Under the Sun / Week 1

Under the Sun/Intro to Ecclesiastes
Various passages

June 26, 2022   

1. Introduction:
   1. The series this summer is one I believe that God spoke directly to my heart to do for MVC.
      1. There had never been a time in my ministry when I did not know what to preach until I came to this summer.
      2. I did not want to bring another series challenging people to get more involved or to fight the fight but rather something that was in touch with the difficulties of the last few years (Covid along with all its changes, sickness and death and the division we have felt racially and politically) yet at the same time brings us more of Jesus and His joy 
      3. I prayed almost daily for six weeks as I wrestled with these thoughts when God whispered into my heart one day the name of this particular book and instantly I knew it was the one because it fits the bill perfectly.
   2. It is also a book that touches each one of us at the deepest level of our lives as it addresses what brings lasting value, meaning and significance to my life!
      1. For many there is that deep inside sense that something is missing or something is not okay.
      2. So their life becomes a constant search to find that thing or person fill up that empty hole inside them.
      3. For many even when they find their thing they cannot help but feel like Tom Brady felt after winning multiple Super Bowls and achieving fame as he said, 
         1. “Why have I’ve reached my goals and still feel like there is something greater out there for me”  … “God, there has to be more than this”    
         2. Interviewer asked him, “What is the answer?” and Tom answered “I wish I knew, I wish I knew” 
   3. I have good news for you this morning, the wisest man who ever lived outside of Jesus, Solomon, answers this question for us in the book of Ecclesiastes.
   4. My goal for today is simple, to give you a big picture overview of the book so you can gain your bearings with this book as you read it for yourself and we study it this summer.  
      1. Today will be more teaching than preaching, more like a Bible school class than a Sunday sermon.  But it is a necessary first message to preach through the book in weeks to come
      2. It is a book that in no way sugar coats reality but looks this broken world straight in the face!
      3. A surface reading of the book will cause you to conclude that life is depressing and futile.
         1. But if you stick with it and dig deep enough you will find it clarifies for us what brings lasting significance and satisfaction and what does not.
   5. Turn to Ecclesiastes 12:11, as we will see another value of digging into this book.   Read Ecclesiastes 12:11 
      1. Goad – a sharp instrument used to prod an animal to action
         1. These words are designed to provoke us to change and act
      2. Well-driven nail – those who master these words will have lives that are firm, strong, and secure!

• Well let’s see what is …

1.  Big picture of Ecclesiastes
   1. He introduces to us the purpose of the book right up front.
      1. Read 1:2-3
      2. The question he is pursuing is simply “What advantage does man have in all his work right here on earth?
         1. The word advantage means what value, benefit, profit, good
         2. This word is put in contrast in this book with vanity, which we saw in v2, which simply means something that is useless, worthless and meaningless.
      3. Read v13a – what we see here is that Solomon, much like a scientist observing life in a laboratory trying to find an answer to the question what gives lasting value and meaning to life here on earth.
      4. As he seeks to answer this question he is going to learn many things along the way that do not answer the question but help us better understand life and what is good for us in this world.
      5. But at the end, he will answer the big question of what brings lasting meaning, value, significance to life.
   2. We see in the next few verses a summary of what he is going to test and the summary of the first major division of the book “the investigation!”
      1. Read v14-15 – man’s efforts, which we see summarized in chapter 2-6 (pleasure, possessions, fame, work, riches)
      2. Read v16-18 – man’s wisdom, which we see, summarized in chapters 7-8.
   3. Then he summarizes his findings in this section of investigation of man’s works and wisdom as he transitions us to the next section of the book.
      1. Read Ecclesiastes 8:16-17
         1. Simply to understand the value of man’s work and man’s wisdom here on earth is something that man cannot discover on his own, no matter how hard he tries and how wise he is

•  Now we see in 9:1, a hinge verse – that is a verse that can swing both ways, much like a door that allows you to enter or leave any of two different rooms.    Read 9:1-2b.

1. This introduces us to the next major section of the book, advice.
   1. Now in chapter 9 -12 we see him giving us advice in light of three things:
      1. What he learned in this investigation
      2. The fact that man does not know what his future holds
      3. The fact that everyone is going to die
2. Then we come to the conclusion of the book and more importantly, the answer to the question, his investigation that we saw back in chapter 1 – what gives lasting value and meaning to life.  What makes life in this world significant?
   1. Next week we will focus the entire sermon on this conclusion but for today let me just introduce to you next week’s sermon
   2. Read Ecclesiastes 12:13-14
   3. Bottom line, what gives lasting significance is not found in this world or anything this world has to offer, but rather it is found in God. Fearing Him and keeping His commandments with an eye to the fact that someday God will hold us accountable for the life we are living here on earth.
3. Now there is a key little phrase that is in v13.  
   1. Read 13b 
   2. The literal Hebrew reading is this: for this is the whole of man 
   3. Walter Kaiser, a language scholar, said it can be said this way – we should fear God and keep His commandments because this is the whole of man (the manish of man and the womanliness of a woman)   
   4. In other words, this is what we were created for, this is what will make you whole, this is what will give lasting meaning and value to your life

1.  Conclusion
   1. So here is how I simply summarize the message of the book.  
      1. Lasting significance is only found in God, not this world! 
      2. There is a sub theme that also runs through this book, which we see in the refrain that is repeated often during the section of the book where he is investigating life.
         1. Listen.  Read 2:24-25; 3:12-13, 22; 5:18-20; 8:15
         2. One of the discoveries that Solomon made along the way as he was seeking the answer to his major question. Life is not a puzzle to solve but a gift to enjoy!
         3. Apply – are you trying to figure out life, both the hard times and frustrations or the complexities, confusing and divisive things over the last three years in this world we live?
            1. My encouragement – stop trying, put your mind, and hope in Jesus! Enjoy the good gifts He has given to you!
            2. As we saw earlier, you will never figure it out no matter how hard and long you try or how smart you are. 
      3. When I put the two together I would simply say it like this – fear God, enjoy life 
         1. I have a concern that too many Christians are walking around with empty, meaningless lives that lack fulfilment and joy because while they began with Jesus, the source of all abundance, joy and meaning, but they have left walking with Him and are trying to find all these things in what the world has to offer.
         2. They are running from one temporary pleasure, possession or position to the next one as they squeezed what little life they can get out of it.   
         3. Somehow, even believers just do not get it that man’s works and man’s wisdom just will not satisfy them nor fill their hearts!
         4. Until they get off that dead end street, they will continue to feel empty and joyless!
   2. Finally, we learn, not only in Ecclesiastes but throughout the Bible, that we have been created for a relationship with God and that is the place we find ultimate value, meaning and significance!  Do you know Jesus Christ as your personal savior?
      1. Listen to what Jesus said in John 10:10. Read
      2. Life that is abundant and full, the kind that can fill that spot deep within that feels either empty or like something is missing can only be filled by Jesus. It will only continue to be filled as we have a deep respect for Him and live life according to His Word.
      3. Read John 3:16 and invite