WEBVTT

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 It's Ecclesiastes 4, 4 to 16.

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 Let me pray for the preaching of God's word.

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 Heavenly Father, we are a lonely people.

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 We are an envious people.

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 We are a greedy people.

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 Lord, forgive us for our many sins,

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 and we see the effect of Hevel,

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 of unwise living,

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 and how much it drives us to loneliness.

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 But Lord, thank you that you have called us friends in Jesus.

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 Thank you for your word that addresses us today.

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 Keep our hearts open and soft

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 so that we would be transformed by your word and your spirit

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 to be more and more like you, Christ,

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 and to build community here in this church,

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 in this city, and in our lives.

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 In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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 Please rise to honor the reading of God's word.

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 Starting from verse 4.

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 Then I saw all toil and all skill and work

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 come from a man's envy of his neighbor.

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 This also is vanity and a striving after wind.

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 The fool folds his hands and eats his own flesh.

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 Better is a handful of quietness

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 than two hands full of toil and a striving after wind.

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 Again, I saw vanity under the sun.

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 One person who has no other,

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 either son or brother,

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 yet there is no end to all his toil,

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 and his eyes are never satisfied with riches

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 so that he never asks,

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 for whom am I toiling and depriving myself of pleasure?

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 This also is vanity and an unhappy business.

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 Two are better than one

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 because they have a good reward for their toil.

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 For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow.

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 But woe to him who is alone

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 when he falls and has not another to lift him up.

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 Again, if two lie together, they keep warm,

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 but how can one keep warm alone?

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 And though a man might prevail against one who is alone,

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 two will withstand him.

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 A threefold cord is not quickly broken.

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 Better was a poor and wise youth

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 than an old and foolish king

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 who no longer knew how to take advice.

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 For he went from prison to the throne,

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 though in his own kingdom he had been born poor.

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 I saw all the living who move about under the sun

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 along with that youth who was to stand in the king's place.

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 There was no end of all the people,

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 all of whom he led.

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 Yet those who come later will not rejoice in him.

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 Surely this also is vanity

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 and a striving after wind.

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 This is God's holy and authoritative word.

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 You may be seated.

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 There is a dangerous health epidemic

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 that's ravaging all of America.

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 And it's more dangerous than smoking 15 cigarettes

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 or drinking six alcoholic drinks per day.

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 It's a lot.

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 According to the U.S. Surgeon General,

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 the leading voice in our U.S. government

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 for health and safety,

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 being infected with this epidemic

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 increases your risk by 20%,

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 29% of heart disease,

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 32% increased risk of stroke,

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 and a whopping 50% increase

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 in developing dementia for older patients,

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 for older adults.

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 Can you guess what is ravaging our society today?

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 Yeah.

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 Kind of obvious, right?

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 It's loneliness.

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 Basically, by all measures that people have been studying,

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 whether it's by number of hours you spend in person

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 with another person,

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 the number of single households,

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 single-person households,

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 the number of close friends that you have,

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 every single one of these numbers

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 are trending to show that we are an increasingly lonely society.

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 And it's no new fact to medical practitioners

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 that broken heart syndrome

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 is both an emotional and mental

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 and physical reality.

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 It affects us totality,

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 our total person.

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 It affects us.

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 So to us,

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 a lonely world,

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 the preacher of Ecclesiastes

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 has some relevant words for us today,

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 which is an amazing thought.

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 This book has been written over 2,000 years ago,

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 and it's still relevant.

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 It has such rich wisdom for us today.

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 And he knows that it's not good for man to be alone.

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 Just as God declares in the Garden of Eden

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 in Genesis 3,

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 Instead,

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 we ought to flee loneliness

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 that's striving after wind,

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 that comes from striving after wind,

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 and in turn,

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 create community with those around us.

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 That's the main point of my sermon today.

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 And in turn,

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 we'll see how the preacher warns us

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 of the loneliness that's caused by envy and competition,

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 the loneliness that's caused by greed,

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 and finally,

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 the loneliness that affects even those

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 who are at the top of society.

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 So the preacher opens up our passage

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 with a sobering observation

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 to the nature of work.

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 He says that all toil

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 and all skill

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 come from a man's envy of his neighbor.

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 Notice those repeated words,

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 all,

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 all toil,

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 all skill.

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 Where does every impressive feat of man come from then?

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 How have we gotten to the technological advancements

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 of the iPhone or AI?

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 How have we gotten man onto the moon?

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 How have we developed COVID vaccines so quickly?

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 It's all from competitive envy.

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 That's what the preacher claims.

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 It's when we feel bitter

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 that others are doing better.

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 That's what fuels us to be successful.

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 Now this is a clearly an exaggerated hyperbolic statement,

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 right?

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 Because after all,

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 how could one man know

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 the hearts of every single other person here on earth?

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 But still,

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 we do well to consider

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 just how common,

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 how ubiquitous

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 this feeling and sin of envy is.

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 It reigns in every domain of our lives.

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 It's in our workplaces,

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 our schools,

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 our labs,

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 our homes,

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 even our churches.

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 It's literally everywhere.

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 Richard Phillips,

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 he's a long time faithful pastor

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 and his wife Sharon.

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 They've written,

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 the longer we serve in ministry,

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 the more we see pretty much

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 that everyone is envying everyone else.

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 No one has the circumstances

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 that they really want.

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 Notice how the preacher identifies

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 the source of his envy

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 in verse four.

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 It's not some,

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 you know,

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 abstract,

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 far out,

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 theoretical person of success.

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 It's our neighbors.

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 We are envious of our neighbors.

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 The fodder of envy

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 is really the closest people

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 in our lives.

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 Pastor Jerry Bridges

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 in his book,

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 Respectable Sins,

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 he comments,

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 an insurance salesman

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 is not likely to envy

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 a professional athlete

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 who earns a multi-million dollar salary,

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 but he may well envy

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 another salesman

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 who sells more insurance

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 than he does.

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 A pastor of a small,

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 medium-sized church

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 is not likely

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 to envy the mega church pastor,

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 but he may be tempted

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 to envy the pastor

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 down the street

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 whose church is growing

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 more than his.

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 See,

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 the reason we are

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 tempted to envy

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 in these situations

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 is that there are

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 enough things alike

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 that the differences

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 tend to strike us

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 in the face.

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 So the point goes,

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 if you are guilty

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 of the sin of envy,

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 which,

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 let's say,

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 the preacher thinks

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 it's very likely,

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 he knows that you could

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 very much be envious

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 of the people

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 you're closest to,

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 most similar to,

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 your brother,

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 your sister,

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 your roommate,

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 your best friend.

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 He drives that new car.

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 She got into that program

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 that I wanted.

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 He just started dating.

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 That's all fodder

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 for envy

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 in our sinful hearts.

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 But why are we

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 such a competitive,

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 envious people?

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 Why is it so common?

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 At the heart level,

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 even for God's adopted children,

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 we envy because

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 we are plagued

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 with insecurity,

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 aren't we not?

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 We're both insecure

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 and proud.

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 And believe it or not,

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 those are not

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 mutually exclusive things.

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 Those are just two sides

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 of the same coin.

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 We're proud

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 and we're insecure

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 because we stand

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 on the shaky ground

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 of self-dependence.

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 We think it's up to us

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 to prove our self-worth

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 and to prove our value,

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 to earn

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 and achieve the love

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 and acceptance

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 that we really,

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 really crave and need.

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 Sometimes it's been called

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 having an orphan mentality.

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 We think and act

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 as if we are orphans.

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 And we don't have

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 a Heavenly Father

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 who really cares

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 and loves for us,

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 who yearns after you.

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 and without the security

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 of a steadfast,

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 faithful love

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 of God

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 that's in us

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 in Christ,

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 we then puff up

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 our chests, right?

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 We puff up our chests

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 and we compete

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 with one another

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 because after all,

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 who's going to love me?

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 How else am I going

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 to get loved?

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 How else am I going

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 to be accepted?

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 And in the end,

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 if you never grow

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 out of this,

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 you're going to have

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 a really,

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 really hard time

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 being a healthy part

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 of a community

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 and experience

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 true friendship.

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 This is what

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 David Gibson writes

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 in his book.

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 Consider the old saying,

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 any friend can share

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 your sorrows

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 and failures,

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 but it takes

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 a true friend

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 to share your joys

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 and successes.

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 Isn't this true?

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 When we see

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 a friend succeed

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 and make things work,

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 we smile

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 and pat her

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 on the back,

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 but deep down

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 we envy

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 because she has

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 made us feel worse

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 about ourselves.

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 When our friend

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 falls flat on his face,

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 our sinfulness

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 is such that

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 we can watch him

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 mess up

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 and even hug him,

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 but his failure

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 makes us feel

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 so much better

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 about ourselves.

00:11:34.979 --> 00:11:35.839
 If that defines

00:11:35.839 --> 00:11:37.379
 our relationships today,

00:11:37.459 --> 00:11:37.979
 if it defines

00:11:37.979 --> 00:11:39.259
 your relationships today,

00:11:39.259 --> 00:11:41.100
 you're going to struggle

00:11:41.100 --> 00:11:41.740
 with always

00:11:41.740 --> 00:11:42.659
 being defensive,

00:11:43.500 --> 00:11:44.419
 easily hurt,

00:11:44.980 --> 00:11:46.019
 suspicious of others,

00:11:47.059 --> 00:11:47.679
 you're always going

00:11:47.679 --> 00:11:48.620
 to feel alone,

00:11:49.419 --> 00:11:50.019
 disconnected,

00:11:50.259 --> 00:11:50.899
 unsupported,

00:11:51.000 --> 00:11:52.519
 just like a poor orphan.

00:11:54.120 --> 00:11:54.439
 See,

00:11:54.659 --> 00:11:56.819
 the most competitive

00:11:56.819 --> 00:11:57.500
 of us

00:11:57.500 --> 00:11:58.059
 are truly

00:11:58.059 --> 00:11:59.539
 the most lonely

00:11:59.539 --> 00:12:00.340
 of us.

00:12:00.340 --> 00:12:03.100
 but often

00:12:03.100 --> 00:12:03.480
 the world

00:12:03.480 --> 00:12:04.480
 promotes envy

00:12:04.480 --> 00:12:06.399
 as a motivator

00:12:06.399 --> 00:12:07.700
 for incredible success

00:12:07.700 --> 00:12:08.060
 because,

00:12:08.379 --> 00:12:08.899
 let's face it,

00:12:08.940 --> 00:12:09.379
 it is

00:12:09.379 --> 00:12:10.560
 an incredible

00:12:10.560 --> 00:12:11.320
 motivator.

00:12:12.840 --> 00:12:13.300
 The preacher

00:12:13.300 --> 00:12:14.000
 is wise

00:12:14.000 --> 00:12:14.379
 to admit

00:12:14.379 --> 00:12:14.860
 that this

00:12:14.860 --> 00:12:15.259
 produces

00:12:15.259 --> 00:12:16.560
 all skill.

00:12:17.800 --> 00:12:18.300
 Some of the

00:12:18.300 --> 00:12:19.139
 most successful

00:12:19.139 --> 00:12:20.540
 people in this life

00:12:20.540 --> 00:12:21.019
 have been

00:12:21.019 --> 00:12:21.759
 the most

00:12:21.759 --> 00:12:22.500
 envious,

00:12:23.160 --> 00:12:23.519
 the most

00:12:23.519 --> 00:12:24.780
 brutally competitive,

00:12:25.560 --> 00:12:26.600
 just a short list

00:12:26.600 --> 00:12:27.019
 of some

00:12:27.019 --> 00:12:28.820
 crazy successful people,

00:12:28.820 --> 00:12:29.900
 Alexander the Great,

00:12:30.500 --> 00:12:31.360
 Leonardo da Vinci,

00:12:31.520 --> 00:12:31.860
 Oprah,

00:12:32.379 --> 00:12:33.040
 Steve Jobs,

00:12:33.160 --> 00:12:33.740
 Michael Jordan,

00:12:34.620 --> 00:12:35.400
 all of these

00:12:35.400 --> 00:12:36.500
 incredibly successful

00:12:36.500 --> 00:12:37.300
 people have been

00:12:37.300 --> 00:12:38.140
 widely known

00:12:38.140 --> 00:12:39.400
 to use their

00:12:39.400 --> 00:12:40.040
 envy,

00:12:40.960 --> 00:12:41.700
 their competitive

00:12:41.700 --> 00:12:42.460
 drive,

00:12:42.800 --> 00:12:43.460
 to drive them

00:12:43.460 --> 00:12:44.340
 to all toil,

00:12:44.460 --> 00:12:45.280
 all skill.

00:12:46.640 --> 00:12:47.540
 It's unbelievable,

00:12:48.260 --> 00:12:48.540
 really,

00:12:48.640 --> 00:12:49.180
 if you look at it,

00:12:49.260 --> 00:12:50.060
 it's unbelievable

00:12:50.060 --> 00:12:50.920
 how far

00:12:50.920 --> 00:12:51.720
 some people

00:12:51.720 --> 00:12:52.820
 will push themselves

00:12:52.820 --> 00:12:53.980
 without rest

00:12:53.980 --> 00:12:55.140
 or sleep,

00:12:55.280 --> 00:12:56.060
 without fun

00:12:56.059 --> 00:12:56.759
 or play

00:12:56.759 --> 00:12:57.719
 just to be

00:12:57.719 --> 00:12:58.239
 better than

00:12:58.239 --> 00:12:59.159
 the next guy.

