WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.799 You know, if you will look around at people, just how they go about their daily life. 00:00:05.900 --> 00:00:09.179 And I'm talking about people you know, people you see up close. 00:00:10.060 --> 00:00:11.919 And then people you just know about. 00:00:12.580 --> 00:00:14.460 You sort of observe them. 00:00:16.199 --> 00:00:22.080 Isn't it true that most people are just focused on the here and now? 00:00:23.120 --> 00:00:28.300 What they can see, what they can hear, what they can touch in the world around them. 00:00:28.300 --> 00:00:36.520 Now that does not mean that most people are consciously trying to block God out of their life. 00:00:37.079 --> 00:00:43.960 It certainly doesn't mean that most people intentionally live as if he does not exist. 00:00:45.179 --> 00:00:53.880 A Gallup poll taken in 2016 asked a simple yes or no question, do you believe in God? 00:00:53.880 --> 00:00:59.020 89% of Americans said yes. 00:00:59.719 --> 00:01:03.760 Now, in one way, in 2016, I would think it would be lower. 00:01:04.920 --> 00:01:07.939 But at the same time, it was one question, yes or no. 00:01:08.159 --> 00:01:10.240 And a lot of people who said, yes, I believe in God. 00:01:12.159 --> 00:01:17.659 It might not be the God of the Bible who's revealed himself in Jesus. 00:01:17.659 --> 00:01:22.759 In fact, I'm sure their idea of God, the ideas of God would be varied. 00:01:23.200 --> 00:01:32.739 But it is something that as late as 2016, 89% of Americans said they believed in God. 00:01:32.739 --> 00:01:40.899 But there's a lot more than 11%, the 11% that didn't. 00:01:41.599 --> 00:01:49.379 There's a lot more who go about their daily lives as if what happens in this world is everything. 00:01:50.439 --> 00:01:51.459 And let's be honest. 00:01:51.459 --> 00:02:04.799 Aren't there some days and some situations where we live like God is not real or God is not involved? 00:02:05.500 --> 00:02:12.379 We're just doing the best we can, trying to figure it out as if we don't have a relationship with him. 00:02:13.439 --> 00:02:17.740 Well, this is not how God created human beings to live. 00:02:17.740 --> 00:02:28.540 The early church father, Augustine, profoundly stated why God made us and how that affects us in this prayer. 00:02:29.840 --> 00:02:38.480 He said, you have made us for yourself and our hearts are restless until they can find rest in you. 00:02:40.240 --> 00:02:44.260 Augustine's statement is a good summary of the book of Ecclesiastes. 00:02:44.259 --> 00:02:56.459 But Solomon, the writer, goes further in describing the heart of a person who lives without God as more than just restless. 00:02:58.539 --> 00:03:03.959 Solomon reveals, we've seen a little bit of it, we're going to see a lot more as we go through the book of Ecclesiastes. 00:03:05.899 --> 00:03:13.459 Solomon reveals that when we leave God out of our lives, we're going to have more questions than answers. 00:03:14.259 --> 00:03:21.079 We're going to find that there's just not a lot of satisfaction to be found in life. 00:03:22.419 --> 00:03:24.000 We're going to find a lot of frustration. 00:03:25.500 --> 00:03:34.139 Solomon repeatedly says that life lived under the sun as if God doesn't exist, has no lasting value or meaning. 00:03:34.659 --> 00:03:37.099 I want you to understand, Solomon is not denying reality. 00:03:37.280 --> 00:03:38.879 There's meaning in a lot of things we do. 00:03:39.139 --> 00:03:40.739 He's talking about ultimate meaning. 00:03:40.740 --> 00:03:44.159 He's talking about that which really satisfies you. 00:03:45.000 --> 00:03:50.659 That which really makes sense of your life, not just now, but for always. 00:03:51.700 --> 00:03:58.120 Chuck Swindoll explains why such a life with God left out has no value or meaning. 00:03:58.320 --> 00:03:58.820 Look at it. 00:03:59.879 --> 00:04:04.960 Solomon had everything he wanted and investigated everything that was visible under the sun. 00:04:05.379 --> 00:04:08.740 But he found nothing that provided real meaning or satisfaction. 00:04:08.740 --> 00:04:16.139 It seemed logical that the source of ultimate meaning and satisfaction must be invisible. 00:04:17.000 --> 00:04:20.460 But how many people do you know who can see the invisible? 00:04:21.040 --> 00:04:23.740 How many people can hear the inaudible? 00:04:25.800 --> 00:04:33.740 An American Indian was walking down the street of New York City with a good friend who was from that city, lived their whole life there. 00:04:33.740 --> 00:04:39.980 Well, as they were walking down the busy street, the Indian put his hand out to his friend and said, wait, stop. 00:04:40.920 --> 00:04:42.160 Did you hear that? 00:04:43.180 --> 00:04:45.240 His friend said, hear what? 00:04:46.100 --> 00:04:47.620 He said, a cricket. 00:04:48.579 --> 00:04:53.379 And his friend just laughed and said, what are you talking about? 00:04:53.939 --> 00:04:58.160 You didn't hear a cricket in the middle of Manhattan? 00:04:58.160 --> 00:04:59.640 All this noise? 00:04:59.760 --> 00:05:03.020 There's no way that you heard a cricket. 00:05:04.320 --> 00:05:10.740 Well, the friend just sort of grinned and said, watch. 00:05:10.740 --> 00:05:19.199 And the friend was still in the midst of, you know, cars going everywhere, people yelling, horns honking. 00:05:19.840 --> 00:05:20.480 He stopped. 00:05:20.600 --> 00:05:21.100 He listened. 00:05:22.019 --> 00:05:28.060 He slowly made his way across the street and there was this concrete planter with a tree growing in it. 00:05:28.879 --> 00:05:33.680 And he got to it and he felt around on the mulch and he pulled out a cricket. 00:05:35.780 --> 00:05:37.780 His friend could not believe it. 00:05:37.779 --> 00:05:46.000 How in the world could you hear a cricket in this, all this that's going on? 00:05:47.079 --> 00:05:50.359 And the Indian replied, it's just a matter of what you're listening for. 00:05:50.959 --> 00:05:52.039 Let me show you. 00:05:53.259 --> 00:05:58.419 Then he reached in his pocket and pulled out a handful of coins, quarters, nickels, dimes, pennies. 00:05:58.919 --> 00:06:02.779 He held it up about shoulder high and just dropped them. 00:06:02.779 --> 00:06:16.519 As soon as they all hit the concrete and that ping sounded, every head within a block turned and looked at that spot where they heard the money hit the ground. 