Is This Really Life?
Ecclesiastes 11:7-10
November 7, 2021
Many times during our Disciple Now weekends
We like to give the kids IMPROMPTU CHALLENGES.
We like to give them a random title
And they have to either perform a dance that fits the title or a skit that fits the title.
• Two years ago was Kori Swaringen’s famous dance entitled “Mood Swinging
Cheerleader”
• Last year the favorite skit was “Bingo Night at the Nursing Home”
• We’ve had titles like “Field Trip Gone Wrong”
• Or “An Email Sent To The Wrong Address”
• Or “Bringing Home Something Hideous”
We have learned that if you give random titles, especially those that are somewhat contradictory then the result can be quite humorous.
Studying this text this week made it feel to me
Like someone gave the preacher such a challenge.
It sounds to me like someone challenged him to be
“A Pessimistic Motivational Speaker”
That’s exactly what you get when you read these 4 verses.
• No sooner will he drop a positive and uplifting word of encouragement on you
• Than does he instantly pull the rug right out from under you.
In fact, I told Carrie that if you could just delete the last half of verses 8, 9, and 10
Then you’d have all the makings for a perfect Joel Olsteen sermon.
I’ll go ahead and give you all the points at the start and you’ll see what I’m talking about.
1) REJOICE IN EVERY MOMENT
(7-8a) “The light is pleasant, and it is good for the eyes to see the sun. Indeed, if a man should live many years, let him rejoice in them all”
And you can hear the motivational speaker telling you to
Enjoy that sip of coffee, look for the good, and embrace the positive in life
You’ve heard it, I’ve heard it.
Learn to see the good in everything
Embrace your blessings and look for more
It’s textbook motivational talk.
2) REALIZE YOUR DREAMS
(9a) “Rejoice, young man, during your childhood, and let your heart be pleasant during the days of young manhood. And follow the impulses of your heart and the desires of your eyes.”
There it is again.
• Rejoice in the moment and realize your dreams!
• Speak positive truth into your future and positive results will come.
I heard one this week, “Whenever you say ‘I am’, whatever you follow it with you are inviting into your life.”
• If you say, “I am rich” you are inviting money.
• If you say, “I am smart” you are inviting knowledge.
• If you say, “I am fat” you are inviting calories
You get it.
• Just go out and seize your dreams, realize you dreams.
• Claim that promotion
• Declare your success
• Move forward and expect the waters to part for you
That’s sure what it sounds like.
3) REMOVE YOUR OBSTACLES
(10a) “So remove grieve and anger from your heart and put away pain from your body”
Anything that grieves you or angers you or causes you pain, CUT IT OUT.
You don’t need negative people circumstances in your life.
• Trim your circle…
• Turn off the negative…
• You need to be surrounded by eagles not Eeyore’s…
I’m telling you if you can cut off the end of those last 3 verses
You’ve got solid gold in the arena of motivational speaking.
You could repackage and restate this stuff in just about every arena.
Want to talk to a group of students?
• Rejoice in every moment…
• Realize your dreams…
• Remove your obstacles…
Want to encourage an athletic team?
• Rejoice in every moment…
• Realize your dreams…
• Remove your obstacles…
OUR WORLD LOVES IT!
It’s the kind of stuff I see circulating on Facebook all the time.
It’s secular wisdom all about making your life
Better, Happier, and More Successful.
SO WHY IS THE PREACHER SAYING IT?
Is that what he thinks? – NOT AT ALL!
THE PREACHER IS NEARING THE END OF HIS SERMON.
HE IS NOW BRINGING THE POINT HE WANTS YOU TO DWELL ON.
And that MAIN POINT comes in to focus at THE END of each verse.
Because just when the audience gets all excited
At him regurgitating the shallow wisdom of the day
The preacher reaches forward and yanks the rug right out.
Rejoice in every moment!
(But it’s futile because death is coming)
Realize your dreams!
(But know God is following what you do and will judge you for it)
Remove your obstacles!
(But you better do it fast because life is fleeting)
And I’ll tell you again:
HE’S PREPARING YOU FOR THE GOSPEL
He is punching hole after hole in the common wisdom of the day
So that he can drive you to the truth.
It’s like he’s sitting right beside you in one of those motivational speeches and he’s pointing out how shallow all the advice really is.
AND HIS SOLE OBJECTIVE IS
To prepare you to be truly amazed when you see Jesus.
And by the time we’re done
I’ll show you how Jesus catapulted right off of this sermon into His invitation to humanity.
So let’s work our way through those 3 points I gave you
And examine the problem with those shallow yet common pieces of advice.
#1 REJOICE IN EVERY MOMENT (A Futile Plan)
Ecclesiastes 11:7-8
There we read that first part again.
