Ecclesiastes - Session 5 (Chasing Security)

Tonight's Tonight's session is called Chasing.

Security. And that's because the last

session, if you remember, the teacher, LED us into one of the

most familiar and unsettling realities of life.

Which? Is that we are not.

In control and. I think we all agree on that.

Even if we don't like it, we have.

Seasons that we don't choose. We live life at a pace that.

We can't manage on our own and. We get.

Outcomes that we can't always predict and so if we can't

control everything, what does the teacher look at now Well,

he. He looks at security.

Well, what will make? Me feel safe can.

Anybody relate to that concept and that idea?

About wanting to just feel. Safe.

Well. It's not always in obvious.

Ways that we that we search this out.

But in everyday decisions, we see it people.

Always look. For something consistent,

something reliable. Something that we can hold onto

when everything else feels. Uncertain and for some people

that security is found in. Success.

For some people, it's found in relationships or money or

influence or the sense that they're.

Building a life that can't. Easily fall apart.

But the reality is we're going to see tonight is there's really

no form of a life that can't. Easily fall under fall.

Apart under the right circumstances.

So we just want to find a life where we finally feel quote.

UN quote safe. And so the three chapters of

Ecclesiastes. That we're going to cover

tonight. 4 through 6 they start. To uncover.

How fragile these sources of. Security really are and the.

Teacher approaches this topic. From many different angles.

He's going to cover. Oppression, loneliness, success,

wealth, and even worship. And in each one.

He's going. To ask the same question.

In a different way, but. Jesus also spoke to this idea.

So I just want to share this from Matthew. 619 through 21.

Jesus said this, he. Said don't store up treasures

here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and

where thieves break in and steal.

Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot.

Destroy and thieves. Do not break in and.

Steal wherever your treasure is. They're the desires of your

heart will be. Also.

And I want to share. This with you because just to

give. You like a little pastoral

moment before we fold into. Teaching mode.

This is really important. And a lot of people get it A.

Little backwards and don't realize it.

What Jesus says here is. Wherever your treasure is, there

the desires of your heart will. Be also a lot of.

Times we think whatever we desire the most.

Is what we treasure. If you decide what is.

The treasure in your life. What is the highest?

Value and you make. That a consistent determination.

In your life, the desires. Of your heart will float there.

So you can choose. Whether or not it's your bank.

Account you can choose. Whether or not.

It is a person you can choose. Whether or not it's a life.

Goal. Whatever you.

Choose as being the ultimate value is where the.

Desires of your heart will go. And you can see how this works.

How? Once you belong to the world,

but now you belong to the Kingdom of God.

And so your allegiance changed. Your desire shifted.

As you decided what was? Actually more valuable and it's.

That way for life so. The one thing I will just tell

you before we jump into. The 1st 6 verses.

Is this? The words that Jesus.

Shares that I just read. It's the same problem that the.

Teacher's about to reveal it is possible to build a life that

looks. Secure on the.

Outside while also placing your trust in.

Things that can actually. Still fall apart several years

ago I. Went to go visit.

My Auntie Hope down in Texas and I was so excited because she

makes this shrimp. Stew.

She lives right there. On the Gulf.

The shrimp is amazing. It's got some kick to it.

It's like tomato. Based big potatoes you.

Didn't come here to. Hear me talk.

About the soup, but. It's an amazing soup.

I'm so. Excited.

And so I'm ready. To eat the soup.

And so I go over to your table. And I sit down.

But I sit down all. The way to the floor because the

chair. Did not hold up and I don't know

if you've ever had a moment like that.

Where the chair that you? Go to sit on just.

Breaks or falls apart, it ain't great, but.

That's sort of a metaphor. For what we're looking for.

In this session when we're chasing security.

We assume when we sit down on a chair.

It's going to hold us. Most of us don't come to church

and then look at 1:00. Of these burgundy fellas, right?

Here and and go. All right, OK.

And then brace yourself, right? We, we just know it's going to

hold us. That's kind of what we're

looking at. What is it that we.

Assume in life is going to hold us up.

And then it really. Doesn't under the right

circumstances. So the first 6 verses.

This is what I'm calling the weight of oppression.

Your notes. Will start right here.

In Ecclesiastes. Chapter 4 in the 1st.

Ecclesiastes 4 · chapter mention

Verse he says again, I. Observed all the oppression.

That takes place under the sun. I saw the.

Tears of the oppressed. With no one to comfort them.

The oppressors have great power. And their victims are helpless.

So I concluded that the dead. Are better off than the?

Living. But the most fortunate of all

are those who are not yet born, for they've not seen all the

evil that is. Done under the sun.

And then I observed that most people are motivated.

To success because. They envy their neighbors, but

this too, is meaningless. Like chasing the wind.

Fools fold their idle hands, leading them to ruin.

And yet better to have one handful.

With quietness than two handfuls.

With hard work. And chasing the wind.

Well, the teacher opens this section by looking at something

that really does unsettle the idea of.

Security just like. That and he looks at the world

and he. Sees.

Here's your first. Blank oppression.

I mean we. Can look at the world we.

Can see oppression right now. You can look at 3 minutes of the

news. And get a whole story about it.

Real people carrying real pain. And no one's stepping in to

comfort them. Sometimes it feels so.

Overwhelming. We see these scenes and.

We say, why doesn't somebody do something?

But. We're not doing anything, but we

don't know what to do and we feel like what can one person

do? That's part of why.

A lot of people don't. But if you look around the

world, it doesn't really matter the country or the government

that you. Look at.

There are places. Where power is.

Uneven and justice feels absent and people that are suffering

feel like they're left alone in it he.

Says I see, I saw the tears of the oppressed.

With no one to comfort them. That line stands out to me.

Because the word translated as. Oppression comes.

From the Hebrew word a. Shock.

A shock which carries. The idea of being wronged.

Or exploited or crushed by. Someone stronger by someone

stronger. In other words, we're talking

about. Bullies in the system, right?

So this is not. Just an average difficulty.

Some things in life are hard. This.

Is the experience of being overpowered in a way that.

Feels impossible to escape and what?

Makes that even more painful is he's not just watching something

stronger crush or oppress them there's a lack of comfort in it

and the. Teacher repeats.

This he says there's no. One to comfort them that.

Hebrew word there naham. Is best described as relief.

Compassion or someone stepping in.

Someone stepping. In to ease the pain.

You can already see foreshadowing.

Of the gospel here, can't you? People being oppressed by the

weight of sin and having somebody step in to ease it.

The problem is here that. Blessing is missing, and so the

suffering that's. Described here is best

understood. As the kind that's very personal

and isolating. And this is where the illusion

of. Security already begins to crack

this early. In this.

Lesson because a lot of people believe if.

You build the right life. Or you gain enough influence.

Or you have enough. Of a position, then you can

avoid this kind of vulnerability.

That's your blank there. Avoid this kind of

vulnerability. But the.

Teacher is here to remind. Us that life under the sun

remember there's life beyond the sun but right now we're.

Trapped here. Under the sun.

It doesn't always work that. Way.

There are situations where power wins, where justice is.

Delayed and where people. Don't feel seen.

So in his response, he says the dead are better off than.

The living. And those that are not yet.

Born are better off than both. And I want you to understand we

talked. About this a little bit last.

Week. This is a lament.

This is This is a. Poetic and and expressive

statement that he's saying. He doesn't, literally.

Think it's better to be dead than to be alive?

It's not. A statement of hopelessness.

It's just an honest. Expression of how heavy the

broken world feels. And surely we've all.

Felt that at some point hearing about some scenario or watching

somebody we love go through something.

Where we just feel hopeless. And what I really?

Appreciate about this chapter is the teacher refuses.

To soften the reality of that. But then he says most.

People he it's almost like startling how he switches, he

says most. People are motivated to success.

Because they envy their neighbors.

What he's saying is it's probably better off to be dead.

But even if you're. Alive.

You're really just jealous. The word translated as envy is

kina. It can also mean.

Jealousy or? It can mean rivalry, rivalry.

It's describing the kind of motivation.

That is driven by comparison. So that's where another layer

of. Insecurity gets exposed even

when. People are not being oppressed.

And even though there is oppression in this country.

I mean, we are very blessed and very fortunate here.

So even if we're not. Oppressed.

We're triggered. By something internal, which is

the need to keep up. Kind of the modern.

Saying for this is keeping up with the Yeah, man, those

Joneses. They got everything, don't they?

The pressure is to have what somebody else has.

We've. We've gotten into a culture

where When? We look at what somebody else

has, we start to feel like maybe our life will.