00:13:01.519 --> 00:13:02.379
 Let's take a look

00:13:02.379 --> 00:13:03.339
 at Kobe Bryant,

00:13:04.239 --> 00:13:05.179
 the late,

00:13:05.299 --> 00:13:05.859
 great basketball

00:13:05.859 --> 00:13:06.259
 player.

00:13:06.639 --> 00:13:07.759
 He was widely

00:13:07.759 --> 00:13:08.579
 known to have

00:13:08.579 --> 00:13:09.139
 really this

00:13:09.139 --> 00:13:10.079
 relentless

00:13:10.079 --> 00:13:11.279
 work ethic.

00:13:11.939 --> 00:13:12.519
 He was the

00:13:12.519 --> 00:13:13.759
 first and last

00:13:13.759 --> 00:13:14.439
 person in and

00:13:14.439 --> 00:13:15.039
 out of the gym,

00:13:15.399 --> 00:13:16.319
 and while other

00:13:16.319 --> 00:13:17.099
 teammates would be

00:13:17.099 --> 00:13:17.819
 just waking up

00:13:17.819 --> 00:13:18.279
 in the hotel

00:13:18.279 --> 00:13:19.139
 at 8 a.m.,

00:13:19.139 --> 00:13:19.959
 he'd just be

00:13:19.959 --> 00:13:21.259
 returning full of,

00:13:21.459 --> 00:13:22.439
 drenched with sweat

00:13:22.439 --> 00:13:23.599
 after practicing

00:13:23.599 --> 00:13:25.039
 for two to three

00:13:25.039 --> 00:13:25.240
 hours,

00:13:25.339 --> 00:13:25.659
 putting up

00:13:25.659 --> 00:13:26.559
 1,000 shots.

00:13:28.159 --> 00:13:28.519
 And throughout

00:13:28.519 --> 00:13:28.839
 his career,

00:13:28.919 --> 00:13:29.419
 it's well known

00:13:29.419 --> 00:13:30.000
 that Kobe

00:13:30.000 --> 00:13:31.539
 would use these

00:13:31.539 --> 00:13:32.519
 feuds with bitter

00:13:32.519 --> 00:13:32.980
 rivals,

00:13:33.319 --> 00:13:34.139
 most famously

00:13:34.139 --> 00:13:35.000
 with Shaq,

00:13:35.079 --> 00:13:35.719
 Shaquille O'Neal,

00:13:36.319 --> 00:13:37.539
 to fuel him

00:13:37.539 --> 00:13:38.679
 at any costs.

00:13:39.360 --> 00:13:40.219
 It's no wonder

00:13:40.219 --> 00:13:41.139
 that Kobe was

00:13:41.139 --> 00:13:42.179
 one of the

00:13:42.179 --> 00:13:43.199
 greatest basketball

00:13:43.199 --> 00:13:44.120
 players of all

00:13:44.120 --> 00:13:44.419
 time,

00:13:44.579 --> 00:13:46.059
 with five NBA

00:13:46.059 --> 00:13:46.620
 championships,

00:13:46.839 --> 00:13:46.980
 right,

00:13:47.059 --> 00:13:47.559
 made a point

00:13:47.559 --> 00:13:48.199
 that one more

00:13:48.199 --> 00:13:48.740
 than Shaq,

00:13:49.599 --> 00:13:51.019
 18 all-star

00:13:51.019 --> 00:13:51.559
 nods,

00:13:51.719 --> 00:13:52.919
 and two Olympic

00:13:52.919 --> 00:13:53.759
 gold medals.

00:13:55.039 --> 00:13:56.740
 Kobe's work

00:13:56.740 --> 00:13:58.319
 ethic exemplifies

00:13:58.319 --> 00:13:59.019
 what has been

00:13:59.019 --> 00:14:00.079
 branded as his

00:14:00.079 --> 00:14:01.199
 Mamba mentality.

00:14:01.299 --> 00:14:01.459
 I don't know

00:14:01.459 --> 00:14:01.779
 if you guys

00:14:01.779 --> 00:14:02.199
 have ever heard

00:14:02.199 --> 00:14:02.500
 of that,

00:14:02.959 --> 00:14:03.159
 right?

00:14:03.459 --> 00:14:04.539
 This Mamba mentality,

00:14:04.679 --> 00:14:05.879
 which comes from

00:14:05.879 --> 00:14:06.599
 his nickname on

00:14:06.599 --> 00:14:06.919
 Cord.

00:14:07.079 --> 00:14:08.159
 It's featured on

00:14:08.159 --> 00:14:09.459
 motivational videos.

00:14:10.559 --> 00:14:11.839
 It's in books,

00:14:11.939 --> 00:14:12.719
 this idea

00:14:12.719 --> 00:14:14.639
 that relentless

00:14:14.639 --> 00:14:16.000
 hard work

00:14:16.000 --> 00:14:18.159
 will allow you

00:14:18.159 --> 00:14:18.799
 to achieve

00:14:18.799 --> 00:14:19.639
 your goals

00:14:19.639 --> 00:14:20.279
 above your

00:14:20.279 --> 00:14:20.819
 opponents.

00:14:20.820 --> 00:14:23.480
 It's a refusal

00:14:23.480 --> 00:14:24.100
 to settle

00:14:24.100 --> 00:14:24.879
 for anything

00:14:24.879 --> 00:14:25.980
 less than

00:14:25.980 --> 00:14:26.860
 perfection,

00:14:27.180 --> 00:14:28.100
 than excellence.

00:14:28.620 --> 00:14:29.420
 It's a commitment

00:14:29.420 --> 00:14:30.140
 to do better

00:14:30.140 --> 00:14:31.379
 every single day,

00:14:31.940 --> 00:14:32.140
 right?

00:14:32.200 --> 00:14:32.680
 This Mamba

00:14:32.680 --> 00:14:33.180
 mentality,

00:14:33.300 --> 00:14:33.780
 in a lot of

00:14:33.780 --> 00:14:34.040
 ways,

00:14:34.140 --> 00:14:36.200
 is this world's

00:14:36.200 --> 00:14:36.680
 gospel.

00:14:37.100 --> 00:14:37.960
 It's this world's

00:14:37.960 --> 00:14:38.460
 promise.

00:14:39.260 --> 00:14:40.300
 This world that is

00:14:40.300 --> 00:14:41.360
 capitalistic,

00:14:41.580 --> 00:14:42.100
 competitive,

00:14:43.300 --> 00:14:44.379
 everybody is just

00:14:44.379 --> 00:14:45.180
 seeking to gain

00:14:45.180 --> 00:14:46.440
 an upper edge

00:14:46.440 --> 00:14:47.120
 against everyone

00:14:47.120 --> 00:14:47.520
 else.

00:14:47.519 --> 00:14:49.559
 And so they say,

00:14:49.720 --> 00:14:51.039
 if I work hard

00:14:51.039 --> 00:14:52.419
 enough at something,

00:14:52.460 --> 00:14:53.179
 I will achieve

00:14:53.179 --> 00:14:54.620
 everything that I

00:14:54.620 --> 00:14:54.939
 want.

00:14:55.419 --> 00:14:57.019
 If I grind just a

00:14:57.019 --> 00:14:57.899
 little bit harder,

00:14:58.500 --> 00:15:01.579
 then success is just

00:15:01.579 --> 00:15:02.220
 behind that next

00:15:02.220 --> 00:15:02.480
 door.

00:15:03.879 --> 00:15:04.559
 But the preacher

00:15:04.559 --> 00:15:05.759
 in Ecclesiastes,

00:15:06.019 --> 00:15:07.579
 he splashes cold

00:15:07.579 --> 00:15:08.559
 water, right,

00:15:08.600 --> 00:15:09.340
 in the face of

00:15:09.340 --> 00:15:10.679
 all of this.

00:15:11.539 --> 00:15:13.059
 Because even if

00:15:13.059 --> 00:15:13.939
 you wake up

00:15:13.939 --> 00:15:15.939
 at 5 a.m.

00:15:15.939 --> 00:15:16.779
 before all your

00:15:16.779 --> 00:15:17.240
 opponents,

00:15:17.519 --> 00:15:18.500
 and you grind

00:15:18.500 --> 00:15:19.480
 yourself to the

00:15:19.480 --> 00:15:19.759
 bone,

00:15:20.159 --> 00:15:21.139
 you work as hard

00:15:21.139 --> 00:15:22.139
 as you theoretically

00:15:22.139 --> 00:15:22.579
 could,

00:15:22.879 --> 00:15:23.899
 and develop all

00:15:23.899 --> 00:15:25.179
 skill and achieve

00:15:25.179 --> 00:15:26.340
 all success,

00:15:26.720 --> 00:15:27.899
 the reality is that

00:15:27.899 --> 00:15:29.480
 time and death

00:15:29.480 --> 00:15:30.559
 come for us all.

00:15:31.960 --> 00:15:33.379
 All skill in the

00:15:33.379 --> 00:15:34.740
 world cannot slow

00:15:34.740 --> 00:15:35.639
 down death.

00:15:37.019 --> 00:15:38.299
 Even Kobe is a

00:15:38.299 --> 00:15:39.360
 tragic example of

00:15:39.360 --> 00:15:39.659
 this.

00:15:40.460 --> 00:15:41.319
 Given all his

00:15:41.319 --> 00:15:41.960
 hard work,

00:15:42.059 --> 00:15:42.659
 he should have

00:15:42.659 --> 00:15:44.379
 enjoyed the

00:15:44.379 --> 00:15:44.899
 longest,

00:15:45.379 --> 00:15:45.919
 happiest,

00:15:46.319 --> 00:15:47.199
 prosperous of

00:15:47.200 --> 00:15:47.640
 lives.

00:15:48.759 --> 00:15:49.759
 But he would

00:15:49.759 --> 00:15:51.420
 go on to die

00:15:51.420 --> 00:15:52.160
 in a tragic

00:15:52.160 --> 00:15:53.780
 helicopter accident

00:15:53.780 --> 00:15:54.840
 at the young age

00:15:54.840 --> 00:15:55.700
 of 41 with

00:15:55.700 --> 00:15:56.360
 eight others,

00:15:56.879 --> 00:15:57.720
 including his

00:15:57.720 --> 00:15:59.740
 young 13-year-old

00:15:59.740 --> 00:16:00.020
 daughter,

00:16:00.120 --> 00:16:00.540
 Gianna.

00:16:01.740 --> 00:16:02.360
 Kobe probably

00:16:02.360 --> 00:16:03.259
 worked harder

00:16:03.259 --> 00:16:04.500
 than every single

00:16:04.500 --> 00:16:05.480
 one of us,

00:16:05.940 --> 00:16:07.540
 but life isn't

00:16:07.540 --> 00:16:08.580
 fair in that

00:16:08.580 --> 00:16:08.879
 sense.

00:16:10.080 --> 00:16:11.060
 It's hevel.

00:16:11.680 --> 00:16:12.480
 It's a breath.

00:16:12.480 --> 00:16:14.139
 It's a striving

00:16:14.139 --> 00:16:14.920
 after wind.

00:16:17.360 --> 00:16:18.580
 Why should we

00:16:18.580 --> 00:16:19.220
 work then?

00:16:20.120 --> 00:16:21.340
 If death comes

00:16:21.340 --> 00:16:21.920
 for all,

00:16:22.820 --> 00:16:23.779
 it seems pointless,

00:16:24.240 --> 00:16:25.279
 then what's the

00:16:25.279 --> 00:16:26.500
 point of hard work?

00:16:28.259 --> 00:16:29.340
 But the preacher

00:16:29.340 --> 00:16:30.519
 doesn't agree with

00:16:30.519 --> 00:16:31.300
 that logic either.

00:16:31.399 --> 00:16:31.659
 It says,

00:16:31.759 --> 00:16:31.960
 no,

00:16:32.039 --> 00:16:33.279
 in verse five,

00:16:33.700 --> 00:16:34.740
 it says that

00:16:34.740 --> 00:16:36.060
 removing work and

00:16:36.060 --> 00:16:36.920
 toil altogether

00:16:36.920 --> 00:16:37.700
 isn't the right

00:16:37.700 --> 00:16:38.379
 solution either.

00:16:38.379 --> 00:16:39.399
 it says,

00:16:39.659 --> 00:16:40.379
 it's the fool

00:16:40.379 --> 00:16:41.200
 who folds his

00:16:41.200 --> 00:16:42.299
 hands and eats

00:16:42.299 --> 00:16:43.200
 his own flesh.

00:16:43.980 --> 00:16:44.580
 Following the

00:16:44.580 --> 00:16:45.399
 wisdom of many

00:16:45.399 --> 00:16:46.039
 proverbs,

00:16:46.580 --> 00:16:47.279
 the folding of

00:16:47.279 --> 00:16:47.939
 your hands,

00:16:48.179 --> 00:16:48.419
 right,

00:16:48.519 --> 00:16:49.639
 it's equivalent

00:16:49.639 --> 00:16:50.460
 to the gruesome

00:16:50.460 --> 00:16:51.000
 eating of your

00:16:51.000 --> 00:16:51.559
 own knuckles.

00:16:53.539 --> 00:16:54.399
 Laziness really

00:16:54.399 --> 00:16:55.439
 has no place

00:16:55.439 --> 00:16:56.159
 in a biblical,

00:16:56.820 --> 00:16:57.759
 wise way to

00:16:57.759 --> 00:16:58.120
 live.