“The light is pleasant, and it is good for the eyes to see the sun. Indeed, if a man should live many years, let him rejoice in them all”
Now, in order to be fair let me remind you again that
This is NOT TOTALLY BAD advice.
“The light” here is a reference to life.
• Did you wake up this morning? That’s a good thing, rejoice.
• Did you see the sun? That’s a good thing, rejoice.
• Have you lived a long life? That’s a good thing, rejoice.
There is nothing intrinsically anything wrong with that advice.
Have you ever encountered that guy who didn’t rejoice in those things?
(He’s no fun)
You say, “Good morning” and he says, “What’s good about it?”
Nobody likes that guy.
There IS a certain wisdom in the encouragement
To rejoice in the simple realities of life.
The preacher has even told us that previously in the sermon.
Ecclesiastes 3:12-13 “I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and to do good in one’s lifetime; moreover, that every man who eats and drinks sees good in all his labor—it is the gift of God.”
Ecclesiastes 5:18 “Here is what I have seen to be good and fitting: to eat, to drink and enjoy oneself in all one’s labor in which he toils under the sun during the few years of his life which God has given him; for this is his reward.”
The preacher has never suggested that you should hate this life.
He has been more than happy to point out to you
That you ought to enjoy the simple little pleasures.
That is some of the relief that God gives to this cursed world.
• So clearly “The light” (being alive) is a good thing.
• Clearly “it is good for the eyes to see the sun.”
• Clearly “if a man should live many years, let him rejoice in them all”
Yes, that is fine advice.
BUT HERE IS THE PROBLEM
If that is all there is in your life, you are going to be disappointed.
WHY?
Because the preacher also gives a DOSE OF REALITY.
“and let him remember the days of darkness, for they will be many.”
“The light” is a reference to life.
“the days of darkness” is a reference to death.
Enjoy life while you have it because death is coming
And you’re going to be dead a long time.
JUST DO THE MATH.
How long did Adam live? (Genesis 5 says 930 years) But how long has he been dead?
How long did Moses live? (Deuteronomy 24 says 120 years) But how long has he been dead?
You get the point.
And that is why the preacher pulls the rug out and says:
“Everything that is to come will be futility.”
• Yes, enjoy life, but it won’t last.
• Yes, enjoy good things, but they won’t last.
God promised it back in the garden didn’t He?
Genesis 3:19 “By the sweat of your face You will eat bread, Till you return to the ground, Because from it you were taken; For you are dust, And to dust you shall return.”
Hebrews 9:27a “And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once…”
Ecclesiastes 9:2-3 “It is the same for all. There is one fate for the righteous and for the wicked; for the good, for the clean and for the unclean; for the man who offers a sacrifice and for the one who does not sacrifice. As the good man is, so is the sinner; as the swearer is, so is the one who is afraid to swear. This is an evil in all that is done under the sun, that there is one fate for all men. Furthermore, the hearts of the sons of men are full of evil and insanity is in their hearts throughout their lives. Afterwards they go to the dead.”
YOU GET THE POINT.
IT’S NOT THAT there aren’t good things to enjoy in this life or that having life at all is not a reason to rejoice.
IT’S JUST THAT it doesn’t last long.
And so seeking to satisfy your soul with this life is a futile effort.
That is what is so shallow about all the motivational preachers out there
Who keep telling you to love this life.
I certainly don’t think you ought to be some sort of negative grump,
But expecting all your satisfaction out of this life is a futile venture.
“Everything that is to come will be futility.”
• It’s all going to end.
• Everything you own will end up in a land fill.
• And some day your body will return to the dust.
So rejoicing in every moment is a futile plan.
Rejoice in every moment
#2 REALIZE YOUR DREAMS (A Foolish Pursuit)
Ecclesiastes 11:9
Here comes the second piece of advice we commonly hear today.
(9a) “Rejoice, young man, during your childhood, and let your heart be pleasant during the days of young manhood. And follow the impulses of your heart and the desires of your eyes.”
Now again, to be fair, that’s NOT TOTALLY BAD advice.
In fact, just as before, we’ve heard this already in some cases from the preacher.
Ecclesiastes 8:15 “So I commended pleasure, for there is nothing good for a man under the sun except to eat and to drink and to be merry, and this will stand by him in his toils throughout the days of his life which God has given him under the sun.”
Ecclesiastes 9:7-9 “Go then, eat your bread in happiness and drink your wine with a cheerful heart; for God has already approved your works. Let your clothes be white all the time, and let not oil be lacking on your head. Enjoy life with the woman whom you love all the days of your fleeting life which He has given to you under the sun; for this is your reward in life and in your toil in which you have labored under the sun.”
Again, there is something to be said for pursuing
And realizing the things that bring you enjoyment.
This life is hard. This world is cursed.
