The Heaviness of a Joyless Life
Sermon Recording
Sermon Outline
Speaker: Rev. Scott Strickman
Sermon Series: Ecclesiastes
Ecclesiastes 5:18-6:12 (ESV)
18 Behold, what I have seen to be good and fitting is to eat and drink and find enjoyment in all the toil with which one toils under the sun the few days of his life that God has given him, for this is his lot. 19 Everyone also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil—this is the gift of God. 20 For he will not much remember the days of his life because God keeps him occupied with joy in his heart.
6:1 There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, and it lies heavy on mankind: 2 a man to whom God gives wealth, possessions, and honor, so that he lacks nothing of all that he desires, yet God does not give him power to enjoy them, but a stranger enjoys them. This is vanity; it is a grievous evil. 3 If a man fathers a hundred children and lives many years, so that the days of his years are many, but his soul is not satisfied with life's good things, and he also has no burial, I say that a stillborn child is better off than he. 4 For it comes in vanity and goes in darkness, and in darkness its name is covered. 5 Moreover, it has not seen the sun or known anything, yet it finds rest rather than he. 6 Even though he should live a thousand years twice over, yet enjoy no good—do not all go to the one place?
7 All the toil of man is for his mouth, yet his appetite is not satisfied. 8 For what advantage has the wise man over the fool? And what does the poor man have who knows how to conduct himself before the living? 9 Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the appetite: this also is vanity and a striving after wind.
10 Whatever has come to be has already been named, and it is known what man is, and that he is not able to dispute with one stronger than he.11 The more words, the more vanity, and what is the advantage to man?12 For who knows what is good for man while he lives the few days of his vain life, which he passes like a shadow? For who can tell man what will be after him under the sun?
Sermon Outline
Who knows what constitutes a good life (6:12, 5:18), and is joy a proper indicator?
1. Unsatisfied appetites
6:7 “All the toil of man is for his mouth, yet his appetite is not satisfied”
6:1-2 “There is an evil… it lies heavy on mankind: a man… lacks nothing of all that he desires, yet God does not give him power to enjoy them”
6:3 “…but his soul is not satisfied with life’s good things” (v5 “rest”)
6:9 “Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the appetite”
2. Occupied with joy
5:19-20 “this is the gift of God… God keeps him occupied with joy in his heart.”
Micah 6:8 “He has told you, O man, what is good”
Prayer of Confession
Our Father, forgive us. We have not listened to you or trusted you. Our lack of joy and the presence of dissatisfaction have only propelled us to chase after what can’t be grasped. Instead, they should draw us back to find rest in you. We have acted as if devotion to you is a chore, and that toiling for personal gain is a pleasure. We have gotten it wrong, furthering our dissatisfaction, and offending you in the process. Pardon our sins, and renew your Spirit in us. Give us the wisdom to live well before you, and the grace to walk humbly with you. Amen.
Questions for Reflection
Is happiness something we should pursue? How does one get happiness?
If we know money can’t buy happiness, why do we still put so much hope and invest so much time in acquiring it? What else do we desire and pursue even while we know it won’t ever satisfy?
How can we be more satisfied in God? What thoughts, attitudes and practices help us to pursue a truly good life?
What can you do when you are dissatisfied in your spiritual life? What if your religious life is joyless?
Why is it important to stay grounded in God’s gift and generosity to us? Should that always be the starting point?
What does it look like to live well in this particular season? While the broader society is anxious, angry, and polarized, what does walking humbly with God look like?
List the chief things you want to occupy your time with. How do they connect with God? How do they connect with joy/enjoyment? What changes can you make so that your life has more of those things?