WEBVTT 00:00:00.140 --> 00:00:05.839 As we're going through the book of Ecclesiastes, one thing that struck me about it, it is a very visual book. 00:00:06.580 --> 00:00:09.939 You can imagine someone making a documentary film about it. 00:00:10.880 --> 00:00:15.599 So in chapter one, for instance, there's the rhythm of nature, which you could film. 00:00:16.399 --> 00:00:20.960 In chapter three, there's the thoughts about time that we looked at a couple of weeks ago, 00:00:21.039 --> 00:00:25.060 and there's a time for this and a time for that, and you could easily film that. 00:00:25.059 --> 00:00:32.239 And throughout the book, there are little vignettes, little wee stories, incidents like the story of the kings at the end of the chapter that we read today, 00:00:32.719 --> 00:00:35.500 which could be really brought to life on film. 00:00:35.600 --> 00:00:42.820 Perhaps if the writer of Ecclesiastes had been living today rather than writing a book, he would have made a short documentary film about it. 00:00:43.960 --> 00:00:46.399 This thought occurred to someone at the Gospel Coalition, 00:00:46.399 --> 00:00:57.359 and they had some fun listing 13 films that bring us some of the characteristics and themes of the book of Ecclesiastes. 00:00:58.219 --> 00:01:06.099 So for instance, they included Forrest Gump, which illustrates that power and intelligence are not the same as wisdom. 00:01:07.140 --> 00:01:14.640 They're searching for Bobby Fischer, which is all about the ruthlessness that people feel you need to get on in our world. 00:01:14.640 --> 00:01:17.079 No country for old men. 00:01:17.500 --> 00:01:26.960 A brutal murderer is involved in a car accident and escapes unscathed, illustrating the injustice that people often see in our world. 00:01:27.319 --> 00:01:34.240 The greatest showman, great success, doesn't necessarily need dissatisfaction and peace in life. 00:01:34.239 --> 00:01:40.119 Or the man who planted trees, someone who goes with the rhythm of life and of nature, 00:01:40.599 --> 00:01:47.939 and who turns a barren wasteland into a thriving community over a period of many years. 00:01:48.419 --> 00:01:56.500 Films that illustrate something of the book of Ecclesiastes and also tell us just how relevant it is today in our society. 00:01:57.379 --> 00:01:59.399 I must admit, I'm not a cinema goer. 00:01:59.679 --> 00:02:03.099 None of these films are really very familiar to me, but I do watch television. 00:02:03.099 --> 00:02:09.280 And so as a bit of a hook for the points I'm going to make today, I'm going to link them into television programs. 00:02:09.379 --> 00:02:13.120 And it's the titles of the program rather than the content that will be important. 00:02:13.199 --> 00:02:15.240 We'll come to that in just a second. 00:02:16.180 --> 00:02:21.159 Maybe worth, though, taking just a couple of minutes to remind ourselves about the book of Ecclesiastes 00:02:21.159 --> 00:02:25.280 Ecclesiastes and how we should approach it as we read it. 00:02:26.079 --> 00:02:29.620 Ecclesiastes is the observation of someone who calls himself the teacher. 00:02:30.079 --> 00:02:31.039 Perhaps it's Solomon. 00:02:31.740 --> 00:02:33.840 And the teacher is a grumpy old man. 00:02:34.400 --> 00:02:35.539 He's been through life. 00:02:35.620 --> 00:02:36.539 He's done everything. 00:02:37.079 --> 00:02:37.819 He's had power. 00:02:37.979 --> 00:02:38.780 He's had wealth. 00:02:38.900 --> 00:02:40.439 He's had wine, woman, and song. 00:02:40.800 --> 00:02:45.620 And he's found that it's all, really from his point of view, just been a waste of time. 00:02:45.620 --> 00:02:47.460 He said it's like a vapor. 00:02:48.120 --> 00:02:53.819 It's like the steam that comes out of a kettle and a few seconds later it's gone and it's forgotten about. 00:02:54.560 --> 00:02:59.200 It's meaningless, is what the teacher says. 00:02:59.900 --> 00:03:03.200 He's really become the ultimate cynic. 00:03:04.080 --> 00:03:11.840 And when we read the book of Ecclesiastes, it's very important that we don't read it like we might read Romans or Isaiah. 00:03:11.840 --> 00:03:17.599 It is not all stuff that is instruction for us and the role to take literally. 00:03:18.200 --> 00:03:18.920 It is poetry. 00:03:19.620 --> 00:03:25.379 And it is particularly, it is a view from under the sun in most of it. 00:03:25.699 --> 00:03:34.480 So it is someone who is looking at life and not looking at it through the lens of a Christian faith or a real deep understanding of God. 00:03:34.819 --> 00:03:40.840 It is someone who is looking at life from a human perspective and finding it is sadly wanting. 00:03:40.840 --> 00:03:44.200 Now that's not to say that it isn't inspired scripture. 00:03:44.400 --> 00:03:44.939 It is. 00:03:45.360 --> 00:03:52.480 And the writer of Ecclesiastes brings out many things, much wisdom that we can look at and we say, yes, that resonates with me. 00:03:52.699 --> 00:03:56.199 I can see that in our world today. 00:03:57.080 --> 00:04:02.800 And he also has an understanding of a God who is the creator and who is ultimately in control. 00:04:02.800 --> 00:04:12.860 And that if we are to enjoy really fulfilled lives, then we can only do it with a knowledge of him and by looking to him for guidance. 00:04:14.300 --> 00:04:22.439 And in chapter four, the writer of Ecclesiastes moved on from looking at him as an individual to looking at society. 00:04:22.439 --> 00:04:25.360 What are the things that drive us in society? 00:04:25.819 --> 00:04:34.379 What are the things that you look at in society and think, well, that's a waste of time or that really doesn't ring true? 00:04:35.180 --> 00:04:38.439 And there are four key things that I think he brings out. 00:04:39.360 --> 00:04:42.639 So here we come to the first of my television programs, which is casualty. 00:04:43.339 --> 00:04:48.159 And the writer says, we are all casualties of life. 00:04:48.160 --> 00:04:51.060 That's what he's saying in the first verse or two. 00:04:51.460 --> 00:04:56.780 Verse one, again, I looked and saw all the oppression that was taking place under the sun. 00:04:56.960 --> 00:05:01.940 I saw the tears of the oppressed and they have no comforter. 