TheFutilityofanEmptySoul
Ecclesiastes6:1-7:13
*IfyouareamemberoftheTCOptimistClub,yourcreedincludes“Betoohappytopermittrouble,
alwayswearacheerfulcountenance,&lookattheSunnysideofeverything.”
*SolomonisnotanOptimist–andEccl.6isproofthatlifeisnotalwayssunny-sideup.
*Aftertravellingthecountryandcomingupempty,Solomonreachesacliffoverlookinganendless
oceanofmisery–thefinaldestinationoflife“undersun”
v.1:“ThereisanevilthatIhaveseenunderthesun,anditliesheavyonmankind”
*Iheardrecentlyofanoldermanwhohaslosthisabilitytotastefood–putshotsauceon
everything-that’sEccl.6.–lifehaslostitstaste–heeats,butisnotsatisfied.Anemptysoul.
TheOptimistsaysto“expectonlythebest”–buthereislifeatitsworst.Depressed&empty.
ChrisEvert–oneofthegreatTennisplayers–asshecontemplatedretirement,said:
“IhadnoideawhoIwas,orwhatIcouldbeawayfromtennis.Iwasdepressedandafraid
becausesomuchofmylifehadbeendefinedbymybeingatennischampion.Iwascompletely
lost.WinningmademefeellikeIwassomebody.Itmademefeelpretty.Itwaslikebeing
hookedonadrug.Ineededthewins,theapplause,inordertohaveanidentity.”
InaSentence:“LifewithoutGodisempty…andfullofchaos…butthereisaBETTERwaytolive.
1. LifewithoutGodisempty, (v.1-6)
v.2amantowhomGodgiveswealth,possessions,andhonor,sothathelacksnothingofallthathe
desires,yetGoddoesnotgivehimpowertoenjoythem,butastrangerenjoysthem.Thisisvanity;
itisagrievousevil.
A. Emptyofjoy. (v.1-2)
*Deadlyrecipe:Aman(Tom)haseverythingofvalue(fortune/fame/title/position)but…in
spiteofallhisstuff,heliveswithoutGod&feelsnojoy.
*Note:Godgives/doesnotgive-theOneabletogivestuff/joy.Orwithholdstuff/joy.
*Solomon:Itistragic,forTomtohavealltheworld…buthaveanempty,joylesssoul.
SpeakingofTom–TomBrady-afterhis3rdSuperbowlwin,hefeltlikeEccl–Sowhat?
“I’mmakingmoremoneythanIeverthoughtIcouldmake…WhydoIhave3superbowl
ringsandstillthinkthereissomethinggreateroutthereforme?Imean,maybesome
peopleouttherewouldsay‘thisiswhatitis-I’vereachedmydream,mygoal,mylife.’
Me,Ithink:‘God,there’sgottobemorethanthis.”(“What’stheanswer?”)Tom:“I
wishIknew.IwishIknew.”
ThatiswordsoftheAmericansoul:There’ssomethinggreater…there’sgottobemore.
What’stheanswer?IhavenothingtoofferexcepttheOnewhoonceoccupiedanemptytomb
B. Emptyofsatisfaction. (v.3-6)
v.3:Ifamanfathersahundredchildrenandlivesmanyyears,sothatthedaysofhisyearsare
many,buthissoulisnotsatisfiedwithlife'sgoodthings,andhealsohasnoburial,Isaythata
stillbornchildisbetteroffthanhe.
Here,SolomonfeelslikeMickJagger:“Ican’tgetno…satisfaction…causeItry…andItry…”
*Whataboutbigfamily?Isthattheanswer?Johnhas100kids;longlife…buthiskidsdon’t
careabouthimandwhenhedies,Johnhasnofuneral-hediesnameless,forgotten:JohnDoe.
Solomon:betteroffdead!Betteramiscarriedchildthanalivinghell!
*Solomonisnotmakinglightofmiscarriage–anawfulthing-Ratherheiscontrastingthebrief
lifeofamiscarriagewiththelongexistenceoflifew/outtheLord.
4Foritcomesinvanityandgoesindarkness,andindarknessitsnameiscovered.5Moreover,it
hasnotseenthesunorknownanything,yetitfindsrestratherthanhe.6Eventhoughheshould
liveathousandyearstwiceover,yetenjoynogood—donotallgototheoneplace?
*Heexaggerates:Evenifamanlived2000years–buthadnosatisfactionorjoy–his
longlifeonlycompoundsthemisery.Atleastthechildhasrest!
