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Search for A Satisfied Life Ecclesiastes (Survey)

Text: 6:10-12

Introduction:

  1. Song of Glen Campbell, 'Gentle on My Mind.'
    1. Tells story of a man who longs to be free. He wants a life that is uncluttered with irritating things like binding contracts and lifelong commitments. He's satisfied to stop of f f or a night or two, but he doesn't want anyone to hassle him with talk of a permanent relationship. 'He's gotta be free." It's enough for him just knowing that the door is always open" and the path is free to walk." That's sufficient.
    2. Over and over again he mentions 'the back roads of my memory' that keep things 'gentle on my mind.'
    3. Nothing can tie him down, not a wife, not his children, not anything that wouldn't be gentle. He's on a search for another path, another pleasure, another back road that will somehow satisfy. You get the distinct impression that he will never find what he's looking f or.
  2. Solomon's book of Ecclesiastes talks about similar things.
    1. Solomon, perhaps the richest man who ever lived, went through a maddening period in his life when everything lost its luster, when the very roots of his life were loosened.
    2. Solomon kept a diary of that dark period during which he sneered into the face of God. He pulled no punches. With clenched fists and cynical words, Solomon called into question the most basic issues of existence.
    3. That diary has been preserved for all to read. It is the story of all who attempt to lead their lives apart from God.
  1. SOME INFORMATION ABOUT THE SEARCH.
    1. Who is writing?
      1. The Preacher (teacher), or leader of the assembly.
      2. The title is the Greek is the word closest to the meaning of "Leader of the assembly."
      3. This is the only one of the three books written by Solomon not bearing his signature.
      4. He is the only son of David who ever became king in Jerusalem.
    2. What's the motto of the search?
      1. It is in verse 2 "Meaningless!, meaningless!, says the Teacher. Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.'
      2. This description refers to the sum total of life as Solomon viewed it from a human perspective.
      3. It was this conclusion that drove him, as it does us, to find answers and reasons f or life.
      4. Whatever we think of Solomon, we must realize that he was like most of us.
    3. Why was the life he saw meaningless?
      1. Because he perceived it as an empty treadmill.
      2. From an, under-the-sun perspective, it looks that way.
      3. He saw life at that point as futile and empty, without purpose

        (Eccl 1:4-7 NIV) Generations come and generations go, but the earth remains forever. {5} The sun rises and the sun sets, and hurries back to where it rises. {6} The wind blows to the south and turns to the north; round and round it goes, ever returning on its course. {7} All streams flow into the sea, yet the sea is never full. To the place the streams come from, there they return again.

      4. In verse 8 he summarizes by saying,

        (Eccl 1:8 NIV) All things are wearisome, more than one can say. The eye never has enough of seeing, nor the ear its fill of hearing.

      5. As any of us look at life strictly under-the-sun, it's a boring place (1:8-9).
      6. Solomon is saying that if we tried all he tried, with all his resources he would end up saying 'There's nothing new.' just boring repetition.
  2. A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE BOOK.
    1. Introducing the search (1: 1-11)
      1. These verses depict the futility of life's various cycles.
      2. The monarch mentions much of what he encountered during his "mid life crisis."
      3. With painful honesty he recorded how monotonous this became. He said, 'No one remembers what happened in the past, and no one in days to come will remember what happens between now and then'

        (Eccl 1:11 NIV) There is no remembrance of men of old, and even those who are yet to come will not be remembered by those who follow.

    2. Perspective on pleasure (1:12-6:9).
      1. In this section we see hedonism in its purest form.
      2. Note the following exerpts:

        'I devoted myself to study and to explore by wisdom all that is done under the heaven. (v. 13a). I

        I thought in my heart, 'Come now, I will test you with pleasure to find out what is good" N. 2:1a).

        I tried cheering myself with wine, and embracing folly (2:3).

        l built houses planted vineyards (2:4).

        I bought slaves owned flocks and herds (2:7.8).

        I become great ... 2:9).

        I denied myself nothing my eyes desired (2:10)

      3. From all this Solomon concluded that:
        1. pleasure promises more that it can produce.
        2. pleasure's satisfaction is only an act.
        3. pleasure's result is boredom and frustration.
        4. Read: 2:11, 1718
      4. Talk about the straight life. "Wife: washing dishes 3 hours a day, cleaning sinks, waxing floors, scouring toilets, raising children, driving your car to school 21 times a week, grocery shopping and baking cookies, becoming the parent of an ungrateful teenager. Husband: work 5 days a week 50 weeks a year, taking a vacation that pleases the kids not you, spending your money wisely when you'd rather indulge, going bike riding, mowing lawns, etc. Straight man gives it up: off to Porsche showroom, a new wardrobe shirt open down to hi s belly button, a big gold chain or medal on around his neck...
    3. Being young and growing old (11:7 12:8).
    4. Solomon faces the fact that he is aging.
    5. Enough of the despairing scene; now a straight forward look at life.
      1. Life is to be invested (11:16),
      2. Life is to be enjoyed (11:78).
      3. Life is short (11:910).
    6. At this point he was readying himself to drive home the single, most significant discovery he had learned.
    7. As Solomon looked back over hi s life of sin, he weighed the result against the dreams and fantasies of his youth. He measured and evaluated hi s life and came up with two conclusions.
      1. fear God.
      2. Keep His commandments.
  3. HOW DOES THIS BOOK RELATE TO MODERN MAN?
    1. The lure of something better is always with us.
    2. There will always be prettier faces, larger homes, and nicer clothes.
    3. The temptation to move 'on to greener pastures will always be before us.
    4. The temptation to 'go for it" is always stronger than the realization of its consequences.
    5. Little thought is ever given to the end result.
    6. The emphasis is always on immediate satisfaction.
    7. If you 'go for it' without God, it won't satisfy.
    8. Life without God is empty and futile.
    9. Apart from Him there is no lasting satisfaction.

      CONCLUSION:

      Live Ye for God!