Sermon Tone Analysis

Demolition Zone

Koheleth (Solomon) continues to prove his thesis of “vanity of vanities” in our passage tonight.

Addressing and demolishing a common pretence (myths) regarding riches.

(demolition zone picture to be inserted here)

When you see a sign that says demolition zone what do you take note of?

This demolition zone tonight we are going to demolish

Vanity that wealth brings satisfaction (v.10)

Vanity that wealth solves every problem (v.11)

Vanity that wealth brings peace of mind (v.12)

Vanity that wealth provides security (vv.13-17)

Solution to vanity of wealth (vv.18-20)

May we look at the section in it’s entirety then go back and look at the vanity in sections.

What do you see, what do you notice, what sticks out to you?

Vanity of wealth bringing satisfaction

What faith does for the believer, money does for the unbeliever.

They put their trust, their focus and their effort on it.

But wealth does not bring satisfaction as history has proven itself over and over.

Trusting in money, riches is making it a god

Sacrifices to make money and gain riches bring no eternal satisfaction (Lk12:13-21)

Just want to mention one verse from passage in Luke

People guard their money like they should guard their faith

Man was made to be satisfied only by God

Pursuit of wealth can lead to all sorts of evil (1Tim6:10)

Vanity that wealth solves every problem

We cannot deny the fact that money is needed in this world, and we need to remember that God provides the money we need through, for the most part, the labor of our hands, but money, wealth does not solve every problem.

Koheleth displays the desire for good (riches) leads to desire for more.

The more you have, the more you want, Rockefeller stated that he never got to a point where enough was enough

The more riches you have the more demands are for those riches and the demands of maintaining those riches

Win the lottery and watch relatives and organizations come out of the woodwork to try to claim some of those riches for themselves.

Riches, wealth can lead to assortment of other troubles (Jam2:1-4; 1Tim6:17-19)

Selfishness, being judgmental, divisive (Jam2:1-4)

A quick solution, instruction (1Tim6:17-19)

John Wesley said:

“Make all you can, save all you can, give all you can.”

His life was to live simply and give generously even though he could have been a very wealthy man.

for the next myth is:

Vanity that wealth brings peace of mind

“If I only won the lottery, if I only had this job” Money, wealth cannot buy you peace of mind, contrary to what the world says.

Money, riches, wealth is not a sleep aide, but can do just the opposite

Sleep of the working man can be pleasant, restful, regardless of the amount of money a person has or does not have.

Why do you think the working man can have pleasant sleep?

True peace is found only in God through Christ (Jn14:27; Php4:7)

And then add what Paul says

Jesus is peace and Jesus gives us the peace of God that guards our heart and minds! for there is no eternal peace of mind through wealth.

J.D. Rockefeller was an example of how money, riches, wealth can almost ruin a life.

at 53 as the only billionaire in the world he was so secluded and that he lived on crackers and milk and could not sleep.

Then made some changes and started giving his money away and his health changed drastically and he lived to be 98 years old.

Money is not evil, the things money can buy are not evil, but don’t lose the things, sight of the things money cannot buy like peace of mind.

Vanity that wealth brings security

Ouch, it may hurt to not have finances, money to be able to meet your financial obligations, but Koheleth brings to point that having riches, wealth can hurt too.

What do you notice, What do you see, What sticks out to you?

Don’t want you guys to just sit there, this is a bible study, so how about a few quick questions from the text?

What does Koheleth call wealth here (v.13)?

What does Koheleth say the results are (v.13)?

Look at (v.14), what is the reason there can be evil, hurt?

You can see the grievous evil further expanded in (v.16) and further results in (v.17).

Trusting in wealth in riches is a grievous evil; maybe first we should define grievous.

griev·ous (adj) (of something bad) very severe or serious.

synonyms:serious, severe, grave, bad, critical, dreadful, terrible, awful;painful, agonizing, hurtful, afflicting, wounding, damaging, injurious;

sharp, acute

The passage shows 2 rich men, one horded his riches, the other invested poorly both ended up the same, without because they trusted in their wealth.

One became a miser (like JD Rockefeller was shown to be at one time)

The other lost due to poor investments, maybe poor circumstances but the end was the same both had nothing.

It is better to never have had riches then to have and to lose and have nothing to leave for another (v.14).

Riches can never been an eternal, permanent possession.

We call live and die the same (v.15)

Reminds us of what Job said (Job1:21) or Paul to Timothy (1Tim6:7).

Or even what Paul said to Timothy

Now in looking at (v.16-17) we can see again the grievous evil and that there is no advantage since we end up the same and that the grievous evil brings about great vexation, sickness and anger to go along with your lack of sleep as mentioned in (v.12).

A good N.T. passage that goes with this thought is the rich fool, you can read that story in (Lk12:13-21)

he thought he had it all going on only for his life to be demanded from him that very night.

His money provided no security at all.

Solomon is not promoting, advocating poverty nor riches (wealth) for both have their problems (Pro30:7-9); some other verses to consider too (Pro15:16-17; Pro17:1)

May you also look at

And

May we be content with what we have and that is exactly where Koheleth goes next.

Solution to vanity of wealth

There are three ways to get wealth; we can work for it, we can steal it, or we can receive it as a gift (Ecc5:18-20; Eph4:28)

What do you see, what do you notice, what sticks out to you?

We have a little time, how about some more scripture questions?

What did Koheleth see (v.18)?

What does Koheleth acknowledge (v.18)?

What does Koheleth confirm (v.19)?

What is the promise (v.20)?

Regardless of wealth Koheleth draws the conclusion, enjoy God’s provision, do it with thankfulness of heart (Ecc5:18; 1Tim6:8; Jam1:17)

Use what God has given you for they are good gifts

Learn to be content with or without wealth, riches as Paul says (Php4:11-13)

All things you can do, is enjoy, all things you can do is share with others to help others.

All things you can do is limitless when you know who the giver is and the giver is the one who gives the increase too.

A closing thought.

The man, and may we be people like this, who is content, who has learned the calm enjoyment of the material things we have will not be vexed, concerned about the temporal nature of things for we know this life is more than these things but of the eternal things God has placed in our heart and that which makes the heart glad.

If we focus on the gifts more than the Giver we are idolaters; if we accept the gifts, but complain about them as if they were not enough we are guilty of ingratitude.

If we receive the gifts and hoard them and not share them with others we are guilty of indulgence, but if we yield to His will and use what He has given us for His glory, then we can have enjoyment and be satisfied.

(Encouragement slide 1) encouragement (Encouragement slide 2) prayer (exit slide)