A Life Of Contentment

A life of contentment

Ecclesiastes 5:1-5:8

Introduction-

Ecclesiastes 5:1-8

Have you ever read the book of Ecclesiastes? Fold the Bible in half, that Psalms, go forward two books, proverbs, then Ecclesiastes.

It opens up… meaningless, meaningless, everything is meaningless.

Wisdom is meaningless.

Pleasure is meaningless.

Work is meaningless.

Time is meaningless.

Advancement is meaningless.

Sounds like his life is meaningless right!

A man that is suffering from depression.

Until you understand the writer of these words, you will never to be able to understand his words.

The son of King David, Solomon was the richest man to ever have lived.

The one that God asked what he wanted and he choose wisdom and because he choose wisdom God gave it all to him.

The man who had everything realized that without God, without God’s direction, everything is meaningless.

If I have not struck curiosity with you, I’m guessing you already checked out.

One preacher said that if I didn’t strike oil, stop boring.

Let’s see what Solomon has to say to us with the help of the Holy Spirit.

Ecclesiastes 5:1-8

I want to ask you this morning, how do you approach church?

What do you expect to happen?

What are you looking for?

Solomon tells us to guard our steps when we go to the house of God.

Go to listen rather than be a fool. Talk, Talk, Talk.

Do not be quick with your mouth, let your words be few and your heart be open.

When you make a vow to keep it.

When you make a vow to God, know that God takes that vow seriously and don’t let your mouth lead you into sin.

Much dreaming and many words are meaningless. Therefore stand in awe of God.

Do you realize the impact Christians would make on this world if we lived out the words of Solomon in our lives?

Live our lives the way God intended instead of doing it our way and struggling.

Instead of a person who thinks life is meaningless:

We would look at life without God as being meaningless.

With God as being fulfilled and blessed beyond measure. (The opposite of today)

If we fail to invite God into our lives then we will live a meaningless life and life will be a life of misery.

Some people like the Israelites feel they can come into church and pretend their life away and they think they are fooling God about their heart condition.

Solomon calls them a fool!

God says, tell you the truth, I have heard it all before!

I am looking for people who not only talk the talk, but one willing to walk the walk.

NOTHING NEW UNDER THE SUN

Is there a reason for living for you? Do you have purpose and know what it is?

Only you can answer that question correctly.

Illustration (sermoncentral)

Jack Benny(1960’s) use to do a skit on the radio.

A robber pointed a gun at him and said, “your money or your life” Benny said, after a long pause, “I’m thinking, I’m thinking!”

I will be happy when I become rich

When I win the lottery

When my relative leaves me some money.

If that Is your reason for living, you are in trouble. Because those thing are based upon future, and chance, and someone else, what about now!

Solomon wasn’t against money, but realized it is not a cure to find happiness.

Solomon was not against material things, but materialism isn’t owning things, it is things owning you.

On Wednesday, I made this statement, I stick to it.

I am amazed by people who get up on Sunday morning and have to decide every Sunday whether they are going to church. Why is that?

If you get up and you are not sick, you need to be in church.

If your excuse would not be acceptable to your boss on Monday, don’t give it to God on Sunday

If one person is sick in your family, does the whole family have to stay home. Is that what you would do on Monday?

I’d rather see a sermon than hear one any day.

Meaning we live our sermons, we do what is important to us.

We support what we believe in.

God has a plan for you!

Jeremiah 29:11

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. Plans to proper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me with all your heart.”

God has a plan for each one of us.

It involves 3 things.

1. God has a plan for us.

2. God has a plan in us.