Be a little bit better if we. Do have it and so.

The pressure to have what, somebody else?

Has becomes more what drives. Us than success itself.

And the problem. Is there's no end game, there's

no winning win that's. What success looks like to?

Just have what somebody else has because once you do, you're

going to see something else that somebody.

Else has so the teacher to really drive.

This home uses a Really. Cool extreme illustration he.

Talks about one person who. Folds their hands like this.

This is what it means. A little folding of the hands.

He does nothing. I did this earlier.

I went home from work. Before I came back here.

And I laid on my bed and I did a little folding of the hands.

I was doing nothing. So he's saying one person folds

their hands. And does nothing, drifting into.

Ruin the other one. Fills both hands with work.

Constantly struggling, chasing, never at rest.

And you would think that one option.

Or the other one would. Work, but he's saying neither.

One leads to peace if. Both your hands are constantly.

Busy doing work? It's not going.

To lead to peace. You're striving, you're

comparing, you're trying to achieve something.

And if you do nothing, you just freeze and you don't do

anything. You're accomplishing nothing as

well. So that's why he offers this.

Really simple. But powerful alternative.

He said it is. Better to have one handful.

With quietness than two handfuls with hard work and chasing the

wind. The word translated as.

Quietness. Because what's a handful of

quietness? So that word is.

Nahat and it. Speaks of rest or.

Calm or a settled spirit? A settled.

Spirit, there's not a spot for this, but if you want to write.

Another word that would fit there.

It's contentment. If you have one handful.

With contentment. Basically, whatever the Lord's.

Given you, you hold on to that and you're content with it.

Your other hand is open. You're ready to.

Receive whatever he's got. For you next, and so that means

that you're not. Driven by fear or comparison or

this endless working regardless. Of how much you have.

Couple personal insight questions for you there and then

we'll move on. To the next 5 verses 7 through

12 is the myth of independence the myth of independence.

But you've probably. Heard this in a wedding.

Before he says I observed. Yet another example of something

meaningless under the sun. This is the case.

Of a man who is. All alone, without a child.

Or a brother yet who works hard to.

Gain as much wealth as he can. But then he asks.

Himself. Who am I working?

For. He's never had that moment

before. Why am I giving up so?

Much pleasure now. It's all so meaningless and

depressing. And here it is.

Two people are better off than one, for they can help.

Each other succeed if one person falls.

The other can reach out. And help, but someone who falls

alone is in real trouble. Likewise 2 people lying close.

Together can keep each other warm, but how can one be warm

alone? And a person standing alone can

be. Attacked and defeated, but two

can stand back-to-back. And Conquer three are even

better for a triple braided cord.

Is not easily broken now. The teacher here is turning from

oppression in comparison to something that is probably just

as revealing to the human condition.

He talks about a man who is completely alone.

A man who's completely. Alone, but still completely

driven when I met my wife. I had five jobs.

It was gross, but I didn't want. To be alone with my thoughts.

I wanted to be busy and I wanted to be so busy that when I wasn't

busy, I was asleep. It's a.

It's what you call a. Coping mechanism.

It's not healthy. And here it says no.

Family. No.

Close relationships? No one.

To share life with and still he works endlessly.

So when he says who? Am I working for that?

Feels a. Little bit different than

anything else that came before that, he wrote.

This is not somebody who's been. Forced in a hardship this.

Is somebody who made his own plans, his own decisions?

Set up his own work schedule and all.

Of a sudden had this moment. Of clarity where he goes.

What am I doing? Someone who chose.

A path that looked good. But it ended up being empty and

the word that's. Translated as a loan comes from

the word akkad, which just means.

One the number one, it just means one it's it's.

Someone more than a number. It just implies isolation, and

isolation seems like it's come. It's came up a few.

Times on Sundays here. But this is somebody who has

found. Themselves isolated.

Isolated is more than just alone.

I hate that it even. Uses the word alone.

Now that I know this. Because to.

Say that he ends up isolated carries a different meaning than

he ended up alone, doesn't it? Isolated means not.

Only are you not around? People, you feel like you.

Can't get a path to people that's meaningful and.

So this is a life that's been reduced down to.

Just self without anybody. To share joy or burdens with.

And So what makes? This so.

Scary and relatable is how. Easy it is to drift into this

without realizing it. The teacher's not describing.

