Looking at life with discernment

Text Ecclesiastes 6:1-7:15 Time 26/06/05 Place Childs Hill Baptist Church

We are looking at Ecclesiastes and I have suggested to you that the book can be divided into four parts. We have already looked at the first two parts and we begin this week to the third section, which is found in Ecclesiastes 6:1-8:15. This is the central part of the whole book and builds on what we has already been established in the opening two sections.

So let me remind you of these two things.

1. Realise that true contentment is found in God alone (2:24-26)

1A. True contentment is not found in man. Man has no good in him that he should eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work.

2. True contentment is found in God alone.

He goes on This too, I see, is from the hand of God, for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment? 3. So look to God for wisdom, knowledge and happiness

Verse 26 To the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness

4. And take warning if you go on in your sins

The final phrase is by way of warning, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God

2. Remember how to live your life (5:18-20)

Then I realised that it is good and proper for a man to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in his toilsome labour under the sun during the few days of life God has given him - for this is his lot. Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work - this is a gift of God. He seldom reflects on the days of his life, because God keeps him occupied with gladness of heart.

There are three points here, points similar to those already made in the first section.

1. God wants us to live in a way that is good and proper. It is way that is satisfying.

2. Indeed it is God’s gift to know how to enjoy life and to be content.

3. Such a man is so taken up with God that he has no time to worry about death or such things.

You will find the conclusion of the third section in 8:15. So I commend the enjoyment of life, that is if you fear God, because nothing is better for a man under the sun than to eat and drink and be glad. Then joy will accompany him in his work all the days of the life God has given him under the sun. Satisfaction is guaranteed.

First, today, we will look at 6:1-7:15. Here we see that despite the apparent inequalities in life a closer inspection of what actually happens shows things to be a little more complicated. There are really two things to be observed.

1. Recognise that prosperity is not always a good thing

You know the sayings ‘Not all that glisters if gold’ ‘Don’t judge a book by its cover’. There is a tendency to forget such wisdom at times and so people assume, for example, that provided they have lots of money in the bank or they are famous or healthy or clever then everything else will automatically fall into place. Not so. And so he makes some four points here.

1. Wealth and honour do not guarantee enjoyment

Verses 1 and 2 I have seen another evil under the sun, and it weighs heavily on men: God gives a man wealth, possessions and honour, so that he lacks nothing his heart desires, but God does not enable him to enjoy them, and a stranger enjoys them instead. This is meaningless, a grievous evil.

We could put it this way ‘You may have your cake but not eat it’. For various reasons a man may grow very rich and be highly honoured yet not reap the benefit of his wealth. He may die or be very ill or lose his fortune suddenly. He may simply be a miser unwilling to spend his money. The point is that God sometimes does not allow a man to enjoy the wealth he gives him. Wealth and enjoying it are two different things. There are plenty of rich unhappy people about. Don’t forget that.

2. Earthly advantages are worthless without enjoyment

He stresses the point in verse 3 A man may have a hundred children (gross hyperbole) and live many years; yet no matter how long he lives, if he cannot enjoy his prosperity and does not receive proper burial (no-one mourns him or misses him) I say that a stillborn child is better off than he.

The contrast may seem overdone but think of it.

Verses 4-6 It comes without meaning, it departs in darkness, and in darkness its name is shrouded. Though it never saw the sun or knew anything, it has more rest than does that man - even if he lives a thousand years twice over but fails to enjoy his prosperity. Do not all go to the same place? All die, all go to the grave - the stillborn baby, the man who lives more than twice as long as Methuselah. If your life is going to be miserable, the shorter the better. Again, what good is the longest life if it is not an enjoyable one? Who would want that?

3. Man’s unaided effort can bring him no satisfaction

He then says that (7) All man’s efforts are for his mouth, yet his appetite is never satisfied. He lives (under the sun) only to satisfy his appetites. Isn’t that the nature of life as we have already observed? As Moses and Jesus says Man cannot live only on bread. Therefore (8) What advantage has a wise man over a fool? What does a poor man gain by knowing how to conduct himself before others? If your wisdom brings you no satisfaction what good is it? You may know your manners and what people expect but if you are still in poverty what good is it? Verse 9 Better what the eye sees than the roving of the appetite. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind. People tend to think that what they really need is more money, more things, an easier life. In fact what we need is contentment with what we have. Better to be content with what you have than to be longing for something different. How empty; what a mere chasing after the wind to think money or possessions or fame can bring contentment. Again and again you hear people who have achieved things saying how it did not satisfy. It is like salt on food – you know that the more you use, the more you need. Or think, to some extent, of filling your stomach – the more you eat the more you need to eat.