00:16:58.720 --> 00:16:59.019
 Instead,

00:16:59.159 --> 00:17:00.720
 hard work is

00:17:00.720 --> 00:17:01.720
 meant to be

00:17:01.720 --> 00:17:02.820
 enjoyed as a

00:17:02.820 --> 00:17:03.120
 gift.

00:17:03.120 --> 00:17:03.940
 It's a means

00:17:03.940 --> 00:17:04.700
 of grace for

00:17:04.700 --> 00:17:06.019
 us to provide

00:17:06.019 --> 00:17:06.779
 for ourselves

00:17:06.779 --> 00:17:07.259
 and to be

00:17:07.259 --> 00:17:08.380
 generous with

00:17:08.380 --> 00:17:09.119
 others.

00:17:11.119 --> 00:17:12.359
 We should work

00:17:12.359 --> 00:17:13.400
 hard in life

00:17:13.400 --> 00:17:14.480
 to do better

00:17:14.480 --> 00:17:15.240
 every single

00:17:15.240 --> 00:17:15.519
 day,

00:17:15.640 --> 00:17:16.200
 to pursue

00:17:16.200 --> 00:17:16.980
 excellence,

00:17:17.480 --> 00:17:19.440
 but when a

00:17:19.440 --> 00:17:20.660
 mamba mentality

00:17:20.660 --> 00:17:22.400
 turns into an

00:17:22.400 --> 00:17:23.619
 orphan mentality,

00:17:23.940 --> 00:17:24.859
 which it so

00:17:24.859 --> 00:17:25.799
 often does,

00:17:26.839 --> 00:17:27.019
 right,

00:17:27.039 --> 00:17:27.599
 if we follow

00:17:27.599 --> 00:17:28.279
 in the footsteps

00:17:28.279 --> 00:17:29.099
 of Kobe,

00:17:29.180 --> 00:17:29.640
 who works

00:17:29.640 --> 00:17:30.940
 incredibly hard

00:17:30.940 --> 00:17:32.480
 just because we

00:17:32.480 --> 00:17:33.720
 don't trust God

00:17:33.720 --> 00:17:34.599
 to provide for

00:17:34.599 --> 00:17:34.819
 us,

00:17:34.880 --> 00:17:35.519
 we don't trust

00:17:35.519 --> 00:17:36.400
 in his steadfast

00:17:36.400 --> 00:17:37.180
 love for us,

00:17:37.740 --> 00:17:39.259
 we lose our

00:17:39.259 --> 00:17:39.599
 way.

00:17:41.620 --> 00:17:41.940
 You see,

00:17:42.019 --> 00:17:42.559
 the problem,

00:17:42.799 --> 00:17:42.900
 though,

00:17:43.000 --> 00:17:44.319
 is not with

00:17:44.319 --> 00:17:44.980
 hard work,

00:17:45.200 --> 00:17:45.980
 the problem is

00:17:45.980 --> 00:17:46.579
 with us.

00:17:48.000 --> 00:17:48.420
 Instead,

00:17:48.599 --> 00:17:49.160
 the preacher

00:17:49.160 --> 00:17:50.079
 shows us a

00:17:50.079 --> 00:17:51.120
 better way

00:17:51.120 --> 00:17:52.460
 in verse 6.

00:17:53.240 --> 00:17:53.539
 Again,

00:17:53.640 --> 00:17:54.200
 notice the

00:17:54.200 --> 00:17:55.160
 balanced wisdom

00:17:55.160 --> 00:17:56.160
 of Ecclesiastes.

00:17:57.099 --> 00:17:57.980
 Two folded

00:17:57.980 --> 00:17:58.559
 hands,

00:17:59.279 --> 00:17:59.799
 not holding

00:17:59.799 --> 00:18:00.140
 anything,

00:18:00.259 --> 00:18:01.039
 are lazy,

00:18:01.660 --> 00:18:02.460
 self-sabotaging,

00:18:02.480 --> 00:18:03.680
 self-destructive,

00:18:04.019 --> 00:18:06.019
 but two hands

00:18:06.019 --> 00:18:07.880
 full of toil.

00:18:08.599 --> 00:18:09.539
 It's not

00:18:09.539 --> 00:18:10.099
 better either.

00:18:11.240 --> 00:18:12.140
 It's striving

00:18:12.140 --> 00:18:12.799
 after wind,

00:18:12.900 --> 00:18:13.599
 a useless

00:18:13.599 --> 00:18:14.120
 endeavor,

00:18:14.680 --> 00:18:15.880
 but what's

00:18:15.880 --> 00:18:16.900
 better is

00:18:16.900 --> 00:18:18.360
 one open

00:18:18.360 --> 00:18:19.099
 hand,

00:18:19.420 --> 00:18:20.500
 full of

00:18:20.500 --> 00:18:21.240
 quietness,

00:18:21.920 --> 00:18:22.360
 and the other

00:18:22.360 --> 00:18:23.400
 presumably full

00:18:23.400 --> 00:18:24.259
 of hard work.

00:18:25.380 --> 00:18:25.860
 It's a

00:18:25.860 --> 00:18:27.220
 beautiful picture,

00:18:27.339 --> 00:18:27.539
 really,

00:18:27.620 --> 00:18:28.579
 of hard work

00:18:28.579 --> 00:18:29.880
 paired with

00:18:29.880 --> 00:18:30.539
 joyous

00:18:30.539 --> 00:18:31.339
 contentment,

00:18:31.339 --> 00:18:32.539
 and I love

00:18:32.539 --> 00:18:33.159
 that picture,

00:18:33.359 --> 00:18:34.179
 quietness,

00:18:34.839 --> 00:18:35.259
 rest,

00:18:36.099 --> 00:18:36.539
 serenity,

00:18:36.720 --> 00:18:37.099
 peace,

00:18:37.599 --> 00:18:38.559
 not always

00:18:38.559 --> 00:18:39.779
 feeling rushed

00:18:39.779 --> 00:18:40.559
 to go from

00:18:40.559 --> 00:18:41.519
 place A

00:18:41.519 --> 00:18:42.259
 to place B

00:18:42.259 --> 00:18:43.399
 and feeling

00:18:43.399 --> 00:18:43.720
 like you

00:18:43.720 --> 00:18:44.339
 don't have

00:18:44.339 --> 00:18:44.879
 enough time

00:18:44.879 --> 00:18:45.359
 in life.

00:18:45.359 --> 00:18:48.399
 but the reality

00:18:48.399 --> 00:18:48.939
 is if you

00:18:48.939 --> 00:18:49.459
 do have

00:18:49.459 --> 00:18:50.439
 one hand

00:18:50.439 --> 00:18:51.379
 full of

00:18:51.379 --> 00:18:52.019
 quietness,

00:18:52.099 --> 00:18:52.599
 not full

00:18:52.599 --> 00:18:53.479
 of toil,

00:18:54.519 --> 00:18:54.899
 you know

00:18:54.899 --> 00:18:55.419
 that you're

00:18:55.419 --> 00:18:55.759
 going to

00:18:55.759 --> 00:18:56.639
 fall behind

00:18:56.639 --> 00:18:57.399
 the rest

00:18:57.399 --> 00:18:57.659
 of your

00:18:57.659 --> 00:18:58.079
 competitors

00:18:58.079 --> 00:18:58.719
 and the rest

00:18:58.719 --> 00:18:58.979
 of this

00:18:58.979 --> 00:18:59.319
 world.

00:19:00.740 --> 00:19:01.219
 You're

00:19:01.219 --> 00:19:01.579
 essentially

00:19:01.579 --> 00:19:02.119
 trying to

00:19:02.119 --> 00:19:02.500
 fight a

00:19:02.500 --> 00:19:03.159
 boxing match

00:19:03.159 --> 00:19:03.599
 with one

00:19:03.599 --> 00:19:04.059
 hand tied

00:19:04.059 --> 00:19:04.519
 behind your

00:19:04.519 --> 00:19:04.899
 back.

00:19:05.259 --> 00:19:05.740
 Of course,

00:19:05.919 --> 00:19:06.119
 you're going

00:19:06.119 --> 00:19:06.839
 to lose

00:19:06.839 --> 00:19:07.359
 sometimes.

00:19:08.899 --> 00:19:09.539
 But this

00:19:09.539 --> 00:19:10.159
 is where

00:19:10.159 --> 00:19:10.779
 the Christian

00:19:10.779 --> 00:19:11.319
 witness

00:19:11.319 --> 00:19:12.439
 begins to

00:19:12.439 --> 00:19:13.199
 shine so

00:19:13.199 --> 00:19:13.859
 brightly,

00:19:13.859 --> 00:19:15.279
 so uniquely,

00:19:16.119 --> 00:19:16.539
 is can

00:19:16.539 --> 00:19:17.319
 you lose

00:19:17.319 --> 00:19:18.559
 and be

00:19:18.559 --> 00:19:18.879
 content?

00:19:21.500 --> 00:19:21.779
 Whoa,

00:19:22.000 --> 00:19:22.419
 this is

00:19:22.419 --> 00:19:24.319
 where really

00:19:24.319 --> 00:19:24.939
 the Christian

00:19:24.939 --> 00:19:25.559
 witness starts

00:19:25.559 --> 00:19:26.019
 to shine

00:19:26.019 --> 00:19:27.159
 amazingly

00:19:27.159 --> 00:19:27.539
 brightly.

00:19:29.240 --> 00:19:29.859
 Don Whitney,

00:19:30.119 --> 00:19:30.639
 professor at

00:19:30.639 --> 00:19:31.219
 Southern Seminary,

00:19:31.319 --> 00:19:31.779
 he asks,

00:19:31.919 --> 00:19:32.339
 can you

00:19:32.339 --> 00:19:33.240
 serve your

00:19:33.240 --> 00:19:34.079
 boss and

00:19:34.079 --> 00:19:34.579
 others at

00:19:34.579 --> 00:19:34.859
 work,

00:19:34.959 --> 00:19:35.579
 helping them

00:19:35.579 --> 00:19:36.539
 to succeed

00:19:36.539 --> 00:19:37.099
 and be

00:19:37.099 --> 00:19:38.219
 happy even

00:19:38.219 --> 00:19:38.699
 when they

00:19:38.699 --> 00:19:39.240
 are promoted

00:19:39.240 --> 00:19:40.179
 and you

00:19:40.179 --> 00:19:40.740
 are overlooked?

00:19:41.779 --> 00:19:42.459
 Can you

00:19:42.459 --> 00:19:42.979
 work to

00:19:42.979 --> 00:19:43.459
 make others

00:19:43.460 --> 00:19:43.880
 look good

00:19:43.880 --> 00:19:44.680
 without envy

00:19:44.680 --> 00:19:45.440
 filling your

00:19:45.440 --> 00:19:45.840
 heart?

00:19:46.579 --> 00:19:47.000
 Can you

00:19:47.000 --> 00:19:47.759
 minister to

00:19:47.759 --> 00:19:48.420
 the needs

00:19:48.420 --> 00:19:48.940
 of those

00:19:48.940 --> 00:19:49.880
 whom God

00:19:49.880 --> 00:19:50.519
 exalts

00:19:50.519 --> 00:19:51.380
 and men

00:19:51.380 --> 00:19:51.980
 honor when

00:19:51.980 --> 00:19:52.680
 you yourself

00:19:52.680 --> 00:19:53.819
 are neglected?

00:19:54.779 --> 00:19:55.420
 Can you

00:19:55.420 --> 00:19:56.440
 pray for the

00:19:56.440 --> 00:19:57.279
 ministry of

00:19:57.279 --> 00:19:58.019
 others when

00:19:58.019 --> 00:19:58.539
 it would

00:19:58.539 --> 00:19:59.480
 cast yours

00:19:59.480 --> 00:20:00.100
 into the

00:20:00.100 --> 00:20:00.420
 shadows?

00:20:02.100 --> 00:20:02.799
 We can

00:20:02.799 --> 00:20:03.940
 only do

00:20:03.940 --> 00:20:04.220
 this,

00:20:04.279 --> 00:20:04.759
 brothers and

00:20:04.759 --> 00:20:05.079
 sisters,

00:20:05.340 --> 00:20:06.140
 by fighting

00:20:06.140 --> 00:20:07.100
 off gospel

00:20:07.100 --> 00:20:08.559
 amnesia and

00:20:08.559 --> 00:20:10.019
 remembering again

00:20:10.019 --> 00:20:10.680
 and again

00:20:10.680 --> 00:20:11.180
 and again

00:20:11.180 --> 00:20:11.980
 that we

00:20:11.980 --> 00:20:12.860
 do have

00:20:12.860 --> 00:20:13.240
 a heavenly

00:20:13.240 --> 00:20:13.920
 father that

00:20:13.920 --> 00:20:14.519
 cares for

00:20:14.519 --> 00:20:14.700
 us,

00:20:14.779 --> 00:20:15.299
 that yearns

00:20:15.299 --> 00:20:15.759
 for us,

00:20:15.860 --> 00:20:16.700
 that delights

00:20:16.700 --> 00:20:17.500
 over us,

00:20:18.200 --> 00:20:19.180
 that Jesus

00:20:19.180 --> 00:20:19.980
 did not

00:20:19.980 --> 00:20:20.600
 leave us

00:20:20.600 --> 00:20:21.460
 as orphans

00:20:21.460 --> 00:20:22.080
 but we

00:20:22.080 --> 00:20:23.039
 do have

00:20:23.039 --> 00:20:23.620
 the full

00:20:23.620 --> 00:20:24.160
 acceptance

00:20:24.160 --> 00:20:24.580
 of our

00:20:24.580 --> 00:20:24.940
 hearts,

00:20:25.600 --> 00:20:26.100
 that our

00:20:26.100 --> 00:20:26.360
 hearts

00:20:26.360 --> 00:20:27.259
 yearn for

00:20:27.259 --> 00:20:28.180
 in Christ

00:20:28.180 --> 00:20:28.660
 alone.

