Is Life Worth Living?

by Franklin L. Kirksey

Title:	Is Life Worth Living?
Bible Book:	Ecclesiastes
Author:	Franklin L. Kirksey
Subject:	Life; Christian Living; Purpose
Objective:	In this sermon, Dr. Kirksey asks the age-old question, “Is Life Worth Living?” He goes on to show that there are those who found life unworthy of the effort. But, he concludes with an affirmative response to the question for those who make life’s most important decision in the correct manner.
File:

Introduction
I. The Firm And Fiery Voice Of The Preacher
II. The Fun And Futile Venture Of The Preacher
III. The Faith And Family Values Of The Preacher
IV. Conclusion

Introduction

Dr. Charles W. Pope, former pastor of the First Baptist Church and Carson-Newman College, Jefferson City, Tennessee, and Executive Secretary-Treasurer, Tennessee Baptist Convention, explains, “Solomon has often been regarded as a man who had a good beginning, but made a poor ending in life. He is usually thought of as a public man who suffered a moral and spiritual collapse in old age. Few people seem to realize that Solomon started out to make a scientific test of human life to see what there is in life worth living for, but that in his old age he fell a victim to one of his own tests: ‘But Solomon loved many strange women . . . . . and he had seven hundred wives . . . . . and his wives turned away his heart.’ 1 Kings 11:1, 3.”1

Dr. Gary Staats, the Gale and Harriette Ritz professor of Old Testament at Winebrenner Theological Seminary in Findlay, Ohio, shares the following about the book of Ecclesiastes in his Expository Survey of the Scriptures Old Testament: “The book gets its name from the Greek version which has ekklesiastes or ‘assembly’. The Hebrew name is qohelet meaning ‘one who assembles’. This title can mean ‘one who collects’ wise sayings, or ‘one who addresses an assembly’. Since the word is feminine in the Hebrew it probably denotes an office. The word also is derived from the root qahal in Hebrew which in the Hiphil means ‘to assemble’".2

Dr. Edward J. Young (1907-1968) was one of the ablest conservative scholars in the field of Old Testament. He served for many years as Professor of Old Testament at Westminster Seminary, Philadelphia. His full-scale An Introduction to the Old Testament is generally regarded, both here and abroad, as the authoritative introductory work on the subject.”3 Dr. Young concludes, “The word thus designates the function of the leader who speaks in the assembly. Hence, the translation 'preacher' is approximately correct.”

Dr. W. Graham Scroggie (1877-1958) writes in The Unfolding Drama of Redemption: “The three writings which are associated with his name, The Song, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes, represent three periods of his life: the first, his early life; the second, his mid-life; and the third, his late life. The first reflects his domestic weakness; the second, his ethical wisdom, which, however, he did not practise; and the third, his final disillusionment and disgust with everything 'under the sun'.”4

Dr. Staats explains about the book of Ecclesiastes, “The primary purpose is to set forth the vanity of pursuing earthly goals and blessings apart from a commitment to the will of God and His commandments. Making such goals as one's occupation in life leads only to vanity and emptiness instead of fulfillment and blessing. After trying such things as wisdom, philosophy, pleasure, wealth, material possessions, etc., he concludes that the real goal in life is to ‘fear God and keep His commandments’. Thus, life is vain, unless God Himself is the ultimate standard by which the entirety of one's life is measured and interpreted.”5

Qohelet (pronounced koh-HEL-leth or KOH-hel-leth) is a Hebrew word meaning, Preacher—a speaker before an assembly. Ecclesia is a Greek word for assembly, thus we have the word Ecclesiastes. We are exhorted in Hebrews 10:24-25, “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”

King Solomon is known by many names, for example, his mother, Bathsheba, called him “Lemuel” (pronounced LEM-yoo-el) meaning “belonging to God” in Proverbs 31:1. My late father-in-law, Richard L. Swartz, had the middle name “Lemuel”.

I. The Firm And Fiery Voice Of The Preacher

Ecclesiastes 1:1

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines fiery as “consisting of fire, marked by fire, hot like a fire, being in an inflamed state or condition, feverish and flushed, or the color of fire, full of or exuding emotion or spirit, [for example ]’a fiery sermon’”.6

Solomon begins the book of Ecclesiastes with these words, “The words of the Preacher, the son of David king of Jerusalem” (v. 1). This is the voice of experience.

Someone states that wisdom is derived two ways, “Live and learn or learn and live”. The book of Ecclesiastes primarily reflects the first perspective of “live and learn”, while the book of Proverbs reflects the opposite perspective of “learn and live.”

