What is important in life?
 sermon by Manfred Schreyer

Eccl 1:14 I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind. :15 What is twisted cannot be straightened; what is lacking cannot be counted. :16 I thought to myself, "Look, I have grown and increased in wisdom more than anyone who has ruled over Jerusalem before me; I have experienced much of wisdom and knowledge."

:17 Then I applied myself to the understanding of wisdom, and also of madness and folly, but I learned that this, too, is a chasing after the wind. :18 For with much wisdom comes much sorrow; the more knowledge, the more grief. 2:1 I thought in my heart, "Come now, I will test you with pleasure to find out what is good." But that also proved to be meaningless. :2 "Laughter," I said, "is foolish. And what does pleasure accomplish?" :3 I tried cheering myself with wine, and embracing folly--my mind still guiding me with wisdom. I wanted to see what was worthwhile for men to do under heaven during the few days of their lives. :4 I undertook great projects: I built houses for myself and planted vineyards. :5 I made gardens and parks and planted all kinds of fruit trees in them. :6 I made reservoirs to water groves of flourishing trees. :7 I bought male and female slaves and had other slaves who were born in my house. I also owned more herds and flocks than anyone in Jerusalem before me. :8 I amassed silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and provinces. I acquired men and women singers, and a harem as well--the delights of the heart of man.

:9 I became greater by far than anyone in Jerusalem before me. In all this my wisdom stayed with me. :10 I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all my labor. :11 Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.

 

The one had written theses thoughts was King Salomon called: Koheleth, son of King David and King of Jerusalem.

 

      The author in Ecclesiastes comes to an amazing conclusion: He goes from wisdom and knowledge to find out that wisdom leads to sorrow and knowledge to grief.

      Reading all the verses one could come to the conclusion that nothing will make us happy. Well., at least not the things that many people think may make us happy in this world.

      As I often said: People , no matter where they live, have ask themselves the same question in their lifetime: "What is the purpose of life"

      All of us probably can agree on one thing: We know what feels good: Moments of happiness, peace, to be loved, to love, to be given to, to give, etc.

      That is deep within us and no matter what age, what gender, what race, what culture. . .we feel the same.

      The older we grow and the more experience we gain from others and from situations we experience we hang on to those moments which make us happy. Maybe it is the new job, the new toy, etc. But the misery is that any of those things mentioned lose their ‘flair" after a while. "They become stale, boring and we become disinterested. . ."

      And then we try to build a philosophical world, a concept that if we could make it fit to our life. We build moral and ethical values. . .we do that through knowledge and wisdom. . .and we build for us a perfect world with values that are to be achieved and we then believe that our world will be a happy world.

      Last Wednesday I visited our senior group meeting. The guest speaker was one of our own. Jim B. Who owns the local Pharmacy downtown. He gave great insight into the world of drugs and their side effects and costs, etc. And then he made an astounding observation which hit home with me:

He mentioned that he observed over the years people go to their doctors / pharmacies and want medicines for everything and every situation: They want medicine not to be hungry, they want medicine too sleep better at night, they want medicine to feel younger and the list is literally endless. When Jim mentioned all these demands of the people, he really reflected in his story in a way how we as God’s people think. . . .we observe what could be better in life and we want a quick fix. . .we do into worry about side effect and we also do not worry about the long term effects.

What we forget is that we are not able to cure the symptom with a pill.

      Salomon speaks about his doings and what he had achieved in life. In tokay’s press you are constantly encouraged to increase your wealth, you are told that when you work hard and smart life will be easier. People fall for pyramid business models like 'Amway' and such who seek people who want to become instant Millionaires.

And in the same media you see articles how to reduce stress in your life. And the number one item on top of the list is "to let go of some of the chores" WoW. . .what a revelation.

      If you are hard working, and constantly busy have you ever observed that no matter how much time you add to the already busy schedule. . .the workload does NOT get less.

      Salomon is right. . .it is in vain. . .it is like chasing the wind.

      Life is more! Life is. . .

 

(1) the day after yesterday and the day before tomorrow...Live today and make it count"

(2) to build this day on a foundation of pleasant thoughts

(3) to never again clutter your days or nights with so many menial and unimportant things that you have no time to accept a real challenge when it comes along

(4) a very precious gift from above. Ecclesiastes 3:1 to 8 states that everything has its time and to everything there is a season. A time to be born, a time to laugh, a time to tear, a time to love, a time to hate, and a time to die. Enjoy HIS precious gift while it last and follow HIS WAY. GOD bless everybody, Wherever you are, HE is always there with you"

(5) to accept what you have

 

(6) to search for the seed of good in every adversity

 

(7) to respect all life and the giver of life

 

(8) to be with others and be hospitable and giving

 

(9) to recognize you can't make someone else's choices, therefore you shouldn't allow someone else to make yours


(10) in small things


(11) in expressions of unconditional love and support

 

      I believe that Life is not all that hard. I also believe that life is not about accumulating wealth in material things, but that life is about living. Living the moment and not moments we create.

      I believe that the best things in life you can not buy and that those are the things that have to be treasured more then any material wealth.

      In the end Salomon found no pleasure and no contentment in the things the had tried to achieve. Neither in the areas of knowledge or creating wealth and riches . . .he said that nothing was gained under the sun.

      God wants us to rejoice in the life He has given us. Nothing needs to be added or subtracted. Rejoice in your life as a gift and be content. . .and finally give of yourself to others.

       

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