Some. Weirdo here.

He's. Describing a pattern that many

people have fallen into and don't we teach.

This work hard, stay focused. Hustle somewhere along the way.

Relationships get pushed to the. Side.

Relationships get pushed to the. Side for people to get.

Stuck on this path at first? You can.

Feel like strength because independence gets celebrated

being self. Sufficient and not needing

anyone and handling everything on your own.

It can look like. Success, but the scripture right

here exposes the cost. He says why am I giving up so

much pleasure now? I mean, I don't have a spot for

you on this, but. That word pleasure, it connects

back to the idea. Of enjoyment, which we've

discussed in Ecclesiastes. It means that this man has.

Built something but in the. Process.

He's lost the very. Thing that gave building

something meaning. If you ever saw the.

Lego Movie, you kind of get a lesson in that, as Will

Ferrell's, you know, he's keeping all the Legos in

pristine condition, and he doesn't like his.

Kids to play with it, but they're Legos so.

When he says. Why am I giving?

Up so much pleasure. Now it's a moment of

realization, and then we get to the spot that we hear in a lot

of weddings, two people are better off than one.

It's one of the clearest statements in all of

Ecclesiastes. It means pretty much what it

says. After describing isolation and

what? It is to have nobody to share

anything with. That's the context for when he

finally. Says, but two are better.

Because then you can share, if you have good news, you've got

somebody to call, somebody to share it with.

If you have bad news, you have somebody to commiserate with,

you know, if you've got something going on.

If you got to rob a store, you've got somebody to drive the

car. Or whatever.

Just whatever. You know what he's basically

saying? Here is connection is.

Part of what is wired. Into us with creation.

And if it's wired into US, I. Want you to hear me on this.

Connection with other people is not optional.

It's a necessity for a Christian.

For a believer, you're made. In the image of God.

People are not. Designed to carry life alone.

You don't have to be an extrovert.

But you got to have. Someone.

So he gives. Some really practical pictures

to it. If one falls, the other one can

help them up. If the night is cold, they can

keep each other warm, and if there's danger, they can stand.

Together, these are everyday realities.

That he uses to drive at home so that.

Phrase help each other succeed. Comes from the Hebrew word.

Tov and we talked about that not long ago.

It means good or beneficial can be beneficial or life giving.

Just like mazel tov. It's good, but then.

He adds one final image and he says.

A triple braided chord is not easily.

Broken. Now we look backwards.

From the New Testament era that we live in now.

And we can. See that God is.

Often that third strand who? Holds us together when we're

talking about relationships. But the word for cord?

There is Caval. And it means something.

That is woven together. For strength.

For strength. Why would you weave?

You know. Three chords together because.

It can hold more. And it's crazy, you.

Would think that two ropes that are woven together.

Hold twice as much. It's not the.

Case. It's much more than.

Twice as much. And three, it's exponentially

more, so it's not just three times as much as before.

Strength gets multiplied when it's woven together, and that's

the image that the teacher's trying to get across here.

So we have to recognize the independence.

While it can look strong on the outside, often leads to weakness

on the inside. We were not.

Created to carry everything alone, we were.

Created to be woven. Together with other people so

that we. Can carry things at a much more

manageable pace. Strength is not found in

avoiding dependence. It's fun in placing.

It in the right place, I've heard it said.

Before that, codependence is bad.

I agree. Fierce independence can be bad.

There's a word that's not. Used a lot.

It's called interdependent. It's where you choose to.

Depend on each other and you rely on each other.

For the greater good. All right, 3 verses now I'm

really enjoying this because we're doing.

Like 6. Verses 5 verses 3 verses.

We're going to do like a. Chapter and 1/2 next.

It's not a joke. All right, 3 verses.

This is the illusion of status. The teacher says it's better to

be. A poor but wise youth.

Than an old and foolish. King.

Who refuses? All advice such a youth.

Could rise from poverty. And succeed.

He might even become king, though he has been in prison.

But then everyone rushes to the side of yet another youth who.

Replaces. Him.

Endless crowds stand around him. But then another.

Generation grows up and rejects. Him too.

So it is all meaningless. Like chasing the wind.

Awesome politics. All right, so.

Everyone came here to. Talk about politics at a Bible

study. The teacher is telling kind of a

small tale. Here it's it's almost.

