What Matters Most Sermon Ii: What Matters Least Relative To What Matters Most Series

PLEASURE AND POSSESSIONS MATTER LEAST - RELATIVE TO WHAT MATTERS MOST

Pleasure and Possessions Are Okay Per Se If Pursued Responsibly And Used Rightly

Several years ago, while prepping me for a court appearance as a witness in a custody case, the chairman of my board of directors played “devil’s advocate” - to prepare me for a possible cross-examination that would try to discredit my expertise. (“Devil’s Advocate” - one who argues against a cause or position, not as a committed opponent but simply for the sake of argument or to determine the validity of the cause or position).

This week it occurred to me that we might better understand Solomon’s negativity in the Book of Ecclesiastes if we think of his discourse as his assuming the role of “devil’s advocate” - to help seekers contrast the emptiness of a life lived apart from God versus the fulfillment of a life lived with and for God.

There were in fact those who sought to discredit Solomon’s wisdom as he expressed his thoughts in Proverbs as well as Ecclesiastes - solely on the basis of the discrepancy between the two volumes. However, if we consider that in the one (Proverbs) he acted as “God’s Advocate” and in the other (Ecclesiastes) he role-played the “Devil’s Advocate”, we can clearly see that he presented two perspectives of a search for meaning in life.

As mature Christians, we also have observed life from two perspectives --- the “strait and narrow” versus the “wide and broad”. And, it has occurred to most of us that life without Christ is pointless . . . circular . . . dissatisfying . . . miserable toward the end . . . like a one-way dead-end street.

We who have experienced life with Christ have learned in whatsoever state we find ourselves, therein to be content . . . seek to be and do what Christ would have us to be and do . . . look unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith – and we believe life with Christ will we worth it all when we see Jesus!

Among other things, we have learned that pleasure and possessions matter least when compared to what matters most. However, we don’t rule out these two aspects of living on this earth - if pursued responsibly and appropriated rightly.

The problem occurs when worldly things occupy our thinking and our time to such an extent that little or no room is left for Godly things. Thus, our “Devil’s Advocate” argues against the pursuit of such as a valid search for meaning in life.

Solomon offers his own pursuits as Exhibit A as if to say, “Take it from me; it doesn’t work that way” – Ecclesiastes 2:1-11 . . .

Lest we think Solomon has turned into a sourpuss, don’t interpret these comments to imply that all laughter, fun and partying should be squelched. He is simply giving wise counsel to persons of common sense - making it clear that, when it comes to satisfying the deepest longing of one’s heart, pleasures fail.

Many persons have sought (seek) to find meaning in life via pleasures only to come up short . . . via fame (celebrity worship) . . . via fortune (castles, mansions, yachts) . . .

The search itself has resulted in a large number of people turning to drugs and alcohol . . . The lesson: Life is brief and must not be wasted by useless pursuits.

So the correct implication of Solomon’s discourse is that, as children of God, we would be wise to manage desires resolutely, yet find time and ways to enjoy life via good times, fun and fellowship with kindred minds.

Remember: We were created for fellowship - with our Maker and with those we relate to as “brothers and sisters”.

Solomon (2:3) limited himself to “what is good” . . . practiced moderation (recommended “wine with wisdom” ) . . . -indulged (“folly) but maintained his senses.

You taught your children these time-honored principles - in no uncertain terms!

Solomon makes the point that a search for meaning via achievement and accumulation (2:4-8) more often than not pushes an individual to an extreme of seeing others in terms of what they can do for “me and mine” rather than what we can do for “thee and thine”.

Undertaken for selfish purposes, the amassing of wealth has very little or no eternal value. If invested for the right reasons and used for the advancement of good causes that benefit mankind spiritually as well as materially and socially, no one in their right mind would want to put an end to the earning of wealth.

A possession is not evil in and of itself, nor is the employment of persons to do good work; but unless possessions and persons are handled with care . . . there can be no honest-to-goodness satisfaction, no sense of fulfillment that is essential for one’s well-being. Here’s the crux of the matter insofar as this discourse pertains to us: