Sermon Cloud

Good morning!!

I’ll reveal my age by using a term from my era. I’m stoked to be here. That was the hot word those days. It came from Cali somewhere, surfer dudes. The late 80s and early 90s, saw a big influx of skaters and skateboarders come to CIY for some reason. Do we go?? I’ll never forget the first time I heard their slang, this guy came running up to a couple of other guys and we were on our way to the big meeting after dinner, and he goes "Dude, I forgot my Bibble". Did he just say that?? so of course that became our phrase for the rest of the week. "Dude you got your Bibble?"

Insight into speaker’s prep - Ethos - It’s wise for a speaker to have good Ethos.

Speaking of wisdom we’re going to be looking at one of the wisdom books in the O.T. , Ecc. Sometimes the Bible can be difficult to understand, hopefully some insight will come across as to how I’ve arrived at my conclusions.

(story) Dean Rob Chooses Wisdom

An angel appears at a faculty meeting and tells the dean (for name’s sake we’ll call him Rob) that in return for his unselfish and exemplary behavior, the Lord will reward him with his choice of infinite wealth, wisdom or beauty. Without hesitating, dean Rob selects infinite wisdom.

"Done!" says the angel, and disappears in a cloud of smoke and a bolt of lightning. Now, all heads turn toward dean Rob, who sits surrounded by a faint halo of light. At length, one of his colleagues whispers, "Say something."

Dean Rob looks at them and says, "I should have taken the money."

Ecc. is an account of one man’s honest look at life. Speaking this message, I could blow a bunch of Jesus at you, as in plan eloquent words to make me look good, make you feel good, probably make those serious followers of Christ throw up. But like Solomon we’re going to take an honest look at life in general and in our church.

What is great about Ecc. and it’s observations on life is that it addresses some interesting questions for us today like . . .

What is the meaning of life??

Is God a republican?? Look at 10:2

Is it better off being dead or to have never been born than live in this meaningless world?? Look at 4:2&3

Is life meaningless?? Look at 1:2

In Hebrew wisdom literature authors used different means to get their point across, they used different ways and methods to communicate God’s meaning. One way was with emphasis: if they wanted to say someone was really angry they would simply repeat the word. "He wasn’t just angry, he was angry angry!!" This emphasis sometimes disappears in translation from the original language, but still shows up thruout a book. Themes that are important will be repeated over and over. Also, when writing sometimes an author would define a term he or she is using for the readers, so Solomon does for us. Look at chap 1: verse 14 . . . & 17.

This word the NIV translates as meaningless, the NAS: vanity or futile, is the Hebrew word "Hebel" that’s a transliteration. Literally it means "breath" or "vapor". Now interestingly, the word for wind is "ruarch", it is also the word for spirit in Hebrew. So in Genesis 1:2, describing creation, it talks about the Spirit of God hovering over the waters, it is also translated the "wind" of God or "breath" of God, same word. All of these different ways to say the same thing, breath, wind, vapor, spirit. All of these things are ephemeral or not physical. But he’s observing the physical world, and using non-physical terms. Almost as if by his word choice he’s emphasizing the incompatibility. It doesn’t work to seek meaning, spiritual meaning, from these things in life. What things you ask!! We’ll let’s see.

Chasing a dream
So many things
Capture my affection
Running ahead I've been a mess
Loosing my perspective
This is my obsession
Always chasing the wind
Left with nothing in the end

Look at Ecc. 1 verse 1&2

1:3-11

1:12-18

2:1-3

2:4-23

DVD movie clip

Nothing changes, wisdom, pleasure, work: they’re all meaningless . . . unless . . .

2:24-26

3:1-8

3:9-14

Man’s works, striving after things, pleasure, wisdom, skill is futile or meaninglessness. God’s works are forever 3:14, chapter 7 indicates they cannot be changed, beautiful 3:11. God’s works give and bring meaning to life and the things of life.

Is life meaningless?? Yes!! Without God life is utterly meaningless. This applies to church and ministry as well. When we try to do the stuff of God in our own power without seeking Him, surrendering to Him, frequently the result is frustration, burnout, emotional weariness, or surrendering to temptation. God working in us and thru us gives life meaning. Does our life, do the things we do, have meaning? Does what I’m saying about futility mean anything??

Ecc. 4 is about relationships. How do we deal with oppression, how should we deal with life. Don’t be alone.

Ecc. 5: 1-7 A description of how to fear God.

Ecc. 5:8 - 6:9 Riches cannot bring spiritual satisfaction. Life without spiritual enjoyment or satisfaction is equal to the short life of a miscarried baby. So . . . is it better off to have never been born into this meaningless world?

Yes, it could be. If life has not driven me to fear God and enjoy what He has given me, then I might as well have never been born. But look at 9: 4-8

There is hope!!

What does a spiritually satisfied life look like?? V9

Mark Driscoll ill.

God’s design for sex, dating.

Old people?? believing the lie that I or my experiences are worthless.

Was Solomon wise enough to look into the future and see the United States two party system?? NO and if he did he might offer some observations along these lines:

The church and conservatives in the church tend to criticize those on the "left" and rightly so, for their stances on abortion and homosexuality. An aside, as to homosexuality. I’m not against gay people. I have a close friend who struggled with homosexuality, it wounded him deeply. I’ve heard of lives that were destroyed by the belief that one could find fulfilment and meaning from attraction to the same gender. I am against beliefs that destroy lives.

Anyway, quoting my friend Mike, who is involved in ministry in post-Katrina New Orleans. "Conservatives criticize democrats for their stances on those issues but conveniently ignore the "right’s" stance on consumerism, materialism, and other anti-Jesus stances. The social postures of Jesus are ignored (e.g. giving to the poor) while democrats frequently adopt those postures themselves. Politics won’t save us, and the church has lost it’s prophetic role to speak into the culture and relegated itself to a political special interest group."

Bottom line: Oftentimes the greatest hindrance to meaning in my life is . . . me. Let us ponder this question. If God came and asked us to give up everything, our job, possessions, and move to a far off country. Go live in a mud hut. Could we . . would we do it??

Chapter 10 verse 2 is simply indicating opposites. A wise man’s heart is completely opposite that of a foolish man’s.

So in the end we come back to it.

Question #4  What is the meaning of life?? What gives life meaning?? I’ll close with the rest of the Lyrics in Anthony Evans’ song.

Anthony Evans

Meaningless Lyrics

Chasing a dream
So many things
Capture my affection
Running ahead I've been a mess
Loosing my perspective
This is my obsession
Always chasing the wind
Left with nothing in the end

It's meaningless without you
Meaningless these treasures I possess
Only you can satisfy
Only you sustain my life
Without you
It's meaningless

Feeling you near
It's coming clear
You've got my attention
Filling the void
Killing the noise
Focus my direction
With intimate insistence
You overwhelm my senses
All I need is before me now

Chorus

I'm breathing but I can't survive
I'm living but I'm not alive
without You