Like you watch a story? Unfold and and fast.

Forward here, but. He talks about a poor young man

who comes up through wisdom. He's also got a king who's once.

Established and powerful. Who becomes resistant and

foolish? And then the roles reverse.

The king is now ousted. And this.

Person who even started in prison.

But gained wisdom and came up. Now has a following.

But once he rises to power, now there's a new younger.

Person that comes. Up and everybody.

Gets excited about this. Person.

So he's saying what's the point? Someone's going to replace you

at some point, and that is the way.

That life does go so. At first, the story.

Sounds hopeful because it sounds like wisdom.

Can elevate someone. Circumstances can change, but

then as time goes on, he doesn't.

Stop at the rise, he. Keeps watching and sees how.

Other people choose another generation that grows up and.

Rejects the previous one, so. Your first blank.

There, he says, the same pattern repeats.

It's the same pattern. So we're talking about security.

If you've got the security. Or the OR the support.

Of the masses. Or everybody really appreciates.

What you do, it may feel good, but it is also not something to

to lean your weight on. The crowd that once gathered

moves on and. The support that felt solid

starts to shift. The phrase that's translated as

endless crowds comes from the Hebrew word hamon.

It. Refers to a multitude.

Or a large. Noisy gathering.

Noisy gathering and it's. Important that you know that

because when you. Get a lot of people together.

It is noisy. In specific, when I say a noisy

gathering, I want you to think of the kind of.

Crowd that feels powerful. Simply because of its size and

its. Energy.

Think of a crowd. At a sporting event.

Or at a political rally. They are all there for.

The same thing and for the same. Purposes for the most.

Part and so it. Carries this idea of.

Excitement and momentum a few weeks ago when my family and I

we. Went to see wrestling.

You know who else was there? People who like wrestling.

It felt different than watching it in the living room on the TV.

Because you're. Around a bunch of.

People that are. Excited.

So you build. And you feed off of this

excitement. That's the kind of gathering

that he's talking. About where everybody would be.

Excited about something? Because that idea of excitement

and momentum is. Also something that can feel.

Overwhelming and the teacher. Showing us how?

Quickly, even that kind of. Attention can shift what feels.

Strong in one moment. Because it's.

Loud and grabs your. Attention doesn't mean that it's

stable. Public support can rise.

Quickly, but it can also just as quickly move on.

And a lot of people look to recognition.

As a form of security, most. People here as far.

As I'm aware are not running for a public office right now.

Right, and that's fine. You're probably going to be at

more peace if you don't, but most people at some point in

their. Life are looking for.

Recognition as a form of. Security being known or

respected. Or being in a position of

influence can feel like something that gives you

stability. But the teacher exposes.

Even that can fall. Away because people can change.

And the deeper issue here is not.

The position of influence itself.

If you live a life. Filled with wisdom, you're going

to gain it. It's what you expect it to

provide for you. So when status becomes the place

that. You look to for your meaning.

Just like everything else. It's going to disappoint you

because. It too.

Was never meant to carry that kind of weight.

So the teacher is really. Just trying to expose.

The limits of leadership or influence influence you can.

Rise you can lead. You can be surrounded by.

People and still find that it doesn't last.

The way that you hoped. That it would.

In the New Testament, you actually see that even

leadership. Itself is a spiritual gift.

Designed to. Serve other people, not

yourself. Every spiritual.

Gift is designed for somebody other than you.

And so this just means we have to learn to see recognition for

what it. Is it could be a?

Platform or a? Responsibility or even a

blessing. But it can never be a

foundation. Amen.

It can't secure our identity. And it can't guarantee lasting

meaning. All right, now we're going to

cover Ecclesiastes chapter. 5. Through the 1st 9 verses.

Of Chapter 6. And I said in the e-mail, read

it in advance because I'm not going to read you a.

Chapter and a. Half at a time now.

But this is called the false. Promise of more.

And this sort of. Encapsulates a lot of what we

were talking about with all. Of the previous.

Subjects that there's more ahead.

More will make you fulfilled. Nobody likes to admit it.

But when you are single. You start to feel like if I

could. Just get married, I'd feel.

Fulfilled. I know there's a lot of couples.

In here I love have you ever. Arrived at marriage and found.

Wow, this is hard. It is and it's and.

It's worth it. It's worth.

The struggle, but it is. Hard, and sometimes we feel.

