Attention Funnel: Equations
Introduction:
- We want life to be like an equation – something that we can always figure out and make sense of.
- We often have this expectation that if I live with wisdom and in obedience to God, then my life will go well. We might even accept this as a rule.
- I want to talk tonight about how Ecclesiastes presents us with some exceptions to the rule.
- I before E…except after C…or when it sounds like “A”… or in the case of the word “science.”
- Proverbs tells us that in general if you live a wise life and obey God, things will go well for you.
- But Ecclesiastes points out that there are exceptions.
- Life in this world doesn’t always add up. Life in this world doesn’t always make sense.
Big Idea: Life in this world doesn’t always make sense.
Passage: Ecclesiastes 2:12-17; 3:16-4:3
- There are things in the passage we read that should shock us. There are things we read that we don’t expect to find in the Bible.
- It’s as if we walked into Chick-Fil-A, ordered our favorite sandwich, and told the employee thank-you, only to have him respond, “I hate my job.”
- Can you say that? Are you allowed to be in here?
- That is how we should feel when we read Solomon’s words.
Main Points:
- Wisdom doesn’t always produce the results that we want.
- People are often treated unfairly in this life.
- There is an appropriate hatred for this life.
- Hope: God judges everything AND he treats me like I don’t deserve.