00:06:18.619 --> 00:06:24.779 The Indian looked at his friend with a grin and said, it's all about what you're listening for. 00:06:24.779 --> 00:06:39.979 If we rarely see the invisible or hear the inaudible, it's because we're not looking for it. 00:06:41.019 --> 00:06:43.759 We're not listening for it. 00:06:43.759 --> 00:06:57.180 If we live life only under the sun, if we live life like it's just all up to us, like God doesn't even exist, we're going to find a lot of things in our life won't make sense. 00:06:57.860 --> 00:07:00.719 And they certainly will not satisfy us. 00:07:01.719 --> 00:07:04.480 And that is the message of Ecclesiastes. 00:07:04.480 --> 00:07:12.240 I'm calling this series Discovering What Matters Most because that's what Solomon is trying to help us do throughout this book. 00:07:13.360 --> 00:07:15.660 He's pointing out what matters most. 00:07:16.640 --> 00:07:17.939 You have to excuse me. 00:07:18.580 --> 00:07:21.840 He's pointing out what matters most by pointing out two things. 00:07:22.220 --> 00:07:25.700 Number one, the many things that do not ultimately matter. 00:07:26.220 --> 00:07:27.540 And that's the majority of the book. 00:07:27.540 --> 00:07:34.140 Most of this book, Solomon is writing from the perspective of somebody who has no relationship with God. 00:07:35.259 --> 00:07:44.060 He is writing because he probably experienced some of this himself toward the end of his life as king when he just blew it all. 00:07:46.860 --> 00:07:49.740 Solomon wants us to learn from his mistakes. 00:07:50.319 --> 00:07:52.280 Or at least from what he's telling us. 00:07:52.279 --> 00:08:05.059 Solomon wants us to understand where we won't find that which we really want, really need to make our lives more purposeful. 00:08:06.199 --> 00:08:13.559 And then he tells us the few things, but the important things that really do matter. 00:08:14.139 --> 00:08:17.379 Let's look now at some of the things that matter to most people. 00:08:18.379 --> 00:08:23.220 But Solomon learned firsthand they don't really, when all is said and done, they don't really matter. 00:08:23.720 --> 00:08:26.280 Number one, the things in life that do not satisfy. 00:08:27.220 --> 00:08:32.779 That's going to be from chapter 1, verse 12, through chapter 2, verse 23. 00:08:32.899 --> 00:08:33.980 I put 22 as 23. 00:08:35.460 --> 00:08:37.600 Think of what you'll read there. 00:08:37.899 --> 00:08:39.139 We're not going to read all of these verses. 00:08:39.139 --> 00:08:41.100 We're going to read some of them, but not all of them. 00:08:41.559 --> 00:08:50.419 If you just sort of walk through those verses, that's sort of like a diary of Solomon's search for true satisfaction and meaning in life. 00:08:50.960 --> 00:08:51.679 Let's look at it. 00:08:51.740 --> 00:08:55.139 Number one, wisdom will not ultimately satisfy. 00:08:55.139 --> 00:09:00.360 And he points that out in verse 12 and verse 16. 00:09:00.600 --> 00:09:01.419 I want you to look at it. 00:09:02.500 --> 00:09:12.939 I, the preacher, have been king over Israel and Jerusalem, and I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven. 00:09:13.399 --> 00:09:19.679 It is an unhappy business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with. 00:09:19.980 --> 00:09:20.960 Look at verse 16. 00:09:20.960 --> 00:09:28.060 I said in my heart, I have acquired great wisdom, surpassing all who were over Jerusalem before me. 00:09:28.519 --> 00:09:33.000 And my heart has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge. 00:09:34.480 --> 00:09:40.360 Solomon really did grow in wisdom and knowledge and understanding. 00:09:41.220 --> 00:09:48.680 I'm going to guess most people in this room, you know that God gave Solomon a special gift of wisdom. 00:09:48.679 --> 00:09:50.939 It's described in 1 Kings chapter 3. 00:09:51.679 --> 00:09:58.079 At the beginning of his kingdom, as beginning of his reign as king, Solomon's heart was right with God. 00:09:59.000 --> 00:10:00.679 God even asked him, what do you want? 00:10:01.179 --> 00:10:04.059 I'll give you anything you want as king over my people. 00:10:04.399 --> 00:10:06.339 And Solomon's reply was, I want to be wise. 00:10:07.120 --> 00:10:12.259 I want you to give me wisdom so that I can serve your purpose, help your people. 00:10:12.259 --> 00:10:14.980 And God gave it to him. 00:10:15.919 --> 00:10:22.659 God gave him such wisdom that no one ever lived was wise like Solomon. 00:10:23.519 --> 00:10:25.700 But that's not the only kind of wisdom he had. 00:10:26.340 --> 00:10:27.700 Solomon studied life. 00:10:28.779 --> 00:10:32.019 I mean, he was real, he was real like a scientist and a philosopher. 00:10:32.559 --> 00:10:33.700 He tried things. 00:10:33.819 --> 00:10:34.939 He thought through things. 00:10:35.019 --> 00:10:35.840 He did research. 00:10:35.840 --> 00:10:39.759 And as he did this, his worldly wisdom grew. 00:10:40.420 --> 00:10:43.160 And that's not a slap at the kind of wisdom I'm talking about. 00:10:43.720 --> 00:10:45.820 It's not contrary to God's wisdom. 00:10:46.060 --> 00:10:47.899 You see, all truth is God's truth. 00:10:48.200 --> 00:10:49.980 If something's true, it's just truth. 00:10:50.160 --> 00:10:52.019 It's just the way God made things. 00:10:53.379 --> 00:10:54.639 All truth is God's truth. 00:10:55.180 --> 00:10:57.580 And so as Solomon studied and learned, 00:10:57.580 --> 00:11:05.759 he grew wise about all kinds of things in this world. 00:11:07.259 --> 00:11:08.840 But as time went on, 00:11:10.639 --> 00:11:19.540 Solomon stopped thinking about how God was involved in his life and his kingdom. 00:11:20.840 --> 00:11:24.780 Solomon started looking too much at just this world, life under the sun. 00:11:24.779 --> 00:11:29.799 And his relationship with the Lord deteriorated. 00:11:31.299 --> 00:11:34.579 He failed to use his wisdom in God-honoring ways. 00:11:38.439 --> 00:11:40.399 Truth is, he started chasing women. 