Like man, if we have. Kids.

Kids will make it easier. They do not make it easier.

You know that three stranded chord we were talking about?

They love to just pick at it. And watch it unravel.

Kids make things harder because you have more responsibility.

So here he's talking about. Approaching God with care.

The futility of wealth. And a lot of other things.

Let's go and jump into. This He's got several.

Observations together and we can't read all of it.

Word for word because in. Moving instead of moving.

It through a straight line. If you read this.

Then you know that. This is where he.

Begins circling the same idea from different angles.

It's the same idea. For this whole chapter and 1/2.

But from different angles. And the repetition is not

accidental. He wasn't forgetting where he

started. And starting over again.

This is a very classic. Teaching.

Method where repetition helps drive.

Something home and the. Theme underneath.

All of it is simple but challenging.

It's this. More.

I'll put that in. Quotation marks.

Whatever it is more of. Will never make you feel.

Secure and to prove. This he actually starts.

In an unexpected. Place he starts with.

Worship. He starts with worship.

How many of you all didn't know you?

Were coming here to hear that you can have too much.

Worship. Just kidding, but this is.

What he says, the teacher speaks.

About entering the House of God. He's not just giving an.

Instruction. He's warning about being.

Careless with words. Because it points to something

deeper. It's.

Possible to be active? Around God without being.

Attentive to him and that is something we still.

Struggle with to this day. I guarantee you there were.

People that came here for Resurrection Sunday.

Praise Jesus had a great. Time didn't talk to.

God the rest of the day. The word translated rash.

Comes from the Hebrew word. Bahal.

It means to hurry or to act impulsively.

Or to speak without thought. To speak without thought.

So the teacher here is. Exposing a kind of.

Spiritual life, that is. Busy and expressive or even

emotional, but not. Something that comes from a

place of reverence for God and this.

Is where the phrase fear. God becomes important again, but

it has brand new weight to it now.

Because the word yaray, which we've.

Talked about in a previous. Lesson.

It talks about awe. Or of recognizing the.

Distance Recognizing the distance between who God is and

who we are. Yeah.

God lives inside of you, but remember this is.

Ecclesiastes. This is Old Testament.

They didn't have the same theology.

We know that God and the Holy. Spirit lives inside of us.

We know that he's never really that far from us.

But when you think about how holy he is and how.

Earthly we are. There's quite a bit of distance,

isn't there? It's that kind of awareness that

slows us down and reminds us that God is not someone that we

manage. He is somebody that we should

approach with humility. So from here the.

Teacher then shifts to money. Still circling the same idea.

He says those who. Love, money will never have

enough. And the word that's translated.

Love. Comes from the Hebrew word ahav.

It means affection or attachment.

It's not about having money. It means being attached to your

money. It's about where the heart

leans. It's about where the heart

leans. All of us have at.

Least. One thing that tends to.

Trigger our anxiety at the fastest.

And it may be relational problem, it may be money, it may

be. Problems that, whatever it is.

It's something that you have wrapped.

Part of your. Identity in it's neither.

Here nor there, we all. Have something, but for those

that love money, this is the trap for them and the teacher.

'S clear that when the heart. Leans towards more.

It never arrives. At enough, if you're focused on

more, you're not focused on enough, right?

So he. Describes what happens next.

As wealth increases, so do the demands around it.

More responsibility, more consumption, more pressure.

And the promise is. Stability, but the result feels

more like stress. So think about how deep it is.

When he says paraphrased. The one who works hard can

sleep. While the one who has much.

Struggles to rest, that's part of.

What is in this chapter? I'm going to say that again.

Listen to this again. The one who works hard can

sleep. While the one who has much

struggles to rest. Because when you work hard,

you've got. Some some enjoyment in the fact

that. You've contributed, but when

you've got a lot, you're worried about losing it.

So as the teacher then moves from chapter 5 into chapter. 6

which we just. Covered the 1st 9 verses.

In this, he's still circling the same truth.

I don't know why we put the number six there.

It started. The chapter there but we did

but. Now he's doing it from.

Another angle. Where he's saying a person.

Can have everything they can have wealth and honor and

opportunity and. Still lack the ability.

To enjoy it. And that word enjoy becomes

incredibly important because it connects to.

The Hebrew word raha, which? Means to see, not a physical.

Sight. This carries the idea.

