Have You Found What You Are Looking For?

We'll begin our worship this evening by singing to God's praise. We're going to

sing in Psalm 33 in the Scottish Psalter. Psalm 33, we're going to sing from verse

6 down to verse 11. Psalm 33, page 245 of the Psalm book, verse 6.

The heavens by the word of God did their beginning take, and by the breathing of

his mouth he all their hosts did make. The waters of the seas he brings to

together as an heap, and in storehouses as it were he layeth up the deep. And we

sing here of God's wondrous creating power and how all belongs to him and how

above all the counsel of the Lord, the word of the Lord as it says in verse 11,

does stand forever sure. So we'll sing from verse 6 to verse 11 to God's praise.

verse 6.

The heavens by the word of God did their beginning take, and by the breathing of his mouth he all their

and how he all said may. The waters of the seas he brings together as an heap, and in storehouses as

as an heap. The waters of the sea he brings together as an heap, and in storehouses as an

as an heap, and in storehouses as an heap, and in storehouses as an heap. The waters of the

Lord, let all the world's inhabitants tread him with one accord. For he did speak the word

modern.

Christopher

hurt and done it was without delay,

and

given

this

it firmly stood

. Whatever

He

did say,

atu

doth the counsel bring to naught

which heathen folk do take,

and what the people do divide

of none effect doth make.

O but the counsel of the Lord

doth stand forever sure,

and of his heart the purposes

from age to age endure.

We'll bow our heads in a word of prayer.

Let us pray.

Amen.

Our gracious Father in heaven,

we come anew to worship you this evening.

We come offering up our praise and thanksgiving to you,

that you are our Lord and our God,

the one who made heavens and earth as we see around us,

the one who created all things for your own glory,

the one who made all things through the word of your power.

And we thank you, Lord,

that it is established to remain,

that all that you have done by your word,

it stands and endures all things.

But as we have sung in this psalm together,

we are reminded that there are the counsel of man,

there is the words that we offer up ourselves,

the wisdom that we feel we have,

and as we live in a world that's ever-changing,

as it were,

through the wisdom of mankind,

we recognize,

even as your word says,

that what the people do devise,

of none effect doth make.

And we thank you for that, Lord,

that in a world that so swiftly and so quickly

is discarding your word and your truth,

and in the chaos that it brings,

in the world that we see descending

into more and more chaos.

We thank you, Lord,

that all its effects will do nothing

in the midst of our generation

and generations to come.

There may be a sense of dismay

and misdirection for many people at this time,

but we know, Lord,

that your counsel will stand forever,

that your word will endure forever,

and just as it is today,

it has been in the past.

As we read your word, Lord,

we see such similar days

when you have given your people over

to their own wisdom and their own ways.

And yet, oh Lord,

there have always been that time

when people have returned to you

and recognized and acknowledged

their sins and their faults

and come in repentance, Lord,

acknowledging dependence upon you.

And our prayer at this time

is that it may be so

in our generation,

that it may be so in our day,

as we see, oh Lord,

the failings of our world,

that we would come to the word

and to the one who never changes,

the one who is the same yesterday,

today, and forever.

And so, Lord,

as we live in a world

where there's that search for meaning,

that search for truth,

and where everybody seems to have

their own truth to tell,

we pray, Lord,

that we will hear your truth,

that we will hear your wisdom,

and that even this evening

as we come together,

that we will have ears to hear

what you will see,

that we will have hearts to receive,

that we will have the minds to discern,

and that we will have the eyes,

oh Lord,

to look around us

and to walk by faith

through you.

And we know this is only possible

through your spirit.

It's not of our own wisdom,

it's not of our own mindset,

but Lord,

that you would give us faith

as the gift of grace

that is so precious

and so freely offered by you.

And so help us, Lord,

each one of us,

from the youngest to the oldest,

no matter our situation,

no matter our life's experience,

no matter what we may be feeling

at this time,

that you will calm us

in your presence,

that you will still us

and help to know

that you are God.

So may you minister to us all, Lord,

and to all who need you

in different ways at this time.

We thank you that you are one

who hears and answers prayer.

And we thank you that

as we look back

in our own life's experience

and as we look back

in the experience of our nation

and even the world

in which we live,

that we see the power of prayer

all around us.

We see places and people

who, apart from prayer,

would be lost.

We see even in our own lives

and experience, Lord,

prayer answered by many,

maybe even no longer with us.

But we thank you, Lord,

for every prayer

that is offered up in your name.

