Stones Hill Community Church
The writer of Ecclesiastes undertook a hugely ambitious life experiment and he made himself the guinea pig, the lab rat. King Solomon had the time, money, and power to pretty much pursue any avenue of life he thought would bring pleasure or satisfaction. Solomon decided to conduct a massive experiment in human happiness and meaning. He became his own test subject, his own lab rat. “I know there is a God, but I’m going to live as if there isn’t and see what that’s like.” He became this mad scientist in search of serum, an antidote to fix him. But nothing was ever enough. He lost sight of the Giver of the Gifts. Have you lost sight of what's important?
The theme of the book is a virtual summary of the biblical worldview: life lived by purely earthly and human standards is futile, but the God-centered life is an antidote. Solomon tells us what he wants us to remember when life gets confusing, mysterious, unfair or as black as night - keep your trust in Creator God’s plan. Life in the world has significance only when man remembers his Creator (12:1).
Welcome to "A Season for Everything" - Finding Meaning in the Book of Ecclesiastes!
We welcome you to Stone's Hill today!
A typical Stone's Hill service has:
* music (so feel free to sing out);
* some announcements (things that are upcoming that you can be a part of);
* a message out of the Bible (God speaks to us through his Word);
* and an opportunity for you to respond to the message (either immediately in the case of a decision that needs to be made OR in the future as you live out the message in your daily life.)
So relax and enjoy your morning! We're so glad you are here!
Ecclesiastes 3:18-22 NIV
Message Text: Ecclesiastes 3:18-22
Introduction
There is little doubt that King Solomon wanted his son, Rehoboam, to read his journal and learn from it, but I wonder if Solomon had any idea his journal would be read and studied for the next 3,000 years, right up until today. So far, we have learned how Solomon writes with a down-to-earth, hard-hitting, in-your-face, take-it-or-leave-it kind of realism. His quill is often dipped in the acid ink of futility and frustration and cynicism. Cynicism is calcified anger (Rachel Evans, Wholehearted Faith). Cynicism is your once-tender heart now calloused and hardened. Psychologists tell us it’s a defense mechanism to keep you from getting disappointed again.
*
Question
Who or what can rescue us from cynicism? This sense of being jaded at the world all the time? A jaded preacher-king named Solomon asserts one primary truth – the Sovereignty of God. He says in so many ways: “God is in control.” Hands go up all over the room. "What about those who do pleasure and gratify the senses. Is God still in control Solomon?" Solomon shows you the hedonists lacks joy even though surrounded by pleasure. "What about those who build their lives on atheistic philosophy and scoff at God? Is God still in control Solomon?" Solomon shows you that you cannot devalue life without carrying guilt and regret? "What about the wrongdoer that never gets caught? What about the Hitlers, Stalins, Castro’s, Pol Pots? What about the truly selfless servants who never get acknowledged? Is God still in control Solomon?" "What about a humans and animals buried in the same dirt at the end of the day regardless of how they lived? Is God still in control now Solomon?”
*
Proposition
One of the main arguments of Solomon’s book: only preparing to die will teach us how to live. Solomon doesn’t want you to desire death, fear death, or ignore death. He simply wants you to live in light of it. I want to persuade you that the only way we can talk about abundant joy is to talk about death. Only if you prepare to die can you really learn how to live. Here’s the irony: Being aware of death makes us more aware of life. What Solomon says here can be simplified by FOUR TRUTHS / PERSPECTIVES that will help you with learning to live by preparing to die. When he talks about death, he wants you to “Pay attention in life.” Time passes so quickly. Our time in this life is limited. If you stay jaded, that’s time you’ll never get back. You’re not going to be here forever. And so when we face the reality of death, it gives meaning to today. Solomon already mentioned the certainty of death in 2:12–23, and he will bring the subject up several times before he ends his book (4:8; 5:15–16; 6:6; 8:8; 9:2–3, 12; 12:7–8). Life, death, time, and eternity: these are the “ingredients” that make up our brief experience in this world, and they must not be ignored.
*
The Perspectives
Life is a gift.
Death is sure.
Tomorrow is not promised.
God is always working.
*
Application
With this understanding, what do you have to offer this cynical world? How can I stop being jaded?
The Hands-On Solution: Ordinary people doing ordinary things with Gospel intentionality.
The Eyes-Open Solution: Pay attention. Paying attention will give you a big heart and open hands and enable you to relish all the small things of life in deeply profound ways.
*
Invitation
Is there a way out of this shadowy reflection found in Ecclesiastes 3:18-22? Leave God out, and you have no assurance of an afterlife. You throw out the Bible - God’s revelation and you’ve got nothing. If Jesus is not raised there is no way out of this text. May the somber words of this text drive us to Jesus.