00:05:03.380 --> 00:05:07.640 He looks at society around about him and he says, it's just not fair. 00:05:08.300 --> 00:05:11.040 And most of us are casualties of life. 00:05:11.680 --> 00:05:14.980 There are people who have power and they abuse it. 00:05:14.980 --> 00:05:23.460 And they have no concern for those who are further down the chain and who just live lives of suffering and often lives of misery. 00:05:24.000 --> 00:05:27.220 Now, I think perhaps to some extent we can identify with that. 00:05:27.500 --> 00:05:30.540 We can certainly look around our world, the world that Charles was praying for earlier, 00:05:30.920 --> 00:05:35.000 and think about situations where people, through no fault of their own, 00:05:35.259 --> 00:05:40.420 are in terrible circumstances and are enduring terrible oppression. 00:05:40.420 --> 00:05:45.060 So there is wisdom in what the writer has to say here. 00:05:45.500 --> 00:05:49.680 A lot of people in our world today feel overwhelming oppression. 00:05:50.340 --> 00:05:58.720 They feel that they are casualties of a system that is unfair and of people who are cruel and brutal. 00:06:00.160 --> 00:06:05.520 If we can identify with what the writer says in verse one, I wonder about the next two verses. 00:06:06.139 --> 00:06:08.000 They seem rather extreme, don't they? 00:06:08.000 --> 00:06:12.139 He says, I think people who have died are happier than people who are alive. 00:06:12.199 --> 00:06:15.060 And I don't think he's thinking particularly of people having gone to heaven and being happy. 00:06:15.379 --> 00:06:21.100 It's just they're out of this world and they put all the evils and the oppression of this world behind them. 00:06:21.459 --> 00:06:24.459 And he says, even better is if you're never born. 00:06:25.199 --> 00:06:28.220 So actually, the whole of life is futile. 00:06:28.220 --> 00:06:32.380 Now, I'm sure a lot of people in this world might feel that at times, 00:06:32.740 --> 00:06:38.320 but that is not a Christian, it's not a biblical view if we look at the Bible as a whole. 00:06:38.660 --> 00:06:40.880 Life is a gift from God. 00:06:41.180 --> 00:06:44.420 We should treasure it and we should rejoice in it, 00:06:44.560 --> 00:06:48.760 despite all the difficulties that we face in life. 00:06:48.960 --> 00:06:52.340 So the teacher is using hyperbole, I guess, here. 00:06:52.540 --> 00:06:54.500 He is exaggerating for effect. 00:06:54.500 --> 00:06:57.180 But the point is, I think, is well made. 00:06:57.699 --> 00:07:04.660 For many people, life is really difficult and at times they find it a real struggle to go on. 00:07:06.040 --> 00:07:11.819 And the point, too, is that in our world, there is a huge amount of injustice. 00:07:11.819 --> 00:07:18.519 That there is a huge amount of people in positions of power who don't care about anyone else 00:07:18.519 --> 00:07:23.060 and who make decisions that have radical effects on the lives of others 00:07:23.060 --> 00:07:28.180 and it just washes over them despite the misery that they're causing. 00:07:28.279 --> 00:07:33.439 And most of the wars in many countries of our world, that is certainly true. 00:07:34.500 --> 00:07:41.579 And like the writer to Ecclesiastes, we should have a real concern for social justice. 00:07:41.819 --> 00:07:46.180 I would say that if I'm a Christian and I don't have a concern for social justice, 00:07:46.699 --> 00:07:50.259 then my theology is severely deficient. 00:07:50.779 --> 00:07:57.379 Because the Bible is full of those who talk out against the injustices in society, 00:07:57.519 --> 00:08:00.300 particularly in the prophets, but also the Lord Jesus. 00:08:00.819 --> 00:08:05.060 He had a real concern for those who were at the bottom of the pile in society, 00:08:05.560 --> 00:08:09.240 those who were poor, those who were ill, those who were friendless. 00:08:09.240 --> 00:08:13.319 And he was not afraid to speak out against those who would oppress them, 00:08:13.579 --> 00:08:19.579 particularly the religious leaders and the way that they treated the ordinary people. 00:08:20.220 --> 00:08:24.400 We as Christians should have a real concern for those who are poor 00:08:24.400 --> 00:08:28.540 and those who are oppressed and a desire to help them. 00:08:29.079 --> 00:08:33.200 That doesn't mean we have to join Amnesty International, become politicians, 00:08:33.200 --> 00:08:38.240 but in the place where we are, we should be making a stand for social justice 00:08:38.240 --> 00:08:43.940 and we should be doing all we can to help those who are going through these difficult times. 00:08:44.620 --> 00:08:50.020 I think it's really important as a church that we have things like Basics Bank and the Care Van 00:08:50.020 --> 00:08:55.120 and we support the Fairly Well Youth Project and other things which take those who have been dealt 00:08:55.120 --> 00:09:01.539 what might appear a fairly raw hand in life and we introduce them to the love of the Lord Jesus 00:09:01.539 --> 00:09:05.759 and we really care for them and try to help them. 00:09:06.360 --> 00:09:11.240 Christians should have a desire for social justice, should be working towards it 00:09:11.240 --> 00:09:18.120 and should recognise that for many people life is overwhelming and they feel really oppressed. 00:09:18.120 --> 00:09:25.379 The teacher is right, even if his final conclusion isn't right, and we should be concerned about that. 00:09:27.200 --> 00:09:30.580 Then the writer moves on, and I'm illustrating the next point, with pointless. 00:09:31.139 --> 00:09:34.120 Because he talks about something that he thinks is pointless. 00:09:34.259 --> 00:09:36.320 I've also called it senseless success. 00:09:37.299 --> 00:09:41.919 And this is people who spend all their life trying to get more and more money 00:09:41.919 --> 00:09:46.279 and to be more and more successful, and they can look back at the end and say, 00:09:46.279 --> 00:09:47.579 well, what's the point been? 00:09:48.399 --> 00:09:54.879 A particular illustration of a man who's got no family, no son, no father, no one to pass things on to, no brother, 00:09:55.319 --> 00:09:58.519 and yet he works and works away and accumulates more and more, 00:09:58.819 --> 00:10:02.059 and he looks back at the end and says, I could have been enjoying life. 00:10:02.480 --> 00:10:06.699 I could really have been living a fulfilled life, but I haven't. 00:10:07.659 --> 00:10:12.519 And the writer says, at least part of the reason for why this kind of thing happens 00:10:12.519 --> 00:10:16.759 is that we're always trying to be better than other people. 