Life under the Sun is Short – Seize the Day
Intro: Well morning friends and visitors. My name is Matt Johnson and over the coming weeks we are going to be studying the OLD TESTAMENT book of Ecclesiastes. Now I know that many people think this is a very depressing book because Solomon writes; “Meaningless, Meaningless – Everything is Meaningless.” But I hope to show that this is actually a book about making the most of the life God has given us.
PRAYER: Well as you can see I’ve given this sermon series the Latin title – “CARPE DIEM”, which means seize the day. It’s a famous quote from a Roman poet named HORACE written around 20BC. The full phrase was “CARPE DIEM QUAM MINIMUM CREDULA POSTERO” which loosely means take hold of today for all its worth – for who knows what tomorrow will bring. The point is there may not be a tomorrow. So make the most of each and every day. Now truth is – HORACE was not that great a poet. But the Latin phrase – CARPE DIEM – has echoed down though history, been repeated in countless speeches and generally been viewed as a good way to live life. Seize the day.…
Now I put the meaning to Carpe Diem on the COFFEE CUP in this picture – because until I seize my first coffee for the day – I’m not seizing much else. Coffee helps me seize the day in a slightly more animated, rather than lethargic way. But if its a wheatgrass smoothie and smashed avocado on toast that gets you going in the morning – just go with that. THE POINT IS – life is meant to be lived and each day we have to get up and going and make the most of the life God has given us.
So in this sermon series (on Ecclesiastes) I want to argue that King Solomon actually encouraged us to Carpe Diem some 1000 years before Horace. Across the bottom of this slide (under the word Ecclesiastes) you can see a quote from Ecclesiastes 11:8. Solomon says; “However many years a man may live, let him enjoy them all.” I want to suggest that this is actually the focus of this book.
Although, Solomon does not say – CARPE DIEM (because he was writing in Hebrew, not Latin) – the idea comes through in several places… For instance in Ecclesiastes 11 – Solomon writes – (Slide 2; Eccles.11:6). Now notice this is kind of saying seize the day. Don’t spend your whole life trying to work out if it’s a good day to sow your seeds – actually get out there and start sowing seed. Ecclesiastes is kind of renowned for being PESSIMISTIC AND GLOOMY. But Solomon speaks here of success. He says: “who knows you may succeed at more than you imagine.” THE ONE CAVEAT Solomon puts on living life to the full – IS FEAR GOD AND DO WHAT HE COMMANDS. But apart from fearing God and doing what he commands – Solomon calls us to embrace the adventure of life. Life itself is a gift – so make the most of what God has given you and enjoy the journey.
But how do we Carpe Diem? How do we seize the day?
Point 1: Life under the Sun is Short & Messy (accept it for what it is).
Show: Eccles.1:1-3 (READ)
Explain: Well, THE AUTHOR of this book is identified as the teacher, a son of David, king in Jerusalem. So who is this teacher? Well, we know that KING SOLOMON was a teacher of wisdom and the son of King David. He wrote the biblical books of Proverbs and Song of Songs. We also know that when King Solomon became King around 970BC – God granted him wisdom beyond his years. You can read about this in 1 Kings 3. So although, the author is not named – the church has traditionally believed that this book is written by King Solomon.
We also know that some of the ENDEAVOURS recorded in Ecclesiastes – align very well with Solomon’s own life. Although King Solomon was a great, wise Jewish King – there was a period of his life – where he became very selfish, materialistic and hedonistic. So Ecclesiastes kind of records what Solomon learnt from chasing after these things of the world – IT WAS ALL MEANINGLESS. It didn’t satisfy. So its reasonable to conclude that this book is written by King Solomon.
Now the next thing we see is THE FAMOUS QUOTE; “Meaningless, Meaningless. Everything is meaningless.” I know this sounds like one of the HUMANIST PHILOSOPHERS like 1) Neitsche or 2) Kierkegarde or 3) Sartre. Its sounds like Solomon is in existential crisis – perhaps contemplating suicide. But we really need to wrestle with this word “meaningless” because it kinds of means mist or vapour.
The King James Version of the Bible translates it vanity. “Vanity of vanities. All is vanity.” The Holman Bible translates it “Absolute futility. Everything is futile.” THE ACTUAL HEBREW WORD is “hevel” and it doesn’t easily translate into English. (Slide 4 – Read). Now notice the word hevel (or meaningless) is actually a version of the name Abel. ABEL (as in Cain and Abel) only exists in the Bible for 7 verses. He turns up in Genesis 4, verse 2 and by verse 9 he is gone. Here one minute, gone the next.
Death comes far too early and one is left wondering what was the point of Abel’s life. Abel is little more than A FOOTNOTE in biblical history. And this story of Abel kind of carries the idea of hevel.
This idea of HEVEL is also picked up in the New Testament book of James. In James 4, the Bible says; (Slide 5; Jam.4:13-14). In these words James seems to be drawing on ideas in Ecclesiastes. So the word “hevel” carries ideas of brevity, lacking substance and futility.
