Life Without God

Hook -

These past couple years have been incredibly “interesting”. I was reflecting this past week and just thought through some of the World issues that have taken place and when I reflected, I was floored:

Australian Wildfires

Tension with Iran and U.S.

COVID 19 Pandemic Began & So did Shut Downs

Racial Tension

Murder Hornets

Quick Fear of new Ebola Outbreak

Storming of the Capital — Catalyst with other disunity

2020 Olympics canceled.

Vaccines Were Being Given

Shut-Downs were ending, but then the world said JK

Local Events: Tornado after Tornado after Hurricane After Hurricane

Local Events: Shootings/Injustices

We ended the year of 2021 with a bang — Betty White — Y’all...

When I look at these events, Here is what I think: Life is meaningless.

Book:

Biblical Background

The Bible is a story about God’s full plan of redemption and within the Bible are sections of different genres of literature. Ecclesiastes is Wisdom literature. This means that it is a part of the Bible helps readers cope with practical & philosophical things of life.

The problem is that sometimes texts like this can be difficult to interpret because of language & structure issues. However, when we try and understand this in the concept of what is going on, there are some principles that we can get from the text.

Solomon is the person who is typically given credit to have written Ecclesiastes 1. Something that I want you to consider as we read this text are the things that we know about Solomon:

Solomon was wealthy, He had 700 wives and almost 300 concubines, people generally admired him, Known for his wisdom

It sounds like Solomon was like the bomb dot com, right? Had everything figured out and seemed to have a pretty good life. Well let’s look at what he said pertaining to life beginning in Ecclesiastes 1 verse 1.

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 1

The words of the Teacher,, son of David, king in Jerusalem.

2 “Absolute futility,” says the Teacher.

“Absolute futility. Everything is futile.”

3 What does a person gain for all his efforts

that he labors at under the sun?

4 A generation goes and a generation comes,

but the earth remains forever.

5 The sun rises and the sun sets;

panting, it hurries back to the place

where it rises.

6 Gusting to the south,

turning to the north,

turning, turning, goes the wind,

and the wind returns in its cycles.

7 All the streams flow to the sea,

yet the sea is never full;

to the place where the streams flow,

there they flow again.

8 All things are wearisome,

more than anyone can say.

The eye is not satisfied by seeing

or the ear filled with hearing.

9 What has been is what will be,

and what has been done is what will be done;

there is nothing new under the sun.

10 Can one say about anything,

“Look, this is new”?

It has already existed in the ages before us.

11 There is no remembrance of those who came before;

and of those who will come after

there will also be no remembrance

by those who follow them.

THE LIMITATIONS OF WISDOM

12 I, the Teacher, have been king over Israel in Jerusalem. 13 I applied my mind to examine and explore through wisdom all that is done under heaven. God has given people this miserable task to keep them occupied. 14 I have seen all the things that are done under the sun and have found everything to be futile, a pursuit of the wind.,

15 What is crooked cannot be straightened;

what is lacking cannot be counted.

16 I said to myself, “See, I have amassed wisdom far beyond all those who were over Jerusalem before me, and my mind has thoroughly grasped wisdom and knowledge.” 17 I applied my mind to know wisdom and knowledge, madness and folly; I learned that this too is a pursuit of the wind.

18 For with much wisdom is much sorrow;

as knowledge increases, grief increases

Truth # 1 - Worldly Activity Means Nothing. (v. 2-3)

The World that we live in is BUSY! When I am considering our church family, I came to the realization… we have a lot of people who do a lot of things and have many responsibilities:

Work / School / Families & Children / Hurricane Relief Responsibilities / Kids Sports / Friendships & Relationships / etc.

( Verses 2-3)

The word “futile” comes from a Hebrew word that means “vapor” or “breath”. It doesn’t necessarily mean that something is altogether worthless, but in the context of Ecclesiastes, it means that things done “under the sun” only has a temporary significance, therefore has no real value.

When Solomon writes “under the sun”, he is referring to what takes place here on earth. This is important to keep in mind when we read through Ecclesiastes as this phrase is used 29 times throughout the Book.

If we are so focused on worldly activity and we work hard in all of these areas of our life, but our attention is ONLY on the activity of this world it’s meaningless. This is because at the end of the day, these things are all temporary.

This brings me to the truth that...