00:20:30.320 --> 00:20:31.420
 We have

00:20:31.420 --> 00:20:32.019
 been blessed

00:20:32.019 --> 00:20:32.700
 with every

00:20:32.700 --> 00:20:33.340
 spiritual

00:20:33.340 --> 00:20:33.799
 blessing.

00:20:34.279 --> 00:20:34.660
 We are

00:20:34.660 --> 00:20:35.519
 married with

00:20:35.519 --> 00:20:36.060
 Christ.

00:20:36.400 --> 00:20:37.039
 All things

00:20:37.039 --> 00:20:37.960
 work out for

00:20:37.960 --> 00:20:38.440
 our good.

00:20:38.519 --> 00:20:39.140
 How rich

00:20:39.140 --> 00:20:39.780
 we are

00:20:39.780 --> 00:20:40.680
 in Christ.

00:20:40.860 --> 00:20:41.440
 What more

00:20:41.440 --> 00:20:42.140
 could we

00:20:42.140 --> 00:20:42.620
 possibly

00:20:42.620 --> 00:20:43.060
 want?

00:20:45.160 --> 00:20:46.020
 But we

00:20:46.020 --> 00:20:47.720
 observe in

00:20:47.720 --> 00:20:48.160
 our next

00:20:48.160 --> 00:20:49.160
 section someone

00:20:49.160 --> 00:20:50.900
 who doesn't

00:20:50.900 --> 00:20:51.540
 know the

00:20:51.540 --> 00:20:52.340
 richness of

00:20:52.340 --> 00:20:53.040
 God's love.

00:20:54.620 --> 00:20:55.140
 He opens

00:20:55.140 --> 00:20:56.020
 this new

00:20:56.020 --> 00:20:56.460
 section at

00:20:56.460 --> 00:20:56.800
 the beginning

00:20:56.800 --> 00:20:57.259
 of verse

00:20:57.259 --> 00:20:57.759
 seven.

00:20:57.900 --> 00:20:58.240
 The preacher

00:20:58.240 --> 00:20:58.780
 observes

00:20:58.780 --> 00:20:59.920
 another example

00:20:59.920 --> 00:21:00.480
 of Hevel

00:21:00.480 --> 00:21:02.000
 and striving

00:21:02.000 --> 00:21:02.759
 after wind

00:21:02.759 --> 00:21:04.300
 in this rich

00:21:04.300 --> 00:21:05.340
 lonely man.

00:21:05.540 --> 00:21:06.460
 He's in this

00:21:06.460 --> 00:21:08.020
 relentless pursuit

00:21:08.019 --> 00:21:08.720
 of money.

00:21:08.879 --> 00:21:09.259
 Never

00:21:09.259 --> 00:21:10.400
 satisfied with

00:21:10.400 --> 00:21:11.279
 how many

00:21:11.279 --> 00:21:12.039
 commas he

00:21:12.039 --> 00:21:12.639
 sees in his

00:21:12.639 --> 00:21:13.160
 net worth.

00:21:13.639 --> 00:21:14.079
 Never

00:21:14.079 --> 00:21:14.839
 satisfied with

00:21:14.839 --> 00:21:15.160
 how many

00:21:15.160 --> 00:21:15.720
 zeros he

00:21:15.720 --> 00:21:16.299
 sees in his

00:21:16.299 --> 00:21:16.879
 bank account.

00:21:17.240 --> 00:21:17.680
 So he

00:21:17.680 --> 00:21:18.460
 goes as

00:21:18.460 --> 00:21:19.460
 fast and

00:21:19.460 --> 00:21:20.079
 as hard

00:21:20.079 --> 00:21:20.839
 as possible.

00:21:21.900 --> 00:21:22.220
 Never

00:21:22.220 --> 00:21:23.420
 slowing down

00:21:23.420 --> 00:21:24.180
 wondering

00:21:24.180 --> 00:21:25.339
 for whom

00:21:25.339 --> 00:21:25.819
 am I doing

00:21:25.819 --> 00:21:26.420
 this for?

00:21:27.900 --> 00:21:28.960
 Why am I

00:21:28.960 --> 00:21:29.900
 struggling and

00:21:29.900 --> 00:21:30.519
 making myself

00:21:30.519 --> 00:21:31.379
 suffer so much?

00:21:31.460 --> 00:21:31.940
 For who?

00:21:34.039 --> 00:21:34.779
 You could

00:21:34.779 --> 00:21:35.559
 just imagine

00:21:35.559 --> 00:21:35.960
 this.

00:21:36.799 --> 00:21:37.579
 Every year

00:21:37.579 --> 00:21:38.519
 his house

00:21:38.519 --> 00:21:38.940
 is getting

00:21:38.940 --> 00:21:40.139
 bigger and

00:21:40.139 --> 00:21:40.980
 bigger and

00:21:40.980 --> 00:21:41.980
 bigger and

00:21:41.980 --> 00:21:42.980
 every year

00:21:42.980 --> 00:21:43.619
 he's getting

00:21:43.619 --> 00:21:44.940
 lonelier and

00:21:44.940 --> 00:21:45.879
 lonelier and

00:21:45.879 --> 00:21:46.220
 lonelier.

00:21:48.460 --> 00:21:49.379
 He's adding

00:21:49.379 --> 00:21:50.519
 acres of land,

00:21:51.579 --> 00:21:52.099
 beds and

00:21:52.099 --> 00:21:52.539
 bedrooms,

00:21:53.039 --> 00:21:53.599
 seats around

00:21:53.599 --> 00:21:53.960
 a dining

00:21:53.960 --> 00:21:55.139
 table, all

00:21:55.139 --> 00:21:55.659
 without a

00:21:55.659 --> 00:21:56.359
 single soul

00:21:56.359 --> 00:21:56.799
 to share

00:21:56.799 --> 00:21:57.299
 these things

00:21:57.299 --> 00:21:57.619
 with.

00:21:58.519 --> 00:21:59.460
 This man

00:21:59.460 --> 00:22:01.259
 is stupidly

00:22:01.259 --> 00:22:02.419
 rich and

00:22:02.419 --> 00:22:03.359
 stupidly

00:22:03.359 --> 00:22:03.919
 unhappy.

00:22:03.920 --> 00:22:07.259
 notice the

00:22:07.259 --> 00:22:08.160
 repeated word

00:22:08.160 --> 00:22:09.200
 one that's

00:22:09.200 --> 00:22:10.039
 going on

00:22:10.039 --> 00:22:10.440
 throughout this

00:22:10.440 --> 00:22:10.920
 next section.

00:22:11.019 --> 00:22:11.340
 It repeats

00:22:11.340 --> 00:22:11.940
 it over and

00:22:11.940 --> 00:22:12.200
 over.

00:22:12.900 --> 00:22:13.740
 This very

00:22:13.740 --> 00:22:14.140
 much could

00:22:14.140 --> 00:22:14.360
 have been

00:22:14.360 --> 00:22:15.120
 an indefinite

00:22:15.120 --> 00:22:17.060
 article like

00:22:17.060 --> 00:22:17.920
 a and,

00:22:18.279 --> 00:22:19.640
 a person or

00:22:19.640 --> 00:22:21.060
 that, the

00:22:21.060 --> 00:22:21.620
 a thing.

00:22:22.120 --> 00:22:23.660
 But one, he

00:22:23.660 --> 00:22:24.340
 uses the word

00:22:24.340 --> 00:22:24.940
 one to

00:22:24.940 --> 00:22:26.480
 emphasize the

00:22:26.480 --> 00:22:26.960
 person's

00:22:26.960 --> 00:22:27.519
 loneliness.

00:22:28.440 --> 00:22:29.300
 Because truly

00:22:29.300 --> 00:22:30.460
 one is the

00:22:30.460 --> 00:22:31.140
 loneliest

00:22:31.140 --> 00:22:31.759
 number.

00:22:31.759 --> 00:22:34.680
 once again,

00:22:34.759 --> 00:22:35.119
 the preacher

00:22:35.119 --> 00:22:36.200
 knows the

00:22:36.200 --> 00:22:37.279
 better way,

00:22:37.799 --> 00:22:38.599
 the way to

00:22:38.599 --> 00:22:39.119
 a better

00:22:39.119 --> 00:22:39.619
 life.

00:22:40.079 --> 00:22:40.440
 And that

00:22:40.440 --> 00:22:41.019
 life is in

00:22:41.019 --> 00:22:41.839
 healthy community

00:22:41.839 --> 00:22:42.400
 with others.

00:22:43.759 --> 00:22:44.220
 In fact,

00:22:44.640 --> 00:22:45.579
 God created

00:22:45.579 --> 00:22:46.379
 us to be

00:22:46.379 --> 00:22:47.740
 social and

00:22:47.740 --> 00:22:48.279
 relational

00:22:48.279 --> 00:22:48.839
 creatures.

00:22:50.920 --> 00:22:51.579
 You see,

00:22:51.700 --> 00:22:52.359
 in the garden,

00:22:52.640 --> 00:22:53.339
 when God

00:22:53.339 --> 00:22:54.779
 created Adam,

00:22:56.440 --> 00:22:57.059
 this is

00:22:57.059 --> 00:22:57.460
 remarkable.

00:22:57.619 --> 00:22:57.819
 I don't know

00:22:57.819 --> 00:22:58.000
 if you,

00:22:58.140 --> 00:22:58.839
 I didn't really

00:22:58.839 --> 00:22:59.619
 meditate on this,

00:22:59.619 --> 00:23:00.659
 but despite

00:23:00.659 --> 00:23:01.819
 the fact

00:23:01.819 --> 00:23:02.359
 that this

00:23:02.359 --> 00:23:02.699
 was a

00:23:02.699 --> 00:23:03.399
 perfect,

00:23:03.639 --> 00:23:03.979
 sinless

00:23:03.979 --> 00:23:04.500
 relationship

00:23:04.500 --> 00:23:04.979
 that Adam

00:23:04.979 --> 00:23:05.739
 had with

00:23:05.739 --> 00:23:06.619
 God before

00:23:06.619 --> 00:23:07.199
 the fall,

00:23:07.879 --> 00:23:08.639
 God still

00:23:08.639 --> 00:23:09.379
 calls him

00:23:09.379 --> 00:23:09.919
 alone.

00:23:11.239 --> 00:23:12.079
 He had a

00:23:12.079 --> 00:23:12.519
 perfect

00:23:12.519 --> 00:23:13.079
 relationship

00:23:13.079 --> 00:23:13.819
 with God,

00:23:13.939 --> 00:23:14.599
 but God

00:23:14.599 --> 00:23:15.419
 still calls

00:23:15.419 --> 00:23:16.659
 him alone.

00:23:16.979 --> 00:23:17.279
 And he

00:23:17.279 --> 00:23:18.259
 creates Eve

00:23:18.259 --> 00:23:18.879
 from his

00:23:18.879 --> 00:23:19.779
 rib and

00:23:19.779 --> 00:23:20.339
 gives her

00:23:20.339 --> 00:23:21.079
 to him to

00:23:21.079 --> 00:23:21.559
 enjoy the

00:23:21.559 --> 00:23:22.219
 blessing of

00:23:22.219 --> 00:23:22.979
 children through

00:23:22.979 --> 00:23:23.259
 her.

00:23:26.259 --> 00:23:27.479
 So it's

00:23:27.479 --> 00:23:28.739
 true that

00:23:28.740 --> 00:23:29.720
 our need

00:23:29.720 --> 00:23:30.339
 for others,

00:23:30.480 --> 00:23:30.960
 our need

00:23:30.960 --> 00:23:31.640
 for community

00:23:31.640 --> 00:23:32.859
 is not a

00:23:32.859 --> 00:23:33.579
 defect of

00:23:33.579 --> 00:23:34.000
 sin,

00:23:34.160 --> 00:23:34.539
 but it's

00:23:34.539 --> 00:23:34.980
 part of

00:23:34.980 --> 00:23:35.640
 our intended

00:23:35.640 --> 00:23:36.180
 design.

00:23:37.980 --> 00:23:38.539
 So

00:23:38.539 --> 00:23:39.059
 considering

00:23:39.059 --> 00:23:39.299
 this,

00:23:39.380 --> 00:23:39.539
 it's

00:23:39.539 --> 00:23:40.099
 absolutely

00:23:40.099 --> 00:23:40.980
 tragic

00:23:40.980 --> 00:23:42.220
 that this

00:23:42.220 --> 00:23:43.000
 man pursues

00:23:43.000 --> 00:23:43.539
 riches

00:23:43.539 --> 00:23:45.200
 and pleasures

00:23:45.200 --> 00:23:47.339
 and stuff

00:23:47.339 --> 00:23:48.980
 alone.

00:23:49.700 --> 00:23:50.180
 He's

00:23:50.180 --> 00:23:51.079
 less than

00:23:51.079 --> 00:23:51.359
 human.

00:23:51.460 --> 00:23:51.900
 That's not

00:23:51.900 --> 00:23:52.720
 his intended

00:23:52.720 --> 00:23:53.339
 design.

