Summary: Why am I here? You need a better answer to that question than just a "Why not?" This sermon examines places people have been looking for fulfillment for 3,000 years, to see if it can be found. *HANDOUT INCLUDED*

Answering Life’s Great Questions - Sermon #1

Where Can I Find Fulfillment?

While I don’t own a television myself, I remember being in a doctors office once, and a football game was on. One guy ran the ball and was tackled – the ball came loose on the 5 yard-line. A guy for the Jets scooped it up and ran like crazy, 95 yards for the touchdown. He was going crazy in the end zone, jumping up and down. . . until he discovered none of his teammates were celebrating. The guy who fumbled the ball, the ref had ruled, touched the ground first. Just when he thought he had success, he found out that it didn’t count.

As you look around, you’ll find people that are like that: They’ve finally got their dream, only to find out that it doesn’t count for fulfillment – it doesn’t count for satisfaction.

Someone said it like this: Many people spend their whole life climbing the ladder of success, only to find out it’s leaning against the wrong wall.”

The book I’m reading from today is called Ecclesiastes. Ecclesiastes was written by a man named Solomon about 3,000 years ago.

Ecclesiastes is the story of Solomon’s search to find fulfillment in the world.

I’ve found that every person is trying to answer (whether consciously or unconsciously, the Great Questions of life:

- Who am I?

- Why am I here?

- Where am I going?

I like the story of the college philosophy class. It was the day of the final exam; the professor walks in and says, “For your final, there’s only one question: WHY?” The students immediately started writing as fast as they could, trying to convince the teacher they knew what they were talking about. The only person who received 100% was a young man who wrote on his paper these two words: “WHY NOT?”

That’s funny, but it’s not very satisfying! We need answers about the great questions of life.

Here’s the premise of my message this morning. Instead of calling this book Ecclesiastes, we could call it “Darrell Stetler’s search” or “Kevin’s Search”. . . or you could put your name in there. All of us are writing the story of our search for fulfillment. When your life is over, what will your story say you tried to find fulfillment in? Will the story tell that you found it, or that you wandered your whole life and never found what you were seeking?

Let’s read from Ecclesiastes 1:12-14.

Ec 1:12 ¶ I, the Preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem.

13 And I set my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under heaven; this burdensome task God has given to the sons of man, by which they may be exercised.

14 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and indeed, all is vanity and grasping for the wind.

The key word in this book is the word “vanity”. It means “empty” or “meaningless”.

I want to look for a few minutes at the things that Solomon tried to find fulfillment in.(and people TODAY try to find fulfillment in – apparently they don’t realize that someone else tried it 3,000 years ago.)

I. Fulfillment through education and wisdom.

V. 1:16 “I communed with my heart, saying, "Look, I have attained greatness, and have gained more wisdom than all who were before me in Jerusalem. My heart has understood great wisdom and knowledge."

Solomon became the wisest man who ever lived. He studied and learned, and studied some more. Did it bring him satisfaction? Let’s look:

It made him more sad:

Ecclesiastes 1:18 “For in much wisdom is much grief, And he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.”

It didn’t make him any different in the end:

Ec 2:15 So I said in my heart, "As it happens to the fool, It also happens to me, And why was I then more wise?" Then I said in my heart, "This also is vanity."

16 For there is no more remembrance of the wise than of the fool forever, Since all that now is will be forgotten in the days to come. And how does a wise man die? As the fool!

II.Fulfillment through riches.

Ec 2:8 I also gathered for myself silver and gold and the special treasures of kings and of the provinces. I acquired male and female singers, the delights of the sons of men, and musical instruments of all kinds.

9 So I became great and excelled more than all who were before me in Jerusalem.

Solomon owned (among other things) 1,400 chariots, and 12,000 horses. In today’s world, that means

2:10 He was denied nothing his eye desired.

Did riches fulfill Solomon? Let’s check:

Ecclesiastes 2:11 Then I looked on all the works that my hands had done And on the labor in which I had toiled; And indeed all was vanity and grasping for the wind. There was no profit under the sun.

Barna Research Group - the average American adult believes he needs an additional $8,000 - $11,000 per year to live comfortably. Tracking studies show, however, that even when adults reach or exceed the income levels to which they aspired, they still claim they need another $8,000 - $11,000 to live comfortably.

III. Fulfillment through humor and laughter.

Ecclesiastes 2:1 “I said in my heart, "Come now, I will test you with mirth; therefore enjoy pleasure."

At the height of his career, famous clown Freddy Prince took his own life. He said, “I can’t hear them laughing any more.”

I think I can translate: “Their laughter no longer gives me any meaning.”

Did it fulfill Solomon? Let’s check: Ecclesiastes 2:2 “I said of laughter-"Madness!"; and of mirth, "What does it accomplish?"

