Life “Under the Sun” v. “Life Under the Son” Chaplain James Vilgos
Scripture Reading Ecclesiastes 2:1-11
Life “under the s-u-n” v. life “under the S-o-n”
When I was young a song titled Richard Cory was popular it was based on a poem of the same title, the lyrics state in part:
They say that Richard Cory owns one half of this whole town,
With political connections to spread his wealth around.
Born into society, a banker’s only child,
He had everything a man could want: power, grace, and style.
But I work in his factory
And I curse the life I’m living
And I curse my poverty
And I wish that I could be,
Oh, I wish that I could be,
Oh, I wish that I could be Richard Cory.
(Richard Cory, Simon and Garfunkel)
Solomon is a good example of the person this song describes. He had: Wisdom, wealth, women, power, peace, religion and even God’s favor. Yet he writes “Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun [is] grievous unto me: for all [is] vanity and vexation of spirit.” Ecclesiastes 2:17 (in this content “vanity” means “futile, worthless, fruitless, pointless”)
1. Wisdom I Kings 4:29-30 “And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that [is] on the sea shore. And Solomon’s wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east country, and all the wisdom of Egypt.”
a. But what did he discover regarding wisdom “under the S-u-n”?
i. Ecclesiastes 12:12 “And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books [there is] no end; and much study [is] a weariness of the flesh.”
ii. Ecclesiastes 1:17-18 “And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit. For in much wisdom [is] much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.”
b. What does the Scripture tell is the sign of one who is wise “Under the S-o-n”
i. II Timothy 2:15 “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
ii. James 3:13-15 “Who [is] a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation(way of living) his works with meekness of wisdom. But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but [is] earthly, sensual, devilish.”
c. St. Mark the Ascetic, in “On the Spiritual Law” wrote: I have seen unlearned men who were truly humble, and they became wiser than the wise. Another unlearned man, upon hearing them praised, instead of imitating their humility, prided himself on being unlearned and so fell into arrogance. ("Philokalia (Vol. 1)", p. 115, text 79-80)
2. Wealth - I Kings 10:14-23
Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred threescore and six talents of gold, Beside [that he had] of the merchantmen, and of the traffick of the spice merchants, and of all the kings of Arabia, and of the governors of the country. And king Solomon made two hundred targets [of] beaten gold: six hundred [shekels] of gold went to one target. And [he made] three hundred shields [of] beaten gold; three pound of gold went to one shield: and the king put them in the house of the forest of Lebanon.
Moreover the king made a great throne of ivory, and overlaid it with the best gold. The throne had six steps, and the top of the throne [was] round behind: and [there were] stays on either side on the place of the seat, and two lions stood beside the stays. And twelve lions stood there on the one side and on the other upon the six steps: there was not the like made in any kingdom.
And all king Solomon’s drinking vessels [were of] gold, and all the vessels of the house of the forest of Lebanon [were of] pure gold; none [were of] silver: it was nothing accounted of in the days of Solomon. For the king had at sea a navy of Tharshish with the navy of Hiram: once in three years came the navy of Tharshish, bringing gold, and silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks. So king Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth for riches and for wisdom.
a. What does he say of this wealth under the s-u-n?
i. Ecclesiastes 2:10-11 “And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour. Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all [was] vanity and vexation of spirit, and [there was] no profit under the sun.”
ii. Yet he wrote Ecclesiastes 5:10-11 “He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this [is] also vanity. When goods increase, they are increased that eat them: and what good [is there] to the owners thereof, saving the beholding [of them] with their eyes?”
b. What does Christ say of wealth under the s-u-n?
i. Matthew 13:22 “He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.”
ii. Luke 18:24-25 “….How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.”
c. What does man under the s-u-n say of wealth?
i. 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.
ii. J. D. Rockefeller, one of the richest men in modern times, was once asked how much money was enough. His response was “just a little bit more”
d. John Climacus writes “The man who has tasted the things of heaven easily thinks nothing of what is below, but he who has had no taste of heaven finds pleasure in possessions. ...those with a mind for the religious life will turn away from everything, will despise everything, will ridicule everything, will shake off everything.”
3. Women: The song Richard Cory continues:
The papers print his picture almost everywhere he goes:
Richard Cory at the opera, Richard Cory at a show.
And the rumor of his parties and the orgies on his yacht!
