I Am Not The Greatest

I AM NOT THE GREATEST (ECCLESIASTES 2)

Ecclesiastes begins with a resounding five-fold repetition of the word “vanity” in one verse, a literary abnormality even in repetition-heavy Jewish literature:

Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity (Eccl 1:2). Instead of profit (1:3), permanence (1:9) and progress, there is pain, pessimism and powerlessness, as I experienced when my wife passed away on May 22, 2016, two weeks before this message.

In chapter one we looked at how he constructed his argument by presenting man, the person, study him biologically, historically and philosophically, and contrasted him with mother nature, father time, and philosopher kings (Plato). From man the person we study man and his potential. What are his advantages, advances and adversities? What makes him great, gifted and good? We ask three questions: Who are you – your being? What have you done? Your behaving? What is your future? – your becoming

You Need a Humble Attitude, not a Haughty Spirit (Your Greatness)

1 I said to myself, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure to find out what is good.” But that also proved to be meaningless. 2 “Laughter,” I said, “is madness. And what does pleasure accomplish?” 3 I tried cheering myself with wine, and embracing folly—my mind still guiding me with wisdom. I wanted to see what was good for people to do under the heavens during the few days of their lives. 4 I undertook great projects: I built houses for myself and planted vineyards. 5 I made gardens and parks and planted all kinds of fruit trees in them. 6 I made reservoirs to water groves of flourishing trees. 7 I bought male and female slaves and had other slaves who were born in my house. I also owned more herds and flocks than anyone in Jerusalem before me. 8 I amassed silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and provinces. I acquired male and female singers, and a harem as well—the delights of a man’s heart. 9 I became greater by far than anyone in Jerusalem before me. In all this my wisdom stayed with me. 10 I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my labor, and this was the reward for all my toil.

A King was going to his palace after his rounds in the city when he met a beggar. He asked the beggar, “What would you like?” The beggar laughed and said, “You are asking me as though you can fulfill my desire!”

The king was offended. He said, “Of course I can fulfil your desire. What is it? Just tell me.” And the beggar said, “Think twice before you promise anything.”

“I will fulfill anything you ask. I am a powerful king, what can you possibly desire that I can not give to you?” The beggar said, “It is a very simple desire. You see this begging bowl? Can you fill it with something?”

The king said, “Of course!” He called his vizier and told him, “Fill this man's begging bowl with money.” The vizier went and got some money and poured it into the bowl, and it disappeared. And he poured more and more, and the moment he would pour it, it would disappear. And the begging bowl remained always empty.

The whole palace gathered. By and by the rumour went throughout the city, and a huge crowd gathered. The prestige of the king was at stake. He said to his vizier, “If the whole kingdom is lost, I am ready to lose it, but I cannot be defeated by this beggar.”

Diamonds and pearls and emeralds, his treasuries were becoming empty. The begging bowl seemed to be bottomless. Everything that was put into it immediately disappeared, went out of existence. Finally it was the evening, and the people were standing there in utter silence. The king dropped at the feet of the beggar and admitted his defeat. He said, “Just tell me one thing. You are victorious – but before you leave, just fulfil my curiosity. What is the begging bowl made of?”

The beggar laughed and said, “There is no secret. It is simply made of human desire.”

Life has a way of keeping us humble, honest, and helpless.

You Need a Heavenly Holy Father, not a Human Figure

healthy

Being

Doing

Having and Giving

To be is to last

To do is to provide deliver rest breathe ample suffice

To have is to give

There are three distinctives to the first section. Verses 1-9 begin with “I” in Hebrew except for verse 2 which is a continuation of verse 1.

Chapter 2 is a contrast between being, bearing doing and giving. In this one paragraph, Solomon used the words `I,' `my,' `me,' and `mine' 67 times! According to KJV, I – 36x, me – 14x, my – 13x, mine -4x. The next highest “I” is 11 times in chapter 7. The next highest “me” is once in chapters 1, 7 and 9. The next highest “me” is three times. How many times for we and us? None.