00:10:16.759 --> 00:10:21.879 So in verse 4, he talks about the envy that leads to achievement. 00:10:22.679 --> 00:10:26.379 About people who look at others and say, I want to be like them. 00:10:26.460 --> 00:10:28.879 I want to be more successful than they are. 00:10:29.079 --> 00:10:33.419 And it drives them on, and they lose all the value in life. 00:10:33.480 --> 00:10:40.480 They lose all balance in their life because they are so driven by this ambition. 00:10:40.480 --> 00:10:44.080 And the writer says, that's meaningless. 00:10:44.620 --> 00:10:46.019 It's like chasing the wind. 00:10:46.360 --> 00:10:52.840 You're not getting anything really worthwhile in life if you're just driven by being more and more successful 00:10:52.840 --> 00:10:57.139 or by being wealthy far beyond what you could ever need. 00:10:57.720 --> 00:10:59.320 And he says there's a balance to be struck. 00:11:00.139 --> 00:11:05.820 On the one hand, you've got the fool who folds his arms and does nothing and isn't interested in working. 00:11:05.820 --> 00:11:09.960 And the writer certainly isn't recommending that that's what we should do. 00:11:10.879 --> 00:11:17.260 But he says the other side, you've got the person for whom having things in one hand would actually be enough. 00:11:17.620 --> 00:11:18.900 But they use both hands. 00:11:18.940 --> 00:11:20.500 They want both hands to be full. 00:11:20.960 --> 00:11:23.879 And they just drive themselves forward. 00:11:23.879 --> 00:11:30.539 And they forget all about the enjoyment and the satisfaction that God wants us to have in life 00:11:30.539 --> 00:11:35.919 because they just want to accumulate more and more for themselves. 00:11:36.639 --> 00:11:38.759 Neither extreme is good. 00:11:39.580 --> 00:11:45.059 We should work if we're able to, and that is part of God's purpose for us in life. 00:11:45.059 --> 00:11:50.699 That we shouldn't work to the extent that we forget about what God's real purpose for us in life is. 00:11:50.839 --> 00:11:52.279 That we should enjoy him. 00:11:52.619 --> 00:11:54.119 That we should know his presence. 00:11:54.579 --> 00:12:02.339 And that we should be able to live in harmony with others and to help them rather than trying to get ahead of them. 00:12:02.879 --> 00:12:06.239 There's a real stupidity in some people who just feel, 00:12:06.339 --> 00:12:07.439 I must get more and more. 00:12:07.500 --> 00:12:09.739 I must work harder and harder to achieve more and more. 00:12:09.740 --> 00:12:13.560 And ultimately, they're just driving themselves to the grave. 00:12:13.860 --> 00:12:16.240 They're not doing themselves any good. 00:12:16.940 --> 00:12:18.320 So what is the right way? 00:12:18.440 --> 00:12:24.799 Well, Paul in 1 Timothy gives some very helpful instructions to the young man he's writing to. 00:12:24.820 --> 00:12:25.159 He says, 00:12:25.299 --> 00:12:28.560 Godliness with contentment is great gain. 00:12:29.340 --> 00:12:30.879 We brought nothing into the world. 00:12:31.000 --> 00:12:32.539 We can take nothing out of it. 00:12:33.180 --> 00:12:38.000 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 00:12:38.000 --> 00:12:41.679 Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap. 00:12:42.240 --> 00:12:48.159 And into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 00:12:48.840 --> 00:12:54.019 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. 00:12:55.159 --> 00:12:57.639 I challenge you and I challenge myself this morning. 00:12:58.080 --> 00:13:00.259 What is our attitude towards money? 00:13:00.700 --> 00:13:04.700 And what is our attitude towards what the world might see as success? 00:13:04.700 --> 00:13:10.680 Do we live lives where we're trying more and more to accumulate for ourselves, 00:13:10.860 --> 00:13:15.220 to be more successful, to be wealthier, to be more powerful, whatever it is, 00:13:15.480 --> 00:13:17.620 in the terms of this world? 00:13:18.259 --> 00:13:23.300 Or do we have what Paul describes as godliness with contentment? 00:13:24.140 --> 00:13:27.280 Being really thankful for all that God has given us, 00:13:27.900 --> 00:13:30.720 making sure that we contribute fully in our lives, 00:13:30.720 --> 00:13:33.639 through our work or through our interactions with others, 00:13:34.060 --> 00:13:37.340 and that through it we glorify God. 00:13:37.940 --> 00:13:40.920 Or are we getting too caught up in the things of this world 00:13:40.920 --> 00:13:45.060 and too much thinking of ourselves? 00:13:46.700 --> 00:13:49.060 On Friday, a very good friend of mine passed away. 00:13:49.180 --> 00:13:53.220 Jim McClellan was a builder, a very successful builder, down in Peebles. 00:13:53.860 --> 00:13:55.500 Among other things, he built the hall, 00:13:55.600 --> 00:13:59.000 which many of our young men are preaching in over the coming weeks. 00:13:59.000 --> 00:14:02.840 He was very involved too in missionary work in Scotland, 00:14:03.000 --> 00:14:04.740 in supporting missionaries. 00:14:05.759 --> 00:14:08.440 Jim, although he was very successful throughout his life, 00:14:08.659 --> 00:14:11.840 he had a focus on serving the Lord Jesus. 00:14:12.659 --> 00:14:16.779 And he retired from commercial business at a relatively early age, 00:14:17.159 --> 00:14:20.320 and he spent the next few years building Challenge House, 00:14:20.419 --> 00:14:24.059 which is just off Junction 16 of the M8 in Glasgow. 00:14:24.639 --> 00:14:26.879 Challenge House, for over 25 years, 00:14:26.879 --> 00:14:31.059 has provided low-cost accommodation for a number of Christian organisations, 00:14:31.779 --> 00:14:35.439 Echos International, Tier Fund Care, and a number of others. 00:14:35.960 --> 00:14:38.700 And the proceeds, the rent that came in from that, 00:14:39.299 --> 00:14:40.659 Jim has put into a trust, 00:14:40.939 --> 00:14:42.879 and it is used to provide funds for missionaries 00:14:43.539 --> 00:14:46.279 and for mission organisations like Scripture Union. 00:14:47.320 --> 00:14:49.939 Jim was a man who wasn't a great public speaker. 00:14:50.039 --> 00:14:52.299 He wouldn't hear him on a platform like this. 00:14:52.299 --> 00:14:57.259 But he was a man who was totally focused on serving the Lord Jesus, 00:14:57.719 --> 00:15:00.379 on working for him, and who had his priorities right, 00:15:00.459 --> 00:15:02.299 even though he was a good businessman, 00:15:02.819 --> 00:15:05.959 even though he was very successful in what he did. 00:15:06.519 --> 00:15:08.299 That wasn't what drove him. 00:15:09.299 --> 00:15:11.519 What drove him was his love for the Lord Jesus 00:15:11.519 --> 00:15:15.719 and his desire that the gospel should be spread. 00:15:15.720 --> 00:15:18.240 Am I like that? 00:15:18.759 --> 00:15:19.740 Are you like that? 00:15:19.820 --> 00:15:21.779 What is our real purpose in life? 00:15:22.040 --> 00:15:23.600 What is it that drives us 00:15:23.600 --> 00:15:28.740 and that gives us the greatest motivation in our life? 00:15:28.820 --> 00:15:30.759 It should be following the Lord Jesus 00:15:30.759 --> 00:15:33.920 and being content with what we've been given by God 00:15:33.920 --> 00:15:37.000 and using that for his glory. 00:15:38.399 --> 00:15:40.460 So that was the pointlessness, 00:15:40.460 --> 00:15:45.540 the senseless success that many people strive for in our world. 00:15:46.680 --> 00:15:49.120 Third television programme is It Takes Two, 00:15:49.560 --> 00:15:52.259 and that is the spin-off from Strictly Come Dancing. 00:15:52.680 --> 00:15:54.220 And I thought that was quite a good description 00:15:54.220 --> 00:15:57.720 of verses 9 to 12 of this chapter. 00:15:58.220 --> 00:16:00.120 I also called it Tougher Together. 00:16:00.879 --> 00:16:04.379 Two people are a lot stronger than one person, 00:16:04.639 --> 00:16:06.460 is the key theme here. 00:16:07.080 --> 00:16:09.580 So the writer takes us through a number of situations. 00:16:10.100 --> 00:16:11.139 You're working. 00:16:11.820 --> 00:16:13.660 Perhaps you're thinking about manual labour. 00:16:13.659 --> 00:16:16.980 It's a lot easier and you achieve a lot more 00:16:16.980 --> 00:16:18.500 if there are two of you 00:16:18.500 --> 00:16:21.740 than if you're working just by yourself. 00:16:22.399 --> 00:16:24.100 If one becomes tired, 00:16:24.360 --> 00:16:25.919 then the other can help them, 00:16:26.179 --> 00:16:27.379 and working together, 00:16:27.759 --> 00:16:29.799 they can achieve a great deal. 00:16:30.939 --> 00:16:33.500 Or then you might have people going for a walk. 00:16:33.919 --> 00:16:34.759 If you're going walking, 00:16:34.860 --> 00:16:35.600 if you're travelling, 00:16:36.120 --> 00:16:38.000 it's a lot better in many ways 00:16:38.000 --> 00:16:39.439 if there are two of you. 00:16:39.840 --> 00:16:40.940 There's companionship. 00:16:41.220 --> 00:16:41.760 There's help. 00:16:41.820 --> 00:16:42.120 And again, 00:16:42.180 --> 00:16:43.200 if one of you is tired, 00:16:43.560 --> 00:16:44.840 the other can support them. 00:16:44.880 --> 00:16:45.700 If you fall down, 00:16:45.800 --> 00:16:46.560 if you have an accident, 00:16:46.940 --> 00:16:48.500 then there's someone there to help you. 00:16:48.840 --> 00:16:51.020 Two are better than one. 00:16:51.720 --> 00:16:53.180 He pictures two people lying down together, 00:16:53.280 --> 00:16:55.000 perhaps a married couple in a bed. 00:16:55.080 --> 00:16:55.440 He's saying, 00:16:55.760 --> 00:16:57.020 if there are one person, 00:16:57.080 --> 00:16:58.420 you might be shivering away all night 00:16:58.420 --> 00:16:59.980 if you've not got much heating in the room. 00:17:00.040 --> 00:17:00.800 It's a cold night. 00:17:01.080 --> 00:17:02.220 If there are two of you, 00:17:02.220 --> 00:17:04.019 you can keep each other warm. 00:17:04.980 --> 00:17:06.619 And then the final example he gives 00:17:06.619 --> 00:17:09.440 is someone who is being attacked, 00:17:09.819 --> 00:17:10.240 and he says, 00:17:10.359 --> 00:17:11.619 well, one person by themselves 00:17:11.619 --> 00:17:14.460 can't really defend themselves very successfully. 00:17:14.940 --> 00:17:17.139 It's a lot easier and a lot better 00:17:17.139 --> 00:17:19.240 if there are two of you. 00:17:19.819 --> 00:17:22.359 Two are better than one. 00:17:23.099 --> 00:17:23.779 And then at the end, 00:17:23.839 --> 00:17:25.960 this picture of the cord of three strands, 00:17:26.480 --> 00:17:28.559 the rope that is twisted together, 00:17:28.619 --> 00:17:29.720 the three strands in it, 00:17:29.720 --> 00:17:31.299 and the three strands together 00:17:31.299 --> 00:17:34.420 are a lot stronger than one or than two, 00:17:34.620 --> 00:17:36.000 or indeed than the total of the three 00:17:36.000 --> 00:17:37.279 if they were separate. 00:17:37.380 --> 00:17:39.220 Now, sometimes this is used in an illustration. 00:17:39.779 --> 00:17:41.120 You and me and Jesus 00:17:41.120 --> 00:17:44.339 is a lot stronger than me 00:17:44.339 --> 00:17:46.079 or the two of us together. 00:17:46.220 --> 00:17:47.880 Now, I don't think there's anything wrong 00:17:47.880 --> 00:17:48.640 with that illustration, 00:17:48.779 --> 00:17:49.940 but I don't think it's the key point 00:17:49.940 --> 00:17:50.640 he's making here. 00:17:50.900 --> 00:17:52.220 He is just making the point 00:17:52.220 --> 00:17:54.920 that the more people there are working together, 00:17:55.160 --> 00:17:57.839 the more can be achieved. 00:17:57.839 --> 00:17:59.679 Now, as we said, 00:17:59.759 --> 00:18:01.159 we are living in an increasingly 00:18:01.159 --> 00:18:03.659 individualistic society. 00:18:04.639 --> 00:18:08.759 We are much less in contact with others 00:18:08.759 --> 00:18:11.019 and communicating with others 00:18:11.019 --> 00:18:12.559 in a meaningful way 00:18:12.559 --> 00:18:14.919 than people have been in the past. 00:18:15.459 --> 00:18:16.359 We're on our phones 00:18:16.359 --> 00:18:19.699 or we're on our apps or whatever. 