And if you can eat your bread and drink your wine and enjoy your spouse
Certainly that takes some of the sting out of the suffering of this life.
BUT THE PROBLEM IS THE SAME.
• If you make it your sole ambition just to find rejoicing and pleasantness
• And if you “follow the impulses of your heart” and “the desires of your eyes”
• You may very well end up in sin.
1 John 2:15-16 “Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.”
Jeremiah is very clear:
Jeremiah 17:9 “The heart is more deceitful than all else And is desperately sick; Who can understand it?”
Clearly if you follow your heart or your eyes
You are very likely to end up where you should not be.
SO IS THE PREACHER GIVING US BAD ADVICE?
No, rather he’s exposing bad advice.
For look at what he says next.
“Yet know that God will bring you to judgment for all these things.”
Herein lies the danger with pursuing all that you want.
YOU AREN’T THE FINAL SAY IN YOUR LIFE.
Just because your heart thinks it is good
Does not mean God thinks it is good.
And one day you will answer to Him for all that you do.
If we might finish the verse we quoted a moment ago:
Hebrews 9:27 “And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment,”
We could go on:
2 Corinthians 5:10 “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.”
Revelation 20:12 “And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds.”
Even the end of this book states:
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 “The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.”
I know in our culture we celebrate people
Who work hard and who overcome the odds
And who never give up and who realize their dreams.
Hollywood makes movies about people who won’t give up and who achieve their goals.
And so it is has ALMOST BECOME UNIVERSAL ADVICE
That it’s always good to pursue your dreams
and to accomplish them at all cost.
But Hollywood doesn’t give you the whole story.
Some people accomplish their dreams
Through great CORRUPTION and even SINFULNESS.
• The Bible warns us about how people who want to get rich fall into deadly traps.
• Our world is filled with ATHLETES who have been scandalized because they used performance enhancing drugs to achieve their dreams.
• We all know the stories of POLITICIANS who finally ascended to power but they did so through corrupt means.
There’s nothing wrong with dreams or pursuing those dreams
But if you think obtaining your dream is the end all to happiness
Be very careful.
Remember God will judge everything about this life.
Realizing your dreams can be a foolish pursuit.
There is a third point.
#3 REMOVE YOUR OBSTACLES (A Fleeting Purpose)
Ecclesiastes 11:10
“So remove grief and anger from your heart and put away pain from your body,”
This is NOT SAYING – “Don’t grieve or Don’t get angry.”
Any more than if the preacher looked at a man with a broken leg and said, “Don’t hurt”
What he IS SAYING is
“Remove the things that cause you grief or anger or pain.”
And that is also a common mindset in our world.
And again, it’s NOT totally wrong.
After all, who pursues what they know will hurt?
It’s probably the most common prayer that is prayed every day.
“Lord, bless us, watch over us, protect us, comfort us, heal us, give us a good day, etc.”
The overwhelming majority of prayer requests on a daily basis
Deal with these very issues.
I certainly can’t rebuke anyone for desiring those things.
But the point again of the preacher is that
If this is your understanding of how to live your best life
Then we have a problem.
WHY?
“because childhood and the prime of life are fleeting.”
• You can seek to remove everything that grieves you…
• You can seek to remove everything that angers you…
• You can seek to remove everything that causes pain…
BUT IT WON’T WORK
• Sooner or later something is going to grieve you.
• Sooner or later something is going to anger you.
• Sooner or later something is going to hurt.
Life if full of grief and frustration and pain.
There is no satisfaction there.
So again what you have here is
Not necessarily bad advice but rather it is UNREALISTIC advice.
It is shallow advice.
• You won’t be young forever.
• You won’t be in your prime forever.
• Your youth will pass away and because life is “fleeting”
James 4:14 “Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.”
SO DO YOU HEAR THE PREACHER?
He regurgitates for you the common wisdom that
The world loves to spew at you as to how to live the good life.
The world says if you want the good life:
REJOICE IN EVERY MOMENT
The preacher says that is fine, but it will be short-lived.
The world says if you want the good life:
REALIZE YOUR DREAMS
The preacher says that is fine, but remember you’ll be judged for it.
The world says if you want the good life:
REMOVE YOUR OBSTACLES
The preacher says that is fine, but you better do it fast because life is a vapor.
THE POINT?
THIS IS NOT THE GOOD LIFE.
FURTHERMORE, You don’t get to keep this life.
• It is on loan.
• You are only here a short time.
• It will soon pass away.
• And you will be judged for how you lived it.
Trying to squeeze satisfaction out of this life is a futile endeavor.
And so what you have here is the preacher
Simply blowing holes in all the common messages of the world.
And his goal,
as we have said from the beginning,
IS TO PREPARE YOU FOR CHRIST.
NOW LET ME SHOW YOU FIRST
How Christ is the real answer you’ve been looking for.