00:23:54.460 --> 00:23:54.720
 And he

00:23:54.720 --> 00:23:55.240
 doesn't have

00:23:55.240 --> 00:23:56.380
 son or

00:23:56.380 --> 00:23:56.799
 brother,

00:23:57.480 --> 00:23:58.160
 family or

00:23:58.160 --> 00:23:58.700
 friends to

00:23:58.700 --> 00:23:59.340
 enjoy any

00:23:59.340 --> 00:23:59.720
 of these

00:23:59.720 --> 00:24:00.300
 things with.

00:24:01.000 --> 00:24:01.420
 And those

00:24:01.420 --> 00:24:01.920
 are two

00:24:01.920 --> 00:24:02.620
 sources of

00:24:02.620 --> 00:24:03.180
 community that

00:24:03.180 --> 00:24:03.480
 I want to

00:24:03.480 --> 00:24:04.460
 talk briefly

00:24:04.460 --> 00:24:05.420
 about today.

00:24:06.279 --> 00:24:06.779
 So first,

00:24:07.080 --> 00:24:07.480
 family.

00:24:08.720 --> 00:24:09.180
 It's clear

00:24:09.180 --> 00:24:09.500
 that the

00:24:09.500 --> 00:24:10.180
 Bible is

00:24:10.180 --> 00:24:11.560
 pro-marriage,

00:24:11.860 --> 00:24:12.620
 pro-children

00:24:12.620 --> 00:24:13.560
 through and

00:24:13.560 --> 00:24:13.900
 through.

00:24:14.580 --> 00:24:15.680
 Marriage and

00:24:15.680 --> 00:24:16.420
 sex and

00:24:16.420 --> 00:24:17.080
 procreation,

00:24:17.200 --> 00:24:17.920
 they've always

00:24:17.920 --> 00:24:18.640
 been God's

00:24:18.640 --> 00:24:19.759
 ideas and

00:24:19.759 --> 00:24:20.380
 God's gifts

00:24:20.380 --> 00:24:20.900
 to man.

00:24:21.540 --> 00:24:21.960
 But the

00:24:21.960 --> 00:24:22.920
 world continues

00:24:22.920 --> 00:24:24.019
 to purport

00:24:24.019 --> 00:24:25.019
 that the

00:24:25.019 --> 00:24:25.700
 traditional

00:24:25.700 --> 00:24:26.880
 nuclear family

00:24:26.880 --> 00:24:28.500
 is regressive.

00:24:29.380 --> 00:24:29.759
 It's

00:24:29.759 --> 00:24:30.819
 backwards.

00:24:31.620 --> 00:24:32.080
 People don't

00:24:32.080 --> 00:24:32.700
 see the

00:24:32.700 --> 00:24:33.519
 point of

00:24:33.519 --> 00:24:34.460
 marriage anymore

00:24:34.460 --> 00:24:35.160
 other than

00:24:35.160 --> 00:24:35.900
 tax breaks.

00:24:36.819 --> 00:24:37.980
 They claim

00:24:37.980 --> 00:24:38.500
 that children

00:24:38.500 --> 00:24:39.140
 only get in

00:24:39.140 --> 00:24:39.759
 the way of

00:24:39.759 --> 00:24:40.440
 achieving your

00:24:40.440 --> 00:24:40.960
 dreams.

00:24:42.299 --> 00:24:42.860
 They're too

00:24:42.860 --> 00:24:43.420
 much money.

00:24:43.600 --> 00:24:44.039
 They're too

00:24:44.039 --> 00:24:44.759
 much time.

00:24:45.039 --> 00:24:45.960
 I can't have

00:24:45.960 --> 00:24:46.440
 children.

00:24:46.819 --> 00:24:47.440
 And so our

00:24:47.440 --> 00:24:48.299
 world prefers

00:24:48.299 --> 00:24:49.340
 to raise a

00:24:49.340 --> 00:24:50.240
 cute corgi

00:24:50.240 --> 00:24:51.460
 puppy instead

00:24:51.460 --> 00:24:52.059
 of raising

00:24:52.059 --> 00:24:52.779
 children.

00:24:55.059 --> 00:24:56.000
 A recent

00:24:56.000 --> 00:24:57.079
 USA Today

00:24:57.079 --> 00:24:57.579
 and One

00:24:57.579 --> 00:24:58.240
 Poll survey

00:24:58.240 --> 00:24:58.860
 found that

00:24:58.860 --> 00:25:00.940
 40% of

00:25:00.940 --> 00:25:01.299
 the people

00:25:01.299 --> 00:25:01.720
 that they

00:25:01.720 --> 00:25:02.740
 surveyed,

00:25:02.779 --> 00:25:03.600
 40% of

00:25:03.600 --> 00:25:04.319
 dog owners

00:25:04.319 --> 00:25:05.279
 found that

00:25:05.279 --> 00:25:05.940
 caring for

00:25:05.940 --> 00:25:06.900
 dogs are

00:25:06.900 --> 00:25:07.299
 easier,

00:25:07.559 --> 00:25:07.860
 cheaper,

00:25:08.140 --> 00:25:09.039
 and as a

00:25:09.039 --> 00:25:09.259
 result,

00:25:09.360 --> 00:25:09.779
 they chose

00:25:09.779 --> 00:25:10.519
 not to

00:25:10.519 --> 00:25:10.740
 have

00:25:10.740 --> 00:25:11.160
 children.

00:25:13.960 --> 00:25:14.559
 This is

00:25:14.559 --> 00:25:14.819
 not to

00:25:14.819 --> 00:25:15.259
 offend any

00:25:15.259 --> 00:25:15.819
 dog owners

00:25:15.819 --> 00:25:16.319
 today,

00:25:16.440 --> 00:25:17.840
 but that's

00:25:17.840 --> 00:25:18.299
 backwards.

00:25:18.299 --> 00:25:18.500
 backwards.

00:25:19.659 --> 00:25:20.279
 It's

00:25:20.279 --> 00:25:21.059
 backwards when

00:25:21.059 --> 00:25:21.839
 we consider

00:25:21.839 --> 00:25:22.359
 what God

00:25:22.359 --> 00:25:22.940
 has provided

00:25:22.940 --> 00:25:23.799
 for us as

00:25:23.799 --> 00:25:25.379
 joy and

00:25:25.379 --> 00:25:26.240
 human flourishing

00:25:26.240 --> 00:25:27.599
 as a

00:25:27.599 --> 00:25:29.839
 killjoy that

00:25:29.839 --> 00:25:30.599
 drains our

00:25:30.599 --> 00:25:31.680
 personal resources

00:25:31.680 --> 00:25:32.419
 that we

00:25:32.419 --> 00:25:33.200
 rather use for

00:25:33.200 --> 00:25:33.579
 our own

00:25:33.579 --> 00:25:33.960
 agendas,

00:25:34.119 --> 00:25:34.519
 our own

00:25:34.519 --> 00:25:35.059
 goals.

00:25:36.359 --> 00:25:36.720
 And I

00:25:36.720 --> 00:25:37.279
 know that I'm

00:25:37.279 --> 00:25:38.519
 yet to fully

00:25:38.519 --> 00:25:39.159
 experience

00:25:39.159 --> 00:25:39.819
 parenthood,

00:25:39.960 --> 00:25:40.960
 but from what

00:25:40.960 --> 00:25:41.399
 I hear from

00:25:41.399 --> 00:25:42.039
 more experienced

00:25:42.039 --> 00:25:42.839
 parents here at

00:25:42.839 --> 00:25:43.180
 church,

00:25:44.139 --> 00:25:44.980
 while children

00:25:44.980 --> 00:25:46.099
 do require

00:25:46.099 --> 00:25:46.980
 financial

00:25:46.980 --> 00:25:47.519
 investment,

00:25:47.700 --> 00:25:48.119
 don't get me

00:25:48.119 --> 00:25:48.419
 wrong,

00:25:48.579 --> 00:25:49.500
 but kids

00:25:49.500 --> 00:25:50.159
 don't have

00:25:50.159 --> 00:25:50.519
 to be

00:25:50.519 --> 00:25:51.759
 break-bankingly

00:25:51.759 --> 00:25:52.179
 expensive.

00:25:52.699 --> 00:25:53.099
 You don't

00:25:53.099 --> 00:25:53.479
 have to

00:25:53.479 --> 00:25:53.839
 plunge

00:25:53.839 --> 00:25:54.239
 yourself

00:25:54.239 --> 00:25:54.959
 into debt.

00:25:55.699 --> 00:25:55.959
 That's

00:25:55.959 --> 00:25:57.079
 not unless

00:25:57.079 --> 00:25:57.659
 you fall

00:25:57.659 --> 00:25:58.959
 into the

00:25:58.959 --> 00:26:01.500
 travel teen

00:26:01.500 --> 00:26:01.959
 trap,

00:26:02.339 --> 00:26:03.239
 where you

00:26:03.239 --> 00:26:03.739
 make sure

00:26:03.739 --> 00:26:04.519
 that your

00:26:04.519 --> 00:26:05.919
 kid has

00:26:05.919 --> 00:26:06.919
 every possible

00:26:06.919 --> 00:26:07.699
 resource to

00:26:07.699 --> 00:26:08.559
 be Beethoven

00:26:08.559 --> 00:26:09.199
 and Elon

00:26:09.199 --> 00:26:09.839
 Musk and

00:26:09.839 --> 00:26:10.939
 Simone Biles

00:26:10.939 --> 00:26:11.599
 all together

00:26:11.599 --> 00:26:12.019
 in one

00:26:12.019 --> 00:26:12.819
 super-mega

00:26:12.819 --> 00:26:13.319
 child.

00:26:14.759 --> 00:26:15.759
 This world

00:26:15.759 --> 00:26:16.279
 thinks that

00:26:16.279 --> 00:26:17.000
 good parenting

00:26:17.000 --> 00:26:17.659
 means that

00:26:17.660 --> 00:26:18.100
 he could

00:26:18.100 --> 00:26:18.940
 play world-class

00:26:18.940 --> 00:26:19.779
 violin and

00:26:19.779 --> 00:26:20.700
 compete on

00:26:20.700 --> 00:26:21.420
 math team

00:26:21.420 --> 00:26:22.700
 and play on

00:26:22.700 --> 00:26:23.060
 the Olympic

00:26:23.060 --> 00:26:23.580
 development

00:26:23.580 --> 00:26:24.360
 travel soccer

00:26:24.360 --> 00:26:24.740
 team.

00:26:26.160 --> 00:26:26.580
 Instead,

00:26:26.800 --> 00:26:27.080
 good,

00:26:27.320 --> 00:26:28.140
 faithful parenting,

00:26:28.279 --> 00:26:28.800
 according to

00:26:28.800 --> 00:26:29.820
 biblical wisdom,

00:26:30.240 --> 00:26:31.920
 is to teach

00:26:31.920 --> 00:26:33.060
 them to fear

00:26:33.060 --> 00:26:33.740
 God, and

00:26:33.740 --> 00:26:34.220
 that's free.

00:26:36.500 --> 00:26:37.259
 Even if

00:26:37.259 --> 00:26:38.200
 kids cost

00:26:38.200 --> 00:26:38.500
 money,

00:26:39.080 --> 00:26:39.940
 this is the

00:26:39.940 --> 00:26:40.759
 better way to

00:26:40.759 --> 00:26:40.980
 live.

00:26:41.040 --> 00:26:41.640
 That's what the

00:26:41.640 --> 00:26:42.040
 preacher is

00:26:42.040 --> 00:26:42.300
 saying.

00:26:42.299 --> 00:26:43.619
 It is far

00:26:43.619 --> 00:26:44.519
 better to be

00:26:44.519 --> 00:26:45.059
 a little bit

00:26:45.059 --> 00:26:46.119
 poorer with

00:26:46.119 --> 00:26:47.619
 children than

00:26:47.619 --> 00:26:48.220
 to be rich

00:26:48.220 --> 00:26:48.680
 alone.

00:26:49.759 --> 00:26:50.339
 It's far

00:26:50.339 --> 00:26:50.839
 better to

00:26:50.839 --> 00:26:51.940
 focus and

00:26:51.940 --> 00:26:52.839
 invest in

00:26:52.839 --> 00:26:53.639
 your marriage

00:26:53.639 --> 00:26:54.879
 than it is

00:26:54.879 --> 00:26:55.740
 to fast-track

00:26:55.740 --> 00:26:56.500
 your promotion

00:26:56.500 --> 00:26:57.079
 at work.

00:26:59.079 --> 00:26:59.839
 After all,

00:26:59.919 --> 00:27:00.639
 it's the fool

00:27:00.639 --> 00:27:01.799
 again who lives

00:27:01.799 --> 00:27:02.579
 alone in a

00:27:02.579 --> 00:27:03.220
 mansion that's

00:27:03.220 --> 00:27:04.000
 too big for

00:27:04.000 --> 00:27:04.220
 him.

00:27:04.919 --> 00:27:05.819
 So let's

00:27:05.819 --> 00:27:06.539
 shape the way

00:27:06.539 --> 00:27:06.980
 that we

00:27:06.980 --> 00:27:09.039
 prioritize our

00:27:09.039 --> 00:27:09.919
 family, view

00:27:09.919 --> 00:27:10.759
 the blessing of

00:27:10.759 --> 00:27:11.359
 family in

00:27:11.359 --> 00:27:11.759
 light of

00:27:11.759 --> 00:27:12.079
 scripture.