00:18:20.179 --> 00:18:21.959 We communicate electronically 00:18:21.959 --> 00:18:24.139 rather than face-to-face. 00:18:24.619 --> 00:18:27.419 And we lose some of the social interaction 00:18:27.420 --> 00:18:28.940 that is valuable, 00:18:29.080 --> 00:18:29.700 that is helpful, 00:18:30.140 --> 00:18:32.320 that is essential in life. 00:18:33.160 --> 00:18:35.180 As a church, as Christians, 00:18:35.259 --> 00:18:36.180 we must make sure 00:18:36.180 --> 00:18:38.320 that is not the case with us. 00:18:38.360 --> 00:18:39.539 We talked about small groups here 00:18:39.539 --> 00:18:41.120 and I was really pleased 00:18:41.120 --> 00:18:41.740 with what we said 00:18:41.740 --> 00:18:43.019 because it ties in really well 00:18:43.019 --> 00:18:44.060 with this theme. 00:18:44.779 --> 00:18:45.980 Small groups are a place 00:18:45.980 --> 00:18:47.519 where we can get to know each other, 00:18:47.720 --> 00:18:49.519 where we can support each other, 00:18:49.680 --> 00:18:51.500 and we can show that together 00:18:51.500 --> 00:18:53.620 as we bring our request to God, 00:18:53.700 --> 00:18:55.019 as we challenge one another, 00:18:55.019 --> 00:18:56.859 perhaps as we encourage one another, 00:18:57.339 --> 00:18:59.240 then we are much stronger 00:18:59.240 --> 00:19:02.519 than we are as a group of individuals. 00:19:03.480 --> 00:19:04.400 Paul has this picture 00:19:04.400 --> 00:19:05.779 in 1 Corinthians chapter 12 00:19:05.779 --> 00:19:07.000 of the church as a body. 00:19:07.500 --> 00:19:08.660 There's arms, there's legs, 00:19:08.759 --> 00:19:09.839 there's eyes, and so on. 00:19:10.480 --> 00:19:13.220 And together the parts make much more, 00:19:13.440 --> 00:19:14.900 together the whole makes much more 00:19:14.900 --> 00:19:17.680 than the sum of the individual parts. 00:19:18.420 --> 00:19:20.139 A body functioning well 00:19:20.139 --> 00:19:22.460 is much more than just a collection 00:19:22.460 --> 00:19:23.680 of different organs. 00:19:24.259 --> 00:19:26.779 It is a unified being 00:19:26.779 --> 00:19:28.500 that is able to serve 00:19:28.500 --> 00:19:30.620 and to do what is right 00:19:30.620 --> 00:19:34.220 and to bring real enjoyment in life. 00:19:34.799 --> 00:19:36.819 As a church, it is really important 00:19:36.819 --> 00:19:38.759 that we support one another, 00:19:39.000 --> 00:19:40.680 that we are there for one another, 00:19:40.900 --> 00:19:42.720 that we build one another up 00:19:42.720 --> 00:19:43.799 in our faith 00:19:43.799 --> 00:19:45.120 and in our knowledge 00:19:45.120 --> 00:19:46.819 of the Lord Jesus. 00:19:47.420 --> 00:19:48.799 And sometimes that will be in twos. 00:19:49.259 --> 00:19:51.400 One-to-ones are quite a common feature 00:19:51.400 --> 00:19:51.940 in our church 00:19:51.940 --> 00:19:52.940 and a really valuable one. 00:19:53.000 --> 00:19:54.019 People meeting together 00:19:54.019 --> 00:19:55.280 perhaps to read the Bible 00:19:55.280 --> 00:19:56.320 and to pray together 00:19:56.320 --> 00:19:57.880 and to support one another. 00:19:57.980 --> 00:19:58.880 We have the small groups, 00:19:59.240 --> 00:20:00.800 we have various other fellowship groups, 00:20:01.060 --> 00:20:02.400 and all of them help us 00:20:02.400 --> 00:20:04.460 as a group of God's people 00:20:04.460 --> 00:20:06.259 to be stronger together 00:20:06.259 --> 00:20:09.000 and to face up to the trials of life 00:20:09.000 --> 00:20:11.840 in a way that helps us 00:20:11.840 --> 00:20:14.120 as we rely on the Lord Jesus. 00:20:14.120 --> 00:20:16.500 We are tougher together. 00:20:18.300 --> 00:20:19.320 And then there's the closing verses 00:20:19.319 --> 00:20:20.000 of the chapter, 00:20:20.200 --> 00:20:21.720 and I think there was only one program 00:20:21.720 --> 00:20:22.679 we could say for that. 00:20:22.799 --> 00:20:23.599 It's Game of Thrones. 00:20:24.480 --> 00:20:26.740 This is all about power plays. 00:20:27.439 --> 00:20:28.419 It is about people 00:20:28.419 --> 00:20:30.519 who want to be in control of things 00:20:30.519 --> 00:20:32.720 and it illustrates very well 00:20:32.720 --> 00:20:36.139 the transient nature of power. 00:20:36.980 --> 00:20:38.879 Now these verses are quite difficult 00:20:38.879 --> 00:20:40.240 to translate, 00:20:40.399 --> 00:20:41.240 and different translations 00:20:41.240 --> 00:20:42.519 do it in different ways. 00:20:42.899 --> 00:20:44.500 I think the simplest way to look at it 00:20:44.500 --> 00:20:45.839 is the way the NIV does it. 00:20:46.119 --> 00:20:46.899 There are two kings. 00:20:47.019 --> 00:20:48.759 Some translations suggest there are three. 00:20:49.279 --> 00:20:50.019 There are two kings. 00:20:50.500 --> 00:20:51.700 One king is old. 00:20:51.799 --> 00:20:53.559 He's been in power for a long time, 00:20:54.000 --> 00:20:55.119 and he's reached the stage 00:20:55.119 --> 00:20:57.839 which a lot of these kind of rulers do 00:20:57.839 --> 00:20:59.039 where he's not willing 00:20:59.039 --> 00:21:00.480 to listen to anyone else. 00:21:00.920 --> 00:21:02.220 He's clinging on to power, 00:21:02.440 --> 00:21:03.559 and he's not concerned 00:21:03.559 --> 00:21:04.660 about anyone else, 00:21:04.940 --> 00:21:06.539 and he just wants to keep 00:21:06.539 --> 00:21:08.539 that authority in his life. 00:21:08.619 --> 00:21:09.440 He doesn't know, 00:21:09.440 --> 00:21:10.079 says the writer, 00:21:10.220 --> 00:21:11.779 how to heed a warning. 00:21:12.500 --> 00:21:13.119 Now we could look, 00:21:13.180 --> 00:21:14.039 probably look at your own country, 00:21:14.099 --> 00:21:15.359 but certainly look in other countries 00:21:15.359 --> 00:21:16.700 at rulers like that. 00:21:16.700 --> 00:21:18.000 Robert Mugabe, for instance, 00:21:18.240 --> 00:21:19.819 might have been quite a good example 00:21:19.819 --> 00:21:21.519 of that kind of king. 00:21:22.019 --> 00:21:23.539 And he's lost the confidence 00:21:23.539 --> 00:21:24.539 of his people, 00:21:25.000 --> 00:21:27.279 but he's clinging on to power. 00:21:28.340 --> 00:21:30.120 You then have the second king 00:21:30.120 --> 00:21:32.279 who starts out as a young man, 00:21:32.480 --> 00:21:33.400 and he comes through 00:21:33.400 --> 00:21:35.059 really difficult circumstances. 