IV. Fulfillment through work.

Ec 2:4 I made my works great, I built myself houses, and planted myself vineyards.

5 I made myself gardens and orchards, and I planted all kinds of fruit trees in them.

6 I made myself water pools from which to water the growing trees of the grove.

Anybody ever heard the phrase, “You’ve got to love your job?” It does help to make the days shorter if you love your job. But in the long term, your job (even if you get that promotion) will NEVER satisfy you.

Did work satisfy Solomon? Let’s check:

Ecclesiastes 2:18 “Then I hated all my labor in which I had toiled under the sun, because I must leave it to the man who will come after me.

19 And who knows whether he will be wise or a fool? Yet he will rule over all my labor in which I toiled and in which I have shown myself wise under the sun. This also is vanity.”

WHY IS IT THAT NONE OF THESE THINGS CAN FULFILL?

It’s very simple: Ecclesiastes 3:10 “... He has put eternity in their hearts.”

The reason riches and education, and humor and work don’t fulfill is because God never made you for those things. He made you with something on the inside that recognizes there’s something beyond this life.

If it’s all about this life, let’s party!

If it’s about more than this life, you’ll never be happy.

You and I both know down deep in our hearts, that it’s about more than this life. I believe that’s why you’re here today – you know there’s something more, and you’re here looking for it.

Here’s what I want to do: This week, I’ve just told you what ISN’T the answer. Next week is Mother’s Day, and I’ve got to step away from this series to preach to our Mothers.

But the Sunday after that, I’m going to tell you the answer. How do you find fulfillment for this “eternity” that God has put in your heart?

I hope you’ll come back and bring your mother next week.

I hope you’ll come back and hear God’s answers the following week.

Here’s what I ask you to do: If you’re really serious about seeking for fulfillment, and finding it in God, I want you to:

1. Write your name on the bottom of your handout.

(This won’t save anyone from their sins, I just want to know your name, so I can pray for you as you are seeking.)

2. I want you to pray this week, and tell God each day that you want to find fulfillment and joy.

______________________________

HANDOUT

Searching for Fulfillment

Ecclesiastes is the story of Solomon’s search to find _________________ in the world.

Ecclesiastes 1:12 ¶ I, the Preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem.

13 And I set my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under heaven; this burdensome task God has given to the sons of man, by which they may be exercised.

14 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and indeed, all is vanity and grasping for the wind.

The key word in this book is the word “vanity”. It means “____________” or “_________________”.

Solomon (and people today) search for:

I. Fulfillment through ___________ and ____________.

V. 1:16 “I communed with my heart, saying, "Look, I have attained greatness, and have gained more wisdom than all who were before me in Jerusalem. My heart has understood great wisdom and knowledge."

Did education and wisdom satisfy Solomon?

Ecclesiastes 1:18 “For in much wisdom is much grief, And he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.”

II. Fulfillment through ______________.

Ec 2:8 I also gathered for myself silver and gold and the special treasures of kings and of the provinces. I acquired male and female singers, the delights of the sons of men, and musical instruments of all kinds.

9 So I became great and excelled more than all who were before me in Jerusalem.

Solomon owned (among other things) ________ chariots, and _________ horses.

Did riches fulfill Solomon? Let’s check:

Ecclesiastes 2:11 Then I looked on all the works that my hands had done And on the labor in which I had toiled; And indeed all was vanity and grasping for the wind. There was no profit under the sun.

III. Fulfillment through __________ and ______________.

Ecclesiastes 2:1 “I said in my heart, "Come now, I will test you with mirth; therefore enjoy pleasure."

Did laughter fulfill Solomon? Let’s check:

Ecclesiastes 2:2 “I said of laughter-"Madness!"; and of mirth, "What does it accomplish?"

IV. Fulfillment through _____________.

Ec 2:4-6 I made my works great, I built myself houses, and planted myself vineyards. I made myself gardens and orchards, and I planted all kinds of fruit trees in them. I made myself water pools from which to water the growing trees of the grove.”

Did work satisfy Solomon? Let’s check:

Ecclesiastes 2:18 “Then I hated all my labor in which I had toiled under the sun, because I must leave it to the man who will come after me.

19 And who knows whether he will be wise or a fool? Yet he will rule over all my labor in which I toiled and in which I have shown myself wise under the sun. This also is vanity.”

WHY IS IT THAT NONE OF THESE THINGS CAN FULFILL?

Ecclesiastes 3:10 “God.... has put _______________ in their hearts.”

The reason riches and education, and humor and work don’t fulfill is because __________ ____________ _________ _________ for those things. He made you with something on the inside that recognizes there’s something ____________ __________ __________.