Prayers past and present, Lord,

and prayers still to be answered

and answered into the future

and into the days that lie ahead.

But we thank you that in your time

and in your ways,

you answer prayer.

And help us, Lord,

to remember that we always pray

that your will be done.

No matter what is going on

around us, Lord,

we pray your will be done.

And help us to take hold

of the truths of your word.

Help us to lean upon them

and even the ones

that we so often maybe struggle

to understand at different points

in our own experience.

Even great words

as we read in your scripture,

that all things work together for good

for those who love you.

Lord, they are some of the most difficult words

for us to understand at times

when there seems to be little or no good

in our experience at times.

And yet help us, Lord,

to see beyond our experience

and to see your ways

and to see your paths

and to lean upon your wisdom

and your understanding,

not our own.

So, Lord, teach us.

Teach us to apply our hearts to wisdom.

Teach us to know you.

Teach us to walk closely with you.

Remember, Lord, your church

as it continues to witness for you.

Your people far and wide.

We pray, Lord, that you will encourage

and build up your people

near and far.

You call all your people,

those who believe in you,

to be those who will be witnesses for you.

We are all being built up together

in your kingdom.

And we pray, Lord,

that you will strengthen our number,

that you will strengthen our faith,

that you will strengthen our witness

for you as a people.

We pray that for ourselves

as a congregation here,

that you will help us to endeavor

to reach out with the gospel,

to reach out to those

who belong to us as a people,

those who are maybe downcast

and discouraged at this time,

those who are lonely,

those who are afraid,

those who maybe no longer come out

for different reasons.

Help us to come alongside

and to encourage

and to pray with them

and to help them along the way.

We also pray, Lord,

for those of our community

who do not come anywhere near a church

and have no interest in it,

some who are even antagonistic

against the faith

and against religion as a whole.

We pray, Lord,

that you will help us

to be salt and light

among all around us.

Help us to speak

to them lovingly

and graciously,

but also with that challenge

in our words as well.

For we live

in these final days, Lord.

We live in days

when we know

we need the Savior.

But for those

who see no need of him,

Lord,

we pray

that you will give

convicting words

and convincing words

that they might hear.

We pray, Lord,

for every endeavor

we have to reach out

with your word

through the preaching

of your word,

through the prayer meetings

during the week,

to all that is done

with young and old alike

during the week as well,

seeking to come alongside

and to encourage.

We pray your blessing

on all that we seek to do.

We pray your blessing

far and wide

upon your people,

Lord,

those who are mourning this day

as we know

there are many,

even in our own congregation

and in our own town here,

Lord.

We pray for comfort

for those who are

brokenhearted at this time,

even as we heard

about Emma's son

this morning,

Lord,

we continue to remember her,

to pray for her

and that you would uphold her

and all the family

at this time

and their sorrow

and sadness.

And far and wide,

Lord,

throughout our communities

when there are broken hearts,

we pray that you will come

with your healing power

and your power

to bring people,

even in the midst of sorrow,

to be able to say,

blessed be the name

of the Lord.

Lord,

so Lord,

help us

and help all who need you

in different ways.

Remember those

who are unwell,

those who are

in hospital and homes.

Remember our community

and our people

far and wide.

Remember our nation

and those who govern over us.

Again,

as we think of

all that is going on

around us,

Lord,

we pray

for all the needs

we see as a nation

and as nations

of the world.

And we think of

all that is

so much main headlines

in the news

and yet there are

other things

that go unnoticed.

We think of all

that's going on

with people fleeing

from nations

where there is

so much turmoil

and grief

only to meet

with much more turmoil

on their journey

to try and find safety.

We know

so much is being made

of those crossing

the channel

seeking to find

a new life

and to seek

to find new beginnings

only to be met

with such hostility

and resistance.

And we pray

for every soul,

for every person,

for everyone

who feels lost

in this world

with nowhere to turn,

for all who are persecuted,

for all who are

put down upon,

for all who are made

to feel useless

and low

and of no worth.

Lord,

we pray

that they will find

worth in Christ,

that we'll find

worth in this world

to go on

in your strength.

Lord,

give us that heart

of mercy,

that heart

to love our neighbour

as ourself

and to look beyond

our own needs

and to the needs

of others.

So teach us,

Lord,

we pray,

and teach us

by your word,

by your grace

and by your spirit.

May your spirit

move among us

as a nation

and as the world

as a whole,

Lord,

to see your glory,

to acknowledge it,

Lord,

and to be in awe

of the God

that you are,

the one who is able

to do abundantly

more than all

that we ask

or imagine.