It is interesting that in verse 7 when the preacher wanted to talk about life
HE DIDN’T CALL IT LIFE.
What did he call it? “light”
John 1:4 “In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.”
John 1:9 “There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man.”
John 8:12 “Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”
2 Timothy 1:10 “…Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,”
When the preacher explains to you that
There is nothing in this life which can completely satisfy you
He is preparing you for the True Light.
Jesus comes to give life that the world knows nothing of.
THE PREACHER SAID: the problem with this life is that it ends in death.
But what does Jesus say?
John 11:25-26 “Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?”
JESUS OFFERS TRUE LIFE.
THAT MEANS the advice to “Rejoice in every Moment” is a bit misleading.
If you want something to rejoice in,
Rejoice in the fact that Jesus gives true life that death cannot destroy.
NEXT the preacher talked about pursuing that which is pleasant and following the impulses of your heart and the desires of your eyes.
THE PROBLEM WAS that pursuing those things
Has a very real possibility of ending you up in JUDGMENT.
But what if you pursue satisfaction in Jesus?
John 5:24 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.”
The life Jesus brings is a true life that DOES NOT END IN JUDGMENT.
If you follow the impulses of your heart
You may one day greatly regret it,
But no one will ever regret following Jesus.
There is no regret in Jesus.
John 10:10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”
If you want something to pursue or realize,
Pursue Christ where there is no condemnation.
Finally the preacher talked about REMOVING those things from your life which cause you grief or anger or pain.
THE PROBLEM WAS that even if you achieve it,
It will be short-lived because this life is fleeting.
But in Jesus life is anything but fleeting.
John 6:40 “For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.”
John 6:47 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life.”
John 10:28 “and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.”
So what you learn initially is that
WHAT THE WORLD IS PURSUING IS IN FACT A NOBLE PURSUIT,
It’s just that they are pursuing it in a place they will never find it.
• This life is futile
• This life is followed (judgment)
• This life is fleeting
Only in Christ do you get life which is FULFILLING
Only in Christ do you get life which is FREE
Only in Christ do you get life which is FOREVER
And once you realize that the motivational speeches of this world are selling you snake oil the sooner you’ll be ready to run to Christ.
Now that is the INITIAL APPLICATION.
But you still need to see ONE MORE THING.
YOU’VE ACTUALLY HEARD THIS SERMON BEFORE.
You heard Jesus preach this very thing.
TURN TO: MATTHEW 16:24-27
“Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. “For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? “For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and WILL THEN REPAY EVERY MAN ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS.”
The world tells you to love this life and rejoice in it and find satisfaction here.
The preacher said that is futility because this life ends in death.
What did Jesus say?
“For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.”
Jesus said this life won’t satisfy so give it up
And take hold of that which really is life.
The world tells you to pursue your dreams and follow your heart.
The preacher said that is foolish because God will judge you.
What did Jesus say?
Don’t follow your heart, “follow Me”
And He asked:
“For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and WILL THEN REPAY EVERY MAN ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS.”
If you pursue the desires of your eyes you’ll end up in judgment.
If you follow Me you step out of judgment into life.
The world tells you to remove anything that discomforts you.
The world tells you to reject grief and frustration and pain.
The preacher said that is fleeting.
What did Jesus say?
“If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross…”
Jesus DIDN’T tell you to spend your life
Seeking to avoid grief or frustration or pain.
• Jesus actually taught us that mourners are blessed.
• Jesus taught us that those who are persecuted are blessed.
Because these receive a kingdom that can never be shaken.
IF YOU FOLLOW THE ADVICE OF THIS WORLD
They will have you seeking a Life you can’t keep,
Pleasure that will bring judgment,
And Comfort that won’t last.
If you listen to the preacher you’ll seek Jesus.
• And if instead of gratifying yourself you will deny yourself.
• And if instead of seeking this world you will forsake this world.
• And if instead of keeping this life you will lose this life.
And in Jesus you will find true life
And in Jesus you will find no condemnation.
And in Jesus you will find eternal life.
That is the whole point to this book of Ecclesiastes.
This world is a sinking ship and it does not supply what it promises.
QUIT SEEKING IT!
Those MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKERS are selling you SNAKE OIL.
It’s not that everything they offer is bad
It’s just that they don’t offer anything that lasts.
That has been the consistent message of the preacher.
He has exposed the empty promises the world is offering.
He is preparing you for the day Jesus walks by and says follow Me.
Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. “For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
And so again this is what I declare to you.
YOUNG MAN,
• You may feel invincible, YOU AREN’T.
• You may have a ton of dreams to pursue, BUT YOU’LL BE JUDGED.
• You may just want what feels good, IT WON’T LAST.
Take it from the old preacher.
Jesus is the One you seek.
