ECCLESIASTES 52007 Teaching by Jerry B Simmons

Teaching Transcript: Ecclesiastes 5

You are listening to FerventWord, an online Bible study ministry with teachings and tools to help you grow deeper in your relationship with God. The following message was taught by Jerry Simmons in 2007. Well, this evening we're continuing our study through the book of Ecclesiastes. Now, the book of Ecclesiastes is such an interesting book. Many have struggled with its purpose and being in the Bible because of the outlandish and sometimes...

really awkward things that Solomon has to say, things that seem to contradict the rest of the word of God at times. The principles that he teaches are very different than what we're accustomed to as believers in Jesus Christ.

And so I remind you that the book of Ecclesiastes is not meant to be, you know, taking a verse here and verse there and building your life upon it. But the book of Ecclesiastes is a journey. It's a journey of a man who knew God, but in his later years of life decided to walk away from God and try to figure out life and find the meaning and purpose of life in

in his own wisdom, in his own strength, in his own understanding, for his own purposes. He goes away from the things of God to seek after happiness and fulfillment. But of course, when you leave God, you will not find happiness or fulfillment because that only comes from a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Solomon is on a desperate search. He tries everything and he has all the resources to do it.

He had fame, he had fortune, he had power, he had everything. In fact, in weeks past, we've learned that Solomon said, "'Anything my eyes desired, I did not keep from them. Whatever I wanted, I got, I obtained it, I grabbed onto it, I had an abundance of it, but I could not find meaning. Everything,' he says over and over again, "'is vanity.'"

or we've translated that word vanity for the purposes of humor and so that it sticks out in our mind, to the word bubbles. Everything is just bubbles, meaning that everything that he's been chasing after has just turned out to be emptiness, nothingness. There might be a temporary fulfillment, a nice bubble for a moment, but in an instant it's gone and there's nothing left, nothing to show for it.

And it's really a letter or a book, a journey of Solomon in his desperation, in his depression, really fed up with life.

Fed up with the things, the daily routine, the seasons that you go through, all of the work for nothing. He's just fed up and cannot figure out what is the purpose? What is the meaning? How do I find fulfillment? How do I find happiness in this life? Of course, at the very end of the book, he comes back to his senses. He comes to the conclusion. He remembers everything.

Fulfillment, happiness, it can only be found in a relationship with God, in obedience to God. And that is really the point of this book, that you can try all the ways that you want. You can search after and try to be fulfilled and search for meaning in all the different philosophies and all the different riches and all the different pleasures. But you will not find it unless you come to God and allow him to satisfy you.

This evening, as we're looking at Solomon's statements here in chapters 5 and 6, we're coming in the middle of his journey. He's been talking for a while. He still has some more to go, but he's dealing with some different issues, some different observations and things that he has concluded and come to decisions about. But they're really not the things of God. They're the things of his own understanding. And that's why it's important that we look at Solomon's statements here in chapters 5 and 6.

Before we get into the word this morning for you to understand what doctrine is. Doctrine, it's a word that we use to describe what we believe. Literally, the word doctrine means something that is taught. But doctrine for a Christian, doctrine for a believer is.

is what we base our life upon. It's how we live according to the word of God. Where do we get doctrine from? How do we know what to believe about God? How do we know how God expects us and requires us to live? How do we know the directions that God wants us to go? Well, it's based upon the doctrine that we believe, the doctrine that we receive from being taught about God by the word of God.

Doctrine is revelation from God about himself, his plans and his purposes. We cannot figure these things out on our own. We can't use our own logic and understanding to come to the same conclusions. As Isaiah 55 says, his ways are not our ways. They're infinitely higher than our ways. And so we will not come to these conclusions.

Same methods, the same plan that God will come to using our own understanding or reasoning. We must receive doctrine. We must receive his revelation, which, of course, is given to us through the word of God.

Now, the way that we determine what our doctrine is, is by examining the word of God and seeing what is taught consistently throughout the word of God. And as we see it taught consistently throughout the word of God, we know that it is the truth of God and that we should base our lives upon it. We should put it into practice in our lives. But Solomon's approach is different and so important to understand this.

He's examining everything under the sun. It's a phrase that's used over 27 times throughout this book. He's not considering God, the plans of God, the purposes of God, really the revealed knowledge of God. He's examining everything, excluding what God has revealed about himself.