Of being able to. Perceive or.

Recognize what is good most. People have good.

Things in their life, and many of them can't.

Perceive that they are there. Most people have good

relationships or good blessings or good situations.

But they can't see. It because they're focused on an

area where they need more and this is what the teacher is

trying to get across. Unfortunately.

The ability to perceive or. Recognize this is not

guaranteed. And this is where the

repetition. Begins to become more evident.

And and more you. Can see why he.

Did it because the. Teacher's not just.

Repeating a thought, he's trying to show that.

All of these areas expose a. Pattern in the human heart.

People keep reaching for more. And he describes.

It as a kind of. Hunger that keeps returning.

I mean, we eat several times a day, but could you imagine if

you got hungry 15 minutes after every?

Meal it would be. Exhausting to have to deal with

that. Some of you are like get off my

back. I like.

Reese's. Cups, that's a different thing,

the idea that people are never satisfied.

Comes from the Hebrew word. Malay Malay and it means to.

Be filled or full. Very simple.

In other words, you. Do not feel spiritually

satiated. You do not feel full.

You do not feel like you've had enough.

The. Teacher is trying to show.

Us the disconnect here. A life can be full from the

outside. And still feel empty on the

inside. And so the appetite keeps

reaching even. When it feels like you.

Should be satisfied by the way. Normally if you find yourself in

this place. You also start to keep.

Shame on top of yourself. Because you tell yourself such

helpful. Things as.

Other people have it worse. I should be grateful.

Why don't I appreciate? This more well.

Because you got. Sin and sinful.

People do this so. Stop it.

Be less sinful. That's what we're all trying to.

Do all right, I said. The Pastoral.

Part was at the beginning. So he brings it back to

something simple, but not easy. I mean, that's.

Not the same thing. Simple and easy are two.

Different things. He basically says enjoy what you

have. Rather than desiring what you

don't have, enjoy. The relationship you have.

Rather than desiring a relationship you don't have,

enjoy the home that you have rather than wishing you had a

different home. Enjoy the car you drive instead

of the car you wish you had. Learn to enjoy what you have it.

Doesn't mean you'll never have. More, but when you can

appreciate. What's right here?

You'll also appreciate. What is to come as?

Well, this is not a call to stop.

Working or to stop growing. It's just a call to stop.

Expecting. More to do what only God can do.

So your last two. Blanks.

The issue is not. Effort.

It's expectation the issue's not.

Effort. It's expectation.

You've been around me always. Talk about this, the number one

relationship killers unmet expectations.

A lot of times there's distance with God because of those unmet

expectations. All right, last three verses.

Ecclesiastes 6. 10 through 12 and.

This is called the limits of knowing and I will.

Read this to you. It says everything has already

been decided. It was known long ago what each

person would be, so there's no use arguing with God about your.

Destiny, so mess with your. Theology a little bit.

The more words you. Speak the less they mean.

So what good are they? In the few days of our

meaningless lives, who knows how our days can be best spent our.

Lives are like a shadow. Who can tell what will?

Happen on this earth? After we're gone.

So when he speaks to destiny here, I do want to make this.

Clear it is not. That God has decided everything.

You're going to do and. Accomplish and you have no

choice. You have free will.

You're. Out of all of.

God's creation. You are the.

Only thing that has the ability to tell him no.

But God sits outside. Of time.

He knows who you will be. He knows where you will end up.

He knows what you will do. It is all pre written for him.

Because he is not bound by time. He's not.

I want to. I want to make sure you

understand. Me by him being eternal.

He's not just at the. End of the game.

He's not just. Where he can DVR and.

Rewind it and see what. You're going to do.

He's everywhere he is. Before there was time.

He is when time ends. And he's right here.

He's just. As present with us.

In this room as he is. With Moses at the burning.

Bush right now. OK, so for.

Him, he already knows everything.

You have free. Will make the most of it, OK?

The teacher closes the section. By bringing everything down to a

place that's pretty honest and if you let it, it humbles you.

He's talked about. Oppression and isolation and.

He's talked about status. And wealth and the endless.

Pursuit of more. And now he turns to what is

underneath all of it. Which is our limited ability to

truly understand life, to understand life.

Most of us if somebody. Said, how are you doing?

We wouldn't look at them and say I'm pretty great, I understand

life. No, most of us would.

Be like. Just out here trusting God.