NOW THE THIRD CRUCIAL IDEA in the opening verses is that Solomon asks in verse 3; what do people gain from all their labors at which they toil under the sun. This is the BIG QUESTION of Ecclesiastes – and the words “gain”, “toil” and “under the sun” are all significant. The words “UNDER THE SUN” occur some 27x in Ecclesiastes and it is a poetic way to refer to life in this fallen world. UNDER THE SUN – means – outside the Garden of Eden and cut off from the tree of life? In verse 3 – you can also see the world “TOIL”. Adam’s WORK became painful TOIL – after the fall. After the fall – God also told Adam that he was made from the DUST and to the DUST he will return. Twice Solomon picks up this idea of man being dust and returning to dust in death.
So when we see the phrase UNDER THE SUN – we need to remember we are thinking about life in a fallen, sinful world. Solomon is NOT interested in exploring life in an imaginary, perfect world. Solomon is actually exploring how we 1) manage our expectations and 2) deal with the reality of life under the sun?
Illustration: In the 1860’s, author CHARLES DICKENS, wrote the famous book “Great Expectations.” And this book lays out THE PROBLEM of great expectations. The main character PIP is set to receive a great financial inheritance. He believes that once he receives this money – his life perfect and it will enable him to marry the girl of his dreams. But sadly, none of Pips expectations come to fruition the way he hoped.
The moral of the story is that Pips expectations of what life should be or could be (once he had the money) – actually robbed him of appreciating and enjoying his life in reality…
And this is A SERIOUS PROBLEM we all face in life under the sun. OUR HEARTS are still in the Garden of Eden. But our BODIES exist in this fallen world. So our expectations rarely align with our realities. The website – VERY WELL MIND says; (Slide 7). The human psychology website also writes that the following expectations can be happiness killers (ENTER). Now I’m sure none of you struggle with these great expectations of life?
Apply: In large part – I think Ecclesiastes – is helping us to manage our expectations in life. Solomon is helping us to see what life under the sun really is like. It’s not all perfect. Even if you have all the resources in the world at your disposal (like Solomon) – there is still a brokenness to the world that we must accept. So how do we live well in a broken world?
Well in verse 3 – you can also see the word “GAIN”. This word “GAIN” or “PROFIT” occurs 15x in Ecclesiastes. What can be gained from life under the sun? Well Solomon will identify some of the gains in this book. But Ecclesiastes – encourages us to 1) embrace life for what it is, rather than 2) what we want it to be. The Garden of Eden is gone, but that doesn’t mean all goodness, enjoyment and happiness is gone. So Carpe Diem – seize the day – for what it is…
Point 2: Life under the Sun is Complicated – Stop Striving
Show: Eccles.1:4-8 (READ)
Explain: Well Solomon now addresses A BASIC PRINCIPLE of wisdom. In a world where generations come and go – there is still order. 1) The sun rises and the sun sets. 2) The south wind blows to the south (in certain seasons), but inevitably it turns to the north (in other seasons) in a predictable way. 3) Even the cycle of water from evaporation, to condensation and then precipitation shows design and purpose. This is wisdom. Solomon is acknowledging that God has given life a certain shape and order. Life follows somewhat predictable patterns….
Now biblical wisdom is about living life IN ALIGNMENT with the way God created the world. OBVIOUSLY, if you A) live life in synch with the way God created the world things will generally work better, than B) if you live life out of synch with the way God created the world. So some examples include; 1) telling the truth will generally go better for you than being known as a liar. 2) Working hard and being responsible in life will generally produce better results than being lazy and irresponsible. God has made the world to work a certain way. And biblical wisdom is about aligning our lives with the order and purpose God has written into creation.
Bruce Waltke (an Old Testament scholar) speaks of this order in creation as the deed-destiny nexus (SLIDE 10). God has created the world in such a way that wise deeds are followed by positive destinies or outcomes, while foolish deeds are followed by negative destinies and outcomes. Wisdom is choosing the deeds with better destinies.
But in Ecclesiastes – Solomon acknowledges that the deed-destiny nexus of wisdom itself – is not as predictable as we might expect. The deed-destiny nexus written by God into creation has itself been corrupted by the fall. So while biblical wisdom, (and understanding the deed-destiny nexus of life has value 80 or 90% of the time), it is not perfect either.
Solomon admits that much to our frustration – the wicked sometimes prosper and the righteous sometimes suffer. Even with great wisdom and careful planning we can’t always determine the outcome of an endeavor. Of course, IN THE FINAL JUDGMENT OF GOD – the wise man will be vindicated and the fool will be condemned. But under the sun (in this fallen world) – the wise man may sometimes struggle and the fool may prosper… So, while the world does have PURPOSE and ORDER – even wisdom has limited value – in life under the sun.
Now against this backdrop of life under the sun – Solomon writes in verse 8 – that the eye never has enough of seeing, nor the ear its fill of hearing. One of the problems of life under the sun is that our human senses are NEVER SATISFIED. We always want more, more, more.