II. The Fun And Futile Venture Of The Preacher

Ecclesiastes 1:2-11:8

“Fun” means “pleasant diversion or amusement; highly enjoyable recreation.”

A tee shirt carried the following message, “Sworn to fun / Loyal to none”.

Anyone who denies that sin is fun is being dishonest. We read in Hebrews 11:24-26, “By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.”

Although we find the phrase “attained to greatness” (Ecclesiastes 1:16), we also find the phrase “grasping for the wind” (Ecclesiastes 1:17; 2:11; 2:26). Count the number of times you find the word “vanity” in the book of Ecclesiastes. Someone explains that vanity is “The futile emptiness of trying to be happy apart from God.”

Thomas G. Addington and Stephen R. Graves share in Daily Focus, “King Solomon received the gift of wisdom at the beginning of his reign (see 2 Chronicles 1:7-12). But while he certainly used the wisdom God gave him, he pursued—with focused passion—everything but that God-given wisdom. He went after pleasure, knowledge, great projects, wealth, fame, and whatever else his heart desired. He could afford anything, and he denied himself nothing.

Near the end of his life, however, Solomon turned his attention back to the God-centered priorities he had focused on decades earlier. In the process, he wrote the Book of Ecclesiastes to help young leaders coming after him to stay centered on the kind of thinking that a God-life entails. The book covers a wide range of subjects, all relating to the uncompromising pursuit of a complete and meaningful life.”7

III. The Faith And Family Values Of The Preacher

Ecclesiastes 11:9-12:1-14

Dr. Richard Land has ably led the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention since 1988. The ERLC produces a magazine called “Faith & Family Values”. Faith and family values have been under attack since the Garden of Eden.

We read in Ecclesiastes 11:9-12:14, “Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, / And let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth; Walk in the ways of your heart, / And in the sight of your eyes; / But know that for all these God will bring you into judgment. Therefore remove sorrow from your heart, /And put away evil from your flesh, / For childhood and youth are vanity. Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, / Before the difficult days come, / And the years draw near when you say, / “I have no pleasure in them”: While the sun and the light, / The moon and the stars, / Are not darkened, / And the clouds do not return after the rain; / In the day when the keepers of the house tremble, / And the strong men bow down; / When the grinders cease because they are few, / And those that look through the windows grow dim; / When the doors are shut in the streets, / And the sound of grinding is low; / When one rises up at the sound of a bird, / And all the daughters of music are brought low. Also they are afraid of height, / And of terrors in the way; / When the almond tree blossoms, / The grasshopper is a burden, / And desire fails. For man goes to his eternal home, / And the mourners go about the streets. Remember your Creator before the silver cord is loosed, / Or the golden bowl is broken, / Or the pitcher shattered at the fountain, / Or the wheel broken at the well. Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, / And the spirit will return to God who gave it. “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher, / “All is vanity.”

And moreover, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yes, he pondered and sought out and set in order many proverbs. The Preacher sought to find acceptable words; and what was written was upright—words of truth. The words of the wise are like goads, and the words of scholars are like well-driven nails, given by one Shepherd. And further, my son, be admonished by these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is wearisome to the flesh. Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, / For this is man’s all. For God will bring every work into judgment, / Including every secret thing, / Whether good or evil.”

Solomon’s 700 wives and 300 concubines turn his heart away from God (1 Kings 11:3-4). It is interesting that many people choose Solomon over Daniel as a role model from the Bible. Ezekiel the prophet notes the righteousness and wisdom of the prophet Daniel in the book bearing his name (Ezekiel 14:14 and 28:3). Although Daniel was not without sin as our Lord Jesus Christ, there is no record in the Bible of a moral lapse in his life as he served in a pagan land under pagan kings. We read in Daniel 1:20; 2:20-23, 28; 5:11,12, “And in all matters of wisdom and understanding about which the king examined them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers who were in all his realm (Daniel 1:20). . . Daniel answered and said: “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, / For wisdom and might are His. And He changes the times and the seasons; / He removes kings and raises up kings; / He gives wisdom to the wise / And knowledge to those who have understanding. He reveals deep and secret things; / He knows what is in the darkness, / And light dwells with Him. “ I thank You and praise You, / O God of my fathers; / You have given me wisdom and might, / And have now made known to me what we asked of You, / For You have made known to us the king’s demand.’ . . . But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days. Your dream, and the visions of your head upon your bed, were these: (Daniel 2:20-23) . . . There is a man in your kingdom in whom is the Spirit of the Holy God. And in the days of your father, light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, were found in him; and King Nebuchadnezzar your father—your father the king—made him chief of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers. Inasmuch as an excellent spirit, knowledge, understanding, interpreting dreams, solving riddles, and explaining enigmas were found in this Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar, now let Daniel be called, and he will give the interpretation”(Daniel 5:11-12).