*Jobsaid:CursedbethedayIwasborn!WouldthatIhaddied!
*Bythe#’s,10%ofusstrugglew/depression&anemptysoul–wemayhavelotsofstuffandlotsof
family,butbehindcloseddoors,oursoulsareempty.
SomefeellikeBorisBecker–anothertennischamp-whotriedtoendhislifeb/chefeltempty
“IhadwonWimbledontwicebefore,onceastheyoungestplayer.Ihadallthematerial
possessionsIneeded:money,cars,women,everything.Iknowthatthisisacliché.It’sthe
oldsongofthemovieandpopstars,whocommitsuicide.Theyhaveeverything,andyet
theyaresounhappy.Ihadnoinnerpeace.”
What’stheanswer?Ihavenothingtoofferexceptarelationshipw/Jesus,whooffersjoys
withoutend…for2,000years…andthenforevermore.
Ps.107“Forhesatisfiesthelongingsoul,andthehungrysoulhefillswithgoodthings.
*Hecangivejoytotherich;andHecansatisfythehungerofthepoor.
*Hecomfortsmomswhohadamiscarriage;promiselonglifetothemanneardeath.
2. LifewithoutGodisempty,andfullofchaos-
(v.7-12)
A. UnfulfilledDesires(v.7-9)
v.7Allthetoilofmanisforhismouth,yethisappetiteisnotsatisfied.
*IOW:Hepictureslifeasanappetitethatisneverfull…liketeenageboys!
*Howlongcanyougountilyou’rehungryagain?That’slife!Anendlesscycle
ofwork,earn$,buygroceries,eat…and2hourslaterwearehungryagain.
8Forwhatadvantagehasthewisemanoverthefool?Andwhatdoesthepoormanhavewho
knowshowtoconducthimselfbeforetheliving?
*IOW:Dothewisehaveadvantage?No,wise/fool;rich/poor–notsatisfied.
Proverb-9Betteristhesightoftheeyesthanthewanderingoftheappetite:thisalsoisvanity
andastrivingafterwind.
IOW:Bettertobecontentwithwhatisinfrontofyou,thantosufferfromawandering
appetitethatalwayswantswhat’sonotherpeoples’plates!
*Lastweek:Weheardthatouryoungerkidsbegforfoodfromtheirfriendsatlunch,
b/ctheyarediscontentwiththeirfood–otherfoodlooksbetter!Wandering…
B. Uncontrollablecircumstances.
(v.10)
10Whateverhascometobehasalreadybeennamed,anditisknownwhatmanis,andthat
heisnotabletodisputewithonestrongerthanhe.
*Whateverhappens,happens.Thingsareoutsideourcontrol–wearenotincharge.
“Notabletodispute”-NLT:NousearguingwithGod…
*SometrytodisputewithGodabouthowHerunstheuniverse-butintheendHis
waysarehigher,Hisplansarebetter,andHisarmisstronger.WhoareyouOman?
C. UnintelligentWords
(v.11)
11Themorewords,themorevanity,andwhatistheadvantagetoman?
Blah,blah,blah…Politicians/pundits/preachers…morewords/morefolly!
Talk,talk…ch.5:“afoolsvoicecomeswithmanywords.”–Wewouldsay:“He’salltalk”
Eccl.says:Letwordsbefew.Jamessays:Slowtospeak.
D. Unansweredquestions (v.12)
12Forwhoknowswhatisgoodformanwhilehelivesthefewdaysofhisvainlife,whichhe
passeslikeashadow?Forwhocantellmanwhatwillbeafterhimunderthesun?
*Whoknowswhat’sgood?Whocantellushowtoliveorwhat’snextafterthesun?
*Interviewer:“What’stheanswer?”Tom:“IwishIknew;IwishIknew…”
2005:GraduationCeremonyatKenyoncollege,Ohio-
Thespeaker:DavidFosterWallace-secularprofessor-bynomeanswritingw/aChristianview
Thespeech:“ThisisWater”–acandidspeechaboutfrustrationsoflife&ultimatemeaning:
“Intheday-to-daytrenchesofadultlife…thereisnosuchthingasnotworshipping.Everybody
worships.Theonlychoicewegetiswhattoworship.Andanoutstandingreasonforchoosing
somesortofGodorspiritual-typethingtoworship—beitJ.C.orAllah,beitYahwehorthe
Wiccanmother-goddess—isthatprettymuchanythingelseyouworshipwilleatyoualive.”
Ifyouworshipmoneyandthings…thenyouwillneverhaveenough.