Solomon addresses another problem in verse 11 (Slide 11; Eccles.1:11). Apart from A) having a problem with contentment, we also B) have a problem with significance. Every person wants to be REMEMBERED for something. We all want to leave our mark on the world – that says “I WAS HERE. I WAS SIGNIFICANT.” But truth is – very few people are remembered for anything. So why do we chase significance. WE ALL WANT A) more and more stuff AND B) MORE AND MORE significance. But how much good and enjoyment in life do we forfeit by always chasing more and more stuff and significance…
Throughout Ecclesiastes, Solomon encourages us to find CONTENTMENT and SIGNIFICANCE in the simple pleasures of life. (Slide 12). Now we’ll see versions of this REFRAIN scattered throughout Ecclesiastes. THE PROBLEM IS we are so prone to chasing certain things in life– that it is often at the detriment of actually enjoying the simple gifts and pleasures of life. Despite the fall (and the problems of sin) – God wants us to enjoy our life and do good with our life. So Carpe Diem, seizing the day – is about recognizing the good things you already have and enjoying them for what they are. Don’t chase things that don’t satisfy…
Point 3: Life under the Sun is Burdensome – Revere God
Show: Eccles.1:12-15 (READ)
Explain: Well Solomon is clear in verse 15 – that the fall of Adam and Eve has given a certain brokenness to the world. Life under the sun – is now kind of twisted and can’t be straightened by man. No matter how much 1) money, 2) wisdom, or 3) power you gain – life will always be kind of twisted. What’s more, what is lacking in life, can’t ever be counted by man or supplied by man. There is A REAL PROBLEM in life and this is the nature of life under the sun.
In verse 13 – Solomon writes “what a heavy burden God has laid on mankind.” Life is now frustrated by a certain brokenness. But this word “BURDEN” actually means to be humbled through difficulty. Burden is a difficulty that humbles… In Ecclesiastes 3:10 – Solomon repeats this idea of burden and he writes; (Slide 15; Eccles.3:10-14). It’s the same word “BURDEN”. SO GODS PURPOSE (in the futility and struggles of life) is that human beings may be humbled and come to a true a proper fear of God.
The fear of the Lord has to do with revering God and standing in proper awe of God. The Bible says the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. So the futility of life under the sun – is meant to help us recognize that we have a problem we can’t fix. We can’t straighten what is twisted. But if man can’t fix the problems of our fallen world, the only hope is that God might fix the problems of our fallen world. Of course, 1000BC – Solomon had no idea about Jesus. But he knew the problems of life would ultimately be fixed by God in the final judgment. The book of Ecclesiastes – concludes with these words (Slide 16; Eccles.12:13-14)
Apply: So the overall application of this book is 1) ACCEPT the world is broken,3) ENJOY LIFE for what it is and 3) to the best of your ability OBEY Gods commands – for the day of judgment will eventually come.
The beginning of wisdom may be the fear of the Lord, but the end or goal of wisdom is obedience to God. THE REALITY IS – man has been humbled by God in the hope A) we might turn back to Him and B) look for answers in Him.
Now thankfully, (GOSPEL) God provided the answer to our broken world in the Lord Jesus Christ. As Jesus died on the cross – he took the punishment for all our wrongdoing. Jesus loved us so much – that he took all the meaninglessness, futility and suffering of life – upon himself on the cross – so that we can be spared. And if we believe in Jesus and thank Jesus for dying for us – God will forgive us (and one day bring us into his new perfect creation) that will be free from futility and meaninglessness. God says that everyone who believes in Jesus will not perish but have eternal life (Jn.3:16). BELIEVE in Jesus you will be saved. REJECT Jesus you will perish – for God will eventually bring every deed into judgment. So to truly Carpe Diem (and seize the day) as a non-Christian you must accept Jesus as your Saviour and Lord. There is no way to escape the meaninglessness, futility and vanity of this life without Jesus.
So if you are not a Christian – seize this day and commit your life to Jesus – because who knows what will happen tomorrow. You might die and meet your Maker. But if you are a Christian – I also encourage you to seize the day. You may recall that Jesus said; “Come to me all you who are weary and heavy laden (burdened by the struggles of life under the sun) and I will give you rest… For my yoke is easy and my burden is light…” (Matt.11:28-30).
If you are a Christian – Jesus has taken the BURDEN OF LIFE under the sun upon himself – so that you can once more enjoy the simple gift of life. Life is no longer futile because you are not going to die. You are going to live. Life is no longer vanity of vanities because what you lack in this world, you will have in heaven. Even where there was real meaninglessness in your life, you now have real meaning in Jesus.
You can even do things that are really MEANINGFUL IN ETERNITY by keeping Gods commands. So as Christians – we need to stop striving to find meaning and significance under the sun and realize we we already have meaning and significance in Jesus – at Gods right hand in heaven. So carpe diem. Seize the day – by resting a little more – in what God has done for you in Jesus and seize the day – by enjoying a little more – the wonderful gift of life and redemption you have in Jesus.