00:11:41.839 --> 00:11:46.319 And women, many wives, 1 Kings 11 tells us, 00:11:47.279 --> 00:11:48.620 they took him away from the Lord. 00:11:49.339 --> 00:11:50.980 And they not only took him away from the Lord, 00:11:50.980 --> 00:11:56.120 Solomon put his focus on false gods of these pagan women 00:11:56.120 --> 00:11:57.240 that he wasn't supposed to have. 00:11:58.360 --> 00:12:01.440 And it resulted in Solomon and his family 00:12:01.440 --> 00:12:04.600 and the whole kingdom suffering disaster. 00:12:05.879 --> 00:12:11.000 All because wise Solomon acted like a pure fool 00:12:11.000 --> 00:12:13.659 as he got older in life. 00:12:14.879 --> 00:12:17.220 Solomon even studied, he goes on in verse 17, 00:12:17.220 --> 00:12:22.560 the opposites of sanity and wisdom, madness and folly. 00:12:22.639 --> 00:12:23.840 Look at that, verse 17. 00:12:26.440 --> 00:12:31.060 And I applied my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. 00:12:31.440 --> 00:12:36.279 I perceive that it is also but a striving after wind. 00:12:38.360 --> 00:12:42.139 Solomon wanted to know everything, what's wise, what's not. 00:12:42.840 --> 00:12:45.220 How wise people live, how fools live. 00:12:45.220 --> 00:12:48.879 He wanted to learn from people's, what they knew and what they didn't know. 00:12:49.080 --> 00:12:50.639 He wanted to learn from people's mistakes even. 00:12:51.660 --> 00:12:53.320 But when all was said and done, 00:12:53.379 --> 00:12:55.019 when you combined all this great learning, 00:12:55.279 --> 00:12:57.300 he says it was like a striving after the wind 00:12:57.300 --> 00:12:58.580 or it's like chasing the wind. 00:13:01.220 --> 00:13:02.399 That's an impossibility. 00:13:02.820 --> 00:13:03.660 You understand that. 00:13:04.700 --> 00:13:06.080 You can't chase the wind. 00:13:06.160 --> 00:13:07.420 You can't catch the wind. 00:13:08.000 --> 00:13:09.920 Even if you could, what would you have? 00:13:11.399 --> 00:13:12.399 That's his point. 00:13:13.240 --> 00:13:14.180 It's futile. 00:13:14.179 --> 00:13:15.179 It's futile. 00:13:16.399 --> 00:13:18.199 But even more, let's look at verse 18. 00:13:18.939 --> 00:13:24.079 For in much wisdom is much vexation or grief or pain or sorrow. 00:13:25.379 --> 00:13:30.079 And he who increases knowledge increases sorrow. 00:13:31.639 --> 00:13:35.179 Solomon learned much and grew in wisdom, but it didn't satisfy him. 00:13:35.679 --> 00:13:38.759 In fact, he said all it did gave him pain and sorrow. 00:13:38.759 --> 00:13:45.039 Now, this is not an excuse for you who are especially in high school 00:13:45.039 --> 00:13:47.620 to go home and say all this studying, you know, 00:13:47.639 --> 00:13:49.779 it just causes pain and sorrow in my life. 00:13:49.980 --> 00:13:50.799 I'm going to quit studying. 00:13:51.080 --> 00:13:52.500 That's not the point here now. 00:13:53.240 --> 00:13:55.059 There's a right way to go about it. 00:13:56.240 --> 00:13:57.519 Don't give up on it. 00:13:57.519 --> 00:14:00.720 But this reminds us something here. 00:14:02.000 --> 00:14:06.379 There's a lot of truth in that old saying, ignorance is bliss. 00:14:09.100 --> 00:14:13.879 Sometimes the more you know, the more you stress. 00:14:13.879 --> 00:14:19.720 Now, that doesn't mean we should go through life and be willfully ignorant, 00:14:20.439 --> 00:14:24.220 put our heads in the sand and not try to know what's going on. 00:14:24.220 --> 00:14:31.560 But let's face the fact, acquiring wisdom and knowledge, 00:14:32.060 --> 00:14:35.360 it doesn't always solve our problems. 00:14:36.740 --> 00:14:39.160 It sometimes adds to them. 00:14:40.680 --> 00:14:47.100 And we can become very, very wise and knowledgeable about life, 00:14:47.660 --> 00:14:50.680 but still not find true satisfaction. 00:14:50.960 --> 00:14:53.100 That's what Solomon is talking about. 00:14:53.100 --> 00:14:56.360 He discovered wisdom's not the answer. 00:14:56.639 --> 00:14:58.700 So he moves on and tried something else. 00:14:59.000 --> 00:15:01.139 We'll call this next section the pursuit of pleasure. 00:15:01.440 --> 00:15:04.100 We see here, pleasure will not ultimately satisfy. 00:15:05.700 --> 00:15:10.180 Solomon decided he's on a quest for what matters in life. 00:15:10.960 --> 00:15:12.920 How can I make life meaningful? 00:15:13.320 --> 00:15:16.500 Make life such that I want to get up every day and just seize the day. 00:15:17.300 --> 00:15:18.399 He said, here's what I'm going to do. 00:15:19.779 --> 00:15:21.680 I'm going to entertain myself to death. 00:15:23.100 --> 00:15:25.399 And so he, look at it, verses 1, 2, and 3. 00:15:25.639 --> 00:15:27.200 We're in chapter 2 now, verse 1. 00:15:28.000 --> 00:15:31.899 I said in my heart, come now, I will test you with pleasure. 00:15:32.300 --> 00:15:33.060 Enjoy yourself. 00:15:33.500 --> 00:15:38.920 But behold, this also was vanity, futility, pointless. 00:15:38.919 --> 00:15:45.679 I said of laughter, it is mad, and of pleasure, what use is it? 00:15:46.079 --> 00:15:49.679 I searched with my heart how to cheer my body with wine, 00:15:50.399 --> 00:15:52.099 my heart still guiding me with wisdom, 00:15:52.899 --> 00:15:56.339 and how to lay hold on folly till I might see what was good 00:15:56.339 --> 00:16:00.199 for the children of man to do under heaven during the few days of their life. 00:16:02.099 --> 00:16:03.379 Solomon, think about it this way. 00:16:03.399 --> 00:16:04.299 He's going to entertain himself. 00:16:04.299 --> 00:16:07.699 So he goes to downtown Greenville. 00:16:10.079 --> 00:16:13.659 He walks into a club to hear a comedian. 00:16:15.519 --> 00:16:16.799 I love comedy. 00:16:17.979 --> 00:16:23.599 Let's just go and, you know, maybe just sort of taking a time out, 00:16:24.339 --> 00:16:27.759 hearing someone who's truly funny, being able to laugh. 00:16:27.819 --> 00:16:30.459 Maybe that'll sort of laugh my troubles away. 00:16:30.519 --> 00:16:31.099 He tried that. 00:16:31.100 --> 00:16:37.820 He went to expensive wine bars and sampled their offerings. 00:16:38.639 --> 00:16:43.700 Now, I want you to understand, Solomon didn't go wild, become a drunk. 00:16:44.180 --> 00:16:46.080 Look at what it says in the middle of verse 3. 00:16:48.899 --> 00:16:52.500 I searched with my heart how to cheer my body with wine, 00:16:52.779 --> 00:16:55.240 my heart still guiding me with wisdom. 00:16:56.019 --> 00:16:58.379 He didn't lose perspective. 00:16:58.379 --> 00:17:01.059 He did exercise self-control. 