Worshipyourownbodyandbeautyandsexualallureandyouwillalwaysfeelugly,
andwhentimeandagestartshowing,youwilldieamilliondeathsbeforetheyfinally
plantyou…
Worshippower—youwillfeelweakandafraid,andyouwillneedevermorepower
overotherstokeepthefearatbay.
Worshipyourintellect,beingseenassmart—youwillendupfeelingstupid,afraud,
alwaysonthevergeofbeingfoundout.Andsoon.
That’sEcclesiastes:anythingelseweworship(wisdom,wine,women,wealth)willeatusalive.
*What’stheanswer?Cananyonesatisfyourhunger?Cananyonefillouremptysoul?Cananyoneend
thechaos,answerourdeepestquestions,andtelluswhatiscomingnext–“afterthesun”?
ThanksbetoGod,throughJesusChristourLord!TheGodwhocameUNDERTHESUNinorderto
showushowtogainlifeABOVETHESUNattheresurrection.
ForeveryChrisEvertwhostrugglesw/identity–Jesusoffersanidentity:ChildofGod.
ForeveryTomBradywhofeelsempty–JesusoffersMOREthanwecouldeverneed.
ForeveryMickJaggerwhocan’tgetsatisfaction–Jesusofferstosatisfyourdeepestthirst.
ForeveryBorisBeckerwhoisdarkindepression–JesusoffersustheLightoflife.
ForeveryDavidWallacewho’sbeingeatenalive–Jesusisthehopeofresurrection.
3. Lifeunderthesunisempty,andfullofchaos–butthereisaBetterwaytolive. (7:1-13)
U.P.Sticker:“It’sBetterABOVEtheBridge”–HowmuchbettertoliveABOVEthesun!
It’sBetter“AbovetheSun”living:(8Built-inActionSteps)
A. GoodName.
(v.1)
Agoodnameisbetterthanpreciousointment,andthedayofdeaththanthedayofbirth.
*Whenyournamecomesupinconversation,whatdopeopleassociatew/yourname?
*Somemen:knownfor“howmuchtheydrankandwhotheysleptwith?”
*Somecontractors:knownfordishonesty&lackofintegrity.
*Youcanbuysilver&gold;Youcan’tbuyagoodname.Agoodreputationistheproduct
ofCharacterxConsistencyOverTime.
*Acommitmenttowisedecisions,honoryourword,ethicalbusinesspractices,
forgivewrongs,begraciouswithwordstowardfamily,begenerousinspirit.
B. ConsiderMortality (v.2-4)
2Itisbettertogotothehouseofmourningthantogotothehouseoffeasting,forthisis
theendofallmankind,andthelivingwilllayittoheart.3Sorrowisbetterthanlaughter,for
bysadnessoffacetheheartismadeglad.4Theheartofthewiseisinthehouseof
mourning,buttheheartoffoolsisinthehouseofmirth.
*Funeralsarebetterthanfratparties.Cemeteriesthansitcoms.Casketsthankegs.
*Go“abovethesun”tokeepthisperspectiveinmind-“theendofallmankind”:
Lifeisshort;deathiscertain;eternityislong;hellishot;JesusisLord…
*Solomonultimatelyconcludesthateverythingmattersb/cofthisfate:
“Godwillbringeverydeedintojudgment…whethergood/evil.”
*IOW–wewoulddowelltoremember:thewords&deedswechooseunderthesun
willonedaybetestedabovethesun…whenGodbringsalldeedsintojudgment.
C. TakeAdvice
(v.5-6)
5Itisbetterforamantoheartherebukeofthewisethantohearthesongoffools.
*Bettertohave1mangetinyourface,than100menpatyouontheback.
*Bettertohave1friendrebukeyou,than100coworkersapplaudyou.
*IOW-Receivingcorrectionw/2openearsisbetterthanadefensivefoolw/2clenchfists
*Weallneedthisreminder–tolistentoadvicefromfriends;toreceivecorrectionfrom
aboss;notgetdefensivetowardsaspouse…
*Whodoyouhaveinlifewecansityoudown&shootstraightwithyou?
6Forasthecracklingofthornsunderapot,soisthelaughterofthefools;thisalsoisvanity.
*Burningthorns-peoplewhoseapplauseburnsrapidly&brightly,butjustaseasilyis
extinguished–thesearepeoplewhosingyourpraises;tellyouwhatyouwanttohear.
D. HonestBusiness(v.7)
7Surelyoppressiondrivesthewiseintomadness,andabribecorruptstheheart.
