Truth is, the "Preacher" looked in all the wrong places for real happiness and joy. He built his world around his own agenda ("whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them." v 10). But verse 11 gives us his pitiful conclusion: "The I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and beold, all was vanity and a striving after the wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun."
The problem of the Preacher is the same one we run into time and time again like a sliding glass door: we've all been looking in the wrong places for the reward of significant and lasting joy. God offers himself and his purposes as our delight (see Psalm 1, 16, 21). He calls us to set our hopes on Him (1 Tim 6) and to rejoice because of Him (Phil 4). He graciously gives us all good things to enjoy but sin has left its effect on each of these gifts... lying to us... claiming to be THE final and eternal pleasure in life. And we must be able to discern the difference.
You see, only the gospel frees us to enjoy both God and His gifts... because only the gospel redeems us from the futility of life. We look to the pleasures of this world for lasting comfort, for relief from guilt, for the source of joy. But only God grants comfort, forgiveness, and joy... and only the finished work of Jesus brings us to God. That's why we celebrate the gospel in our quest to enjoy God.
This week in community groups, we're going to follow up on the sermon with the following questions:
WHEN YOU CONSIDER THE PLEASURES OF THIS WORLD:
- The Preacher savored and probably inebriated himself with wine… is there anything you savor to the point of habit or addiction?
- The Preacher constructed something of a Paradise (like Eden) for himself… what have you constructed in life to create your own sanctuary of ease?
- He surrounded himself with slaves as possessions and increased his sense of power through money… have you been treating other people like possessions to do your bidding or given your life and energy in pursuit of one more toy or goodie?
- The Preacher entertained himself with personal court singers... are there forms of entertainment that dominate your budget or schedule?
- (IF YOU BREAK INTO MEN/WOMEN): The Preacher and delighted himself with sexual pleasures… have illicit sexual pleasure captured your imagination or pursuits?
- The Preacher lived his life unaware of the reality of God's desire to lift his eyes "above the sun"... what have you been doing lately to "set your hearts on things above, not on earthly things?"
- The Preacher was ultimately miserable because he built his search for pleasure around himself. Jesus calls us to lives of ultimate joy that are found in living for His kingdom (Matt 6), knowing His Son... serving Him... and even suffering for Him (Phil 3), ultimately that we would experience the blessing of serving in His Kingdom (Matt 5) and one day seeing Him face to face (1 Cor 13, Rev 22)... what promises from God have been especially significant for you in treasuring Jesus Christ above all pleasures of the earth?
Darren