Not excluding God himself, but everything under the sun. He's using human reasoning, logic and understanding. All of his wisdom, which of course he was wiser than anyone else. But you cannot, using man's wisdom, understanding, reasoning or logic, come to the same conclusions that God does in his revelation.

And so you can't base what you believe just on what Solomon says here in Ecclesiastes. You can't take one of these verses and try to live your life by it because it will distort your life. You must consider his ways and what he says compared to the rest of the scripture and in the context, the scope of the entire book, of this journey that he is on. As I encouraged you last time we were together in Ecclesiastes, I encourage you again today

Matthew 5, 6, and 7.

and principles of the kingdom of God. And many of the subjects he deals with are subjects that Solomon deals with in the book of Ecclesiastes. And it gives you a good perspective on the contrast of what Jesus says, what Jesus reveals about God compared to what Solomon has concluded with all of his wisdom and human understanding. Although he was the wisest man who ever lived, he still fell very short of

of God's wisdom and truth. First Corinthians chapter three, verses 19 and 20 says, for the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God, for it is written he catches the wise in their own craftiness. And again, the Lord knows the thoughts of the wise that they are futile. The wisdom of man is foolishness to God. Solomon was the wisest man, but he was still foolish to God.

He could not figure out God's ways on his own. He could only understand God's ways. And he comes to the conclusion at the end by receiving from God his revelation of himself. And so as we look at these things, we want to take into consideration what does God say? How has he revealed himself? And what does that mean to us? What do we do in our lives to live by the standards of God and not the wisdom of man?

Let's begin, though, as Solomon continues on in chapter five, verses one through three says this. Walk prudently when you go to the house of God and draw near to hear rather than to give sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they do evil.

Here in verses 1 through 3, Solomon says...

Listen, when you approach God, make sure that you be very careful that you walk prudently. Literally, that walk prudently means to watch your step. When you draw near to God, draw near to hear from him. Let your words be few. Don't talk too much. Don't speak without thinking, because to do that would be foolish and evil.

Now, this portion this morning or this morning, this evening that we're studying, forgive me, sometimes I can be confusing like Solomon. The portion that we're studying this evening is pretty interesting. In fact, I wrestled with it for quite a while as I was preparing for this evening, because there's always the need in our lives and the need as we look at the word of God to find balance.

There is some truth in what Solomon is saying. It is good to listen and hear from God instead of talking. We do need those times where we come before the Lord and we allow him to speak to us rather than us to come to him and just present all of our requests and all of our desires and all of our wishes and dreams. We do need to hear from the Lord. We need to come before him and allow him to speak to us.

To our hearts and through his word, it is not good to give the sacrifice of fools like Solomon said. It is good to remember that God is in heaven and we are on earth and remember his place and our place, keeping in perspective who we are and who he is. But personally, for me, looking at what Solomon says here, I would be somewhat fearful in approaching God.

As he is describing God, he says, watch your step when you go to the house of God. He's painting a picture of God that's a little bit inaccurate. In other words, if you don't watch your step, if you don't be careful.

God's going to smack you a good one. He's going to get you. We'll even see this attitude carried out in the next couple of verses when we go on in a few minutes. But Solomon's saying, look, watch out, be careful. And so in listening to that, I would say, well, what if I say the wrong thing? Sometimes talking with people, someone will say, you know, oh, what if this happens? And sometimes people say, well, don't say that. You know, if you say it, then that means it's going to happen.

That fearful thing, you know, if you say you don't want to be a missionary to Uganda, then that's where God's going to send you. Or, you know, if you say that something bad might happen, then that bad thing will probably happen because you said it. And that's not the attitude that we need to have towards God. Listening to Solomon, I would be fearful of saying the wrong thing or maybe saying too many words.

And then I'd be wondering, well, how many is too many? And how do I know when I've said enough? I mean, what if my prayer is too long and then God strikes me dead? The truth is, God does want to speak to you. So you need to be listening. The truth is he is in heaven and you are on earth. And so you need to know your place and remember who he is and who you aren't. But at the same time, he invites you to have personal relationship with him.

And this is the difference between religion and relationship. What Solomon is describing here is religion, that you have to come to God and fulfill these things and keep these rituals and only go these certain ways. And in that way, then then God won't be upset with you. Then he you see the picture he's painting. God is not an unapproachable ogre.