*Extortion/Bribes=unethicalbusinessormisusingmoneyasameansofpersonalgain.
*Buildersdoittogetacontract;Politiciansdoittogettheirway.
*Myfirstexperienceofabribe=Ipaid$5toaskagirlnottotattle–4thgrade
*Theopposite:fullfinancialintegrity&accountability.
Whenitcomestohonestyinbusiness&finance,doyouhaveanythingtohide?
Isthereapatternoftheftorliesthatneedtobeconfessed&maderight?
Isthereafamilymemberyoumanipulatedmoneyfromforpersonalgain?
Action:DowhatZacchaeusdid–returnmoney,addinterest&makeitright.
E. PatientHumility (v.8-9)
Betteristheendofathingthanitsbeginning,andthepatientinspiritisbetterthanthe
proudinspirit.9Benotquickinyourspirittobecomeangry,forangerlodgesinthebosom
offools.
*PatientpeopletaketheLongView;&holdtheirtonguewhentheyhavetowait.
*ImpatientpeoplewanteverythingNOW!Theydon’twait;theyspeaktheirmind;fly
offthehandle;losetheirtemper;blowagasket;have“Angerlodgedinthebosom”
*Parents–aword–astudywastakenof1000kids(3rd-12thgrade)–askedto“grade
theirparents”in12areasoflife.#1weaknessaccordingtokids:Angermanagement.
*Morethan40%ofkidsgavemoms&dadsaC,D,orFoncontrollingtemper.
*Abovethesunlivinginvitesustotakethelongview;waitontheLord;holdourtongue.
F. EmbraceToday
(v.10)
10Saynot,"Whyweretheformerdaysbetterthanthese?"Foritisnotfromwisdomthat
youaskthis.
*Thisispeoplewhoglorifythepast–“Iwishitwaslikebefore…Iwishwecouldgoback…”
(Thewaythingswere…thewaythingsusedtobe…thingsIshouldhavesaid
thingsothersdidtome…achoiceIshouldhavemade…)
*Solomonwarnsofbeingaprisonerofthe“good‘oldays”–
It’snotsmarttolivelifeintherearviewmirror–trydrivingwhilelookingback
*Allitcandoisdiscourageyou.Youcan’tchangeit.Moveon.
*Keepyourfocuson“abovethesun”–Godisincontrol;Betterthanthepastisthe
gloriousfuturewhenGodraisesthedeadandmakesallthingsnew!
G. WalkWisely
(v.11-12)
11Wisdomisgoodwithaninheritance,anadvantagetothosewhoseethesun.12Forthe
protectionofwisdomisliketheprotectionofmoney,andtheadvantageofknowledgeis
thatwisdompreservesthelifeofhimwhohasit
*ForgivemeforquotingForrest:“Stupidisasstupiddoes.”(youarewhatyoudo)
*Somemakestupiddecisionswithoutregardforthedestructionitwillcause.
*Otherwalkwisely…whichleavesabeautifulinheritance.
Jesus–Lk.7:35–“Wisdomisknownbyallherchildren.”
*PicturewisdomasMommaDuck.Lookbehind,therearebabyducks.
*Theaftereffectsofwisdomareremarkable:protecting&preserving.
*Ifanyonelackswisdom,lethimaskGod!
H. TrustGod(v.13)
13ConsidertheworkofGod:whocanmakestraightwhathehasmadecrooked?
Ch.1:Frustrated–outofcontrol:Thatwhichiscrookedcannotbestraightened.
Ch.7:Trusting–Godisincontrol:ConsidertheworkofGod!
IOW:Whenthingsunderthesungosideways,wecaneither(ch.1)befrustratedby
despairordisputewithGodthatHedoesn’tknowhowtoruntheUniverse…
*OR–Wecan(ch.7)trustGod:God,youareatwork.Yougotthis.Youopen
doorsnoonecanshut;youshutdoorsnoonecanopen.Ifyoumakesomething
crooked,itcan’tbestraightened.”
Atreeatchurchwashityearsagobyasnowplow–foryearsithasgrowncrooked…it
willneverbestraightagain…buteveryyear,fulloflife!!
*Thattreeisabeautifultestamenttothistruth:“Lifestillgrowsoncrookedtrees”
*ThatisGod’sgreatestwork–Hetakesacrooked,twistedsinnerlikeus,and
throughthepowerofHisSpirit,Hehelpsusbearfruit.
IsanyonegladthatGodisstillatworktoday?