Oh, he surely must be happy with everything he’s got.
a. Solomon would make Richard Cory look like a monk:
i. I Kings 11:3 “And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines:..”
b. Yet what does he say of this life under the s-u-n?:
i. Ecclesiastes 7:26 “And I find more bitter than death the woman, whose heart [is] snares and nets, [and] her hands [as] bands: whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be taken by her.”
ii. It should be noted that many of Solomon’s wives followed false gods and rather the try to convert them, he built temples for these false gods.
iii. St. Thomas Aquinas (1225-74) Wrote Summa Theologica “No man can live without delight, and that is why a man deprived of spiritual joy goes over to carnal Pleasures”.
c. What does Christ say about lust under the s-u-n?
i. Matthew 19:12 “For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from [their] mother’s womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. He that is able to receive [it], let him receive [it]”.
d. Paul elaborates:
i. I Corinthians 7:8-9 “I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I. But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.”
e. An anonymous church write states “With the lusts of passion I have darkened the beauty of my soul, and turned my whole mind entirely into dust.” (Mon. 1st week, Compline, Canticle 2, p. 200)
4. Power – Solomon became king at the age of 18 and reigned for 40 years he expanded the kingdom to limits which it never had before nor since his reign.
a. I Kings 4:21 “And Solomon reigned over all kingdoms from the river unto the land of the Philistines, and unto the border of Egypt: they brought presents, and served Solomon all the days of his life.”
b. But he writes regarding his increase
i. Ecclesiastes 2:21 “For there is a man whose labour [is] in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in equity; yet to a man that hath not laboured therein shall he leave it [for] his portion. This also [is] vanity and a great evil.”
ii. Note: When Solomon died his son Rehoboam quickly made one rash decision and lost almost all the power his father had. I Kings 12:20 “And it came to pass, when all Israel heard that Jeroboam was come again, that they sent and called him unto the congregation, and made him king over all Israel: there was none that followed the house of David, but the tribe of Judah only”
c. Paul tells the Church at Corinth “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.” II Corinthians 4:7
d. Cyril of Alexandria - For every created being whatsoever that is endowed with power, whether of healing, or the like, possesses it not of itself, but as a thing given it by God. For to the creature all things are given, and wrought in it, and of itself it can do nothing (cf. Jn. 15:5; 1 Cor. 4:7).
5. Peace I Kings 5:3 “But now the LORD my God hath given me rest on every side, [so that there is] neither adversary nor evil occurrent.”
a. Ecclesiastes 4:1 “So I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold the tears of [such as were] oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors [there was] power; but they had no comforter”
i. In prison, you may consider the corrections officers are oppressors, and some may appear that way, but statistically they have their problems. They have the highest incidence of suicide, divorce, and alcoholism of any other profession and usually only live slightly more than two years past retirement.
b. Christ tells us “But the Comforter, [which is] the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14:26-27
c. St. Theognostos in On the Practice of the Virtues, Contemplation and the Priesthood “Strive to receive a sure, unequivocal pledge of salvation in your heart, so that at the time of your death you will not be distraught and unexpectedly terrified. You have received such a pledge when your heart no longer reproaches you for your failings and your conscience stops chiding you because of your fits of anger; when through God’s grace your bestial passions have been tamed; when you weep tears of solace and your intellect prays undistracted and with purity; and when you await death, which most people dread and run away from, calmly and with a ready heart. ("Philokalia (Vol. 2)", p. 366)
6. He had religion, after all he built the temple, he wrote Ecclesiastes, Proverbs, Song of Solomon. But he also built temples to pagan gods for his wives.
a. Did he have a relationship with God? Not always therefore he instructs us in Ecclesiastes chapter 5 to:
i. Don’t be too quick to speak to God. Vs 1-3 ”Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil. Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter [any] thing before God: for God [is] in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few. For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool’s voice [is known] by multitude of words.”
ii. Be careful what you promise God. Many of you when you were in county jail promised God a lot if he would get you out of your situation, many did get out a few times before they were finally convicted. Did you ever keep your promise? Vs 4-5 states “When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for [he hath] no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed. Better [is it] that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.
iii. Recognize and take responsibility for your sins. Vs. 6 states “Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it [was] an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands?” in other words don’t minimize your sinful acts as mere mistakes.
iv. Be careful regarding fantasies and dreams. It is ok to think and strive to be a pastor, to want to go the Bible school as many prisoners aspire but remember: Vs 7 “For in the multitude of dreams and many words [there are] also [divers] vanities: but fear thou God.” It is far more important that you give God His due reverence now then to think “when I get out I’ll…”
C. The conclusion of the matter:
Ecclesiastes 12:13 “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this [is] the whole [duty] of man.”