So we commit

ourselves into

your hands

and all who we love

and care for

and all who we know

in need at this time.

So, Lord,

bless us,

we pray,

bless your word

to us as we sing

from it

and as we hear it.

May all be

to your glory

and build us up,

we pray,

in all things

as we ask it

with forgiveness

for all our sins.

In Jesus' name.

Amen.

Amen.

Well, again,

sing to God's praise

this time in Psalm 25

in the Sing Psalms version.

We're going to sing

from the beginning

of the Psalm

down to the verse

marked 9.

Psalm 25

is on page 29

of the Psalm books.

To you, O Lord,

I lift my soul,

I trust in you

continually.

Do not let me

be put to shame

nor let my foes

gloat over me.

No one who sets

their hope in you

will ever suffer

such disgrace,

but those who act

with treachery,

humiliating shame

will face.

We'll sing from

verse 1 to 9

to God's praise

and we stand

to sing.

O Lord,

I lift my soul,

I trust in you

continually.

Do not let me

be put to shame,

nor let my foes

gloat over me.

No one who sets

its open year

will ever suffer

such disgrace.

God, O Lord,

we are with treachery,

humiliating shame

will face.

O Lord,

reveal to me

your way,

and all your paths

help me to know.

Direct and guide me

in your truth.

Instruct me in the way

to come.

You are my Savior

and my God.

All day I hold

in you,

my Lord.

Remember, Lord,

your love and grace,

which from the sages

you have shown.

Do not recall

my sins of youth

or my rebellious,

evil ways.

Remember me

in your great love

for you, O Lord,

are good

always.

Because the Lord

is just and good,

He shows His path

to all who stray.

He guides the meek

in waters

strife

and teaches

them

His holy way.

Amen.

We're going to read

together now

in the Old Testament

in the book of Ecclesiastes.

We're going to read

chapter 1 together.

Ecclesiastes chapter 1.

Ecclesiastes 1 · chapter mention

You can read the whole

of this chapter

together.

Psalms,

Proverbs,

and the book of Ecclesiastes.

The words of the preacher,

the son of David,

king in Jerusalem.

Vanity of vanities,

says the preacher.

Vanity of vanities.

All is vanity.

What does man gain

by all the toil

at which he toils

under the sun?

A generation goes

and a generation comes,

but the earth

remains forever.

The sun rises

and the sun goes down

and hastens to the place

where it rises.

The wind blows

to the south

and goes round

to the north.

Round and round

goes the wind

and on its circuits

the wind returns.

All streams run

to the sea,

but the sea is not full.

To the place

where the streams flow,

there they flow again.

All things are full

of weariness.

A man cannot utter it.

The eye is not satisfied

with seeing,

nor the ear filled

with hearing.

What has been

is what will be,

and what has been done

is what will be done.

There is nothing new

under the sun.

Is there a thing

of which it is said,

see, this is new.

It has been already

in the ages before us.

There is no remembrance

of former things,

nor will there be

any remembrance

of latter things

yet to be

among those

who come after.

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.

It is an unhappy business

that God has given

to the children of man

to be busy with.

I have seen everything

that is done

under the sun.

Behold,

all is vanity

and a striving

after wind.

What is crooked

cannot be made straight.

What is lacking

cannot be counted?

I said in my heart,

I have acquired

great wisdom,

surpassing all

who were over

Jerusalem before me.

My heart has had

great experience

of wisdom

and knowledge.

And I applied my heart

to know wisdom

and to know madness

and folly.

I perceive this

also is

but a striving

after wind.

For in much wisdom

wisdom is much vexation

and he who increases

knowledge

increases sorrow.

And so on.

May God bless that

reading from his word.

Before we turn back

to that passage,

we're going to

read again,

sing again

to God's praise

in Psalm 49.

And let's sing Psalms,

page 64

of the Psalm book.

Psalm 49.

We're going to sing

from verse 1

to verse 10.

The psalmist

begins by saying

to us,

listen to me

all you peoples,

all who in the

whole world dwell,

low and high,

both rich and needy.

Hear the message

I will tell.

This is a psalm

that reminds us

of the need

to listen,

to seek wisdom,

to find that

with God

and especially

when it comes

to our life.

And to the fact

as it says

in verse 10

that we all

can see life

ending,

wise and foolish,

all will die.

There's this sense

of looking ahead

in our lives

and wondering

what is life

all about?