He's not Shrek in the sky, you know, ready to smack you down or just make bad things happen to you. You have to watch what you say or he's going to wipe you out. Be careful not to make him upset because, man, once you get on his bad side. No, that's that's not the God that we see in the scriptures. If that's how you think of God, if that's your perspective of God, then you need to learn about his grace. And I would encourage you to get the book Why Grace Changes Everything by Pastor Chuck Smith.

Because you need to know about the grace of God. There's more to God than what Solomon is sharing with us here. Although there are some truths, there's more to God, there's more to relationship with God than these things. Hebrews chapter 4 verse 16 says, Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. See, God is not...

Just waiting to thump us. He invites us. Come boldly. He doesn't say, watch your step. You just make one bad move and you're out of here. No, he says, come boldly. Yes, you're going to have some different perspectives sometimes. And you're going to request things that God doesn't desire for you. And you're going to tell him things and share with him things. And you're going to speak things that aren't according to his word, that don't match up with his will.

You're going to presume some things and really put yourself in a place that you don't belong, thinking that you know better than God. We do that a lot, thinking that we're more just and fair than God. We do that a lot as well. Yes, you will. But God invites you.

He is God. He is in heaven. He does want to speak to you, but he invites you to have personal relationship with him. He invites you to come boldly and find mercy and grace. He's not going to deal with you according to your sin. He doesn't. That's not the way that he deals with us. He deals with us in mercy and you'll find grace. In fact, he'll bless you more than you deserve and give to you wonderful things. Relationship with him.

that you don't deserve see there has to be the balance we do need a fear of god but that fear should not keep us from god instead we need to have boldness to approach god to find mercy and grace in jesus christ jesus gives us that balance in matthew chapter 6 when his disciples ask him to teach them to pray

It's part of the portion I encourage you to read Matthew five through seven here in chapter six of Matthew. He's teaching his disciples about prayer. And in verse seven, he says, and when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words.

Then in verse 9 he says, See, Jesus gives a balance. Many words meaning repetition. Don't just come and say the same thing over and over and over again, hoping that you'll be heard because you've said it so many times.

No, instead come and have reverence, have a fear of God. Our Father who art in heaven, God's in heaven, you're on earth. That's what Solomon said. Hallowed be your name.

There's the reverence there. Lord, you are awesome. You are holy. You are set apart. Lord, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Lord, you are God, Jesus says. But as he's teaching his disciples to pray, he's teaching them to come to God, recognizing who he is, having reverence and honor and a fear of the Lord, but at the same time coming and spending time with him. Recognize who God is, but draw close to him.

through the completed work of Jesus Christ. Let's move on to verses 4 through 7. It says,

For in the multitude of dreams and many words, there is also vanity, but fear God. Here Solomon continues the discussion about relating to God. But here in verses 4 through 7, he's dealing with the subject of making vows to the Lord. And again, this is somewhat of a difficult portion of scripture or interesting to study. And there's lots of different viewpoints and ways that we could discuss these things.

What is he talking about in making vows to the Lord, making promises to God? You've probably done that. Often we do it when we're in a difficult situation. Lord, if you'll just get me through this, then I will. And that is something that we see throughout the scriptures. Bless you.

We see that in the life of Jacob, in the life of Israel, in the lives of many people throughout the Bible. People who are in situations and difficulties or have received promises of God and they say, Lord, if you will do this or if you'll get me out of this, then this is what I will do. And they make a vow or a promise to God. You've probably done that. In fact, you could consider that.

Your first step in a relationship with God, a vow. We often refer to the salvation experience as, I gave my life to the Lord. I promised my life. I promised myself to God for his purposes, for his glory. I gave him my life. Now, Solomon says, hey, when you make a vow to God, make sure that you don't delay to pay it. In fact, if you're not going to pay it, it's better not to vow now.

But notice what he says in verse 6. And again, you see the mentality that Solomon has approaching God. He says at the end of verse 6, See, he's looking at God and he's saying, look, okay, you better not make a promise that you can't keep because if you don't keep it, then God's going to be angry and he's going to destroy the work of your hands. He's going to destroy everything.

Your life, your business, your whatever you have, he's going to destroy it because you didn't keep the vows that you made to the Lord. This has been a passage that has caused many to be overtaken, really, with sorrow. It's caused many to not want to approach God any longer because...

