The Gift of God
Sermon Recording
Sermon Outline
Speaker: Rev. Scott Strickman
Sermon Series: Ecclesiastes
Ecclesiastes 5 (ESV)
1 Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. To draw near to listen is better than to offer the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they are doing evil. 2 Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth. Therefore let your words be few. 3 For a dream comes with much business, and a fool's voice with many words.
4 When you vow a vow to God, do not delay paying it, for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you vow. 5 It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay. 6 Let not your mouth lead you into sin, and do not say before the messenger that it was a mistake. Why should God be angry at your voice and destroy the work of your hands? 7 For when dreams increase and words grow many, there is vanity; but God is the one you must fear.
8 If you see in a province the oppression of the poor and the violation of justice and righteousness, do not be amazed at the matter, for the high official is watched by a higher, and there are yet higher ones over them. 9 But this is gain for a land in every way: a king committed to cultivated fields.
10 He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity. 11 When goods increase, they increase who eat them, and what advantage has their owner but to see them with his eyes? 12 Sweet is the sleep of a laborer, whether he eats little or much, but the full stomach of the rich will not let him sleep.
13 There is a grievous evil that I have seen under the sun: riches were kept by their owner to his hurt, 14 and those riches were lost in a bad venture. And he is father of a son, but he has nothing in his hand. 15 As he came from his mother's womb he shall go again, naked as he came, and shall take nothing for his toil that he may carry away in his hand. 16 This also is a grievous evil: just as he came, so shall he go, and what gain is there to him who toils for the wind? 17 Moreover, all his days he eats in darkness in much vexation and sickness and anger.
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.
Sermon Outline
Perpetual dissatisfaction is tied to misplaced devotion (v10).
1. Destructive Devotion
a. God
v3 “a fool’s voice with many words”
v1 “draw near to listen”; v7 “God is the one you must fear”
b. Others
v8 “if you see… oppression… do not be amazed… watched by a higher…”
c. Things
v10 “he who loves money will not be satisfied…”
v16 “just as he came, so shall he go”
v12 “the full stomach of the rich will not let him sleep”
2. Life Giving Devotion
v2 “God is in heaven and you are on earth”
v19 “the gift of God” – “power to enjoy them… accept his lot… rejoice in his toil”
Prayer of Confession
Almighty God, our loving Father, you are in heaven and we are on earth. Instead of looking up to you, we have looked out and set our hearts on what we have seen in our world. We love, serve and devote ourselves to things, and we fail in loving you and the people you have made. Our dissatisfaction has not stirred repentance, but more desperate grasping after what proves destructive. Forgive us our sins. We did not pursue you, but you pursued us. Thank you for the gift of life that comes to us in Jesus, and for all the blessings that flow from him. Satisfy us with your steadfast love that we may rejoice and be glad, all of our days. Amen.
Questions for Reflection
What are you devoted to? What do you naturally spend your time doing? What do you make sacrifices for? If you could have anything, what would you ask for?
How do you use people? How do you know when you are using people?
Is it ok to ask God for things? What does this look like in a spiritually healthy way?
What can you do to draw near to God to listen?
Do you believe God sees and knows all? Does this scare you? Does it empower you? Does it effect your actions and choices?
How does grasping God’s love for us help us to love God? Are there things you can do to help you get grounded in God’s love for you?
What attitudes and practices are needed to love God and people?
How do you cultivate contentment in God and in what He has provided?
Are there changes you can make (attitude, beliefs, practices) to be more joyful in God?