00:21:35.819 --> 00:21:36.340 So the writer says, 00:21:36.440 --> 00:21:37.539 well, he may have been in prison. 00:21:37.940 --> 00:21:40.259 He may have risen from poverty. 00:21:41.220 --> 00:21:42.000 So here we have someone 00:21:42.000 --> 00:21:43.440 who's actually done something, 00:21:43.539 --> 00:21:44.539 achieved something, 00:21:44.539 --> 00:21:46.460 and through his own efforts 00:21:46.460 --> 00:21:48.159 and through the desire 00:21:48.159 --> 00:21:50.379 to better himself, 00:21:50.659 --> 00:21:51.920 he's got to the position 00:21:51.920 --> 00:21:53.279 where he succeeds 00:21:53.279 --> 00:21:55.019 to the kingship. 00:21:55.599 --> 00:21:56.720 And the people must be thinking, 00:21:56.839 --> 00:21:57.279 wonderful. 00:21:57.940 --> 00:21:59.440 We've got rid of this old king 00:21:59.440 --> 00:22:00.619 who was holding us back 00:22:00.619 --> 00:22:01.319 and who wouldn't listen 00:22:01.319 --> 00:22:02.139 to anyone else. 00:22:02.379 --> 00:22:03.899 We've got this wonderful new king 00:22:03.899 --> 00:22:05.240 and he appears very wise 00:22:05.240 --> 00:22:06.279 and very willing 00:22:06.279 --> 00:22:07.279 to listen to others. 00:22:07.579 --> 00:22:09.019 This is a great situation 00:22:09.019 --> 00:22:10.279 to be in. 00:22:11.240 --> 00:22:12.259 But then a few years 00:22:12.259 --> 00:22:13.160 down the line, 00:22:14.019 --> 00:22:14.859 the new king 00:22:14.859 --> 00:22:16.400 has lost the respect 00:22:16.400 --> 00:22:17.079 of the people. 00:22:17.539 --> 00:22:17.980 He may have been 00:22:17.980 --> 00:22:18.839 quite a good king, 00:22:19.579 --> 00:22:20.640 but further through familiarity 00:22:20.640 --> 00:22:21.720 or because he's got 00:22:21.720 --> 00:22:22.819 a bit complacent, 00:22:23.079 --> 00:22:24.279 at the end of it, 00:22:24.599 --> 00:22:26.019 the people were not 00:22:26.019 --> 00:22:26.920 pleased with him. 00:22:26.960 --> 00:22:28.259 He got into the same situation 00:22:28.259 --> 00:22:29.140 as the old king 00:22:29.140 --> 00:22:30.740 and soon he would be gone 00:22:30.740 --> 00:22:32.859 and perhaps forgotten about. 00:22:33.799 --> 00:22:34.900 And the writer says, 00:22:35.119 --> 00:22:36.920 isn't this meaningless? 00:22:37.980 --> 00:22:39.240 Why should this young man 00:22:39.240 --> 00:22:40.200 have spent so long 00:22:40.200 --> 00:22:41.539 getting the position of power 00:22:41.539 --> 00:22:43.160 and then at the end of it, 00:22:43.400 --> 00:22:45.340 it's all just wasted? 00:22:46.740 --> 00:22:47.600 And that is realistic 00:22:47.600 --> 00:22:48.680 in life as well, 00:22:49.019 --> 00:22:49.819 isn't it? 00:22:50.319 --> 00:22:51.460 You look back through history 00:22:51.460 --> 00:22:52.480 and you see rulers come 00:22:52.480 --> 00:22:53.180 and rulers go. 00:22:53.299 --> 00:22:53.740 Some of them, 00:22:53.819 --> 00:22:54.860 we remember their names, 00:22:55.120 --> 00:22:55.840 perhaps a bit about 00:22:55.840 --> 00:22:56.620 what they did, 00:22:57.019 --> 00:22:59.039 but actually they've gone 00:22:59.039 --> 00:23:00.559 and they're largely 00:23:00.559 --> 00:23:01.900 forgotten about. 00:23:03.080 --> 00:23:05.000 And it's not just in nations 00:23:05.000 --> 00:23:05.819 that these kinds of things 00:23:05.819 --> 00:23:06.039 happen. 00:23:06.080 --> 00:23:06.500 In churches, 00:23:06.660 --> 00:23:07.660 you get people who try 00:23:07.660 --> 00:23:08.759 to hang on too long, 00:23:08.759 --> 00:23:10.180 elders who are too slow 00:23:10.180 --> 00:23:11.119 in being willing 00:23:11.119 --> 00:23:11.759 to step down 00:23:11.759 --> 00:23:12.980 and pass the reins on. 00:23:13.339 --> 00:23:14.160 And then other people 00:23:14.160 --> 00:23:14.920 come in and people 00:23:14.920 --> 00:23:15.779 really think they're good 00:23:15.779 --> 00:23:16.240 for a while 00:23:16.240 --> 00:23:17.140 and then they go off them. 00:23:17.440 --> 00:23:19.059 And it's not much different 00:23:19.059 --> 00:23:20.559 from what the writer 00:23:20.559 --> 00:23:21.839 describes here. 00:23:22.819 --> 00:23:23.619 Human power, 00:23:23.819 --> 00:23:24.920 human influence 00:23:24.920 --> 00:23:26.759 is very transient. 00:23:27.599 --> 00:23:28.799 It's there for a while 00:23:28.799 --> 00:23:30.720 and then it's gone. 00:23:31.680 --> 00:23:32.660 And so we need to look 00:23:32.660 --> 00:23:33.140 at the Bible 00:23:33.140 --> 00:23:33.879 and we need to look 00:23:33.880 --> 00:23:34.500 at the one 00:23:34.500 --> 00:23:35.620 who has 00:23:35.620 --> 00:23:37.200 eternal power. 00:23:37.940 --> 00:23:38.680 Remember the verses 00:23:38.680 --> 00:23:39.300 in Isaiah 00:23:39.300 --> 00:23:40.620 where Isaiah 00:23:40.620 --> 00:23:41.400 is looking forward 00:23:41.400 --> 00:23:42.040 to the birth 00:23:42.040 --> 00:23:43.040 of the Lord Jesus, 00:23:43.600 --> 00:23:44.800 the wonderful counselor, 00:23:44.960 --> 00:23:45.520 mighty God 00:23:45.520 --> 00:23:46.140 who'd be coming 00:23:46.140 --> 00:23:47.380 into the world. 00:23:48.000 --> 00:23:48.520 And he says, 00:23:48.620 --> 00:23:49.160 of the greatness 00:23:49.160 --> 00:23:50.440 of his governance, 00:23:50.820 --> 00:23:51.860 government and peace, 00:23:52.380 --> 00:23:53.140 there will be 00:23:53.140 --> 00:23:54.180 no end. 00:23:54.680 --> 00:23:55.220 He will reign 00:23:55.220 --> 00:23:56.020 on David's throne 00:23:56.020 --> 00:23:57.020 over his kingdom, 00:23:57.540 --> 00:23:58.160 establishing 00:23:58.160 --> 00:23:59.380 and upholding it 00:23:59.380 --> 00:24:00.520 with justice 00:24:00.520 --> 00:24:01.440 and righteousness 00:24:01.440 --> 00:24:03.180 from that time on 00:24:03.180 --> 00:24:04.000 and forever. 00:24:04.840 --> 00:24:05.440 The zeal 00:24:05.440 --> 00:24:06.380 of the Lord 00:24:06.380 --> 00:24:07.279 almighty 00:24:07.279 --> 00:24:09.080 will accomplish 00:24:09.080 --> 00:24:10.059 this. 00:24:11.059 --> 00:24:11.960 We have a king 00:24:11.960 --> 00:24:13.480 who is wise 00:24:13.480 --> 00:24:15.440 and who is unchanging. 00:24:16.180 --> 00:24:17.259 And we can depend 00:24:17.259 --> 00:24:17.759 on him 00:24:17.759 --> 00:24:19.019 throughout our lives 00:24:19.019 --> 00:24:20.400 and for an eternal 00:24:20.400 --> 00:24:21.299 future. 00:24:22.140 --> 00:24:22.960 And he's not like 00:24:22.960 --> 00:24:23.940 the kings of this world 00:24:23.940 --> 00:24:24.580 who perhaps grow 00:24:24.580 --> 00:24:25.120 a bit funny 00:24:25.120 --> 00:24:25.860 in their old age 00:24:25.860 --> 00:24:26.940 or want to cling 00:24:26.940 --> 00:24:27.600 on to power. 00:24:28.039 --> 00:24:29.840 He has eternal power 00:24:29.839 --> 00:24:31.959 and he will rule 00:24:31.959 --> 00:24:34.179 with total righteousness. 00:24:34.980 --> 00:24:35.899 As we look at 00:24:35.899 --> 00:24:36.879 the injustices 00:24:36.879 --> 00:24:37.740 and the problems 00:24:37.740 --> 00:24:38.819 in the world 00:24:38.819 --> 00:24:39.759 round about it, 00:24:40.179 --> 00:24:41.099 it should be 00:24:41.099 --> 00:24:42.099 a great encouragement 00:24:42.099 --> 00:24:43.159 that we have 00:24:43.159 --> 00:24:44.139 an eternal king, 00:24:44.240 --> 00:24:45.399 an all-wise king 00:24:45.399 --> 00:24:46.480 and one who 00:24:46.480 --> 00:24:47.519 ultimately will be 00:24:47.519 --> 00:24:48.439 seen to be 00:24:48.439 --> 00:24:49.019 in authority, 00:24:49.019 --> 00:24:49.919 will be the king 00:24:49.919 --> 00:24:50.519 of kings 00:24:50.519 --> 00:24:51.699 and lord 00:24:51.699 --> 00:24:52.919 of lords. 00:24:53.980 --> 00:24:55.579 So that's Ecclesiastes 4. 00:24:55.939 --> 00:24:56.980 Overwhelming oppression, 00:24:57.339 --> 00:24:58.399 senseless success, 00:24:58.400 --> 00:24:59.740 tougher together 00:24:59.740 --> 00:25:01.980 and power plays. 00:25:02.440 --> 00:25:03.160 What could we say 00:25:03.160 --> 00:25:04.220 to sum it up? 00:25:05.019 --> 00:25:05.700 So I think like 00:25:05.700 --> 00:25:06.900 most of Ecclesiastes, 00:25:07.320 --> 00:25:08.200 what we learn 00:25:08.200 --> 00:25:08.980 is that the 00:25:08.980 --> 00:25:10.040 conventional wisdom 00:25:10.040 --> 00:25:11.080 of this world 00:25:11.080 --> 00:25:12.660 doesn't really lead 00:25:12.660 --> 00:25:13.660 to satisfaction 00:25:13.660 --> 00:25:14.860 in life. 00:25:15.820 --> 00:25:17.140 Success in this world 00:25:17.140 --> 00:25:18.600 often arises 00:25:18.600 --> 00:25:19.720 from trying to 00:25:19.720 --> 00:25:20.960 win over others, 00:25:21.340 --> 00:25:21.980 from trying to 00:25:21.980 --> 00:25:22.640 get one up 00:25:22.640 --> 00:25:24.019 over other people 00:25:24.019 --> 00:25:26.880 and working ourselves 00:25:26.880 --> 00:25:27.880 into the grave 00:25:27.880 --> 00:25:28.780 and being 00:25:28.780 --> 00:25:30.060 very unsatisfied 00:25:30.060 --> 00:25:30.520 at the end. 00:25:31.060 --> 00:25:31.500 Wealth, 00:25:31.860 --> 00:25:32.300 power, 00:25:33.020 --> 00:25:34.020 even hard work 00:25:34.020 --> 00:25:35.240 by themselves 00:25:35.240 --> 00:25:36.400 don't bring 00:25:36.400 --> 00:25:38.240 any satisfaction. 00:25:39.140 --> 00:25:39.500 And the writers 00:25:39.500 --> 00:25:40.360 of Ecclesiastes 00:25:40.360 --> 00:25:41.400 would say to us, 00:25:41.780 --> 00:25:42.360 the way to 00:25:42.360 --> 00:25:43.200 true wisdom 00:25:43.200 --> 00:25:45.220 is through God. 00:25:45.740 --> 00:25:46.620 It's not by thinking, 00:25:46.780 --> 00:25:47.500 I know everything, 00:25:47.620 --> 00:25:48.620 I can do everything. 00:25:49.160 --> 00:25:50.200 It's by recognizing 00:25:50.200 --> 00:25:50.840 that only 00:25:50.840 --> 00:25:52.060 in our relationship 00:25:52.060 --> 00:25:52.920 with God 00:25:52.920 --> 00:25:53.780 and by living 00:25:53.780 --> 00:25:54.380 in the kind of 00:25:54.380 --> 00:25:55.120 rhythm of life 00:25:55.119 --> 00:25:56.199 that he has 00:25:56.199 --> 00:25:57.559 established for us, 00:25:57.919 --> 00:25:58.679 can we have 00:25:58.679 --> 00:26:00.299 true satisfaction. 00:26:01.759 --> 00:26:02.559 And if we go beyond 00:26:02.559 --> 00:26:03.159 what the writer 00:26:03.159 --> 00:26:03.879 of Ecclesiastes 00:26:03.879 --> 00:26:05.239 could have understood, 00:26:05.919 --> 00:26:06.719 we can look at 00:26:06.719 --> 00:26:07.500 the New Testament 00:26:07.500 --> 00:26:08.479 and we can see 00:26:08.479 --> 00:26:09.299 what that teaches 00:26:09.299 --> 00:26:10.599 us about wisdom. 00:26:11.599 --> 00:26:12.379 At the earlier service 00:26:12.379 --> 00:26:13.000 this morning, 00:26:13.299 --> 00:26:13.799 we read from 00:26:13.799 --> 00:26:15.099 1 Corinthians chapter 1. 00:26:15.179 --> 00:26:15.899 I want to come back 00:26:15.899 --> 00:26:17.919 to that as we close. 00:26:18.579 --> 00:26:19.959 1 Corinthians chapter 1 00:26:19.959 --> 00:26:21.500 is about human wisdom 00:26:21.500 --> 00:26:23.839 and about God's wisdom. 00:26:24.640 --> 00:26:25.279 And it says 00:26:25.279 --> 00:26:26.420 that the central event 00:26:26.420 --> 00:26:27.079 in history, 00:26:27.200 --> 00:26:28.079 the central thing 00:26:28.079 --> 00:26:28.799 which Christians 00:26:28.799 --> 00:26:29.779 look to the cross 00:26:29.779 --> 00:26:30.660 of the Lord Jesus, 00:26:31.359 --> 00:26:32.400 to those in the world 00:26:32.400 --> 00:26:33.400 around about us, 00:26:33.640 --> 00:26:35.500 it looks really stupid. 00:26:36.339 --> 00:26:37.079 How could you have 00:26:37.079 --> 00:26:37.740 a Messiah 00:26:37.740 --> 00:26:39.000 who ends up 00:26:39.000 --> 00:26:40.140 being crucified 00:26:40.140 --> 00:26:41.500 in the cruelest way 00:26:41.500 --> 00:26:42.660 by the Romans 00:26:42.660 --> 00:26:43.900 and whose life 00:26:43.900 --> 00:26:45.039 appears to end 00:26:45.039 --> 00:26:46.440 in failure? 00:26:47.240 --> 00:26:47.799 Paul says 00:26:47.799 --> 00:26:48.740 it's a stumbling block 00:26:48.740 --> 00:26:49.519 to the Jews 00:26:49.519 --> 00:26:50.420 because they saw 00:26:50.420 --> 00:26:51.519 anyone who hanged 00:26:51.519 --> 00:26:51.819 on a tree 00:26:51.819 --> 00:26:52.740 as being cursed. 