00:27:12.460 --> 00:27:13.000
 Do you need

00:27:13.000 --> 00:27:13.740
 to reorient

00:27:13.740 --> 00:27:14.420
 your value

00:27:14.420 --> 00:27:15.599
 systems and

00:27:15.599 --> 00:27:16.279
 your priorities

00:27:16.279 --> 00:27:17.039
 to match what

00:27:17.039 --> 00:27:17.720
 scripture teaches?

00:27:18.819 --> 00:27:19.599
 Is it time you

00:27:19.599 --> 00:27:20.480
 let go of your

00:27:20.480 --> 00:27:21.420
 idolized career

00:27:21.420 --> 00:27:22.379
 and salary to

00:27:22.379 --> 00:27:23.279
 experience a

00:27:23.279 --> 00:27:24.579
 far better life

00:27:24.579 --> 00:27:25.640
 in pursuing

00:27:25.640 --> 00:27:26.259
 marriage and

00:27:26.259 --> 00:27:26.599
 children?

00:27:28.180 --> 00:27:29.039
 But that's not

00:27:29.039 --> 00:27:30.480
 the only source

00:27:30.480 --> 00:27:31.059
 of community

00:27:31.059 --> 00:27:32.099
 that we need.

00:27:32.619 --> 00:27:33.619
 We know that

00:27:33.619 --> 00:27:34.519
 marriage and

00:27:34.519 --> 00:27:36.259
 family isn't

00:27:36.259 --> 00:27:36.579
 everything.

00:27:36.700 --> 00:27:37.000
 In fact,

00:27:37.160 --> 00:27:38.000
 Jesus himself

00:27:38.000 --> 00:27:39.619
 was marriage-less,

00:27:39.859 --> 00:27:40.559
 childless,

00:27:40.759 --> 00:27:41.240
 and he lived

00:27:41.240 --> 00:27:41.640
 a perfect

00:27:41.640 --> 00:27:42.039
 life.

00:27:43.759 --> 00:27:44.779
 We know that

00:27:44.779 --> 00:27:45.559
 getting married

00:27:45.559 --> 00:27:46.539
 is a great

00:27:46.539 --> 00:27:47.599
 blessing from

00:27:47.599 --> 00:27:48.660
 God, but

00:27:48.660 --> 00:27:49.819
 because of our

00:27:49.819 --> 00:27:50.420
 marriage with

00:27:50.420 --> 00:27:52.160
 Christ, it's

00:27:52.160 --> 00:27:53.119
 not a must for

00:27:53.119 --> 00:27:53.759
 God's people.

00:27:54.359 --> 00:27:54.720
 In fact,

00:27:54.980 --> 00:27:55.539
 Paul actually

00:27:55.539 --> 00:27:56.180
 says that it's

00:27:56.180 --> 00:27:57.180
 better, it's

00:27:57.180 --> 00:27:57.980
 better to remain

00:27:57.980 --> 00:27:59.559
 single and to

00:27:59.559 --> 00:28:00.519
 be fully devoted

00:28:00.519 --> 00:28:01.700
 to the Lord than

00:28:01.700 --> 00:28:02.740
 to have divided

00:28:02.740 --> 00:28:04.000
 attentions from

00:28:04.000 --> 00:28:04.599
 marriage and

00:28:04.599 --> 00:28:04.960
 children.

00:28:06.859 --> 00:28:07.279
 And so this

00:28:07.279 --> 00:28:08.579
 next passage in

00:28:08.579 --> 00:28:09.640
 verses 9 to

00:28:09.640 --> 00:28:11.080
 12 is one of

00:28:11.080 --> 00:28:11.820
 the most famous

00:28:11.820 --> 00:28:12.560
 passages in

00:28:12.560 --> 00:28:13.720
 Ecclesiastes, and

00:28:13.720 --> 00:28:14.120
 it's for good

00:28:14.120 --> 00:28:15.240
 reason, and it's

00:28:15.240 --> 00:28:16.440
 often read in

00:28:16.440 --> 00:28:17.740
 wedding ceremonies.

00:28:18.840 --> 00:28:19.500
 In fact, I think

00:28:19.500 --> 00:28:20.560
 Sean is prepping a

00:28:20.560 --> 00:28:21.640
 sermon right now on

00:28:21.640 --> 00:28:23.200
 this very passage to

00:28:23.200 --> 00:28:23.880
 preach at a wedding.

00:28:24.680 --> 00:28:25.860
 And marriage is a

00:28:25.860 --> 00:28:27.960
 great application for

00:28:27.960 --> 00:28:28.640
 this passage,

00:28:28.860 --> 00:28:29.500
 highlighting the

00:28:29.500 --> 00:28:30.480
 benefits of two

00:28:30.480 --> 00:28:31.720
 becoming one, a

00:28:31.720 --> 00:28:32.340
 husband-wife

00:28:32.340 --> 00:28:33.180
 becoming one.

00:28:33.180 --> 00:28:34.860
 But understand that

00:28:34.860 --> 00:28:36.000
 when we read a

00:28:36.000 --> 00:28:37.320
 passage like this,

00:28:38.820 --> 00:28:39.980
 when two are

00:28:39.980 --> 00:28:40.700
 better than one,

00:28:40.880 --> 00:28:42.100
 that marriage need

00:28:42.100 --> 00:28:43.360
 not be the only

00:28:43.360 --> 00:28:44.060
 application.

00:28:44.560 --> 00:28:45.320
 Another great

00:28:45.320 --> 00:28:46.420
 application for us

00:28:46.420 --> 00:28:47.160
 to think and

00:28:47.160 --> 00:28:48.480
 wrestle with is our

00:28:48.480 --> 00:28:49.060
 friendships.

00:28:51.860 --> 00:28:54.320
 Verses 9 to 12

00:28:54.320 --> 00:28:55.259
 sets a scene of

00:28:55.259 --> 00:28:56.000
 going on a long

00:28:56.000 --> 00:28:56.740
 journey in the

00:28:56.740 --> 00:28:58.620
 ancient Near East.

00:28:59.420 --> 00:28:59.759
 You know, back

00:28:59.759 --> 00:29:00.500
 then these weren't

00:29:00.500 --> 00:29:01.759
 happy-go-lucky,

00:29:01.759 --> 00:29:02.960
 easy road trips.

00:29:03.740 --> 00:29:05.059
 They were treacherous,

00:29:05.480 --> 00:29:06.500
 dangerous journeys.

00:29:07.660 --> 00:29:08.480
 Going on your own

00:29:08.480 --> 00:29:09.420
 could very much be

00:29:09.420 --> 00:29:10.240
 your own death

00:29:10.240 --> 00:29:10.799
 sentence.

00:29:11.920 --> 00:29:12.680
 Traveling in the

00:29:12.680 --> 00:29:13.660
 dark without

00:29:13.660 --> 00:29:15.420
 flashlights, very

00:29:15.420 --> 00:29:16.359
 easy to fall into

00:29:16.359 --> 00:29:17.759
 your pit, to your

00:29:17.759 --> 00:29:18.099
 peril.

00:29:20.240 --> 00:29:21.019
 Israel would have

00:29:21.019 --> 00:29:22.119
 been cold at night,

00:29:22.539 --> 00:29:23.900
 so men would travel

00:29:23.900 --> 00:29:25.039
 together and lay

00:29:25.039 --> 00:29:25.879
 their garments over

00:29:25.879 --> 00:29:27.180
 their bodies so that

00:29:27.180 --> 00:29:27.900
 they'd be able to

00:29:27.900 --> 00:29:28.500
 keep warm.

00:29:29.440 --> 00:29:30.140
 These journeys would

00:29:30.140 --> 00:29:31.319
 also be riddled with

00:29:31.319 --> 00:29:33.200
 bandits and thieves

00:29:33.200 --> 00:29:34.480
 that would beat you

00:29:34.480 --> 00:29:36.179
 up to a bloody pulp

00:29:36.179 --> 00:29:37.379
 and steal every last

00:29:37.379 --> 00:29:38.220
 thing on your body,

00:29:38.579 --> 00:29:39.559
 just like it happened

00:29:39.559 --> 00:29:40.419
 to the man in the

00:29:40.419 --> 00:29:41.159
 peril of the good

00:29:41.159 --> 00:29:41.679
 Samaritan.

00:29:42.799 --> 00:29:44.480
 So clearly, two is

00:29:44.480 --> 00:29:45.359
 better than one.

00:29:46.159 --> 00:29:47.079
 And even better, a

00:29:47.079 --> 00:29:48.939
 three-fold cord is not

00:29:48.939 --> 00:29:49.960
 quickly broken.

00:29:51.559 --> 00:29:53.059
 If you don't know

00:29:53.059 --> 00:29:55.039
 this already, our

00:29:55.039 --> 00:29:56.679
 very own Joshua

00:29:56.679 --> 00:29:58.200
 Henderson had just

00:29:58.200 --> 00:30:00.120
 recently returned from

00:30:00.120 --> 00:30:02.380
 a crazy long,

00:30:03.160 --> 00:30:04.100
 arduous, literally

00:30:04.100 --> 00:30:06.400
 cross-country pilgrimage

00:30:06.400 --> 00:30:08.120
 as he and two

00:30:08.120 --> 00:30:09.740
 friends, they hiked

00:30:09.740 --> 00:30:11.720
 over 3,000 miles

00:30:11.720 --> 00:30:14.580
 over 115 days.

00:30:14.700 --> 00:30:16.460
 That's just insane.

00:30:17.000 --> 00:30:18.319
 I hope that none of you

00:30:18.319 --> 00:30:19.259
 guys ever do this

00:30:19.259 --> 00:30:19.840
 ever again.

00:30:19.940 --> 00:30:20.920
 I hope you never do

00:30:20.920 --> 00:30:21.860
 this ever again.

00:30:22.539 --> 00:30:23.920
 They started from the

00:30:23.920 --> 00:30:25.460
 Mexican border in New

00:30:25.460 --> 00:30:27.180
 Mexico, and they went

00:30:27.180 --> 00:30:28.120
 all the way up to the

00:30:28.120 --> 00:30:29.799
 Canadian border in

00:30:29.799 --> 00:30:30.160
 Montana.

00:30:30.340 --> 00:30:31.720
 That, again, insane.

00:30:33.079 --> 00:30:34.500
 And much to my horror

00:30:34.500 --> 00:30:36.759
 and dismay, Josh, you

00:30:36.759 --> 00:30:37.840
 know, you told me that

00:30:37.840 --> 00:30:40.519
 all three of you had

00:30:40.519 --> 00:30:41.680
 near-death experiences

00:30:41.680 --> 00:30:42.480
 on this trip.

00:30:43.140 --> 00:30:43.880
 All right, this is from

00:30:43.880 --> 00:30:44.299
 Joshua.

00:30:44.500 --> 00:30:46.640
 For Daniel, it was

00:30:46.640 --> 00:30:47.759
 during a river crossing

00:30:47.759 --> 00:30:49.100
 where he nearly drowned.

00:30:50.240 --> 00:30:51.220
 Just why?

00:30:51.299 --> 00:30:52.079
 Why would you do this?

00:30:52.079 --> 00:30:54.960
 For Sung, it was a

00:30:54.960 --> 00:30:56.519
 ridgeline glassade where

00:30:56.519 --> 00:30:57.939
 he triggered an avalanche,

00:30:58.179 --> 00:30:58.740
 of course.

00:30:59.759 --> 00:31:00.720
 For me, it was

00:31:00.720 --> 00:31:02.159
 attempting an off-trail

00:31:02.159 --> 00:31:03.519
 descent in Montana where

00:31:03.519 --> 00:31:05.079
 I slid, almost slid off,

00:31:05.159 --> 00:31:06.679
 a 300-foot cliff that

00:31:06.679 --> 00:31:07.859
 was out of sight when I

00:31:07.859 --> 00:31:08.859
 began my slide.

00:31:10.639 --> 00:31:12.119
 One similarity across

00:31:12.119 --> 00:31:13.240
 all of these moments,

00:31:13.819 --> 00:31:15.319
 we were on our own when

00:31:15.319 --> 00:31:15.839
 they happened.

00:31:18.339 --> 00:31:19.319
 But when they were

00:31:19.319 --> 00:31:20.679
 together, they watched

00:31:20.679 --> 00:31:21.259
 their backs.

00:31:22.079 --> 00:31:23.879
 They supported each

00:31:23.879 --> 00:31:25.279
 other, encouraged one

00:31:25.279 --> 00:31:26.139
 another, helped each

00:31:26.139 --> 00:31:27.439
 other when others

00:31:27.439 --> 00:31:28.019
 needed help.

00:31:29.000 --> 00:31:30.099
 And through this, Josh

00:31:30.099 --> 00:31:31.399
 really has lived out

00:31:31.399 --> 00:31:34.059
 that a three-fold cord

00:31:34.059 --> 00:31:35.419
 is not quickly broken.

00:31:37.339 --> 00:31:38.619
 We, like the preacher,

00:31:38.759 --> 00:31:40.199
 know the great value of

00:31:40.199 --> 00:31:41.259
 having deep friendships,

00:31:41.699 --> 00:31:41.899
 right?

00:31:42.439 --> 00:31:44.779
 Life is as treacherous as

00:31:44.779 --> 00:31:47.359
 these journeys through

00:31:47.359 --> 00:31:48.379
 the middle of the night.