You've probably experienced the making of vows, and if you have, you've experienced then the breaking of vows. As much as you've experienced the making of New Year's resolutions and the breaking of New Year's resolutions, that same principle, that same mentality, the same characteristics are carried over into our promises to God. And so, what is the truth about vows? First, looking at the book of Deuteronomy,

We can understand that what Solomon is saying is what God had commanded. In Deuteronomy chapter 23, verses 21 and 22, it tells us, when you make a vow to the Lord your God, you shall not delay to pay it. Same wording for the Lord your God will surely require it of you and it would be sin to you. But if you abstain from vowing, it shall not be sin to you.

So there in the law, in the book of Deuteronomy, we have essentially somewhat of what Solomon is saying there. The command, hey, if you make a vow, keep it. But if you don't vow, it's not a sin. In other words, it's not required. God's not demanding that you make these promises and vows to the Lord. So, like Solomon said, it's better not to vow than to vow and not keep it.

There's different kinds of vows referred to in the scriptures. I shared that one with you where we have the examples. Lord, if you do this, then I will do this. There's also vows that are just offerings or sacrifices. But I promise to offer these lands or these goats to you and just out of my gratitude because I love you because of how great you are.

There's also what's known as the Nazarite vow, which is a vow of consecration. Lord, I'm going to set aside this time and live according to these certain standards and approach you and worship you and spend time with you in this way. It's the same kind of vows that people make today. Lord, I'll give you this and that. I'll give this to you or I'll give this to that. Lord, I'll serve you and do whatever you ask. Like I said before, Lord, I give you my life.

Now, the law said if you make a vow, you better pay it because God requires it from you. But if you don't vow, then it's not sin. So you can, you know, just skip the vowing and then God doesn't require it from you. And that's no big deal. And that's no sin and no harm done. But if you vow, the law says God will require it from you. Now, I'm going to ask for just a little bit of honesty here.

from you guys this evening. And if you don't want to participate, that's okay. But just by a show of hands, how many have committed or made vows to the Lord? Anybody ever made a vow to the Lord? This is what I'm going to do, I promise. Okay. Now, you can put your hands down. How many of you, without a show of hands, have broken vows that you've made to the Lord? I said without a show of hands. It's okay. But we can all raise our hands, right? We...

We have.

We go through hard times or we have these mountaintop experiences or whatever situation we're in where we make these promises, we make these vows, we make these decisions. Lord, I'm going to do this. We commit to do these things. We talk about rededicating our lives to the Lord. I want to rededicate my life. Lord, I'm going to spend more time in your word. I'm going to go to church more often and I'm going to be involved in this and I'm going to share the word with this neighbor and this person. And we make all these commitments and vows and...

This year, I'm going to read through the Bible in a year with the church. Lord, I'm going to accomplish these things for you and do these things that I know you want me to do. We've made those vows. And we've also experienced the breaking of those vows. Article caught my attention a couple months ago, right after the Super Bowl. The headline says, Chicago Bears fan begins painful name change. And the situation is...

This guy, he was with a bunch of his buddies in a bar a little bit before the Super Bowl game. And if you remember, it was the Colts versus the Bears. The Colts quarterback is Peyton Manning. And this guy with his buddies vowed or promised, in fact, they made him sign a pledge that if the Bears lost, because that was his team, if his team lost, if the Bears lost, that he would legally change his name to

To the name of the Colts quarterback, Peyton Manning. And so the title of the article says it all. Chicago Bears fan begins painful name change. He is making good on his word and beginning the process to change his name. Now,

It was actually rejected by the judge and the judge didn't allow him to do it. But he did his best attempt to try to change his name, to keep his word and to keep his vow. Is that what God expects? That sometimes when we make those crazy, ridiculous promises or those extravagant promises, we

You know, if we listen to Solomon, we would be very afraid since we have broken vows to the Lord or we have these maybe outstanding vows that I made this promise. But but what do I do with that? I mean, I can't keep it, but I made the promise and I don't want God to destroy me and I want him to be angry with me. Like Solomon said, why should God be angry at your excuse and destroy the work of your hands? Essentially, Solomon saying that God's going to get you if you don't do what you promised.

