feast: Ecclesiastes: What is it All About? (Part 2)
John W. Ritenbaugh
Given 15-Oct-11; Sermon #FT11-06; 77 minutes
Description: (hide)
John Ritenbaugh, turning to a publisher’s emphasis of Deuteronomy 30:11-20, focuses upon the admonition to choose life over death, blessings over curses, and God’s way over Satan’s or the worlds. Ecclesiastes is a direct blunt response to questions people will have in life, having practical answers if one meditates on the insights. Even though life, in its vanity can seem like stinging smoke to our eyes, with seemingly everything we view appearing crooked under the sun in this present world, we are mandated to overcome. Unfortunately, the world is attractive to human nature, and not corrupt and enslaving as it really is. We need to determine whether we want to be conformed in the image of Jesus Christ or in the mold of Satan’s world. The activities that Solomon put to the test, and found wanting, are exactly those things the world emphasizes. Hedonism seems to dud out after a flourishing beginning. Silliness, mirth, and foolishness do not profit in attaining a productive, Godly mind. God’s children are given the responsibility to glorify Him; our physical children should glorify us. Paradoxically, people degenerate in good times and let down. Solomon’s experimentation in hedonism led him to the conclusion that self-centered pleasure ultimately becomes a downer. Solomon learned (and reported with insightful honesty) that regardless of the grandeur of the project, if it is undertaken with the motivation of self-centeredness, it will only bring disappointment, despair, and futility. Solomon systematically compared mad folly and wisdom, concluding that wisdom totally eclipsed folly, giving the possessor light and vision to make correct and productive life-decisions. From Solomon’s explorations of life experiences, he concluded that life under the sun at best is monotony, that wisdom under the sun is vain, that wealth is futile, and that death is a certainty for which we need to prepare.
Topics: (show)
Alcohol Asking questions Candiadus Companion of fools Death Deuteronomy Disillusionment Eating out Ecclesiastes 2: 4; 12-13 Moore Ecclesiastes - T. M. Moore Ecclesiastes Enjoy pleasure I Kings 4:21 Foundations of life Fulfillment Galatians 1:3-5 Gambling with life Good and evil Good times Grasping for wind Harriet Beecher Stowe Human nature Is that all there is? Johnny Cash - The Wanderer Life and death Mad folly Madness and folly Meditating Mirth Opulence Proverbs 14:13;15:21 Movies Peggy Lee Peggy Lee - Is That All There Is? Proverbs 2:18; 10:1; 29:3 Repeating cycles Self reflective Self-reflexiveness Seriousness about life Shame to family name Silliness Soap bubble Solomon Things of beauty Wisdom Wise under the sun
|
(To download, right-click on the icon for the format of your choice and select "Save target as...") |
The transcript for this audio message is not available yet.
If you would like to be notified when this transcript is available, please enter your email address in the space below and click the button.