Truth # 2 - This World Keeps Moving. (v. 4-7)

I think sometimes, especially in Christian culture, we can have this concept out there about “leaving our mark” or “leaving a big legacy”. But when we think through the reality of life, when we are gone … it is possible that our works and our deeds may be forgotten.

Let me ask you a question: What can you tell me about your great great great grandparents? If you are anything like me — you may not even know their names. But maybe you do — but what all do you know about that person. You don’t know every intricate detail about that person. Things have been forgotten.

(Verses 4-7)

We must recognize that when we pass into eternity, the world continues to move on. This goes back to what I was saying about having the desire to leave a big legacy for ourselves. I had a professor that said on a regular basis this very good statement: “When people begin to look toward you… it’s time to move out of the way.”

The imagery that Solomon uses in this text helps us understand how with each day that passes, the reader should feel the weight of the emptiness of life with the mundane rhythms.

This leads me to the 3rd truth which is that...

Truth # 3 - Worldly Desires cannot be Satisfied. (v. 8-11)

We discussed previously about how Solomon had a lot of things going for him, which gives a unique perspective for teaching on the principle about worldly desires not being able to satisfy.

(Verses 8-11)

I do find it interesting that Solomon mentions how the “eye is not satisfied by seeing or the ear filled with hearing.”

I like what another person said about this passage and how it shows how humankind has a desire to search for satisfaction and innovation.

Think about it — what does our world say about gaining satisfaction?

Satisfaction — Money & Finances / Career & Work / Health & Fitness / Fun & Recreation / Environment / Community / Family & Friends / Romantic Relationships / Learning Growth / Overall Success.

All of these things will ultimately bring us a temporary satisfaction, but at the end of the day will fade away because as Solomon has said “there is nothing new under the sun.”

Part of what Solomon is wanting the readers to recognize is that these desires are not filled by our worldly pleasure, but instead of his good design. Let’s look at Ecclesiastes 3:14:

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 3

I know that everything God does will last forever; there is no adding to it or taking from it. God works so that people will be in awe of him

Our ultimate satisfaction is placed in Him alone. Solomon even shared that God does this so that people (including you and I) will be in complete awe of who He is. This brings me to my last truth which is...

Truth # 4 - Worldly Wisdom is not Attainable. (v. 12-18)

James writes in his book that “If you lack wisdom, you should ask God — who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly — and it will be given to him. (But it continues to say to ask in faith without doubting).

What then is Solomon trying to communicate to us as it relates to wisdom?

As a King over Israel, I would assume that it is a great thing to seek after wisdom, but the problem with Solomon is that he sought earthly wisdom.

(Verses 12-14)

When we search for wisdom that is “done under heaven” — we are searching for something only to keep us busy. We will never find wisdom unless we search wisdom from the One who gives wisdom.

Listen — each of these truths lead to a central focus:

Worldly Activity Means Nothing

This World Keeps Moving

Worldly Desires Cannot Be Satisfied

Worldly Wisdom is not Attainable

With this being said...

Bottom Line - You only have one chance on earth — Focus your attention on God.

Pastor Daniel will spend more time next week on this passage right here, but listen to what Solomon says as he concludes this book:

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 12

When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is this: fear God and keep his commands, because this is for all humanity

As the team comes up, I want you to ask yourself:

Am I walking with God as closely as I ought to be? If we are honest with ourselves .. our answer is likely no… and that is because our desire should be to continue to grow closer in our walk.

Are you pursuing the things that He wants for you?

Look/Took:

On your handout there is a box at the bottom of your page. I want you to take some time during these next few minutes to think through this: What is something in my life currently that I need to release? What worldly desire/activity/sinful behavior/(Whatever it is) is distracting you from your walk with the Lord?

Write down this thing … it’s only for you to see. But this week, I want to encourage you to commit to consider what it would look like to remove this distraction.

If it’s a worldly desire .. Ask God to reveal to you His desires and that it would become your desires.

If it’s a worldly activity .. Ask God to give you the courage to remove yourself from the distraction.

If it’s a worldly sinful behavior… Ask God to place people in your path who can point you to Him during those temptations.

Maybe you have been living for the World. Maybe you are here and you have never submitted under the Lord’s leadership and authority over your life. The Bible tells us:

We were dead in our trespasses and sins. (We use to walk in ways according to worldly standards).

But God in rich and mercy and because of his great love for us made us alive with Christ.

We have been saved by grace… and it is a gift. But gifts must be accepted. Maybe you haven’t experienced this newness of life… I invite you to do that today.