00:17:01.320 --> 00:17:05.660 He's just wanting to see what this experiment, 00:17:06.279 --> 00:17:10.819 drinking more than usual, laughing more than usual, 00:17:11.420 --> 00:17:13.559 what kind of effect that will have. 00:17:14.579 --> 00:17:19.359 Now, again, this is not something that's knocking, 00:17:19.759 --> 00:17:21.980 just the way we live life in this world. 00:17:21.980 --> 00:17:28.099 But he found that wine and laughter didn't really change anything 00:17:28.099 --> 00:17:32.440 about the way he understood life and was experiencing life, 00:17:32.480 --> 00:17:34.059 which wasn't satisfying to him. 00:17:34.980 --> 00:17:39.420 Next, he became self-absorbed and started all kinds of building programs. 00:17:39.759 --> 00:17:40.480 He had the money. 00:17:40.599 --> 00:17:41.319 He had the resources. 00:17:41.500 --> 00:17:43.279 He could command people to do whatever he wanted. 00:17:43.480 --> 00:17:45.640 So look at what he did, beginning in verse 4. 00:17:45.640 --> 00:17:48.520 I made great works. 00:17:48.660 --> 00:17:51.620 I built houses and planted vineyards for myself. 00:17:51.759 --> 00:17:52.420 Now, I want you to notice. 00:17:52.660 --> 00:17:55.080 Notice all the personal pronouns. 00:17:55.500 --> 00:17:58.180 I, myself, my, me. 00:17:58.340 --> 00:17:58.800 Look at it. 00:17:59.259 --> 00:18:00.640 I made great works. 00:18:00.820 --> 00:18:03.380 I built houses and planted vineyards for myself. 00:18:03.820 --> 00:18:09.660 I made myself gardens and parks and planted in them all kinds of fruit trees. 00:18:09.660 --> 00:18:15.540 I made myself pools from which to water the forest of growing trees. 00:18:17.140 --> 00:18:18.900 He's doing good things. 00:18:19.400 --> 00:18:22.220 He's doing things that will benefit other people. 00:18:22.740 --> 00:18:24.900 We're not talking about evil things here. 00:18:25.080 --> 00:18:25.980 Good things. 00:18:27.500 --> 00:18:31.600 But it didn't satisfy him. 00:18:33.340 --> 00:18:35.560 He wasn't content. 00:18:35.559 --> 00:18:40.879 And so, he decided to forget restraint. 00:18:42.119 --> 00:18:45.359 He started accumulating more of everything. 00:18:45.799 --> 00:18:50.779 Slaves, musicians, and women. 00:18:51.740 --> 00:18:53.359 Look at what it says in verses 7 and 8. 00:18:55.339 --> 00:19:00.200 I bought male and female slaves and had slaves who were born in my house. 00:19:00.200 --> 00:19:07.420 I had also great possessions of herds and flocks more than anyone who had been before me in Jerusalem. 00:19:07.940 --> 00:19:13.299 I also gathered for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and provinces. 00:19:14.000 --> 00:19:19.200 I got singers, both men and women, and many concubines. 00:19:19.680 --> 00:19:22.720 The delight of the sons of man. 00:19:22.720 --> 00:19:33.660 Solomon became a poster child of a man obsessed with money, wealth, power, sex. 00:19:34.720 --> 00:19:36.019 Money, sex, and power. 00:19:38.000 --> 00:19:41.759 Someone wrote a book about Solomon's downfall, and that was the title of it. 00:19:42.539 --> 00:19:44.720 A Man of Money, Sex, and Power. 00:19:45.180 --> 00:19:47.680 That's what he was experimenting with. 00:19:49.059 --> 00:19:50.579 But it didn't satisfy him. 00:19:50.579 --> 00:19:54.679 He had everything that a human being could ever want. 00:19:55.419 --> 00:19:56.879 He had the money. 00:19:57.159 --> 00:19:57.839 He had the power. 00:19:58.079 --> 00:19:58.960 He had the resources. 00:20:00.579 --> 00:20:02.859 But look at verse 9 through 11. 00:20:03.939 --> 00:20:08.899 So I became great and surpassed all who were before me in Jerusalem. 00:20:09.539 --> 00:20:14.839 Also, my wisdom remained with me, and whatever my eyes desired, I did not keep from them. 00:20:15.439 --> 00:20:17.539 I kept my heart from no pleasure. 00:20:17.539 --> 00:20:24.399 For my heart found pleasure in all my toil, and this was my reward for all my toil. 00:20:25.019 --> 00:20:29.019 Then I considered all that my hands had done, and the toil I had expended in doing it. 00:20:29.619 --> 00:20:35.019 And behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind. 00:20:35.720 --> 00:20:40.539 And there was nothing to be gained under the sun. 00:20:40.539 --> 00:20:49.680 Solomon is showing us that at the end of the day, if all we are concerned about and all we are putting our energies into, 00:20:49.899 --> 00:20:53.859 our personal projects and possessions and pleasures, 00:20:54.859 --> 00:20:59.500 once they run their course, we won't be content. 00:20:59.500 --> 00:21:03.500 We will not find satisfaction. 00:21:04.599 --> 00:21:08.440 We'll still be looking for that something else. 00:21:10.579 --> 00:21:14.279 You know, sooner or later, based on what Solomon's telling us, 00:21:14.720 --> 00:21:17.180 sooner or later, we've got to come to the discovery 00:21:17.180 --> 00:21:22.440 that everything in this world that we own, that we build, 00:21:23.440 --> 00:21:26.700 it's like a sandcastle on the beach. 00:21:28.660 --> 00:21:31.039 It may be impressive. 00:21:31.980 --> 00:21:33.340 It may be elaborate. 00:21:34.340 --> 00:21:36.120 But it's not permanent. 00:21:36.119 --> 00:21:41.079 Even if we have what our hearts desire. 00:21:41.319 --> 00:21:42.599 And you have that. 00:21:43.659 --> 00:21:44.379 You think about it. 00:21:46.659 --> 00:21:51.059 There's always something that we really want at a point in time. 00:21:51.859 --> 00:21:53.639 Maybe right now, there's just one thing. 00:21:54.259 --> 00:21:54.959 Maybe it's a car. 00:21:55.059 --> 00:21:55.959 Maybe it's a different house. 00:21:56.079 --> 00:21:57.739 Maybe it's you fill in the blank. 00:21:58.939 --> 00:22:00.879 And you think, you say, if I could just get it, 00:22:01.639 --> 00:22:03.899 I'd be satisfied. 00:22:03.900 --> 00:22:06.640 I wouldn't ask for anything else. 00:22:07.960 --> 00:22:09.759 But then when you get it, 00:22:10.300 --> 00:22:13.280 after a while, the new wears off. 00:22:14.360 --> 00:22:15.580 Fizz dies down. 00:22:16.360 --> 00:22:18.060 And it's no longer satisfying. 00:22:19.519 --> 00:22:23.000 Solomon, he's searching. 00:22:24.259 --> 00:22:29.360 But he just can't find that which really satisfies him. 00:22:29.840 --> 00:22:32.280 And so he goes back to wisdom again. 