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Sermon Text: Ecclesiastes 4:1-16 
 

Again I saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun. And behold, the tears of the oppressed, and they had no one to comfort them! On the side of their oppressors there was power, and there was no one to comfort them. And I thought the dead who are already dead more fortunate than the living who are still alive. But better than both is he who has not yet been and has not seen the evil deeds that are done under the sun.

Then I saw that all toil and all skill in work come from a man's envy of his neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.

The fool folds his hands and eats his own flesh.

Better is a handful of quietness than two hands full of toil and a striving after wind.

Again, I saw vanity under the sun: one person who has no other, either son or brother, yet there is no end to all his toil, and his eyes are never satisfied with riches, so that he never asks, “For whom am I toiling and depriving myself of pleasure?” This also is vanity and an unhappy business.

Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

Better was a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who no longer knew how to take advice. For he went from prison to the throne, though in his own kingdom he had been born poor. I saw all the living who move about under the sun, along with that youth who was to stand in the king's place. There was no end of all the people, all of whom he led. Yet those who come later will not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a striving after wind.


Please take a look at the questions below & find some time to discuss them with someone in the church family. 
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CLICK HERE TO HEAR THE SERMON


Sermon Big Idea: God did not make us to be alone. And His way is better.

Reflection Questions:

The chapter opens with a depressing glance at the way in which the strong take advantage of the weak. The situation is so bad that Solomon judges the dead happier than the living. Perhaps for that reason Solomon pronounces the one never born the happiest of all. Then he proceeds to see only a selfish motive, getting ahead of one’s neighbors, behind work. This motive can never be satisfied, so it leads to ceaseless work and despair. Thus, Solomon looks at the motivations of the heart and it turns him sour. This leads to a picture of a lonely miser working hard, without companionship and without satisfaction with the income, no matter how high — companionship seems to be the only solace in an uncertain and unsatisfying world. Even the fruits of the king's labor fail when he falls out of favor with succeeding generations. Such is the fickleness of the populace and the fate of royal power: vanity!
 
  • Can you explain any unjust disadvantages imposed on you?
     
  • Do you believe your problems are any different, greater, or more complex than other people’s problems?
     
  • Are you miserable or unbalanced by the oppressions that Satan has put on you? Are you denying the joy that can be yours in Christ because of the oppressions in your life?
     
  • Are you trying to change your attitude in light of your present circumstance? Changing our attitude will change our life from cynicism to hope when we replace passive self-pity with active courage in Christ.
     
  • Are you allowing rivalry and envy to control your actions (e.g. keeping up with the Jones)? Do you have a restless desire to outclass others? Take note of the wisdom writers describing the destructive influences of envy which “enrages” a man and makes him furious (Proverbs 6:34) and destroys him physically (Proverbs 14:30).
     
  • Are you aiming for contentment with what you have — not laziness or over achieving but having a middle way that has balance and Christ's peace in everything?
     
  • Are you disillusioned with your striving after the wind? Do you have the vertical view of life (God’s view) or a humanistic horizontal view?
     
  • Is it possible your loneliness is due to your passivity and not reaching out to others? Are you trying to get off your island of loneliness by letting others know your feelings and thoughts? Are you active in your church family? We cannot enjoy life to the fullest in isolation. Even our children need the friendship provided in our church family.
     
  • Are you trying to cultivate companionship one friend at a time? Are you missing the greatest companion ‒ Christ?
     
  • Are you growing with your interdependence on the church family? 
     
  • Do you see the folly of self-sufficiency and growing isolation in not assembling with other believers? Are you indifferent, unconcerned about the church family?
     
  • Are you being foolish when you ignore good advice from someone youthful or has a lesser social standing? Elihu (one of Job’s counselors) is the balanced position, giving his elders the first hearing but not regarding them as infallible, since the Spirit of God may give wisdom beyond one’s years (Job 32:4-11).
 
Additional Notes:
 
Solomon failed to cite two other biblical characters who react with a death wish in the light of oppressive enemies, Jonah (Jonah 4:3) and Elijah (1 Kings 19:4). He fails to mention, though, that in both cases God rebukes them for their attitude (Jonah 4:10-11 and 1 Kings 19:5-9).
 
There is no doubt about a positive side to jealousy, but only in terms of two relationships: the divine-human relationship (Isaiah 11:13; 26:11; Psalms 69:9; Nahum 1:2) and the marriage relationship (Numbers 5:14, 5:30). These are the only two relationships that allow, indeed require, exclusivity. Jealousy is to be eschewed in all other relationships as a damaging attitude:
         A heart at peace gives life to the body,
         but envy rots the bones. (Proverbs 14:30)


Feel free to send me other questions of application that might serve the church family. 

Eyes on Jesus!

Pastor Eric
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Cave Creek, AZ  85331

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Black Mountain Baptist Church · 33955 N Cave Creek Rd · Cave Creek, AZ 85331 · USA

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