Sermon Preached at Grace Community Church (EPC)
Sun City Grand, Surprise, AZ
Sunday, September 2, 2001
by the Reverend Cooper McWhirter
An Age of Nonsense: “When All Is Said and Done”
Ecclesiastes 12:9-14
For the past four weeks we have explored the futility of man’s wisdom, the folly of accumulating wealth, the mundane pursuit of laboring “under the sun” and, as we approach the autumn of our lives, we discover that everything is beautiful in God’s time.
We now come to the epilogue in which Solomon leaves us with some parting thoughts. They are these: God instructs us to enjoy life to the fullest. Furthermore, we are to make the most of every opportunity that life has to offer. And finally, we are to show reverence and obedience to God all the days of our life.
And the first point is this: GOD INSTRUCTS US TO ENJOY LIFE TO THE FULLEST.
In 2:24 we read, “That there is nothing better for a man than to eat and drink and tell himself that his labor is good for it is from the hand of God.” Likewise, in 3.12 it says, “ ... there is nothing better than to rejoice and to do good in one’s lifetime ... for every man who eats and drinks sees good in all his labor – it is the gift of God.” In 3:22 are these words, “I have seen that nothing is better than that man should be happy in his activities for that is his lot.”
All total there are six references in Ecclesiastes, which speaks of enjoying life to the fullest [2:24; 3:12, 13; 3:22; 5:18, 19; 8:15; 9:7-9]. A person might think this is all rather elementary. You say that I am to enjoy life? Why, of course, I should enjoy life and I do. I do as I please and I please to do as I please. So please, just leave me alone. To this man he is worse than a fool. Could anyone have pursued pleasure, wealth, labor, wisdom, knowledge anymore than Solomon? He sought after these things zealously. He consumed all the pleasures that life has to offer and he still found himself wanting. He felt empty, alone and foolish [2.15]. He surmised that with much wisdom comes a greater portion of madness and folly. When a person becomes excessive and compulsive it overtakes him and consumes him for with increased wisdom there is much grief and with an abundance of knowledge there is great pain [1:18].
Solomon pleads with us not to be fooled by observing the wicked man. For though he may seem carefree, happy and full of laughter, at life’s end he will reap only judgment and destruction [3:17] for as it says,“ … who can eat and who can have enjoyment without God?” [2:25].
On the other hand, there is a common misconception among the unchurched that we Christians are just a bunch of prudes and “goody-too-shoes.” On Saturday Night Live Dana Carvey had a comic routine in which he portrayed the little old church lady. He’d purse his lips, put his hands on his hips, tilt his head slightly, do a quick step shuffle and say, “Isn’t that special!” His mannerisms brought laughter, but the message was real. We Christians have an image problem. The secular world stereotypes churchgoers as being condescending. I hope that’s not how you feel. More importantly, I hope this is not how you act!
As Christians we have no reason to boast. We do, however, have every reason to be humble, thankful, and merciful. For although we are saints, we did not earn our salvation. And although one day we shall wear a royal crown, we must never forget that we were conceived in sin. All of the benefits of this life and the life to come are to be attributed to God.
Think of enjoying life in these terms. Picture yourself being ushered into the theater of life where you are given a front row seat [preferably non-smoking]. The motion picture screen is larger than all outdoors. Your eyes gaze upon the panorama of all of creation. And with your senses you taste the fruits of God’s labor and He shares His handiwork with you: the sky, the sun, the moon and the stars. All the majestic beauty of heaven and earth are yours to enjoy. You see, God wants you to be His viewing audience. He even offers you refreshments at the concession stands along life’s highway. And what is the cost of admission? It is absolutely free!
Do you remember when you were a child at play? You couldn’t wait to be excused from the dinner table so you could run outside and play in the snow, jump rope, or play ball. When did we lose that youthful exuberance? When did we become so sophisticated that we could no longer appreciate the simpler things in life? When, in our adulthood, did we suppress the child within us? God desires nothing less than for His children to laugh, and to play and to enjoy all that life has to offer. And it grieves Him when He sees His children not living life to the fullest.