00:26:53.279 --> 00:26:54.079 It's foolishness 00:26:54.079 --> 00:26:55.119 to the Gentiles 00:26:55.119 --> 00:26:55.779 because they just 00:26:55.779 --> 00:26:56.759 couldn't understand 00:26:56.759 --> 00:26:58.960 how this apparent weakness 00:26:58.960 --> 00:27:00.779 had any kind of strength 00:27:00.779 --> 00:27:02.920 or wisdom to it. 00:27:03.920 --> 00:27:05.379 But, says Paul, 00:27:06.079 --> 00:27:06.920 for us, 00:27:07.559 --> 00:27:09.299 for those who know God, 00:27:09.759 --> 00:27:11.240 it's the power of God 00:27:11.240 --> 00:27:14.599 and it's the wisdom of God. 00:27:15.440 --> 00:27:16.759 The cross of the Lord Jesus 00:27:16.759 --> 00:27:18.359 is the thing 00:27:18.359 --> 00:27:19.119 which demonstrates 00:27:19.119 --> 00:27:20.140 above all else 00:27:20.140 --> 00:27:22.180 the meaning of life 00:27:22.180 --> 00:27:23.400 and what it means 00:27:23.400 --> 00:27:25.660 to have wisdom in life. 00:27:26.279 --> 00:27:27.859 God took all our failure, 00:27:28.480 --> 00:27:29.279 all our sins, 00:27:29.400 --> 00:27:30.180 all our shame, 00:27:30.480 --> 00:27:31.839 he heaped them on his son. 00:27:32.000 --> 00:27:33.920 Jesus took the penalty for us 00:27:33.920 --> 00:27:35.079 so that we could have 00:27:35.079 --> 00:27:36.379 a relationship with God 00:27:36.379 --> 00:27:37.339 so that we could know 00:27:37.339 --> 00:27:38.220 the God of heaven 00:27:38.220 --> 00:27:39.240 in a way the writer 00:27:39.240 --> 00:27:40.019 of Ecclesiastes 00:27:40.019 --> 00:27:40.940 never could 00:27:40.940 --> 00:27:43.019 and so that we could have 00:27:43.019 --> 00:27:43.799 real peace 00:27:43.799 --> 00:27:44.819 and real satisfaction 00:27:44.819 --> 00:27:46.659 in our lives. 00:27:47.679 --> 00:27:48.720 And as we look through 00:27:48.720 --> 00:27:50.519 whatever lens we have on life, 00:27:51.200 --> 00:27:53.220 then we should be looking at it 00:27:53.220 --> 00:27:54.339 through the lens 00:27:54.339 --> 00:27:55.659 of the Lord Jesus 00:27:55.659 --> 00:27:57.679 and of what he has done 00:27:57.679 --> 00:27:59.759 and of who he is. 00:28:00.319 --> 00:28:01.399 No one had anything 00:28:01.399 --> 00:28:02.319 like the wisdom 00:28:02.319 --> 00:28:03.059 of the Lord Jesus, 00:28:03.200 --> 00:28:03.859 not Solomon, 00:28:04.279 --> 00:28:05.559 not anyone else. 00:28:06.119 --> 00:28:06.899 And that wisdom, 00:28:07.019 --> 00:28:07.539 as I said, 00:28:07.799 --> 00:28:09.439 is particularly displayed. 00:28:09.759 --> 00:28:11.159 It is death for us 00:28:11.159 --> 00:28:12.319 on the cross. 00:28:12.960 --> 00:28:13.919 Let's go out this week 00:28:13.920 --> 00:28:15.160 and focus on that. 00:28:15.580 --> 00:28:16.840 Focus on the Lord Jesus, 00:28:17.259 --> 00:28:18.320 on living for him, 00:28:18.380 --> 00:28:19.420 on following him, 00:28:19.840 --> 00:28:20.759 on godliness 00:28:20.759 --> 00:28:22.940 with contentment. 00:28:24.000 --> 00:28:24.860 And if what I've been saying 00:28:24.860 --> 00:28:26.100 is a bit alien to you 00:28:26.100 --> 00:28:27.200 and you don't really understand, 00:28:27.539 --> 00:28:28.120 a lot of it, 00:28:28.160 --> 00:28:29.039 please speak to myself 00:28:29.039 --> 00:28:30.440 or to Alistair at the end 00:28:30.440 --> 00:28:32.539 if you would like to know more 00:28:32.539 --> 00:28:34.140 about the Lord Jesus 00:28:34.140 --> 00:28:35.840 and about what the cross 00:28:35.840 --> 00:28:36.920 at Calvary 00:28:36.920 --> 00:28:38.660 should mean for us. 00:28:38.660 --> 00:28:39.900 Let's live lives 00:28:39.900 --> 00:28:40.860 of real wisdom, 00:28:41.480 --> 00:28:42.720 not lives that are characterized 00:28:42.720 --> 00:28:44.019 by selfishness 00:28:44.019 --> 00:28:45.799 or by a desire 00:28:45.799 --> 00:28:47.140 to be one up 00:28:47.140 --> 00:28:48.059 on others. 00:28:48.480 --> 00:28:49.440 And let's do it together 00:28:49.440 --> 00:28:50.160 as a church, 00:28:50.240 --> 00:28:51.299 as a group of God's people 00:28:51.299 --> 00:28:52.160 that we can support 00:28:52.160 --> 00:28:52.740 one another 00:28:52.740 --> 00:28:54.539 and encourage each other 00:28:54.539 --> 00:28:56.200 as we seek to serve 00:28:56.200 --> 00:28:57.019 the Lord 00:28:57.019 --> 00:28:58.059 whom we love. 00:28:58.460 --> 00:28:59.200 Let's pray together. 00:29:00.600 --> 00:29:01.160 Father, 00:29:01.220 --> 00:29:01.579 we thank you 00:29:01.579 --> 00:29:02.559 for your word to us. 00:29:03.059 --> 00:29:03.740 We thank you 00:29:03.740 --> 00:29:04.720 for the wisdom 00:29:04.720 --> 00:29:05.440 that there is 00:29:05.440 --> 00:29:06.400 in this book 00:29:06.400 --> 00:29:07.240 of Ecclesiastes 00:29:07.240 --> 00:29:07.819 for the way 00:29:07.819 --> 00:29:08.380 that it rings 00:29:08.380 --> 00:29:09.240 true to life. 00:29:09.240 --> 00:29:10.539 But we thank you 00:29:10.539 --> 00:29:11.359 for how much more 00:29:11.359 --> 00:29:12.019 we know 00:29:12.019 --> 00:29:13.319 through the Lord Jesus. 00:29:14.039 --> 00:29:14.680 And we thank you 00:29:14.680 --> 00:29:15.759 that through his cross 00:29:15.759 --> 00:29:16.839 we can see 00:29:16.839 --> 00:29:17.960 finally 00:29:17.960 --> 00:29:19.579 the wisdom of God 00:29:19.579 --> 00:29:20.660 and how that is 00:29:20.660 --> 00:29:21.519 so much greater 00:29:21.519 --> 00:29:22.799 than human wisdom. 00:29:22.920 --> 00:29:23.480 Help us all 00:29:23.480 --> 00:29:24.539 to understand it 00:29:24.539 --> 00:29:25.960 and to have our faith 00:29:25.960 --> 00:29:26.900 in Jesus. 00:29:27.599 --> 00:29:28.180 And help us 00:29:28.180 --> 00:29:28.599 as a group 00:29:28.599 --> 00:29:29.359 of your people 00:29:29.359 --> 00:29:31.460 to be stronger together, 00:29:31.980 --> 00:29:32.579 to encourage 00:29:32.579 --> 00:29:34.519 and build each other up, 00:29:34.839 --> 00:29:36.200 whether in our small groups 00:29:36.200 --> 00:29:38.420 or in individual relationships, 00:29:39.200 --> 00:29:40.400 that we may be those 00:29:40.400 --> 00:29:41.640 who support one another, 00:29:41.940 --> 00:29:43.539 who function well together 00:29:43.539 --> 00:29:44.880 as a body 00:29:44.880 --> 00:29:47.299 and who have a real joy together 00:29:47.299 --> 00:29:48.580 in the Lord Jesus. 00:29:48.920 --> 00:29:49.319 We thank you 00:29:49.319 --> 00:29:49.960 for your presence. 00:29:50.360 --> 00:29:51.580 We commit ourselves to you 00:29:51.580 --> 00:29:52.799 in Jesus' name. 00:29:53.500 --> 00:29:53.759 Amen.