But it says

to redeem,

a life is costly,

none,

sufficient price

can pay.

We know

that we cannot

save ourselves.

But as we come

to praise God

in these words,

we remember too

that there is

a Redeemer,

one who lives,

who is

the Lord Jesus Christ

and that we can

put our trust

in Him

for life now

and for eternal life.

So we come

to sing

verse 1 to 10

of this psalm.

Listen to me,

all you peoples,

all who in the whole world dwell.

Lo and high,

both rich and needy,

hear the message

I will tell.

I will speak

with understanding,

wisdom from the heart

I'll preach.

I will listen

to a proverb,

tickets with the harp

I will teach.

Why should I fear

days of evil

when the wicked

have me in

those who boast

of their possessions

by their trust

wealth

in wealth

they sin?

There is no one

who is able

to redeem

a soul

from death.

None can pay

to God

the ransom

to prolong

another's breath.

To redeem

a life

which costly

none sufficient

price can pay

so that one

should live

the mortal

be forever

only day.

For we all

can see

life ending,

wise and foolish

all will die.

they must

leave

their wealth

to others.

None

can death

see

magnified.

We can turn

back together

to our reading

in Ecclesiastes

Ecclesiastes 1 · chapter mention

chapter 1.

We read again

at the beginning

of the chapter

these words.

The words of the preacher,

the son of David,

king in Jerusalem.

Vanity of vanities,

says the preacher,

vanity of vanities,

all is vanities.

What does man gain

by all the toil

at which he toils

under the sun?

A generation

goes and a

generation comes

but the earth

remains forever.

And so

it goes on.

As you hear

these words

and as you hear

them read

and as you read

them again there

you begin to think

well this word

keeps appearing

here, vanity of

vanity, all is

vanity.

You're thinking

what is the point

of all that's

being said here?

The preacher

as he's called

here, Solomon

is one who's

gathering people

around to tell

them through

his experience

of life

what his own

take on life

is.

There are

often times

in our own

experience

when we maybe

spend a bit

of time

reflecting

reflecting in

life, reflecting

on our past

experience, maybe

looking back

or for some

maybe over

many years

looking back

on where

we've been

and things

we've done

and people

we've known,

all of these

kinds of things.

We look back

on all of these

things that we've

experienced in

the past.

past.

And maybe we

do it in

many kinds

of situations.

Perhaps

for some

people it's

walking around

the town

here.

Maybe you're

walking around

the streets

of Stornaby,

maybe you're

walking out

in the castle

grounds and

as you're

looking around

you're seeing

things that

used to be

and things

that have

changed.

So much

has changed

in this

town when you

think of

these words

in verse 4,

a generation

goes and a

generation

comes.

You walk

around and you

think of

people who

used to be

and who

are no more,

other people

who are coming

into the town,

you're seeing

shops that have

closed down

and places

that there

used to be,

all kinds

of things

that have

changed all

around us.

I find that

myself when I

go back to

the west side

and I go back

to Shabbos

and walk

around the

village there

and you walk

in the street

where I grew

up and you

see changes

that have

taken place.

You see

places where

one's house

is stood

and the

house is

no longer

there.

You see

other places

where there

was an

open field

and now

there's a

house built

there.

Things have

changed,

things have

moved on.

But so often

when we reflect

on these

things, we

reflect in a

way where

we think

of people.

And I

think that's

probably what

strikes me

most as I

look back

over the

years and

as I look

back over

where I

grew up

and people

I've known

over the

years and

many of

them who

are no

longer there.

You start

to reflect

on people

who you

once used

to hear

talking or

maybe once

you dismissed

what they

were saying

and now the

theme in your

heart is

if only they

were here

and I could

hear them

again.

If only I

could hear

them once

more just

to ask

them some

questions,

to glean

some wisdom

from them.

If only I

listened more

closely to

what they

were saying

to me.

And we

often have

this maybe

regret in

our hearts

or this

longing in

our hearts

if only

we could

listen once

more.

The stories

they had,

the experiences

that they

went through,

what would

they make

of the

world today

and life

today,

we could

learn so

much from

them.

Well here

in Ecclesiastes

there's a

sense,

of that.

There's a

sense of

this gathering

around.

As we sang

there in

Psalm 49,

Psalm is

saying,

listen to

me all

you peoples,

come and

hear what

I will

tell.

Here is

Solomon,

the preacher

in this

book,

who is

saying to

the people,

come and

gather round,

come and

listen to

what I'm

saying to

you.