00:31:49.039 --> 00:31:50.319
 And some seasons are

00:31:50.319 --> 00:31:51.639
 especially harder than

00:31:51.639 --> 00:31:51.980
 others.

00:31:52.079 --> 00:31:54.699
 Maybe you're in that

00:31:54.699 --> 00:31:55.779
 really, really hard

00:31:55.779 --> 00:31:56.139
 season.

00:31:57.439 --> 00:31:58.619
 And what we need in

00:31:58.619 --> 00:31:59.919
 those moments, more

00:31:59.919 --> 00:32:01.619
 than anything, for

00:32:01.619 --> 00:32:03.819
 faithful friends to come

00:32:03.819 --> 00:32:05.399
 around us, to pray with

00:32:05.399 --> 00:32:06.500
 us, to lift up our

00:32:06.500 --> 00:32:06.819
 heads.

00:32:08.299 --> 00:32:10.359
 Jesus himself invested in

00:32:10.359 --> 00:32:11.460
 friendship in his life,

00:32:12.399 --> 00:32:13.439
 particularly with the

00:32:13.439 --> 00:32:14.659
 inner three disciples,

00:32:14.879 --> 00:32:16.099
 with Peter, John, and

00:32:16.099 --> 00:32:16.500
 James.

00:32:16.500 --> 00:32:19.740
 When Paul sensed that he was

00:32:19.740 --> 00:32:21.500
 at the end of his life as

00:32:21.500 --> 00:32:22.680
 he was writing the letter

00:32:22.680 --> 00:32:25.240
 2 Timothy, he wrote to

00:32:25.240 --> 00:32:26.400
 his friends when he was

00:32:26.400 --> 00:32:28.559
 weary, cold, discouraged,

00:32:29.200 --> 00:32:30.140
 friends like Timothy,

00:32:30.359 --> 00:32:32.240
 Priscilla, and Aquila, Luke,

00:32:32.319 --> 00:32:33.700
 and Mark, to come and

00:32:33.700 --> 00:32:34.279
 comfort him.

00:32:34.440 --> 00:32:36.420
 He writes twice at the end

00:32:36.420 --> 00:32:38.339
 of his letter, do your best

00:32:38.339 --> 00:32:39.539
 to come to me soon.

00:32:40.160 --> 00:32:42.339
 Do your best to come to me

00:32:42.339 --> 00:32:42.700
 soon.

00:32:42.700 --> 00:32:46.059
 Paul knew that he needed

00:32:46.059 --> 00:32:47.500
 people in his life to come

00:32:47.500 --> 00:32:49.120
 around him at the last hour

00:32:49.120 --> 00:32:49.779
 of his death.

00:32:51.640 --> 00:32:54.779
 We know the value, but some,

00:32:55.140 --> 00:32:57.519
 some of us, we struggle with

00:32:57.519 --> 00:32:59.180
 maintaining or keeping or

00:32:59.180 --> 00:33:01.299
 making deep friendships in

00:33:01.299 --> 00:33:02.180
 this season of life.

00:33:02.340 --> 00:33:04.380
 It feels like it's harder and

00:33:04.380 --> 00:33:07.420
 harder to keep and maintain

00:33:07.420 --> 00:33:09.019
 deep friends, is it not?

00:33:09.019 --> 00:33:10.879
 You know, we get busy with

00:33:10.879 --> 00:33:12.000
 other things, with good

00:33:12.000 --> 00:33:15.039
 things, but friendship often

00:33:15.039 --> 00:33:16.460
 hits the last of our

00:33:16.460 --> 00:33:17.160
 priorities.

00:33:18.099 --> 00:33:19.359
 Or we get stuck.

00:33:20.519 --> 00:33:23.200
 We get stuck on what an

00:33:23.200 --> 00:33:25.500
 ideal friendship, what an

00:33:25.500 --> 00:33:26.859
 ideal community would look

00:33:26.859 --> 00:33:27.180
 like.

00:33:27.779 --> 00:33:29.139
 Like Christine Hoover in

00:33:29.139 --> 00:33:30.599
 her book, Messy, Beautiful

00:33:30.599 --> 00:33:31.960
 Friendship, she confesses,

00:33:32.599 --> 00:33:34.619
 we want sugary, sweet, easy

00:33:34.619 --> 00:33:36.400
 cum community where we flit

00:33:36.400 --> 00:33:37.700
 into one another's homes

00:33:37.700 --> 00:33:39.220
 without knocking, laugh

00:33:39.220 --> 00:33:40.740
 deep into the nights, know

00:33:40.740 --> 00:33:42.019
 one another, and are known

00:33:42.019 --> 00:33:43.799
 without effort, and never

00:33:43.799 --> 00:33:45.400
 exchange a cross or a

00:33:45.400 --> 00:33:46.180
 challenging word.

00:33:47.200 --> 00:33:48.559
 We typically envision dinner

00:33:48.559 --> 00:33:50.220
 parties and game nights,

00:33:50.360 --> 00:33:51.620
 vacationing together and

00:33:51.620 --> 00:33:53.080
 talking on the phone every

00:33:53.080 --> 00:33:53.720
 single day.

00:33:55.160 --> 00:33:56.340
 Now, you guys know me as an

00:33:56.340 --> 00:33:56.600
 introvert.

00:33:56.700 --> 00:33:57.640
 I really hope that you don't

00:33:57.640 --> 00:33:59.180
 call me every single day, but

00:33:59.180 --> 00:34:02.580
 I too idolize and idolize

00:34:02.580 --> 00:34:04.160
 friendship to be this easy.

00:34:04.160 --> 00:34:08.659
 But Dietrich Bonhoeffer has

00:34:08.659 --> 00:34:10.599
 this great quote in his book

00:34:10.599 --> 00:34:11.000
 Life Together.

00:34:11.099 --> 00:34:12.320
 I'm going to read it twice so

00:34:12.320 --> 00:34:13.900
 that we can make sure we get

00:34:13.900 --> 00:34:14.099
 it.

00:34:14.460 --> 00:34:16.579
 The person who loves their

00:34:16.579 --> 00:34:18.280
 dream of community will

00:34:18.280 --> 00:34:20.960
 destroy community, but the

00:34:20.960 --> 00:34:22.500
 person who loves those around

00:34:22.500 --> 00:34:24.059
 them will create community.

00:34:24.599 --> 00:34:26.059
 Again, the person who loves

00:34:26.059 --> 00:34:28.240
 their dream of community will

00:34:28.240 --> 00:34:30.340
 destroy community, but the

00:34:30.340 --> 00:34:31.980
 person who loves those around

00:34:31.980 --> 00:34:33.920
 them will create community.

00:34:35.420 --> 00:34:37.900
 So in efforts not to love our

00:34:37.900 --> 00:34:39.519
 idealized versions of

00:34:39.519 --> 00:34:41.440
 friendships, but the actual

00:34:41.440 --> 00:34:43.519
 people in front of us, I

00:34:43.519 --> 00:34:46.420
 exhort you, if you are here

00:34:46.420 --> 00:34:47.940
 and you're not a member of a

00:34:47.940 --> 00:34:51.099
 Bible-preaching church, take

00:34:51.099 --> 00:34:53.420
 time to consider becoming a

00:34:53.420 --> 00:34:54.539
 member of a church.

00:34:54.800 --> 00:34:56.079
 Go to the membership class that

00:34:56.079 --> 00:34:57.840
 we just advertised so that you

00:34:57.840 --> 00:34:59.500
 can make your vow before God and

00:34:59.500 --> 00:35:00.900
 his people, that you will commit

00:35:00.900 --> 00:35:02.940
 yourself to this kind of deep

00:35:02.940 --> 00:35:03.680
 friendship.

00:35:05.840 --> 00:35:07.559
 If you are a member of this

00:35:07.559 --> 00:35:09.960
 church and you feel like you

00:35:09.960 --> 00:35:11.440
 don't have these kinds of deep

00:35:11.440 --> 00:35:15.599
 friendships, friend, resist the

00:35:15.599 --> 00:35:18.280
 easy temptation that comes to

00:35:18.280 --> 00:35:19.700
 blame other people.

00:35:21.240 --> 00:35:23.139
 It's because those people are so

00:35:23.139 --> 00:35:23.539
 weird.

00:35:24.099 --> 00:35:25.940
 Those people are so hard to love.

00:35:26.320 --> 00:35:27.860
 It's because they keep on

00:35:27.860 --> 00:35:28.220
 leaving.

00:35:31.000 --> 00:35:32.720
 Just like you can't choose your

00:35:32.720 --> 00:35:34.660
 own biological family members,

00:35:35.180 --> 00:35:36.900
 you can't choose your spiritual

00:35:36.900 --> 00:35:37.800
 family members.

00:35:39.220 --> 00:35:42.260
 Friends resist the temptation of

00:35:42.260 --> 00:35:44.700
 waiting for that perfect friend,

00:35:44.800 --> 00:35:47.240
 that one sugary, sweet, easy-cum

00:35:47.240 --> 00:35:49.840
 friendship, because it might not

00:35:49.840 --> 00:35:50.180
 come.

00:35:50.920 --> 00:35:52.820
 And sometimes just as those

00:35:52.820 --> 00:35:54.539
 friendships do come, they

00:35:54.539 --> 00:35:57.599
 instantly dissolve like cotton candy

00:35:57.599 --> 00:35:58.159
 on your tongue.

00:35:59.739 --> 00:36:02.639
 Instead, we ought to come to church

00:36:02.639 --> 00:36:04.559
 and to our friendships with an

00:36:04.559 --> 00:36:07.400
 attitude, a desire to serve and not

00:36:07.400 --> 00:36:08.539
 to be served.

00:36:09.259 --> 00:36:11.259
 Instead of pointing fingers at

00:36:11.259 --> 00:36:13.639
 others and their shortcomings as

00:36:13.639 --> 00:36:15.719
 friends, try being the friend that

00:36:15.719 --> 00:36:16.960
 you want to have.

00:36:18.119 --> 00:36:20.819
 Be countercultural and be faithful as

00:36:20.819 --> 00:36:22.739
 friends because this world, they drop

00:36:22.739 --> 00:36:25.059
 people at the drop of a dime the

00:36:25.059 --> 00:36:26.420
 second you say something mean, the

00:36:26.420 --> 00:36:27.659
 second you say something offensive.

00:36:28.739 --> 00:36:30.119
 But commit yourself.

00:36:30.739 --> 00:36:32.139
 Be faithful friends.

00:36:33.340 --> 00:36:35.139
 And over time, you will see the

00:36:35.139 --> 00:36:37.920
 power of a three-fold cord that is

00:36:37.920 --> 00:36:39.019
 not quickly broken.

00:36:40.119 --> 00:36:42.199
 Just as Paul depended on his friends

00:36:42.199 --> 00:36:44.279
 at the end of his life, whether you

00:36:44.279 --> 00:36:46.360
 are single, you're married, you have

00:36:46.360 --> 00:36:49.059
 kids, you don't have kids, we all need

00:36:49.599 --> 00:36:52.860
 friends to fight with us so that we can

00:36:52.860 --> 00:36:55.660
 finish this race and keep the faith.

00:36:56.039 --> 00:36:58.519
 That's the power of community.

00:37:00.720 --> 00:37:03.960
 Part of the advantages of community is

00:37:03.960 --> 00:37:06.280
 found in taking advice from those

00:37:06.280 --> 00:37:08.579
 around us, as we'll see in our final

00:37:08.579 --> 00:37:10.860
 section in this morning, in verses

00:37:10.860 --> 00:37:11.880
 13 to 16.

00:37:12.760 --> 00:37:14.900
 See, these verses can be kind of hard to

00:37:14.900 --> 00:37:15.340
 understand.

00:37:15.420 --> 00:37:16.519
 I don't know if you were confused when

00:37:16.519 --> 00:37:18.440
 we first read it because of the

00:37:18.440 --> 00:37:21.039
 ambiguous personal pronouns, right?

00:37:21.320 --> 00:37:24.039
 Like, who is he in verse 14 that went

00:37:24.039 --> 00:37:25.000
 from prison to the throne?

00:37:25.059 --> 00:37:27.280
 And who is the he who led all these

00:37:27.280 --> 00:37:28.539
 people in verse 16?

00:37:29.720 --> 00:37:32.720
 What majority of the commentators think,

00:37:32.740 --> 00:37:34.679
 and I agree with them, is that in this

00:37:34.679 --> 00:37:37.760
 scene there are only two characters, two

00:37:37.760 --> 00:37:40.179
 kings, both introduced in verse 13.

00:37:40.260 --> 00:37:43.559
 You have the old and foolish king who no

00:37:43.559 --> 00:37:46.420
 longer knows how to take advice, but then

00:37:46.420 --> 00:37:49.940
 you have the wise and poor youth.

00:37:50.779 --> 00:37:53.460
 It's this youth, then, who was born into

00:37:53.460 --> 00:37:56.099
 the poor house that ascends on his

00:37:56.099 --> 00:37:58.340
 meteoric rise to the White House.

00:37:59.940 --> 00:38:02.000
 So when you compare these two kings, the

00:38:02.000 --> 00:38:04.699
 preacher lays out clearly the better way

00:38:04.699 --> 00:38:05.119
 to live.

00:38:05.199 --> 00:38:07.420
 This is the third better way to live.

00:38:08.279 --> 00:38:10.699
 It's to listen to the advice of others.

00:38:10.699 --> 00:38:14.679
 It's better to be poor and teachable than

00:38:14.679 --> 00:38:16.480
 it is to be a rich, stubborn fool.