1. What does it mean to fear God? Dictionaries define fear as when it is applied to God it means respect.
a. To fear God means to acknowledge who He is:
i. Psalm 139:14 “I will praise thee; for I am fearfully [and] wonderfully made: marvellous [are] thy works; and [that] my soul knoweth right well.”
b. To fear God means we recognize our nature.
i. Psalm 14:1-5 “The fool hath said in his heart, [There is] no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, [there is] none that doeth good. The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, [and] seek God. They are all gone aside, they are [all] together become filthy: [there is] none that doeth good, no, not one. Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people [as] they eat bread, and call not upon the LORD. There were they in great fear: for God [is] in the generation of the righteous.”
1. Perhaps you are thinking “that refers to natural man those under the sun but I am a believer” Isaiah was a believer yet he wrote:
ii. Isaiah 6:5 “Then said I, Woe [is] me! for I am undone; because I [am] a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.”
1. In the presence of the Lord we recognize ourselves for who we really are. Romans 3:22-23 “Even the righteousness of God [which is] by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”
c. To fear God means to repent
i. Luke 13:3 “I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.”
d. To fear God is the recognize that we are under the S-O-N
i. I Cor. 6:19-20 “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost [which is] in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”
2. What does it mean to keep his commandments?
a. Watch all of our actions Ecclesiastes 12:14 “For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether [it be] good, or whether [it be] evil.”
b. Are your thinking “but the commandments are Old Testament”
i. Granted Acts 15:28-29 states “For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.”
ii. Christ says:
1. Matthew 12:36-37 “But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.”
2. Luke 13:3 “I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.”
iii. The epistles to the New Testament churches also tell us:
1. Not to continue to live in the things of this world - Romans 12:2 "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."
To populate the illustration da2. Flee ourselves from sexual immorality - 1 Corinthians 6:17?20 "But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him. Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body.”
3. Avoid addictive substances -1 Corinthians 6:12 "All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any." (Note: speak of cigarettes, pornography, alcohol, drugs, caffeine …)
4. Things that do not improve ourselves: 1 Corinthians 10:23 "All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful; all things are lawful for me, but all things do not edify."
5. Fleshly lusts like money, sex, power …….… 1 Peter 2:11 "Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul,"
6. The pleasures of this world 1 Timothy 5:6 "But she who lives in pleasure is dead while she lives."
7. All evil 1 Thessalonians 5:22 "Abstain from every form of evil."
c. If you are thinking “I’m saved it don’t matter what I do” Acts 24:24-25a “And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come” Paul did not preach “once your saved, don’t worry” he preached of:
i. Righteousness Romans 6:15-16 “What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?”
ii. Temperance (self control) Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”
iii. Judgment to come II Corinthians 5:10-11 “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things [done] in [his] body, according to that he hath done, whether [it be] good or bad. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.”
3. What if I just keep living my life “under the S-u-n” and not “under the S-o-n”? Returning to the song “Richard Cory” it says:
He freely gave to charity, he had the common touch,
And they were grateful for his patronage and thanked him very much,
So my mind was filled with wonder when the evening headlines read:
"Richard Cory went home last night and put a bullet through his head."
But I work in his factory
And I curse the life I’m living
And I curse my poverty
And I wish that I could be,
Oh, I wish that I could be,
Oh, I wish that I could be
Richard Cory.
We read in the papers far too often of famous people who commit suicide or whose lifestyle is so self-destructive like say Elvis Presley that it is almost suicidal. Famous people that lived like Solomon or Richard Corey who spend small fortunes on psychiatrists or gurus. People who seem to have it all yet are addicted to drugs or alcohol. Yet these are the people that get hero worship. We have baseball cards, football cards, magazines devoted to teen idols and tabloids that pay well for photographs of movie stars and others that we want to imitate. Why do we not have the heroes of the faith as the ones we want to imitate. People like: D.L. Moody, Martin Luther, or the earlier heroes like John Chrysostom. Seek what they had, a reverence for God and a desire to live according to his will. Do that and you will be able to say Phillippians 4:4 “Rejoice in the Lord alway: [and] again I say, Rejoice.”