In many ways Solomon attained to greatness. For example, we read in Matthew 12:42, “The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.” Jesus Christ our Lord is the one who is “greater than Solomon.”

IV. Conclusion

Recently Ted Moffett placed the following on the First Baptist Church of Spanish Fort marquee: “Many folks want to serve God, but only as advisers.”

We find in 1 Kings 3:5-15, “At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, ‘Ask! What shall I give you?’ And Solomon said: ‘You have shown great mercy to Your servant David my father, because he walked before You in truth, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with You; You have continued this great kindness for him, and You have given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day. Now, O Lord my God, You have made Your servant king instead of my father David, but I am a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. And Your servant is in the midst of Your people whom You have chosen, a great people, too numerous to be numbered or counted. Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?’

The speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing. Then God said to him: ‘Because you have asked this thing, and have not asked long life for yourself, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have asked the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern justice, behold, I have done according to your words; see, I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has not been anyone like you before you, nor shall any like you arise after you. And I have also given you what you have not asked: both riches and honor, so that there shall not be anyone like you among the kings all your days. So if you walk in My ways, to keep My statutes and My commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days.’ Then Solomon awoke; and indeed it had been a dream. And he came to Jerusalem and stood before the ark of the covenant of the LORD, offered up burnt offerings, offered peace offerings, and made a feast for all his servants.”

Dr. Tim Owens, pastor of First Baptist Church, Grandfield, Oklahoma, former pastor of First Baptist Church, Bryan, Texas, writes, “Wisdom brings two major blessings to one's life. First, wisdom protects the Christian from needless detours.8

We read in 1 Timothy 6:9-10, “But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”

Dr. Owens continues, “Wisdom protects Christians from the temptation to let the trials of life lead them into doubt and despair. Wisdom accepts the testing times of life with the confidence that God is always working all things for the ultimate good of his children (Romans 8:28). Wisdom also protects Christians from the bitterness that often accompanies unfulfilled expectations of earthly reward for doing what is right. Wisdom looks forward to the eternal, heavenly reward a gracious God has prepared for his children, while it accepts the reality that earthly life will always fall short of the heavenly ideal.”

Dr. Owens explains, “The second blessing is that wisdom moves the Christian to God's point of view. Wisdom is determined to find God in every circumstance of life. If times are good, wisdom gives thanks to God, for it is God "who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment" (1 Timothy 6:17). If times are tough, wisdom submits to God and chooses to walk by faith. Wisdom is certain the fulfillment of God's ultimate will is absolutely perfect. God is always working according to his perfect plan, but without wisdom the Christian will either actively resist God's way or passively lose heart. Wisdom allows Christians to see God at work in their lives, during the good and the tough times.”9

We read in Ecclesiastes 5:1-7, “Walk prudently when you go to the house of God; and draw near to hear rather than to give the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they do evil. Do not be rash with your mouth, / And let not your heart utter anything hastily before God. For God is in heaven, and you on earth; / Therefore let your words be few. For a dream comes through much activity, / And a fool’s voice is known by his many words. When you make a vow to God, do not delay to pay it; / For He has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you have vowed—Better not to vow than to vow and not pay. Do not let your mouth cause your flesh to sin, nor say before the messenger of God that it was an error. Why should God be angry at your excuse and destroy the work of your hands? For in the multitude of dreams and many words there is also vanity. But fear God.”

In James 1:5 we find God’s invitation to us as well, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” As believers we must remember that we have same “spirit of wisdom” (Isaiah 11:2b), the Holy Spirit, the Third Person of the Trinity, dwelling within us (Romans 8:9) and sealing us until the day of redemption (Ephesians 1:13, 4:30).

“‘The unexamined life is not worth living’, said Socrates. Dr. Warren W. Wiersbe adds, “Yet, few people sit down to weigh the values that control their decisions and directions. Many people today are slaves of ‘things,’ and as a result do not experience real Christian joy.”10

Biographer D.M. Field shares the account of a young man named Vincent, who deeply desired to make a difference in the world. Vincent admitted, “I feel instinctively that I am good for something, that there is some point in existence.” He further stated, “What use could I be . . . ? What service could I perform?” Vincent concluded that he was to become a minister of the Gospel. He confessed, “Woe is me, if I do not preach the Gospel; if I did not aim at that and possess faith and hope in Christ, it would be bad for me indeed.”11

According to Dear Theo: Autobiography of Vincent Van Gogh, edited by Irving Stone, “Vincent Van Gogh [(1853-1890)], the Dutch artist, began ministry preaching in the London slums using Spurgeon's sermons.”12

Best-selling author Robert J. Morgan explains in My All In All, “Unfortunately, people didn’t like Vincent’s sermons, and he found little support among fellow preachers. Abandoning the ministry, he turned from the pulpit to the easel. His mental and emotional health declined, his art seemed unappreciated, and despair crept over him like a deepening dream until he shot and killed himself at age thirty-seven.”