If you have made a vow to the Lord, you should fulfill it. It is the right thing. However, if you have broken a vow or if you've made a vow that you cannot keep, you should not let that keep you from a relationship with God. You see, there's no such thing as magic words, although sometimes we get that impression. You can't.

Add on the words I promise at the end or I vow at the beginning. And now suddenly you better do that or you can't go to heaven. You better do that or you can't have a relationship with God or God will be eternally angry with you until you do that. No, that is not the reality of the God that we serve. See, the reality is that God is not just concerned about what you say when you add on the words I promise or I vow, but he's concerned about what you say all the time.

Again, looking at Matthew chapter five in that portion, I encourage you to read Matthew five through seven and Matthew chapter five, verse thirty three. Jesus says again, you have heard that it was said to those of old, you shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord. There, Jesus says in Matthew five, thirty three.

Just like what the law said, you should perform your oaths. The things that you vowed, the things that you promised to God, you should perform them. He said, that's what you've heard is taught. That's what you've heard has been said. Now, if you're familiar with Matthew chapter five, Jesus takes the law, what has been taught in the law, and really takes it the next step, illustrating that the problem isn't

You're keeping of the law, but the really problem is your heart. Remember, regarding adultery, he said, you've heard it said you shall not commit adultery. But I say to you, if a man looks at a woman to lust after her in his heart, he's already committed adultery. It's not just the actual act Jesus is saying, but it's the

The hearts, the imagination, the steps beforehand. He said in another portion here in Matthew chapter five, if a man or you've heard it said that you shall not murder, which is true, it's a commandment. But Jesus said, I say to you.

If you hate your brother in your heart, you've already committed murder. See, Jesus took the real issue, which was not just the completed act, but all of the beginning stages in our hearts, the imaginations, the hatred, those things within our hearts. And in that same context, he comes here and says, look, you've heard it said that you shall perform your oaths to the Lord.

But he takes it another step further. He says in verse 34 of Matthew 5, but I say to you, here's what Jesus says. That's what the law says. And you could be legalistic and try to keep the law. But here's what Jesus says. Do not swear at all. He goes on to say not by heaven, not by earth, not even by your own head. Jesus says don't don't swear at all. Don't make any promises or oaths.

He says in verse 37 of Matthew 5, but let your yes be yes and your no, no. For whatever is more than these is from the evil one. He says something pretty radical. His illustration, his point. God's not just concerned about what you say when you tack on the words I promise or I vow. He's concerned about what you say all the time. He wants you to be a person of your word, whether or not you promised something.

Added on those, quote unquote, magic words. God is not just concerned about the things that you vow that you don't fulfill. He's concerned about any time you do not keep your word. Has anyone ever not kept their word? Again, we all raise our hands, right? And both hands, both feet. We've said things that we don't fulfill. Now, here's the point. By that standard, we all fail. Right?

We all fall short of the glory of God. So adding I promise on this statement doesn't make it any worse, and it should not keep us from God. We approach him based on his mercy and grace, not upon our ability, our fulfillment, our capability, our obedience, our goodness, our greatness, how well we've been doing. We approach him based on his mercy and grace. So yes, we should fulfill our vows, but at the same time, we should fulfill our word and be people of our word.

But we do fail. We do fall. We break our promises and break our vows to the Lord and to others around us. But that should not keep us from relationship with God. Don't let that keep you. And if you run into someone who's saying, I made this vow, but, you know, I just I couldn't keep it. And so I don't go to church really anymore because I know God's not really happy with me and share with them. No, no.

You approach God based on what God has done for you, not what you have done or can do or didn't do for God. Our relationship is based upon his work for us. One last thought before we move on to the rest of the chapter. Looks like we won't be getting into chapter six this evening. But

One last thought. Here's the thing. I was preparing for this study and just so happens, coincidentally, right? Which, you know, there's no coincidences. God orchestrates and plans. I was listening to John Corson on the radio yesterday and perhaps you were able to hear that.

He shared a perspective on vows that I have never heard before. And of course, in preparing for this, I was quite intrigued by what he was sharing. And so I'll just briefly summarize what his points were. But you can check out his teachings if you want to get more in depth in that. His teaching out of Numbers chapter 30. And Numbers chapter 30 is dedicated to the subject of vows.