00:22:32.279 --> 00:22:34.399 But I don't need to be disappointed. 00:22:34.480 --> 00:22:34.839 Look at it. 00:22:34.859 --> 00:22:36.319 Verses 12 through 17. 00:22:37.019 --> 00:22:38.220 Wisdom never satisfies. 00:22:38.940 --> 00:22:43.980 Now, he knows that it's better to be a wise person than a fool. 00:22:44.139 --> 00:22:45.099 Look at verse 13. 00:22:46.899 --> 00:22:50.099 Then I saw that there is more gain in wisdom than in folly, 00:22:50.619 --> 00:22:53.680 as there is more gain in light than in darkness. 00:22:53.680 --> 00:23:00.320 It really is better to be a wise person than to be a fool. 00:23:01.840 --> 00:23:02.960 It's just a fact. 00:23:04.840 --> 00:23:07.100 He is not in any way saying, 00:23:07.660 --> 00:23:14.820 it doesn't matter whether or not I seek to be wise and knowledgeable and understanding 00:23:14.820 --> 00:23:17.420 and use that in good ways in life. 00:23:17.420 --> 00:23:20.720 But ultimately, 00:23:21.320 --> 00:23:24.300 the wisest person you know 00:23:24.300 --> 00:23:26.580 and the most foolish person you know 00:23:26.580 --> 00:23:29.900 are going to wind up the same way. 00:23:30.980 --> 00:23:31.560 Dead. 00:23:33.380 --> 00:23:34.920 He keeps coming back to this. 00:23:35.800 --> 00:23:38.259 No one in this world lives forever. 00:23:38.880 --> 00:23:42.200 No one lives forever under the sun. 00:23:42.200 --> 00:23:48.259 Think about the wisest, smartest, most impressive person you know. 00:23:49.480 --> 00:23:50.720 One day they're going to die 00:23:50.720 --> 00:23:52.700 and they will not be remembered. 00:23:54.360 --> 00:23:56.400 And you think about the dumbest person you know. 00:23:57.400 --> 00:24:00.140 Just the biggest fool that you've ever met in your life. 00:24:01.200 --> 00:24:02.519 They're going to die the same way 00:24:02.519 --> 00:24:04.900 and nobody's going to remember them either. 00:24:05.000 --> 00:24:06.539 That's what he's wanting us to understand here. 00:24:08.940 --> 00:24:10.259 The wisest person who ever lived. 00:24:10.259 --> 00:24:17.339 Lord, this pursuit is not going to satisfy us. 00:24:18.500 --> 00:24:20.019 There's always going to be something missing. 00:24:20.920 --> 00:24:22.400 We're always going to be restless 00:24:22.400 --> 00:24:27.839 until we find our true rest in a relationship with God. 00:24:28.519 --> 00:24:31.180 There's one more thing listed in Solomon's diary 00:24:31.180 --> 00:24:32.879 about what didn't satisfy him. 00:24:33.160 --> 00:24:33.920 That was his work. 00:24:34.000 --> 00:24:35.180 Look at verses 18 through 23. 00:24:35.460 --> 00:24:36.460 Work does not satisfy. 00:24:36.460 --> 00:24:39.460 The point he makes in this section 00:24:39.460 --> 00:24:42.900 is that all he has acquired 00:24:42.900 --> 00:24:45.740 is going to be left to somebody else one day. 00:24:45.819 --> 00:24:46.660 Look at verse 18. 00:24:47.579 --> 00:24:51.120 I hated all my toil in which I toil under the sun, 00:24:51.799 --> 00:24:56.259 seeing that I must leave it to the man who will come after me, 00:24:56.460 --> 00:25:00.720 and who knows whether he will be wise or a fool. 00:25:00.720 --> 00:25:03.339 You think about that. 00:25:04.860 --> 00:25:06.819 Think about that, let's just say, 00:25:06.880 --> 00:25:08.620 if you're middle-aged or older. 00:25:10.240 --> 00:25:11.059 You've worked. 00:25:11.319 --> 00:25:12.740 You've hopefully saved. 00:25:13.120 --> 00:25:14.579 You may not be wealthy. 00:25:14.920 --> 00:25:17.500 There may not be a whole lot that you're going to leave, 00:25:17.559 --> 00:25:18.579 but you're going to leave something. 00:25:18.579 --> 00:25:23.899 And let's just be honest now. 00:25:24.539 --> 00:25:27.220 You're probably going to leave it to a child or a grandchild 00:25:27.220 --> 00:25:27.939 or a niece or a nephew. 00:25:28.079 --> 00:25:29.179 You're going to leave it to somebody you know. 00:25:30.639 --> 00:25:32.899 Does the thought ever run through your mind? 00:25:33.980 --> 00:25:35.119 Are they going to blow it? 00:25:36.980 --> 00:25:39.419 Are they going to act foolishly 00:25:39.420 --> 00:25:42.680 and lose in a matter of months 00:25:42.680 --> 00:25:47.680 what I have worked and acquired for years? 00:25:50.060 --> 00:25:51.500 Look at what he says in verse 19. 00:25:55.120 --> 00:25:57.320 And who knows whether he will be wise or a fool, 00:25:57.320 --> 00:26:01.960 yet he will be master of all for which I toil 00:26:01.960 --> 00:26:05.380 and use my wisdom under the sun. 00:26:05.980 --> 00:26:08.480 This is also vanity. 00:26:09.420 --> 00:26:15.440 Solomon, even though he was wise, 00:26:16.600 --> 00:26:20.440 he worked hard, both by hook and crook. 00:26:20.660 --> 00:26:21.960 He gained a lot. 00:26:23.960 --> 00:26:27.039 But the person who's going to inherit what he has, 00:26:29.800 --> 00:26:34.600 he may be a fool who just goes through it too quickly. 00:26:35.920 --> 00:26:38.420 And that really bothers him. 00:26:38.420 --> 00:26:41.200 Somebody who just squanders it foolishly. 00:26:41.300 --> 00:26:42.279 Look at verse 20 and 21. 00:26:42.519 --> 00:26:44.759 He's also concerned that a lazy person would get it. 00:26:45.500 --> 00:26:46.100 Verse 20. 00:26:47.000 --> 00:26:49.500 So I turned about and gave my heart up to despair 00:26:49.500 --> 00:26:52.300 over all the toil of my labors under the sun, 00:26:52.440 --> 00:26:55.200 because sometimes a person who has toiled 00:26:55.200 --> 00:26:56.960 with wisdom and knowledge and skill 00:26:56.960 --> 00:26:59.440 must leave everything to be enjoyed 00:26:59.440 --> 00:27:02.640 by someone who did not toil for it. 00:27:02.640 --> 00:27:04.780 This is vanity and a great evil. 00:27:04.780 --> 00:27:09.940 Solomon is thinking, 00:27:10.820 --> 00:27:12.200 all this stuff 00:27:12.200 --> 00:27:16.480 that cost me something, 00:27:17.020 --> 00:27:19.940 it may fall into the hands of someone 00:27:19.940 --> 00:27:22.960 who doesn't understand the value of work. 00:27:22.960 --> 00:27:26.340 He'll get what he does not deserve. 