Because he

is speaking,

he's speaking

to our

people,

he's speaking

to ourselves

this evening.

And there's a

sense where

he's speaking

into an

ever-changing

world,

an ever-changing

people,

both in his

own day and

in our day

today as well.

He's saying,

come,

come and

listen to

what I am

saying.

And as we

hear these

words,

vanity of

vanities,

all is

vanity,

we maybe

begin to

think,

well,

what's he

saying to

us?

He doesn't

seem to be

encouraging us

very much

with these

words,

it just

seems to

be saying

to us,

well,

what's the

point in

it all?

It's maybe

just what

many of us

are maybe

feeling in

our day

and age

just now.

We're

wondering

what's

happening

in our

world and

what's

the point

in it

all?

Well,

there is

a point

in what

he's

saying.

And he's

really reminding

us of

two things.

As you read

through this

chapter in

the book of

Ecclesiastes,

you're reminded

of two things

that he

describes.

He's saying

there is

this life

as you

look at

it under

the sun.

It's one

phrase he

uses,

under the

sun.

And there's

another phrase

that he

uses,

and it's

life under

heaven.

And there's

a distinction

between the

two.

And it's

an understanding

that distinction

that we begin

to see that

there is

meaning in

what he is

saying.

So there's

a sense

here where

things are

always changing

and yet

not changing.

There was

a Frenchman

by the

name

John

Baptiste

Alphonse

Carr who

once said

back in

1849,

the more

things change,

the more

they stay

the same.

The more

things change,

the more

they stay

the same.

And that's

the sense

of what the

preacher here

in Ecclesiastes

is saying.

While a lot

of big things

change or

appear to

be changing

in our

eyes,

a lot

of things

seem to

be happening

around us,

the real

situation,

the important

situation is

that nothing

has changed

much at

all.

As he

says there

in verse

9,

there is

nothing new

under the

sun.

And you

think when

Ecclesiastes

was written

all these

thousands of

years ago,

here we are

now and we're

still in that

same situation.

There's

nothing new

under the

sun.

So what

is he

getting at

here?

In the

sense of

nothing

changes,

it stays

the same.

What's he

getting at

when everything

else seems

to be changing

around us?

It's a

search for

meaning.

It's a

search for

purpose in

our lives.

It's a

search for

what is

life all

about?

How do we

understand the

world in

which we

live?

And this

is something

in the

preacher's

day here,

as in

our own

day,

and every

generation,

a search

for meaning,

a search

for wisdom,

a search

for progress,

a search

for making

our lives

better,

but nothing

seems to

be changing.

Many

things change,

but at the

root of our

lives is the

truth that

nothing ever

changes.

others.

So here we

have this

scene in

Ecclesiastes

where the

preacher Solomon

gathers the

people round

and he's

saying,

listen to

this,

listen to

my experience

of life,

and listen to

what I am

telling you

that you may

find wisdom

and find

meaning and

purpose in

your life.

Listening to

not just the

word that he

is speaking,

but the

word as it

is,

the word

of God

and the

word of

wisdom that

he is saying

to us.

Is it all

just in

vain,

all that we

are doing

in our

search for

meaning,

or is

there meaning

in it all?

Have we

found what

we're looking

for?

That's the

question tonight.

And there are

three ways I

want us to

reflect on

this question

as we think

of our

search for

what we're

looking for.

The first

is this

reflecting

on life.

Then there's

a sense of

reviewing

all that

is going

on.

And then

thirdly,

we see

the sense

of renewing

our outlook

on things.

So the

first thing

is reflecting.

Reflecting

on things.

And going

into this

chapter,

indeed,

into this

book,

you see

Solomon here.

He's very

much in

reflective

mood.

good.

He's

looking at

various

aspects of

his life,

life in

general.

But what's

his outlook?

And it

begins with

this theme

that just

seems to

run through

Ecclesiastes

as a whole.

It's almost

saying,

it doesn't

take you long

to start

thinking,

well,

what's the

point in

anything at

all?

Everything

just seems

to be in

vain.

Everything

is vanity

of vanities

or meaningless,

meaningless,

as another

translation puts

it.

It's like,

what is

this purpose?

Whatever

he describes,

it seems to

be linked

to this

phrase,

it's all

vain,

it's all

vanity of

vanities,

as you see

in verse

2.

And you

have that

at the

beginning of

the book,

and it

seems to

just run

right through

it.

But he's

using it

in a way

that brings

us back

to think,

well,

what is

the point?

What is

he actually

getting at

here?

