Sermon Tone Analysis
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Who Defines “Good”?
Shadows are fun, there are two parts to a shadow, the light source and what is blocking the light, etc.
Shade is one of the benefits of a shadow.
It provides relief.
But who is shining the light?
Who Defines “Good”?
Why is the question important?
Who has the authority to say what is good?
Who has the power to make good happen?
Ecclesiastes
Ecclesiastes
We have already covered .
It is a book about wisdom from the standpoint of the teacher.
He has bought everything that money can buy and enjoyed every experience that his heart desired.
But now, looking back on life, he is thinking about meaning, purpose and what is truly good.
The overall conclusion of Ecclesiastes is that we should both Enjoy Life and Fear God, and the two work together.
starts the second half of the book.
But he is not able to contend with the One stronger than he
Who are we to contend with God? Who are we to interrogate the creator about how he has made the world?
MAIN IDEA - This world is bigger than we can see.
There are so many variables that we can’t control.
There is history before our lives and there will be much more history made after our lives.
In all of this, who defines what is good?
MAIN IDEA - This world is bigger than we can see.
There are so many variables that we can’t control.
There is history before our lives and there will be much more history made after our lives.
In all of this, who defines what is good?
-Do we look to our culture’s definition?
-Do we look to the philosophers definition?
-Do we look to our own hearts and minds to define what is good?
The teacher eloquenty points out, we don’t have the ability to define good, because we are limited in our knowledge and our authority.
The one who defines what is good is the one who is outside of time, the one who can see the end from the beginning.
But do live according to what God says about what is good?
Setting up the Wise Sayings “Proverbs” in vs 7:1-12
-More than one way of reading these.
Solomon is saying that even though we can’t define good, we can still see make decisions and have confidence based on what is better.
ex: Wisdom is better than folly
2nd Way of reading these is that Solomon is showing that all of the wisdom in the world is insufficient to show what is good
so he states a point that is wise (and widely accepted), and then he circles back to show the logical conclusion and how at its end, we still don’t truly know what is good.
I’ll try to show a balanced way of looking at these proverbs from both perspectives, because i think that they can actually work together to help us understand the passage.
The main point is to continue asking the question, “Who Defines Good”?
At the end of the day, we must make the decision, whose definition of Good will we live by?
A Good Name is Better than...
Ecc 7:1-
What is the value of a good name?
How far can a good reputation take you?
In business, just being connected to somebody with a good name is valuable.
They can give you a reference, and based on someone else’s good name, you can get an opportunity.
It’s easy to see the case for the value of a good name, even in this limited example.
The Day of one’s death is better than the day of birth?
I’ve got the question mark on the slide so that you will ask the question, “Is the day of death better than the day of birth?”
Birth is filled with joy and excitement, (especially for the mothers AFTER the baby is born =)
It is wonderful and awe inspiring to hold a brand new baby, a miracle in your hands.
Is the day of death better than that.
Loss of life is in view, there is the pain of separation, why is that better than the day of birth?
Ancient sages taught that there was a way to beat the system, a way to gain an immortality.
How? you ask, by the power of your name.
Do good things, have a fantastic legacy, let their be honorariums, scholarships and awards that all bear your name.
Then long after you die, people will still be talking about you.
For example, think about the Nobel peace prize or The Stanley Cup.
These men have their names living on, well after they have passed.
A penny for your thoughts, oh no I’ll sell them for a dollar
They’re worth so much more after I’m a goner
And maybe then you’ll hear the words I been singin’
Funny when you’re dead how people start listenin’
Is the day of death better than the day of birth?
When your work here is done and people can say how great you were?
So in that sense, is the day of death better than the day of birth, when your work here is done and people can say how great you were?
I think that what the teacher of Ecclesiastes wants for us to consider is that
Your life is worth more than your reputation.
Yes, a good name is valuable, but is that where you put your identity and your worth.
Is it worth all that effort to live now so that people will think well of you later?
Clearly, there is some good there.
If a
There is great value to a good reputation.
But don’t lose sight of the fact that what’s most important is what God thinks of us, our reputation in heaven is what we should be living for.
We do what God asks and trust our earthly reputation to him.
Because in the end, who cares what people say about you if God doesn’t call you good.
Ecc 7:3
Ecc 7:
Life is full of contradictions.
Grief isn’t all good.
Laughter isn’t all bad.
Sometimes the laughter happens with the grief.
Elsewhere he has taught that
Even when we are happy, we can still have an awareness that it wont last.
Hardship is coming, trials are coming.
And so we laugh, but if we step back to think about it, we are still living in a fallen world with all sorts of variables that we can never control.
says it this way...
Prov
Life is composed of moments, and although all moments last for different lengths of time they all eventually come to an end.
Maybe that give you hope today.
Your sadness can turn to joy!
Here is the thing, we can’t live for moments.
We have to live for something bigger than a moment.
It’s like the couple who is getting married and the big day is approaching.
Should they put all of the effort into the current day?
Should the focus everything into the wedding ceremony itself?
Should they be preparing for married life after the ceremony?
One thing is sure, their lives will be full of all sorts of moments, time of laughter and sorrow.
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