00:38:17.819 --> 00:38:21.539
 For it is the fool that needs to touch a

00:38:21.539 --> 00:38:24.819
 burning stove rather than to listen to

00:38:24.819 --> 00:38:26.579
 others to learn that it's hot.

00:38:28.599 --> 00:38:30.379
 So if you're going through a major

00:38:30.379 --> 00:38:33.579
 decision in life, the preacher is a

00:38:33.579 --> 00:38:36.339
 beckoning you, I know a better way.

00:38:37.279 --> 00:38:39.759
 Listen to the wise people around you.

00:38:39.760 --> 00:38:43.000
 We would do well to heed the advice of

00:38:43.000 --> 00:38:45.860
 others and resist the temptation to walk

00:38:45.860 --> 00:38:47.460
 to the beat of our own drum.

00:38:48.500 --> 00:38:51.660
 Don't let pride blind you to underestimate

00:38:51.660 --> 00:38:52.980
 your own ignorance.

00:38:54.280 --> 00:38:57.020
 Let's fight the natural urge to already

00:38:57.020 --> 00:38:59.600
 predetermine, pre-select what kind of

00:38:59.600 --> 00:39:01.800
 advice you choose to listen to and what

00:39:01.800 --> 00:39:03.340
 advice you choose to reject.

00:39:03.340 --> 00:39:08.700
 Another way to look at it is we must age well.

00:39:10.019 --> 00:39:13.820
 Often we simply assume that aging comes

00:39:13.820 --> 00:39:16.180
 naturally with wisdom, right?

00:39:16.260 --> 00:39:19.420
 But clearly the preacher thinks otherwise.

00:39:21.960 --> 00:39:25.539
 Instead, age can come with an ever so

00:39:25.539 --> 00:39:29.720
 subtle but dangerous and deadly hardening of

00:39:29.719 --> 00:39:31.719
 our hearts year after year.

00:39:31.759 --> 00:39:33.359
 And the king allowed this to happen.

00:39:33.980 --> 00:39:36.639
 He let his age harden his heart and mind.

00:39:37.059 --> 00:39:37.980
 Look at the text.

00:39:38.079 --> 00:39:40.000
 Look how it says he no longer.

00:39:40.759 --> 00:39:41.839
 He used to know.

00:39:42.000 --> 00:39:43.939
 He used to be able to take advice from

00:39:43.939 --> 00:39:44.259
 others.

00:39:44.859 --> 00:39:46.219
 But he aged poorly.

00:39:48.099 --> 00:39:50.619
 Ecclesiastes challenges us to make it our

00:39:50.619 --> 00:39:53.559
 goal to be humble, teachable old men and

00:39:53.559 --> 00:39:53.779
 women.

00:39:53.780 --> 00:39:59.380
 If you are young in your career, maybe you

00:39:59.380 --> 00:40:01.519
 don't have that much sway in your companies.

00:40:02.220 --> 00:40:04.019
 You don't have as much sway as the seasoned

00:40:04.019 --> 00:40:06.200
 directors or the professors that you report

00:40:06.200 --> 00:40:06.440
 to.

00:40:07.180 --> 00:40:12.180
 It's easier to listen, to be humble, because

00:40:12.180 --> 00:40:13.980
 that's what you're expected to do.

00:40:14.080 --> 00:40:15.480
 That's what you have to do.

00:40:16.540 --> 00:40:19.540
 But one day, a lot of you guys are young, but

00:40:19.540 --> 00:40:23.200
 one day you very well might be a director.

00:40:24.080 --> 00:40:25.800
 With associates to manage.

00:40:25.920 --> 00:40:28.800
 You might be a PI with students to lead.

00:40:29.060 --> 00:40:31.640
 You might be a grandparent with grandkids to

00:40:31.640 --> 00:40:31.920
 mentor.

00:40:32.580 --> 00:40:35.420
 Will you still be able to listen to advice

00:40:35.420 --> 00:40:35.780
 then?

00:40:37.200 --> 00:40:40.040
 We must prepare for the people that you want

00:40:40.040 --> 00:40:43.160
 to be 30 years, 50 years down the road, because

00:40:43.160 --> 00:40:46.060
 it's the seeds that are planted today that bear

00:40:46.060 --> 00:40:47.580
 fruit decades later.

00:40:47.579 --> 00:40:53.480
 And even though this is the better way to live, the

00:40:53.480 --> 00:40:58.539
 preacher observes a tragic ending for this young,

00:40:58.779 --> 00:40:59.460
 wiser king.

00:41:00.460 --> 00:41:05.500
 Despite his rags to riches story, despite his wisdom in

00:41:05.500 --> 00:41:10.480
 being able to listen to others, verses 15 to 16 teach us that

00:41:10.480 --> 00:41:16.699
 even him, even this wise youth over time loses popularity and

00:41:16.699 --> 00:41:21.320
 power until he is all alone with no one to delight in him.

00:41:22.360 --> 00:41:23.960
 For what reason, right?

00:41:24.219 --> 00:41:27.840
 He had a, he must have had a massive scandal.

00:41:28.000 --> 00:41:28.860
 He became proud.

00:41:28.980 --> 00:41:29.780
 He hated God.

00:41:30.119 --> 00:41:31.179
 Something, something.

00:41:31.179 --> 00:41:34.699
 But the preacher doesn't give a reason.

00:41:35.279 --> 00:41:36.500
 It's an enigma.

00:41:36.960 --> 00:41:38.679
 It's a paradox, a mystery.

00:41:39.739 --> 00:41:44.399
 There's no happy ever after ending for this king, but a

00:41:44.399 --> 00:41:48.619
 lonely, tragic ending with no one to delight in him.

00:41:49.719 --> 00:41:54.839
 See, the most powerful of us can't even escape the hevel of

00:41:54.839 --> 00:41:55.199
 life.

00:41:55.199 --> 00:42:01.219
 We've seen in our passage today that it is not good when man

00:42:01.219 --> 00:42:01.699
 is alone.

00:42:01.939 --> 00:42:04.239
 It's not part of our intended design.

00:42:04.539 --> 00:42:07.619
 To that end, the preacher has shown us three better ways to

00:42:07.619 --> 00:42:07.899
 live.

00:42:08.839 --> 00:42:12.599
 You know, better is a handful of quietness than the loneliness

00:42:12.599 --> 00:42:13.199
 of envy.

00:42:14.099 --> 00:42:17.119
 You know, better is the community that you live in to love the

00:42:17.119 --> 00:42:20.259
 actual people in your life than lonely greed.

00:42:20.260 --> 00:42:26.420
 Better is humility and heeding advice than arrogance and power.

00:42:27.780 --> 00:42:32.420
 Yet this passage ends to say that even if we do everything

00:42:32.420 --> 00:42:36.680
 right, we follow all the right steps, do everything right

00:42:36.680 --> 00:42:41.100
 according to biblical wisdom, we might still end up alone.

00:42:42.520 --> 00:42:47.480
 Life still is hevel, a striving after wind, a paradox, a

00:42:47.480 --> 00:42:47.880
 mystery.

00:42:47.880 --> 00:42:53.340
 So what hope do we have that we might ever be in good community

00:42:53.340 --> 00:42:54.400
 with others?

00:42:55.420 --> 00:43:00.800
 That hope can only be found in Jesus Christ alone, who can

00:43:00.800 --> 00:43:02.840
 sympathize with our loneliness.

00:43:04.340 --> 00:43:09.980
 Although he lived a perfect and sinless life, a life where people

00:43:09.980 --> 00:43:15.760
 should have been flocking towards him, to love him, to adore him, to

00:43:15.760 --> 00:43:17.940
 accept them as the light of the world.

00:43:18.760 --> 00:43:23.020
 Jesus was the loneliest person in all of human history.

00:43:24.440 --> 00:43:28.880
 Before the cross and the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus took the closest

00:43:28.880 --> 00:43:31.300
 three, his closest friends, his best friends.

00:43:32.680 --> 00:43:34.020
 Peter, James, and John.

00:43:34.220 --> 00:43:37.380
 And he confides in them something incredibly raw.

00:43:37.380 --> 00:43:43.000
 He says, my soul is very sorrowful, even to death.

00:43:43.880 --> 00:43:45.180
 Remain here and watch.

00:43:46.079 --> 00:43:48.619
 He asked them to pray with him.

00:43:48.940 --> 00:43:53.340
 It's a request and support in his greatest hour of trial.

00:43:54.340 --> 00:43:56.900
 But they would just keep on falling asleep.

00:43:56.900 --> 00:44:04.320
 Even worse, even as Jesus got arrested, they would flee to save their own

00:44:04.320 --> 00:44:04.800
 tales.

00:44:05.880 --> 00:44:11.079
 Can you imagine the loneliness Jesus experienced when he lived with,

00:44:11.200 --> 00:44:15.680
 invested in, loved on these close friends for three whole years,

00:44:15.860 --> 00:44:21.400
 only to then just see them instantly leave, instantly bounce the moment you

00:44:21.400 --> 00:44:22.280
 needed it most?

00:44:22.280 --> 00:44:30.280
 Far worse than the desertion of even the closest of his human friends was a

00:44:30.280 --> 00:44:33.200
 separation from his father on the cross.

00:44:33.740 --> 00:44:40.820
 On the cross where he hung in our place for our sins as a substitute for us.

00:44:41.460 --> 00:44:47.780
 He was despised and rejected by all men, a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief.

00:44:47.780 --> 00:44:54.840
 Yet, all of this couldn't compare to the separation that he experienced with the

00:44:54.840 --> 00:44:55.100
 father.

00:44:56.280 --> 00:45:02.860
 For all eternity, even before creation, the father perfectly loved the son.

00:45:03.180 --> 00:45:09.360
 No ill-time comment, no bitterness, no pride, no sin had ever fractured that

00:45:09.360 --> 00:45:11.180
 relationship for all eternity.

00:45:11.179 --> 00:45:21.179
 Can you imagine that until the cross where Jesus took on our heinous sins, the father

00:45:21.179 --> 00:45:23.239
 could only turn the other way?

00:45:24.440 --> 00:45:33.019
 He was cut off from sweet fellowship that had been his sole joy and his so precious

00:45:33.019 --> 00:45:38.519
 treasure throughout his life of hardship, of loneliness.

00:45:38.519 --> 00:45:40.000
 That's been the one thing.

00:45:40.440 --> 00:45:44.159
 But even at the cross, he lost it.

00:45:45.219 --> 00:45:53.699
 Yet still, as Charles Spurgeon said, Jesus Christ was up on that cross, nailing, bleeding,

00:45:54.099 --> 00:46:00.179
 dying, looking down on all the people, betraying him, forsaking him, denying him.

00:46:00.179 --> 00:46:05.019
 And in the greatest act of love in all of human history, he stayed.

00:46:05.879 --> 00:46:07.539
 He stayed, friends.

00:46:08.319 --> 00:46:15.000
 He stayed knowing that without his sacrifice, without him experiencing the greatest loneliness

00:46:15.000 --> 00:46:19.259
 of all of human history, we would have no hope.

00:46:19.299 --> 00:46:27.460
 We'd never have any hope to be able to overcome and escape the loneliness of this life, this life

00:46:27.460 --> 00:46:29.760
 of Hevel, this life of breath.

00:46:31.159 --> 00:46:33.440
 What a friend we have in Jesus.

00:46:33.940 --> 00:46:35.659
 What a friend we have in Jesus.

00:46:36.380 --> 00:46:38.199
 Do you know this friend?

00:46:39.619 --> 00:46:44.960
 Do you know the only one that sticks closer to you than a brother?

00:46:44.960 --> 00:46:58.300
 So, friends, fueled not by envy, insecurity, greed, or pride, but fueled by Jesus' faithful friendship

00:46:58.300 --> 00:46:59.019
 to sinners.

00:47:00.159 --> 00:47:02.300
 Let us create community.

00:47:03.179 --> 00:47:10.420
 Fight back the epidemic of loneliness in this church, in our city, in our workplaces, in our

00:47:10.420 --> 00:47:15.119
 families, for His glory and for our good.

00:47:16.039 --> 00:47:17.019
 Let's pray.

00:47:20.220 --> 00:47:21.960
 Father, we thank you.

00:47:23.559 --> 00:47:31.400
 Thank you for this amazing, faithful, devoted friendship that we have in Jesus.

00:47:32.079 --> 00:47:37.360
 That He is a faithful friend no matter what, no matter when other people abandon us.

00:47:37.360 --> 00:47:39.700
 We still have you.

00:47:39.880 --> 00:47:46.240
 And that kind of, that friendship, it doesn't take away the pain of loneliness from others

00:47:46.240 --> 00:47:50.559
 because we still need others, but it still gets underneath that pain.

00:47:50.720 --> 00:47:51.980
 And we thank you for that.

00:47:52.320 --> 00:47:55.559
 We thank you that Jesus is our faithful friend.

00:47:56.200 --> 00:48:03.099
 We pray, oh God, that that would fuel us to make friendships, to invest in others deeply,

00:48:03.099 --> 00:48:10.039
 deeply, committedly, faithfully, so that we'd be able to fight back loneliness in our lives

00:48:10.039 --> 00:48:10.619
 and in others.

00:48:11.799 --> 00:48:14.239
 And love as you have called us, oh God.

00:48:14.819 --> 00:48:18.139
 So help us for your glory and for our good.

00:48:18.739 --> 00:48:20.380
 In Jesus' name we pray, amen.