4. God is in control of all things and we must look to him

So why can’t we find satisfaction in earthly things? This is how God has made the world. Many people think earthly satisfaction is possible. It’s just that they haven’t found out how yet. But (10) Whatever exists has already been named, (it has all been gone into) and what man is has been known; (that doesn’t change) further, no man can contend with one who is stronger than he. God is the one who reigns. It’s no good trying to fight against him and the way he has made things. Verse 11 The more the words, the less the meaning, and how does that profit anyone? People come up with their theories, with their ideas, but it’s just talk. And so he asks (12) For who knows what is good for a man in life, during the few and meaningless days he passes through like a shadow? Who can tell him what will happen under the sun after he is gone? The truth is that no man knows. These things are hidden with God. We need something for every day, for all our lives, all our brief and meaningless/empty days. We need something that will last into the life to come. That is found only in God.

Remember what Paul says in 1 Timothy 6:6-9

But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction.

2. Recognise that trouble and hardship are not necessarily a bad thing

The other side of this coin is in 7:1-15. On one hand, many people can’t understand why having reached the top or having all they ever desired, they are still not happy. On the other hand, there are things that would seem to be bound not to lead to happiness and yet they often do.

1. Discerning what is best is not always a simple matter

The proverbs in verses 1-10 of Chapter 7 show that finding happiness in this life is not simply a matter of money, possessions and the conventional things that are supposed to bring contentment. Ask yourself

Which is better?

1 A good name or fine perfume?

A good name is better than fine perfume. Fair fame is better than fine perfume. Better a good name than good nard. People will pay extraordinary amounts for Chanel No 5 or other good perfume. Yet which would you prefer to have fine perfume or a good reputation. What point is there in smelling good but having a name that stinks?

2. The day of death or the day of birth?

and the day of death better than the day of birth. Instinctively you want to say birth but think what lies ahead. Surely there is something about completing life that is better than the beginning? It is at least debatable.

3. A funeral or a wedding?

Verse 2 It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, for death is the destiny of every man; the living should take this to heart. This is more obvious, perhaps. A funeral leads to soberness, seriousness, careful thought. That can only be good for us.

4. Sorrow or laughter?

More generally (3, 4) Sorrow is better than laughter, because a sad face is good for the heart. The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of pleasure. Haven’t you noticed how often those who have been through struggles and troubles have something about them that you do not find in those who have not? Some are so superficial and silly they have little to say of any worth.

5. A rebuke or a song?

Here is a teenager listening to music when his mother tells him to go and read.

Verses 5, 6 It is better to heed a wise man’s rebuke than to listen to the song of fools. Like the crackling of thorns under the pot, so is the laughter of fools. This too is meaningless. It is not nice to be told off. Rebukes are unpleasant at the time. Much better to listen to songs. Yet what good do songs do? When you hear the laughter of fools, think of the crackling of thorns as they burn, boiling up the cauldron of evil.

6. Speed or justice?

Verse 7 Extortion turns a wise man into a fool, and a bribe corrupts the heart. It is difficult to fit this verse in but may be the contrast is between the quick way to a verdict or a decision and the honest way. Money can get things done but think what it can do to a man, to a society when it dictates.

7. The end or the beginning?

Verse 8a The end of a matter is better than its beginning. We don’t always feel like this and we cannot absolutise a proverb but generally it is the end that is best as we have suggested - the end of a project, a life, a sermon (!), etc.

8. Patience or pride?

Verse 8b and patience is better than pride. It is followed by advice (9) Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools.

9. The past or the present?

This is a catch question for there is no point in asking this – our decision makes no difference to us. Verse 10 Do not say, Why were the old days better than these? For it is not wise to ask such questions. Again, we must not absolute this proverb - we can learn from the past but it is no good getting frustrated.

2. Recognise the importance of wisdom

Now you may find some of that difficult to follow or difficult to accept. You need wisdom from God. Verses 11, 12 say Wisdom, like an inheritance, is a good thing and benefits those who see the sun. Wisdom is a shelter as money is a shelter, but the advantage of knowledge is this: that wisdom preserves the life of its possessor. That is what you need rather than wealth or possessions or a new situation. So how can I be wise?

3. Look to God in everything and understand

Verse 13 Consider what God has done: Who can straighten what he has made crooked? Think of examples such as illness, disasters, other things going wrong, etc. I was disappointed when we had the baptism last week that my unconverted niece didn't come across with the rest of the family. I'd hoped it would be something God might use to bring her to himself. Patient acceptance is vital.*

Hear this excellent piece of practical advice in verse 14 When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider: God has made the one as well as the other. Therefore, a man cannot discover anything about his future. Finally remember this (15) In this meaningless life of mine I have seen both of these: a righteous man perishing in his righteousness, and a wicked man living long in his wickedness. If that is a problem to you, you need to hear what I am saying. You are assuming a long life is a good life, a short one a bad one. But think of short lives that have done so much good (in the 19th century, Henry Martyn the missionary to India and Robert Murray M’Cheyne the Scots preacher and in the fifties Jim Elliot the martyred missionary to Ecuador) and then long ones that have been evil. Still you think to yourself "why?" We are not going to solve all mysteries in this life, in this life. It is certainly much more complicated than some would have us believe. What Paul says in Philippians 4:11, 12 is something for us to seek to emulate - I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.

* Nice sequel. Two and a half years later she was baptised, having been converted in the summer of 2012.