00:27:29.299 --> 00:27:30.079 Think about it. 00:27:32.140 --> 00:27:35.200 Think about what he's saying here about what we have, 00:27:35.940 --> 00:27:37.720 what we take pride in, 00:27:38.120 --> 00:27:39.480 what we build up. 00:27:39.480 --> 00:27:44.299 We have no control over what's going to happen 00:27:44.299 --> 00:27:45.279 when we're gone. 00:27:46.000 --> 00:27:47.440 Here's an encouraging way to think 00:27:47.440 --> 00:27:49.860 of all you have and work for and achieved in life. 00:27:50.000 --> 00:27:51.579 Look at what he says, David Gibson. 00:27:52.420 --> 00:27:54.259 It is the people who follow us 00:27:54.259 --> 00:27:57.140 who will have control over all our toil and effort. 00:27:57.480 --> 00:27:58.660 Perhaps they will develop it, 00:27:58.759 --> 00:28:00.099 perhaps they will destroy it. 00:28:00.339 --> 00:28:01.039 But either way, 00:28:01.120 --> 00:28:03.960 we will be dead and gone and soon forgotten. 00:28:03.960 --> 00:28:07.759 So what does that mean for all we have achieved? 00:28:08.700 --> 00:28:09.819 Not a lot. 00:28:11.000 --> 00:28:12.360 That's the honest answer. 00:28:13.539 --> 00:28:15.200 Solomon is intentionally painting 00:28:15.200 --> 00:28:16.819 a very depressing picture 00:28:16.819 --> 00:28:18.880 of life that is lived 00:28:18.880 --> 00:28:21.220 with no concern for God, 00:28:21.319 --> 00:28:22.700 for his way, for his will. 00:28:24.200 --> 00:28:26.539 Did you notice from chapter 1, verse 15, 00:28:26.620 --> 00:28:28.720 through here, verse 23 of chapter 2, 00:28:29.240 --> 00:28:31.980 God's name has not been mentioned by design. 00:28:31.980 --> 00:28:35.140 Solomon wants us to understand. 00:28:35.740 --> 00:28:37.579 Life was never intended to be lived this way. 00:28:38.099 --> 00:28:39.640 God didn't create us 00:28:39.640 --> 00:28:41.620 and just turn us loose in this world 00:28:41.620 --> 00:28:42.940 and live as if he does not exist. 00:28:45.059 --> 00:28:48.059 You know, we can try to make sense out of life 00:28:48.059 --> 00:28:49.120 doing a lot of things. 00:28:50.140 --> 00:28:51.940 We can pursue, as he's been talking about, 00:28:52.019 --> 00:28:54.559 education, hard work, pleasure, 00:28:55.099 --> 00:28:58.079 but it will not satisfy. 00:28:58.079 --> 00:29:00.799 It will not. 00:29:02.980 --> 00:29:04.139 It will not. 00:29:05.460 --> 00:29:07.299 Solomon was wiser, wealthier, 00:29:07.559 --> 00:29:09.159 and more powerful than any of us, 00:29:09.359 --> 00:29:10.159 and he tried it. 00:29:10.720 --> 00:29:12.720 And he failed miserably. 00:29:13.899 --> 00:29:16.960 Now, that's not the final word this morning. 00:29:17.859 --> 00:29:20.679 We've looked at what doesn't work, 00:29:20.779 --> 00:29:21.439 what doesn't matter. 00:29:21.619 --> 00:29:22.419 Let's look quickly now. 00:29:22.619 --> 00:29:24.139 The thing that does satisfy, 00:29:24.480 --> 00:29:26.379 verses 24 through 26. 00:29:26.380 --> 00:29:28.120 Let's read verse 24 first. 00:29:30.120 --> 00:29:31.620 There's nothing better for a person 00:29:31.620 --> 00:29:33.040 than he should eat and drink 00:29:33.040 --> 00:29:34.980 and find enjoyment in his toil. 00:29:35.960 --> 00:29:38.640 This also, I saw, was from the hand of God. 00:29:38.860 --> 00:29:40.160 For apart from him, 00:29:41.100 --> 00:29:43.180 who can eat or who can have enjoyment? 00:29:43.180 --> 00:29:47.820 For to the one who pleases him, 00:29:48.299 --> 00:29:51.299 God has given wisdom and knowledge and joy, 00:29:51.680 --> 00:29:54.200 but to the sinner he has given the business 00:29:54.200 --> 00:29:55.700 of gathering and collecting, 00:29:55.980 --> 00:29:58.600 only to give to one who pleases God. 00:29:59.240 --> 00:30:02.940 This also is vanity and a striving after wind. 00:30:04.340 --> 00:30:05.380 It may be surprising, 00:30:05.519 --> 00:30:07.019 but look at verses 24 and 25. 00:30:07.019 --> 00:30:10.839 It may be surprising how God satisfies 00:30:10.839 --> 00:30:12.839 our desires for joy and meaning 00:30:12.839 --> 00:30:17.720 with some of life's simplest blessings. 00:30:18.720 --> 00:30:22.319 Solomon's telling us here that God's good gifts, 00:30:23.259 --> 00:30:24.980 things that you can really enjoy 00:30:24.980 --> 00:30:26.879 and really get some satisfaction out of, 00:30:27.259 --> 00:30:29.500 God, he's telling us that they're right here 00:30:29.500 --> 00:30:31.839 in front of us every day. 00:30:31.839 --> 00:30:34.859 The key is being able to see them. 00:30:36.339 --> 00:30:38.839 The key is being able to enjoy 00:30:38.839 --> 00:30:42.319 that they are actually gifts from God 00:30:42.319 --> 00:30:46.179 that he has given us to enjoy today. 00:30:46.720 --> 00:30:48.179 Take food for an example. 00:30:48.759 --> 00:30:49.759 He talks about eating here. 00:30:50.579 --> 00:30:54.000 We usually think of eating and drinking as necessities. 00:30:54.740 --> 00:30:56.839 We think of it as, we enjoy eating, 00:30:57.079 --> 00:30:58.220 but we think of it in terms of, 00:30:59.299 --> 00:31:00.659 you know, I gotta have strength and energy 00:31:00.660 --> 00:31:02.700 to do this or do that after I eat. 00:31:03.700 --> 00:31:05.660 Sometimes we even say blessings 00:31:06.340 --> 00:31:08.040 before we have a meal. 00:31:08.740 --> 00:31:09.840 And we might ask God, 00:31:09.960 --> 00:31:10.800 we thank him for this 00:31:10.800 --> 00:31:12.779 and ask him to strengthen us 00:31:12.779 --> 00:31:14.440 if we could better serve him 00:31:14.440 --> 00:31:15.800 or strengthen us for this or that. 00:31:18.019 --> 00:31:19.460 There's nothing wrong with that, by the way. 00:31:20.620 --> 00:31:22.400 But Solomon is telling us, 00:31:23.759 --> 00:31:26.940 see your food and drink 00:31:26.940 --> 00:31:32.080 as a good gift that God has given you today. 00:31:32.620 --> 00:31:35.019 And he wants you to enjoy it 00:31:35.019 --> 00:31:38.120 just for the pleasure of it 00:31:38.120 --> 00:31:39.920 as you eat it. 00:31:40.779 --> 00:31:43.160 And as you sit there, 00:31:43.400 --> 00:31:44.340 you look at it, 00:31:44.420 --> 00:31:44.940 you eat it, 00:31:45.039 --> 00:31:45.920 you enjoy it, 00:31:46.259 --> 00:31:46.580 think, 00:31:46.740 --> 00:31:48.799 this is a good gift from God. 00:31:49.620 --> 00:31:50.440 Thank him. 00:31:51.600 --> 00:31:53.279 Have a smile on your face. 00:31:53.279 --> 00:31:55.160 Don't be a glutton, 00:31:55.279 --> 00:31:57.879 but enjoy what he gives you 00:31:57.879 --> 00:31:59.819 for the pleasure it brings you 00:31:59.819 --> 00:32:00.500 at the moment, 00:32:01.259 --> 00:32:04.119 not just the energy 00:32:04.119 --> 00:32:06.200 that it'll provide for you 00:32:06.200 --> 00:32:07.899 to do something else later on. 00:32:09.119 --> 00:32:10.740 God gives us the ability 00:32:10.740 --> 00:32:11.960 to develop wisdom, 00:32:12.500 --> 00:32:14.759 to work and provide for ourselves 00:32:14.759 --> 00:32:15.539 and others, 00:32:16.539 --> 00:32:19.980 and experience many pleasures in life. 00:32:19.980 --> 00:32:23.160 some things 00:32:23.160 --> 00:32:25.740 we just need to do 00:32:25.740 --> 00:32:28.420 and enjoy the moment. 