Morgan opines, “To me, [Vincent] Van Gogh is the most fascinating of the artists. Many theories have tried to explain his troubled life. But perhaps the best explanation is that of Solomon, another man who turned from God and found that without the Lord, there is no peace or purpose for which to life.” Morgan adds, “In Ecclesiastes, Solomon found that without God everything—hard work, pleasure, alcohol, sex, reading, and artistic endeavors—was vanity.

The ultimate philosophical truth is this: Without Christ, all is vanity even when it’s easy; with Him, all is well even when it’s hard.”13

Make sure that you truly know Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord by repentance of sin and faith in His death, burial and resurrection for the forgiveness of your sin. If you do not know Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord you can pray a prayer like this: Dear God, I know that I am a sinner, in thought, in word and in deed. I am a sinner by nature and a sinner by choice. I believe that Jesus died on the cross for the forgiveness of my sin and that he rose from the grave on the third day. I ask Jesus to take over my life and to be my Savior, my Lord, and my King. Thank you for giving me the forgiveness of my sin and everlasting life. Amen.

Under the Lordship of Jesus Christ, may we answer in the affirmative, the perennial question, “Is life worth living?”

1. Charles Wesley Pope, Is Life Worth Living? (Nashville: Curley Printing Company, 1959), pp. 13

2, Dr. Gary Staats, Expository Survey of the Scriptures Old Testament (Background, overall content, and detailed analytical outlines)

3. Available from: http://www.the-highway.com/scripture_Young.html Accessed: 06/29/09

4. W. Graham Scroggie, The Unfolding Drama of Redemption3 vol. in one (Grand Rapids: Kregel, 1995), p. 272

5. Dr. Gary Staats, Expository Survey of the Scriptures Old Testament (Background, overall content, and detailed analytical outlines)

6. Available from: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fiery Accessed: 06/25/09

7. Thomas G. Addington and Stephen R. Graves, Daily Focus : Readings for Integrating Faith in the Workplace (Nashville: W Publishing Group, A Division of Thomas Nelson, Inc., 2001), p. 225

8. Baptist Standard, February 17, 2003, LifeWay Family Bible Series for March 2 “Take time during prayer to hear from God” (1 Chronicles 4:9,10; 1 Kings 3:5, 7-10; Ecclesiastes 5:1-7) Available from: http://www.baptiststandard.com/2003/2_17/pages/family.html Accessed: 05/31/09

9. Baptist Standard, February 17, 2003, LifeWay Family Bible Series for March 2 “Take time during prayer to hear from God” (1 Chronicles 4:9,10; 1 Kings 3:5, 7-10; Ecclesiastes 5:1-7) Available from: http://www.baptiststandard.com/2003/2_17/pages/family.html Accessed: 05/31/09

10. Warren W. Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary New Testament (Colorado Springs, Colorado: David C. Cook, 2007), p. 643

11. D.M. Field, Van Gogh (Edison, NJ: Chartwell Books, Inc., 2005), pp. 19,35

12. Irving Stone, ed., Dear Theo: Autobiography of Vincent Van Gogh (New York: Signet, 1937), pp. 16,19, 38 cited by David L. Larson, The Company of the Preachers (Grand Rapids: Kregel, 1998), p. 583

13. Robert J. Morgan, My All In All (Nashville: B&H Books, 2008), January 27 Reading: Ecclesiastes 1:1-8

___________________________________

By Dr. Franklin L. Kirksey, pastor First Baptist Church of Spanish Fort 30775 Jay Drive Spanish Fort, Alabama 36527

Author of Sound Biblical Preaching: Giving the Bible a Voice Available on Amazon.com and WORDsearchbible.com

http://www.amazon.com/Sound-Biblical-Preaching-Giving-Bible/dp/1594577684

http://www.wordsearchbible.com/products/Sound_Biblical_Preaching_1476.html

http://www.webspawner.com/users/franklinlkirksey / fkirksey@bellsouth.net / (251) 626-6210