And perhaps

for ourselves

this evening

is the kind

of situation

that we're

in.

Maybe in

your own

life just

now,

you're at

that point

in life

where you're

beginning to

reflect and

to think,

what is

my life?

What is

the purpose?

What is

it that I

am doing

with my

life?

What is

the point

in it

all?

And maybe

you're coming

to this

conclusion

as well.

It's

vanity

of

vanities.

It all

just seems

to be

in vain.

But as

he's saying

to us

here,

it's about

perspective.

And what

Solomon is

doing here

is he leads

us into

his world

and looking

at it,

here he

is as

an older

man looking

back and

reflecting on

his life

and we're

to listen

to his

words of

wisdom.

And he

uses this

phrase

initially,

which is

under the

sun.

In verse

three,

what does

a man

gain by

all the

toil at

which he

toils under

the sun?

He's

looking at

life here

from a

perspective

where we're

just looking

around

ourselves.

We're

looking at

it on a

horizontal

plane,

if you

like.

We're

looking at

life and

just thinking,

my life

just seems

to be

the same

day in,

day out.

And as

you read

these words

that he

is saying

here,

vanity,

vanity,

says the

preacher,

you think

to yourself,

well,

what kind

of man

was Solomon?

This must

be someone

who had

hit rock

bottom.

This must

be someone

who's lost

everything in

life,

failed in

everything.

He must

be someone

who's almost

broke and

homeless and

just has

nothing to

enjoy in

life.

And yet

it couldn't

be further

from the

truth.

When you

look at

Solomon's

life,

you just

have to

turn over

to the

next chapter.

In chapter

2,

verse 4,

and you

read there

the words

that he

gives to

us there,

which reminds

us his

life was

a grand

life.

He says

in verse

4,

I made

great works,

I built

houses and

planted vineyards

for myself.

I made

myself gardens

and parks

and planted

in them

all kinds

of fruit,

trees.

I made

myself pools

from which

to water

the forest

of growing

trees.

I brought

male and

female slaves,

and slaves

who were

born in

my house.

I had

also great

possessions

of herds

and flocks,

more than

any who

had been

before me

in Jerusalem.

I had

silver and

gold and

treasure of

kings.

He had

all of

these things.

This is

not someone

who has

hit rock

bottom.

This is

not someone

who is

broke and

homeless.

This is

someone who

has

everything

that the

world has

to offer.

Yet,

looking at

it on

this

horizontal

plane,

this under

the sun

plane,

he's saying

it's

vanity,

vanity of

vanities,

meaningless,

meaningless.

What's the

challenge?

He's getting

at there.

He's reminding

us that if

our only focus

is on what

is in this

world,

and what

we have

day by

day in

this world

and what

we're

living for

on this

horizontal

plane,

under the

sun,

just in

this world,

then it

is all

in vain.

You can

have everything

that this

world offers

and yet have

nothing.

You think

of someone

of the

wealth of

Solomon,

you think

of it in

today's

terms,

you're

thinking of

someone maybe

like Elon

Musk,

and all the

billions that

he has,

he doesn't

know what

to do

with it.

But under

the sun,

is there any

joy in

it all?

There's

still a

search for

more,

because it's

all vanity

of vanities.

There are

two

billionaires

in the

computing

industry.

One is

Bill Gates,

a billionaire

businessman who

was behind

Microsoft.

The other

was a

friend of

his who

passed away

in 2011,

Steve Job,

who was

behind Apple.

Both of

them were

billionaires,

more money

than they

could do

anything with,

and yet

for what?

Steve Job,

he passed

away at a

relatively

young age,

and at the

time of

his death,

Bill Gates

said this,

it reminds

you that

you've got

to pick

important

stuff,

because you

only have

a limited

time.

And yet

in those

words that

are saying,

well,

what is

life?

He's still

looking at

things under

the sun,

under this

level,

this horizontal

plane.

We've got to

pick the

important stuff,

but what is

the important

stuff?

We've only

got a

limited time,

but what

are we doing

with our

time?

So there's

questions,

but there's

unanswered

questions that

Bill Gates

had.

Maybe that's

ourselves,

too.

We say at

times,

we've got to

get our

priorities right.

We've only

got a

limited time,

as the

psalm said,

which we

sang.

We can

all see

life ending,

it's passing

us by,

but for

what purpose?

We reflect

on all of

these things,

but our

perspective is

looking at

things under

the sun,

with this

world in

mind,

and the

conclusion is

it's all

vanity.

We're looking