When you make a vow to the Lord or to one another, the rules and requirements of the law, they're all found in Numbers chapter 30. The basic content or basic thought of that chapter is that if a man vows, he must fulfill it. It's binding if he makes a promise. However, there's exceptions. If a woman vows, she must fulfill it. It is binding unless her father hears of it and makes it void.

Or if she's married, the vow is binding. She must fulfill it unless her husband, when he hears of it, he makes it void. There's certain restrictions, there's certain time frames they have to do it in a certain amount of time where they can void it, nullify it, all that. But the point is, if a man makes a vow, it must be kept. If a woman makes a vow, it must be kept unless her husband or father voids that vow. Well, then...

Pastor John took that concept and he turned it around and related it to us being the church, the bride of Christ. And being the bride of Christ, he says, look, if we make a vow that God does not agree with or that he knows we will not be able to keep, then he voids it and he does not hold us to it. Just like the father or the husband could void the vow of the woman, the father, God, the father, our heavenly father,

With Jesus Christ interceding on our behalf, our bridegroom, our husband, can void, can nullify the vows and promises that we make that are not according to his will, that we cannot keep, that we cannot fulfill. And he used the example of Peter. If you remember, Peter, right before Jesus was crucified, was telling the Lord, Lord, I will never deny you. I'll even die for you. I'm willing to go to the death for you.

And Jesus told him, no, you won't. You're going to deny me. You're going to be sifted like wheat. But when you have returned, then strengthen the brethren. See, Jesus did not receive Peter's vow, did not hold him to it, and did not let him keep it from him. But he says, when you've returned, you're going to break your vow. The thing you just wanted to promise, I know you meant well and you meant good, but you're going to break it. You're going to fail. It's not going to work. But when you come back, then strengthen the brethren. Broken vows, they do happen.

But they should not keep us from a relationship with God or from doing the work of God. Let's move on to verses 8 and 9. He says,

If you see the oppression of the poor and the violent perversion of justice and righteousness in a province, do not marvel at the matter for high official watches over high official and higher officials are over them. Moreover, the profit of the land is for all. Even the king is served from the field. There is much injustice in the world. But Solomon says, when you see it, don't marvel.

Don't be astonished. Don't be surprised when you see perversion and injustice. Why not be surprised? Well, Solomon explains, look, the whole purpose for different levels of authority is because of the corruption and injustice that takes place.

There's different levels of authority. High official watches over high official and higher officials are over them. There's these levels and tiers overlooking and overseeing because we know that man is corrupt. Injustice will take place wherever there's authority. There will be corruption is the idea. So don't be surprised when you see it.

It's the whole purpose and the whole reason that there's levels of authority. It will happen, so don't be surprised. The United States government was designed to have similar checks and balances because of the issue of corruption and injustice. It doesn't mean that it doesn't happen, but there's some preventive measures to try to keep it from happening. There is much injustice and corruption within our society as well, just as

Solomon would share with those of his day. On Tuesday, I was at a pastor's meeting that we have once a month for the Calvary Chapel pastors in Riverside County.

And they had a representative there from a group called Advocates for Faith and Freedom. And this attorney, Robert Tyler, was sharing with us really the lawsuits that are going on, the things that they're involved in, fighting for the rights of Christians and believers and churches, trying to right wrongs and injustices that are taking place. But it's a very difficult battle because there is so much perversion and injustice in the world.

Don't be surprised. Things are going to get worse. There's going to be much injustice and much perversion even as we continue on. So Solomon says, don't be surprised. He doesn't have an answer. He doesn't have a solution. He just says, don't be surprised because it does happen. Going on to verses 10 through 12.

He says,

Because people always think that money will make them happy. They will be fulfilled just when they have this amount or this much or that job or that retirement or whatever. Solomon experienced this. He had all the riches that you could imagine. So much gold that silver was not valued as anything in his day.

Yet Solomon discovered he who loves silver will not be satisfied with silver or he who loves money will not be satisfied with money. Now, I know it seems backwards. If you love silver, then silver should satisfy you.

I love video games. So you play video games and that should be satisfying to you or whatever else it is that you love. And Solomon's point is, is whatever you love, you're going to be chasing after it. And it's not going to satisfy you. That's the reality. If you love silver or gold or jewelry or money or whatever else, then it will not satisfy you. You will not have enough. You will never be satisfied.

