The True Meaning to Life #6*. A Study in Ecclesiastes
Categories: Sermon Outlines, Textual Sermon OutlinesINTRODUCTION:
A. Solomon has been explaining why he reached his conclusion that life “under the sun” is vanity:
1. Based upon his personal experience (1:1-2:26)
2. Based upon his personal observations (3:1-6:12)
B. In chapters 3 and 4, we saw where he discussed:
1. The inexplicable purpose of God
2. The injustice and oppression of men
3. The vanity of skillful and selfish work
C. Even so, he offered wisdom for living “under the sun”:
1. It is best to rejoice, do good, and enjoy the good of one’s labor, realizing that such is a gift of God to those who please Him, 3:12-13
2. To appreciate the value of friends who can help us in time of work and need … 4:9-10
D. In chapters 5, Solomon, in search for the true meaning to life, first sends us to the house of God
DISCUSSION:
A. COUNSEL REGARDING WORSHIP
1. Solomon has already warned us the vanities of wisdom, learning, pleasure, honour, power, and business.
a. That we may not be deceived by those things, Solomon tells us that we must make great effort to keep up our communion with God, and he gives us necessary caution against the vanities which are too often found in one’s religious life, which deprives one of his excellency and renders his religious life unable to help against other vanities.
b. If our religion be a vain religion, how great is that vanity!
2. We can take the vanity out of our religious life by:
a. “Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God” (5:1a)
1) Guard your steps
2) When we worship:
a) We should give thought to what we will do
b) We should be careful what we will do
c) Matthew 15:9
d) John 4:24
b. “Draw nigh to hear” (5:1b)
1) We should be concerned with learning what God has revealed
2) Our attitude should be like that of:
a) Young Samuel – “Speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth” (1 Sam 3:9-10)
b) The Bereans – “they received the word with all readiness of mind” (Acts 17:11)
c. Not offering “the sacrifice of fools” (5:1c)
1) Again, not all worship is acceptable
2) There is that kind of worship:
a) That is an abomination to God – Proverbs 15:8… Proverbs 28:9
b) That the Lord will not accept … Luke 6:46
d. Not offering mere lip service
1) Ecclesiastes 5:2-3
2) Parallel verses:
a) Proverbs 10:9
b) Matthew 6:7
3) Be careful what you say; remember…
a) Jephthah’s rash vow … Judges 11:30-35
b) Herod’s foolish promise … Mark 6:23-26
4) Give thought to what you say in prayer and song
a) Do you consider the vows of commitment that are often made? – e.g. “All to Jesus I surrender”
b) Do you intend to keep them?
e. Keep the vows you make –
1) Ecclesiastes 5:4-7
a) God has no pleasure in fools – such as those who make vows and do not fulfill them
b) Therefore it is better not to vow, then to vow and not pay
2) Don’t let your mouth cause you to sin
a) Why make God angry, and destroy the work of your hands?
b) Many words lead to vanity, and sin: – Proverbs 10:19 – Matthew 12:36-37
3. The key thought in proper worship is to “fear God”, that is, to approach Him with the deepest respect and reverence.
a. Worship Him as He directs, not as you might wish.
b. James says, be “swift to hear, slow to speak” (Jam 1:19) should be our attitude in worship if we wish to please God!
4. In the next two verses we see …
B. COMFORT REGARDING OPPRESSION
1. Oppression does occur …
a. As the Preacher observed in Ecclesiastes 3:16
b. And again in Ecclesiastes 4:1
2. Yet Solomon says do not marvel … Ecclesiastes 5:8
a. Even when there is oppression of the poor and perversion of justice
b. For even high officials answer to someone else
c. Romans 13:1
1) Often in this life they are brought to justice
2) But even if not, then there is the Day of Judgment!
c. The profit taken in oppression usually comes back to all … Ecclesiastes 5:9
1) Those who oppress others to gain much rarely consume it all
2) What profit from the land they gain “trickles down” eventually
3. Of course, oppression of the poor and perversion of justice is often motivated by the desire to be rich. So we should not be surprised to find the Preacher returning to the vanity of riches as he offers words of…
D. CAUTION REGARDING RICHES
1. Riches are vanity:
a. Because they are unable to truly satisfy … Ecclesiastes 5:10-12
1) Lovers of silver and abundance will never be satisfied
2) As they increase, so their desire for more will increase
b. Because those obsessed with riches are hurt by them, Ecclesiastes 5:13-17
1) Riches can hurt those who possess them:
a) While a laboring man enjoys sweet sleep…
b) The abundance of the rich provides too much turmoil for restful sleep!
2) Through misfortune, or eventually through death, one loses their riches.
3) What value then are riches, if in the acquisition of them one must endure much sorrow, sickness, and anger? … cf. Proverbs 15:16-17; 17:1
2. Solomon’s observations concerning riches:
a. It is good to enjoy the good of one’s labor … Ecclesiastes 5:18
b. But it is God who give one the power to truly enjoy them, Ecclesiastes 5:19-20
CONCLUSION:
A. In asking questions like…
1. Ecclesiastes 6:12a
2. Ecclesiastes 6:12b
3. Solomon illustrates the vanity of looking to riches for the answers
B. Indeed, the answers are to be found by turning to God, not riches!
*Many of this points of this sermon were gleaned from a sermon by Mark Copeland