Many accidents occur because people are either careless or over-confident.
4th: Wise planning ensures success. The application here is to work smarter, not harder. The fool will continue to use a dull ax, instead of using wisdom and sharpening the edge. A fool doesn’t consider the future.
5th: Poor planning risks loss of income or life. Solomon’s lesson from this unusual occupation is this: Be thorough in your work. Perform it completely, and do not take shortcuts.
Snake charming was, and still is, a popular form of entertainment in the east, though to a lesser degree today. Snake charmers would sometimes rush their shows, and get bit by the snake because it wasn’t fully charmed.
How do we apply Solomon’s principles to our spiritual work:
We must alway work cautiously and prepare for the risks that come along with our work. You are no threat to the devil when you are idle, but when we are fully engaged in the Lord’s work, we must expect the serpent to spring into action against us. When we are tearing down His walls, he is going to strike.
We should use the sharpest tools at our disposal, the most relevant and effective methods, in reaching people for Jesus Christ. We do not ever dare to change the message, but our methods will need to change. Do you know why your Bibles are sharper than any two-edged sword? Its because it has four sides.
Family realize that we have been given tools- spiritual gifts- to use in your service to the Lord. Develop those gifts, sharpen your skills.
The greatest work we can do with our lives is the work we do for the Lord: Because we are impacting people for eternity by reaching them for Christ. It is a work that deserves our very best. Giving it your all: effort, diligence, strength, and faithfulness. There is no room for shortcuts or half-hearted labor in the business of soul-winning. We must do our best, and give our best, to the One who gave His all for us.
[12-15] Solomon shares with us that in the search for true happiness, people must carefully guard their words- both how they use them and how they receive them.
12) The fool’s words are destructive- causing harm to him and others around him. Foolishness like sin doesn’t only affect you, but those around you as well. Folly has the potential to destroying their reputation, dignity, effectiveness, relationships, and opportunities.
13) The fool’s words begin as nonsense but lead to mad and wicked behavior. Meaning the fool will lead others away from God and away from what is right.
14) The fool’s words are uncontrolled. Not knowing when to stop talking and they are unable to stop talking. Not caring who is listening or what effect their words have on others or himself.
15) Being a fool is tiresome work. I think Solomon is injecting humor here. A fool wears himself out- and everybody else too- will all of their talking.
Family let us not be a person who speaks foolishly:
1. Control your tongue: “Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open one’s mouth and remove all doubt” -Maurice Switzer (Author)
2. Let your words be like Jesus.
22 And all spoke well of him and marveled at the gracious words that were coming from his mouth. And they said, “Is not this Joseph’s son?”
3. Colossians 4:6
6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.
4. Ephesians 4:29
29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.
[16-20] In these last 4 verses of this chapter Solomon acknowledges that a significant part of people’s happiness lies in the state of their nation. The economy, job market, issues of morality and righteousness, education, crime and justice, individual liberties- all play a factor in a person’s quality of life.
People who live in a country where they have a vice or vote in the selection of their leaders should take their responsibility very seriously. As a true believer we should alway vote for the candidate who best reflects the righteousness of God’s Word and who is best qualified for the office. And hold them accountable for their actions.
Ch. 11
Ch. 11
Young people feel invincible. In the years of their greatest strength, it is difficult to fathom that the time will come when their vigor is diminished or even gone. They think that, maybe subconsciously, that the energy and drive they enjoy today will continue through the end of life.
Solomon in this chapter will offer wise counsel specifically aimed at those who are younger. Keep in mind that Solomon’s wisdom is not backed by the wisdom of God’s word. While there are going to be helpful pieces of advice that he is going to share with us they will not be able to giving you lasting meaning.
We are going to have three major takeaways in this chapter:
Take a risk and wisely invest whatever you have.
Enjoy all the years of your life.
Be happy and enjoy life (especially as a young person), but remember God’s coming judgement.
vv 1-6) Living with no regrets
vv 1-6) Living with no regrets
[1] Solomon was heavily involved in the shipping industry, doing significant amount of sea trade with Hiram, king of Tyre.
22 For the king had a fleet of ships of Tarshish at sea with the fleet of Hiram. Once every three years the fleet of ships of Tarshish used to come bringing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks.
Solomon had a fleet of ships
Solomon kept his ships at sea.
It took three years before Solomon recieved the return on his investment.
The investment reaped enormous dividends and wealth.
Solomon took a risk and it payed off for him. He is sharing what he has found, again realizing that he finds no lasting meaning in anything. That one should take some risks, because the benefits of success will be worth it.
[2] Solomon suggests that one should diversify their investments in verse 2. Do not send all of your grain out on one ship. Do not sow all of your seed in one field, in one season. Basically saying, “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.”
It was inevitable that some ships would wreck, but most will not. The invention of the ship was the invention of the shipwreck.
[3] Pay Close attention to the events of life. In nature, there are signs when rain is coming. If we see dark clouds rolling in, we know that rain will likely follow. Solomon is saying likewise, those who invest should alway observe the events and conditions that surround us so we know where and when to invest our time and resources.
[4-5] Solomon also encourages against procrastination- or waiting for an ideal time. Inexperienced farmers might delay planting until weather condition are perfect. As a result, their crops are often unproductive because they waited too late.
Load your ship and send it out to sea. Plant your seed and get it in the ground where it can grow. Do your work sooner rather than later, procrastination is not your friend.
[6]Be diligent in your work. Working hard at every task, morning and evening.
I also want to note that Solomon provides two great illustrations about the mysteries of God in nature and the way that He works.
The first deals with the wind: We can only observe the wind’s path, not discover its origin. Even with modern technology we cannot discern where the wind comes from or why it blows on some days and is calm on others. This is what Jesus said:
8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
The second deals with the great wonder of God’s creative power. A baby in a mother’s womb. Thanks to medical advances we can actually peer inside the womb and see the unborn child in its various stages of development. Again we can only observe, not fully explain the miracle of life. The more we know, the more we realize what we don’t know.
vv 7-8) “Seize the Day!”
vv 7-8) “Seize the Day!”
Even with Solomon’s lousy “under the sun” outlook believers and none believers should enjoy their lives. For the Christian this is where we work for our heavenly rewards to give back to God. And the none believer this is the closest you will ever get to heaven so might as well enjoy as much of it as you can.
Jesus Christ alone gives satisfaction, fulfillment, and meaning to life:
10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.
20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,
9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, 10 and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.
24 The Lord bless you and keep you;
25 the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;
26 the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.