00:32:29.400 --> 00:32:30.680 And I'll always be thinking about 00:32:30.680 --> 00:32:32.620 what's down the road 00:32:32.620 --> 00:32:34.900 or what this is going to lead to. 00:32:36.400 --> 00:32:37.480 Solomon tells us, 00:32:37.579 --> 00:32:38.440 he's telling us in the past, 00:32:38.500 --> 00:32:39.259 he's telling us today, 00:32:39.519 --> 00:32:40.259 telling us in the future, 00:32:40.920 --> 00:32:42.519 we're going to leave it all behind one day. 00:32:44.460 --> 00:32:45.680 So right now, 00:32:45.680 --> 00:32:48.360 we need to enjoy what we have. 00:32:49.980 --> 00:32:50.799 Every day. 00:32:52.360 --> 00:32:53.740 Learn to see it 00:32:53.740 --> 00:32:55.059 and accept it 00:32:55.059 --> 00:32:58.079 as a gift from God 00:32:58.079 --> 00:33:01.400 to be used in this world. 00:33:01.519 --> 00:33:02.839 You can't use it after this world. 00:33:03.839 --> 00:33:05.240 But as you use it, 00:33:05.700 --> 00:33:06.740 use it for his glory. 00:33:06.900 --> 00:33:08.279 Use it for other people's good. 00:33:08.740 --> 00:33:10.660 And use it as his child 00:33:10.660 --> 00:33:12.759 who just loves using 00:33:12.759 --> 00:33:14.579 gifts from your heavenly father. 00:33:14.579 --> 00:33:17.720 One of my favorite philosophers 00:33:17.720 --> 00:33:18.699 says this well, 00:33:19.339 --> 00:33:20.119 Alan Jackson. 00:33:20.740 --> 00:33:22.480 He describes this point well 00:33:22.480 --> 00:33:23.919 in the opening line of his song, 00:33:24.199 --> 00:33:24.980 The Older I Get. 00:33:25.539 --> 00:33:25.919 He says, 00:33:26.000 --> 00:33:26.859 The older I get, 00:33:26.939 --> 00:33:27.720 the more I think. 00:33:28.099 --> 00:33:29.179 You only get a minute. 00:33:29.319 --> 00:33:30.879 Better live while you're in it 00:33:30.879 --> 00:33:32.259 because it's gone in a blink. 00:33:33.779 --> 00:33:35.159 That's the message of Solomon. 00:33:35.740 --> 00:33:37.179 That's the message of Ecclesiastes. 00:33:39.359 --> 00:33:40.679 And you don't have to get old 00:33:40.679 --> 00:33:41.720 to understand that. 00:33:41.720 --> 00:33:44.759 Solomon wants us to understand. 00:33:46.319 --> 00:33:47.460 Life in this world 00:33:47.460 --> 00:33:49.440 is just a minute. 00:33:51.240 --> 00:33:52.660 And as Jackson says, 00:33:53.120 --> 00:33:54.059 we need to learn to live 00:33:54.059 --> 00:33:55.000 while we're in it. 00:33:56.180 --> 00:33:57.720 Enjoy your wisdom, 00:33:57.940 --> 00:33:58.740 your understanding. 00:33:59.339 --> 00:34:00.539 Enjoy your food and drink. 00:34:00.839 --> 00:34:02.819 Enjoy the simple gifts, 00:34:03.039 --> 00:34:05.200 all the gifts that God gives you 00:34:05.200 --> 00:34:09.659 because it will be gone in a blink. 00:34:09.659 --> 00:34:11.819 And that's how God made the world. 00:34:13.299 --> 00:34:14.899 These things that we have in the world 00:34:14.899 --> 00:34:15.899 to be used in the world, 00:34:16.339 --> 00:34:16.839 it's not, 00:34:17.019 --> 00:34:18.159 these things are not eternal. 00:34:21.159 --> 00:34:22.279 Augustine was right. 00:34:23.279 --> 00:34:25.779 He said this to God, 00:34:26.519 --> 00:34:27.719 You have made us for yourself 00:34:27.719 --> 00:34:28.940 and our hearts are restless 00:34:28.940 --> 00:34:31.739 until they can find rest in you. 00:34:31.739 --> 00:34:34.059 I want to ask you, 00:34:34.639 --> 00:34:36.939 have you found true rest, 00:34:37.579 --> 00:34:40.059 peace, contentment 00:34:40.059 --> 00:34:42.979 in a right relationship with God 00:34:42.979 --> 00:34:45.559 through faith in Jesus Christ? 00:34:47.519 --> 00:34:48.139 You know, 00:34:49.299 --> 00:34:51.179 when Mainline sung that first song 00:34:51.179 --> 00:34:51.739 this morning, 00:34:52.739 --> 00:34:54.679 there was a reoccurring line 00:34:54.679 --> 00:34:56.519 how Jesus changes everything. 00:34:57.739 --> 00:34:58.599 And that's true. 00:34:58.599 --> 00:35:02.819 When we're born again 00:35:02.819 --> 00:35:03.819 by the Spirit of God, 00:35:04.639 --> 00:35:05.960 we come to faith in Christ. 00:35:07.360 --> 00:35:09.299 His Spirit lives in us. 00:35:10.299 --> 00:35:11.719 And He changes us 00:35:11.719 --> 00:35:12.579 from the inside out. 00:35:12.819 --> 00:35:13.619 He changes the way 00:35:13.619 --> 00:35:14.699 that we look at life. 00:35:15.759 --> 00:35:17.039 He enables us 00:35:17.039 --> 00:35:18.599 to see the invisible. 00:35:20.219 --> 00:35:20.980 He's the one 00:35:20.980 --> 00:35:21.920 who enables us 00:35:21.920 --> 00:35:23.860 to hear the inaudible. 00:35:23.860 --> 00:35:26.740 He's the one 00:35:26.740 --> 00:35:27.360 that just changes 00:35:27.360 --> 00:35:28.820 our whole perspective 00:35:28.820 --> 00:35:30.440 on life. 00:35:32.460 --> 00:35:33.880 If you don't know Christ 00:35:33.880 --> 00:35:34.760 as your Lord and Savior, 00:35:36.039 --> 00:35:37.099 I want to encourage you, 00:35:38.460 --> 00:35:39.740 put your faith in Him now, 00:35:40.900 --> 00:35:41.780 turn from your sin, 00:35:41.900 --> 00:35:43.160 call upon Him to save you, 00:35:43.280 --> 00:35:44.099 trust Him. 00:35:48.099 --> 00:35:49.599 Live your life 00:35:49.599 --> 00:35:50.960 the way God designed 00:35:50.960 --> 00:35:51.599 for you to live. 00:35:51.599 --> 00:35:54.259 yet right with Him 00:35:54.259 --> 00:35:55.279 through faith in Jesus. 00:35:57.719 --> 00:35:59.759 Trusting and resting in Him. 00:36:00.539 --> 00:36:01.460 That is truly 00:36:01.460 --> 00:36:02.619 the only way to live 00:36:02.619 --> 00:36:03.839 and experience 00:36:03.839 --> 00:36:04.420 a meaningful 00:36:04.420 --> 00:36:06.099 and satisfying life now. 00:36:07.239 --> 00:36:08.259 But also, 00:36:09.139 --> 00:36:09.980 and more importantly, 00:36:10.819 --> 00:36:11.299 the only way 00:36:11.299 --> 00:36:11.960 to experience 00:36:11.960 --> 00:36:12.679 a meaningful 00:36:12.679 --> 00:36:13.880 and satisfying 00:36:13.880 --> 00:36:14.980 eternity. 00:36:16.279 --> 00:36:17.380 Would you pray with me? 00:36:18.239 --> 00:36:18.679 Dear God, 00:36:18.679 --> 00:36:23.399 all of us 00:36:23.399 --> 00:36:23.879 in this room 00:36:23.879 --> 00:36:24.639 can understand 00:36:24.639 --> 00:36:28.539 that living life 00:36:28.539 --> 00:36:29.419 in this world 00:36:29.419 --> 00:36:30.679 as if this world 00:36:30.679 --> 00:36:31.179 is it 00:36:31.179 --> 00:36:33.619 does not satisfy. 00:36:35.980 --> 00:36:36.819 Most of us 00:36:36.819 --> 00:36:37.359 have tried 00:36:37.359 --> 00:36:38.239 various things 00:36:38.239 --> 00:36:38.819 and found that 00:36:38.819 --> 00:36:39.379 to be true. 00:36:40.899 --> 00:36:41.460 But Lord, 00:36:41.519 --> 00:36:42.299 even though we know it, 00:36:42.359 --> 00:36:43.480 we do that so often. 00:36:44.679 --> 00:36:45.480 So show us, 00:36:45.679 --> 00:36:45.719 Father, 00:36:45.799 --> 00:36:46.679 the futility, 00:36:46.679 --> 00:36:48.099 the foolishness, 00:36:48.239 --> 00:36:49.259 the pointlessness 00:36:49.259 --> 00:36:51.460 of such a life. 00:36:53.279 --> 00:36:53.599 Dear God, 00:36:53.779 --> 00:36:55.779 help us 00:36:55.779 --> 00:36:56.440 in this room 00:36:56.440 --> 00:36:58.980 who are your children 00:36:58.980 --> 00:37:01.799 to start looking 00:37:01.799 --> 00:37:03.940 for that 00:37:03.940 --> 00:37:05.259 which cannot be seen. 00:37:07.139 --> 00:37:07.759 Help us, 00:37:07.839 --> 00:37:08.139 dear God, 00:37:08.179 --> 00:37:09.239 to start listening 00:37:09.239 --> 00:37:10.919 for that 00:37:10.919 --> 00:37:11.399 which cannot 00:37:11.399 --> 00:37:12.719 be heard 00:37:12.719 --> 00:37:14.299 audibly. 00:37:14.300 --> 00:37:17.420 help us, 00:37:17.620 --> 00:37:17.640 Father, 00:37:17.680 --> 00:37:18.420 to start looking 00:37:18.420 --> 00:37:19.060 for you 00:37:19.060 --> 00:37:19.519 and seeing 00:37:19.519 --> 00:37:20.340 how you are 00:37:20.340 --> 00:37:20.840 involved 00:37:20.840 --> 00:37:21.820 in all the details 00:37:21.820 --> 00:37:22.640 of our lives. 00:37:23.320 --> 00:37:23.660 Help us 00:37:23.660 --> 00:37:24.480 to trust you 00:37:24.480 --> 00:37:27.360 and not give up, 00:37:28.420 --> 00:37:28.980 persevere. 00:37:29.940 --> 00:37:30.460 Help us 00:37:30.460 --> 00:37:31.340 to obey you, 00:37:31.660 --> 00:37:32.100 to trust that 00:37:32.100 --> 00:37:32.539 you're always 00:37:32.539 --> 00:37:33.160 the right way 00:37:33.160 --> 00:37:33.480 and we're going 00:37:33.480 --> 00:37:35.000 to do by your grace 00:37:35.000 --> 00:37:35.660 with your help 00:37:35.660 --> 00:37:36.780 the right way 00:37:36.780 --> 00:37:37.760 no matter what. 00:37:39.420 --> 00:37:39.800 Father, 00:37:39.880 --> 00:37:40.200 if there's people 00:37:40.200 --> 00:37:40.539 in this room 00:37:40.539 --> 00:37:41.360 who are not Christians, 00:37:41.560 --> 00:37:42.280 call them to faith 00:37:42.280 --> 00:37:43.000 in Jesus now. 00:37:43.000 --> 00:37:44.420 Help them 00:37:44.420 --> 00:37:44.980 to understand 00:37:44.980 --> 00:37:45.739 that life 00:37:45.739 --> 00:37:46.320 will never 00:37:46.320 --> 00:37:47.780 work 00:37:47.780 --> 00:37:49.199 as you intend 00:37:49.199 --> 00:37:50.980 when you're 00:37:50.980 --> 00:37:51.619 left out. 00:37:53.300 --> 00:37:53.940 So help them, 00:37:54.019 --> 00:37:54.239 dear God, 00:37:54.280 --> 00:37:54.599 to truly 00:37:54.599 --> 00:37:56.139 turn from their sin 00:37:56.139 --> 00:37:57.579 and put their 00:37:57.579 --> 00:37:58.239 trust in Jesus. 00:38:00.300 --> 00:38:00.800 Help them 00:38:00.800 --> 00:38:01.179 to understand 00:38:01.179 --> 00:38:01.699 that when he died 00:38:01.699 --> 00:38:02.099 on the cross 00:38:02.099 --> 00:38:02.500 he actually 00:38:02.500 --> 00:38:03.619 took their punishment, 00:38:03.800 --> 00:38:04.320 paid the penalty 00:38:04.320 --> 00:38:04.980 for their sins 00:38:04.980 --> 00:38:05.960 and through faith 00:38:05.960 --> 00:38:06.260 in him 00:38:06.260 --> 00:38:07.179 they can be forgiven, 00:38:07.820 --> 00:38:08.960 given a new start, 00:38:09.179 --> 00:38:09.900 a fresh start 00:38:09.900 --> 00:38:10.400 in life, 00:38:10.400 --> 00:38:13.119 a fresh perspective 00:38:13.119 --> 00:38:13.780 on life. 00:38:15.240 --> 00:38:15.539 Help them 00:38:15.539 --> 00:38:15.900 to make that 00:38:15.900 --> 00:38:16.539 commitment now. 00:38:17.700 --> 00:38:18.200 And in an attitude 00:38:18.200 --> 00:38:18.619 of prayer 00:38:18.619 --> 00:38:19.579 let's just obey the Lord, 00:38:19.660 --> 00:38:20.300 do what he's telling us 00:38:20.300 --> 00:38:20.579 to do, 00:38:20.619 --> 00:38:21.220 all of us, 00:38:21.360 --> 00:38:22.500 Christians and unbelievers, 00:38:23.599 --> 00:38:24.420 as God speaks 00:38:24.420 --> 00:38:24.940 you obey. 00:38:25.660 --> 00:38:26.440 If I could help you 00:38:26.440 --> 00:38:26.780 I'll be here 00:38:26.780 --> 00:38:27.180 at the front. 00:38:27.180 --> 00:38:27.280 Amen. 00:38:27.820 --> 00:38:28.180 Amen. 00:38:28.180 --> 00:38:28.680 Amen. 00:38:28.680 --> 00:38:29.180 Amen. 00:38:29.180 --> 00:38:29.240 Amen. 00:38:29.240 --> 00:38:29.320 Amen. 00:38:29.320 --> 00:38:29.380 Amen. 00:38:29.380 --> 00:38:29.420 Amen. 00:38:29.420 --> 00:38:29.460 Amen. 00:38:29.460 --> 00:38:29.519 Amen. 00:38:29.519 --> 00:38:29.619 Amen. 00:38:29.619 --> 00:38:29.760 Amen. 00:38:29.760 --> 00:38:29.820 Amen. 00:38:29.820 --> 00:38:29.840 Amen. 00:38:29.840 --> 00:38:29.900 Amen. 00:38:29.900 --> 00:38:29.940 Amen. 00:38:29.940 --> 00:38:30.400 Amen. 00:38:30.400 --> 00:38:30.440 Amen. 00:38:30.440 --> 00:38:30.460 Amen. 00:38:30.460 --> 00:38:30.539 Amen. 00:38:30.539 --> 00:38:30.980 Amen. 00:38:30.980 --> 00:38:31.460 Amen. 00:38:31.460 --> 00:38:31.519 Amen. 00:38:31.519 --> 00:38:31.559 Amen. 00:38:31.559 --> 00:38:31.619 Amen. 00:38:31.619 --> 00:38:31.660 Amen. 00:38:31.660 --> 00:38:32.579 Amen. 00:38:32.579 --> 00:38:32.619 Amen. 00:38:32.619 --> 00:38:32.660 Amen. 00:38:32.660 --> 00:38:32.680 Amen. 00:38:32.680 --> 00:38:33.619 Amen.