Solomon reminds us that every day we draw breath is a gift from God. For like a gift, God expects us to unwrap it just as excitedly as a child tears open a Christmas present. Look with anticipation as this day unfolds and then live it to the hilt!
And this thought carries forward to the second point, which is [that]: GOD WANTS US TO MAKE THE MOST OF EVERY OPPORTUNITY IN LIFE.
Years ago there was a beer ad on TV that showed a bunch of men sitting around a campfire drinking cans of beer. And the caption read, “You only go around once in life ... so go for all the gusto you can!” The ad implies that if you take the great outdoors, add fun, fellowship and something cold to drink, then you’ve reached about the highest threshold of enjoyment in this life. And though we may argue that there is much more to life than a bunch of guys playing in the woods, there is some truth to the caption itself.
The truth is we do only go around once in life. And the Preacher reminds us that our days are fleeting and so we must take full advantage of every opportunity. In chapter 9.10 we read, “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might.” This tells me that we should follow the old adage, “pursue excellence in everything that you do. And when you do, do it right the first time.”
The words of the Preacher are not just a collection of pleasing words to our ears. These are words of instruction, which are grounded in the truths of God. Solomon tells us in verse 10 that he sought delightful words that would be pleasing to our ears. But just as importantly, we are told in verse 11 that these are wise words; words, which are intended to encourage, to uplift, to spurn us on towards achieving worthwhile goals.
Solomon uses the illustration of well-driven nails, which symbolize a person’s straight forwardness in character and conduct. Like well-driven nails, we are to be true to our word just as God is true to His word. And for those of us who do abide by the truths contained in this book, we are wiser still for these truths did not originate from human wisdom. Rather, these truths are God-given. Solomon uses the expression “one Shepherd” as a specific reference to the Lord, who is the faithful Shepherd of His sheep. Our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ, is the faithful Shepherd for as we read in John 10.27,“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them and they follow Me.”
Sheep are, by nature, dumb. By this I mean they are prone to leave the relative safety of staying with the flock. They have a tendency to stray, which makes them more vulnerable to wolves and other predators. We, too, are like sheep. We get entangled in the thickets and the thorn bushes of life. “For we like sheep have gone astray and each has turned to his own way ...” We get caught up in the ways of the world. Solomon warns us not to think too highly of literature or for that matter anything else written by man. Man’s wisdom is shallow. It lacks perception especially when we fail to apprehend divine guidance.
When all is said and done, WE ARE TO SHOW REVERENCE AND OBEDIENCE TO GOD.
After years of endless pursuit of everything “under the sun,” Solomon succumbs to this unequivocal truth ... God reigns! Solomon tells us to stop listening to the voices of ignorance. Shut out the noises of meaningless shatter. Instead, attune your heart and mind to the still, quieted voice that says, “be still and know that I am God.” “Shut up and listen,” the Preacher exclaims. Everything is good so long as it is “under the SON.”
It’s as though Solomon is saying, “Look, forget about what I’ve tried to accomplish. Forget for a moment what you would like to do with your life. Start with a reality check by asking yourself, “Just who am I without God?” “What would I be without God?” Now, either God is merciful, gracious and loving or He is a horrible figment of our imagination. Which is it? Do we attribute the creation of all living things to the one, living and true God, or do we suppose that there is some other deity? Or, is creation, including my own existence, merely a chance happening?
Whatever you may think; no matter what your belief system may be, Solomon warns us that we will all be held accountable for our actions. We all will come under God’s judgment. No one from the youngest child to the oldest adult will be withheld from either God’s wrath or His mercy. Nothing will be kept hidden; that which was kept in the dark will be exposed to the light. So, read all the secular books you want. In the final analysis the writings of man won’t add an ounce of wisdom, knowledge or truth. In fact, Solomon becomes convinced that worldly wisdom only confuses us.
For whatever reason, God has decided that man should not understand or comprehend all of the complexities of life. When all is said and done, many things remain a mystery. Solomon eventually learned to accept the seeming paradoxes of the world around us. He was able to do this, because he acquired a proper attitude both toward life and his God.
You have, I have, an opportunity this morning to come clean with our Creator. Own up to it. Confess it. Believe it. Inhale it. Consume it. When all is said and done, just give me Jesus!
Let us pray…