So he starts by reminding us that life is not as random.

As we sometimes like to imagine. There is a sense that.

Things are already established. That word that's translated as

determined comes. From the Hebrew word Kara.

Which can mean to call or to name to name.

Or to appoint. So when it says.

That everything's already been determined.

It's already been called. It's been named.

It's been appointed. It has the whole idea.

That things are not random. This is a bit.

Of a throwback to the seasons he discussed in Ecclesiastes

Ecclesiastes 3 · chapter mention

chapter 3, there's order. There's intention and there's

structure to life, even if we don't understand it.

But that idea immediately. Puts us in a position.

Of limitation limitation. Once you understand that this is

one of the concepts. In your.

Faith life that will. Give you more freedom than

almost anything else, and it sounds like it wouldn't, but you

are limited. OK, now listen when you.

First hear this. It may feel like again, it comes

against that control issue when you.

Understand that you're limited and you were created.

To be limited in that way, you do not.

Have to stress your stuff your yourself.

Out with things that are. Above your pay grade.

So to speak. Those are God issues.

These ones are mine. So I only have to deal with

this. I'm not expected to deal with

all of that take. The weight of the.

World off your shoulders. We're not the ones that define

everything. We're not the ones that are

setting every outcome. There are realities about life

that exists. Outside of our control.

And that should. Give you relief.

If it doesn't tonight, keep. Praying for it.

The teacher says this he. Says no one can contend with

someone who is stronger, and that word translated contend

comes from the Hebrew word Dean Dean, which means to.

Strive or argue or dispute? Dispute.

This is the picture. Of someone trying to push back.

He's trying to paint this picture someone.

Trying to argue their. Case with God or gain control

over. Something that's greater than

themselves. Good luck because the teacher

is. Clear that there's a.

Limit to that. There are just parts of.

Life that we can't fully explain or predict, and the more that we

try to force understanding in. Places where it doesn't.

Exist the more frustrated. We become so this is something

that Christians are. Guilty of to this day.

When they try to explain. Why quote UN quote?

Everything happens for a reason. Which already has its problems.

I don't have time to go down that rabbit hole.

But when they try to name, what the reason?

Is it's unfulfilling when believers do this?

Because it's either. Untrue or only partially true?

Let me. Give you an example when

somebody. 'S going through a hard time and

you go up. To them and you say I think this

happened so that you could learn fill in the blank I mean we.

Hate this because we've received.

It and we've given it out. We've all done this right?

But it's hard. Because we're trying to give.

A very quick, simple answer to somebody's deep internal wound.

And you're not designed to handle that.

Let God do the healing. You don't have to solve it.

You're not. God's little Sherlock.

OK, you are to sit with somebody and love them, rejoice when they

rejoice, to mourn when they mourn.

That's the job. Not to solve right?

So he says, who can tell what is?

Good for a person in this life? Well, you can give your advice.

We talked about that on a Sunday A.

Couple weeks ago but. You don't know and who?

Can tell what will. Happen after we're gone.

Well, there is one. Answer.

These are not questions that are meant to be.

Answered quickly. They're meant to slow us down

and put us in a place where we're thinking and a place of

humility. A place of humility.

It's supposed to remind. Us that even our best.

Understanding has limits. But that's not a flaw.

That's part of how you're. Designed.

You're made to have limits. It's a reality.

And so renewing our minds. In this study, means to.

Live with that reality without. Becoming anxious or overwhelmed.

By it yesterday. I mean I.

Don't know when you're? Watching this recording.

If you watch this later. Yesterday.

I believe. That there was an 8:00 PM

deadline, that something devastating was going to happen

in the world, and then it changed and maybe it's changed

again. It's like flip flop.

More than Jan on the. Office.

That's a limited reference, but. What I'm saying is this.

I don't know the. Way that that situation.

Is going to go and. It's not that it doesn't matter,

and it's not that. It doesn't get my prayers.

But I have to let God be God. And I have to worry about what

is in my one hand. Where I'm.

Receiving from him today. Amen.

All right, we're going to break in a group discussion.

If you're on the live stream, we're going ahead and cut the

live stream. And then we'll have.

Acoustic worship at. The end of the night.

And yeah. For those that are here.

If you missed a blank or something, three of them.

One chapter, 4/13/16, the second, third and 14.

Thank you everybody.