The more you chase it, the more you will desire it, the less it will satisfy you. Solomon says, hey, again, this is all bubbles. It's just you're chasing after things, grasping for the wind, and you end up with emptiness, with nothing. It's just completely worthless.

He goes on, and I've always liked verse 11. When goods increase, they increase who eat them. So what profit have the owners except to see them with their eyes? And that just creates a funny picture to me. You finally get all the things that you want, but all you get is to see them, but you don't actually get a receipt from it or participate or enjoy it because, well, when goods increase, then they increase who eat them.

There's more bills to pay when you get more goods, more things. And you have to hire others to take care of those things for you. And so the extra that you have, you have to spend to maintain what you have. And so in the end, there's no real profit. You get to see it, but that's about it. You're spending it. And so there's really no profit. My wife, Kim, and I look at our account after we've both been paid and it's quite exciting. We got a thousand dollars in our account.

But then we have to spend it. You know, it's the same concept. You get to see it with your eyes. Looks great. But then it's gone in the next moment. Solomon, in talking about riches, says, look, if you're chasing after riches, if you love riches, it won't satisfy you.

Not only that, but if you increase in goods and you get all those things that you want, you'll find that you have to spend more to keep those things and continue to maintain those things. And so you get them and you just get to see them with your eyes, but you're spending them as well. And then he says in verse 12 that the sleep.

Solomon says it's hard for them to sleep.

You know, there's all these things to consider, this thing to worry about. And I'll transfer these funds over here, invest in that. And then I'm going to do this. And then, well, what if this happens? And what? Man, I need to protect myself here. And all the schemes and manipulations and all the concerns about the things that you have. Solomon says the rich doesn't get any sleep because he's so consumed and concerned with the things that he has.

Solomon says, look, if you love money, it's not going to satisfy you. You may get it, but you're going to have to spend it too. And you're not going to sleep well because then you'll be obsessing over it. Again, the emptiness of riches, the emptiness of chasing after wealth. Verses 3 through 17 says,

Solomon says,

This also is a severe evil just exactly as he came He shall go and what profit has he who labored for the wind all his days? He also eats in darkness and he has much sorrow and sickness and anger People often think of money as the solution to their problems in life as a solution to their hurts if you're wronged in our society

Well, then you should sue. You should get a settlement. Get a couple hundred thousand dollars. That'll pay you back. That'll set things right. That'll heal the hurt. Solomon says, riches kept for their owner to his hurt.

His point is that even though a person works so hard to get rich and acquire wealth, even though they devote their life and really hurt themselves and sacrifice to get rich, they don't actually get anything for it. And many times riches are much more destructive in a person's life than poverty. He says either one of two things will happen. Either he'll make some bad decision.

make some bad business deals and lose what he has, or he will die and lose it. Either way, he loses it. So what's the point? What's the profit? Because you can't take riches with you. They do not last. As Greg Laurie often says, I've never seen a hearse with a U-Haul trailer attached to it. You can't take it with you. It doesn't go. Even if you're buried in your Cadillac, it doesn't go with you.

Solomon calls this a severe evil in verses 13 and 16. Verse 16 says, And this also is a severe evil. Just as exactly as he came, so shall he go. And what profit has he who labored for the wind? It's a severe evil. Now, again, the problem is not with life. The problem is with Solomon's thinking. Why does he think that it's a severe evil? What is it that...

He thinks is so evil about this life. Well, keeping in perspective, he's only looking at this life. He's looking under the sun. He's not considering eternity. He's not considering what God has revealed. He's considering his own understanding, his own wisdom, what he has learned, his own knowledge.

If life was only about what we can accomplish and what we can get on this earth, then we would all agree, we should all agree, that is a severe evil. Paul said, hey, if in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are above all men more accursed. Why do good? Why live according to God's standards when you could just, you know, party on and disregard the things of God if it's only for this life?

Yeah, if it's just this life, we would agree it's a severe evil to work so hard and lose it all. To work so hard and not be able to take anything with you. If it was only for this life, we would say that's not fair. When you die, you will take nothing with you. But when you die, this life is not all there is. There's the rest of eternity that God has promised. You can't take anything with you, but...

Like Pastor Chuck always says, you can send your treasures ahead. As Jesus said in Matthew 6, 19 and 20, don't lay up for yourselves treasures here, but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven. By living in a relationship with God, by seeking first the kingdom of God, by doing his will for his good pleasure, and you will have an abundant entrance into eternity. It's not just for this life that you are living.

but it is for eternity. Live it God's way and you'll have treasure in heaven. Live it your way. You might have treasure on earth, but it ends there. You take nothing with you. Finishing it off in verses 18 through 20. He says, Here is what I've seen. It is good and fitting for one to eat and drink and to enjoy the good of all his labor in which he toils under the sun all the days of his life which God gives him for it is his heritage.

As for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth and given him power to eat of it, to receive his heritage and rejoice in his labor, it is the gift of God. For he will not dwell unduly on the days of his life because God keeps him busy with the joy of his heart. Can you see that Solomon is not considering eternity at all? His basic thought is enjoy it while it lasts. It's all you get, so you might as well enjoy it. Live it up.

Have a good time because this is it. Now, it is true that we should enjoy what God has given to us. But what we must remember is that there is a hereafter. And so, therefore, seek first the kingdom of God. Solomon is distorted in his thinking because he's limiting himself to life without God. Life apart from what God has revealed about himself and his plan. But we have before us his word.

which teaches us His ways, His plans. And we cannot be satisfied with anything else. We cannot be satisfied with riches or abundance or even religion and making vows and keeping vows and being legalistic in our relationship. That will not satisfy us. The only thing that will is a personal, in-depth relationship with Jesus Christ. Jesus said, "...if anyone thirsts, let him come unto Me and drink."

The difficult thing for us sometimes is to recognize our thirst. Even as Christians, we begin to get caught up. If only I was married, if only I had this person, if only I had this ministry, if only I had... We set our scopes on, we begin to thirst, and we begin to be discontent with a relationship with the Lord and begin to thirst for other things.

And we can be quickly led away from a relationship with God, from the closeness and intimacy that we once had with God, because we're searching for something to satisfy us when all the while, like Solomon, we've forgotten it's right back here in relationship with God. It's right back there. Time with the Lord in His presence, living life with Him, His ways, spending time in His Word.

worshiping him, praising him, being obedient to him. That's the only thing that will satisfy us. God has made us that way. There's nothing we can do about it except to fill ourselves with him. Like we sang the last song. It was a new song that Royce was teaching us. I'd fill me with you. That's what we need, relationship with God. And so I would encourage you this evening if you've

Walked away from the Lord or never had relationship with God. Or if you find yourself thirsting and you're not satisfied in life, just doesn't bring you joy. You're not really content with where you are and who you are and what you're doing. You've strayed away from the well, from the fountain of living waters. You need to come back. Get right with God. Get back in relationship with him. Only then will you be satisfied. Only then will you have joy.

Let's pray. Heavenly Father, Lord, I lift up our hearts to you. And I ask, Lord, that you would help us to understand and see what you see in our hearts. Lord, if we have gone astray, Lord, or if we've never walked with you, we ask, Lord, that you would reveal that to us. Lord, because our hearts are deceitful and we're good at deceiving ourselves. But Lord, by your word pierced through.

God, if we're seeking after other things, if we're seeking after riches or other relationships or anything else, Lord, if we're not content, if we don't have your joy and peace in our lives, help us, Lord, not to look in other things, not to chase after the things that we think will satisfy us, but Lord, help us to make you our portion, Lord, that you will satisfy us, Lord, that we would only be satisfied

and relationship with you, that we would not wander away from you. But Lord, help us to draw close to you. Fill us with more of you. Lord, we come to you not based on our obedience, not based on our completion of vows. And we don't come trying to make vows that you would be pleased with us. But Lord, we come to you based on the finished work of Jesus Christ. And we come to you and we receive that work, forgiveness,

Lord, as you told us in Hebrews 10, that you accomplished the work through the veil that is your flesh, that we could come into your presence and have relationship with you. And so, Lord, help us to draw near with full assurance. Help us to come with boldness, Lord, that in your presence we might find mercy and grace. In your presence, Lord, we might find all that we are thirsting for, all we've ever needed,

All we've ever longed for. All we've ever craved and desired. Lord, we think it's all these other things, but in reality it's you. So Lord, draw us close to you. Fill us. Satisfy us with you. And keep us from wandering astray. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

Amen.