Ecclesiastes 3:9-15    OT p. 588 or 823

[9] What gain have the workers from their toil?

[10] I have seen the business that God has given to everyone to be busy with.

[11] He has made everything suitable for its time; moreover he has put a sense of past and future into their minds, yet they cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.

[12] I know that there is nothing better for them than to be happy and enjoy themselves as long as they live;

[13] moreover, it is God's gift that all should eat and drink and take pleasure in all their toil.

[14] I know that whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it; God has done this, so that all should stand in awe before him.

[15] That which is, already has been; that which is to be, already is; and God seeks out what has gone by.

[NRSV]

INTRODUCTION:

If you read "News Of The Weird" then you know some of what the author of Ecclesiastes was writing about. Friday "News Of The Weird" reported on a seventeen year old Ft. Worth boy who robbed a Taco Bell via the drive-thru window while on his bicycle. His getaway was hampered by his decision to wait around while the kitchen crew fixed him a hot chalupa and put it into the bag of money.

They also reported on a new sleep disorder identified by specialists. It's called "Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome," Which involves a strong urge to stay out late, followed by the inability to wake up on time. (1) My Dad called that laziness. I think it's just a hold over from the teenage years.

No wonder the author writes, "Vanity of vanities, says the Teacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity."

Ecclesiastes is such a marked difference from Job isn't it. And this weeks' readings are a little bit different from all the other weeks. The compilation doesn't really make much sense. I'm still not sure why the Bible Study made the break in Job that it did. But what we have in our readings today ranges from the Trials, Tragedy and Triumph of Job to the Lovers Lingering Lyrics of the Song of Songs. And sandwiched in between is this little sermon or maybe even a spiritual journal called Ecclesiastes.

The author of this book, is the Teacher (NRSV and NIV) or the Preacher (KJV) referred to in the book itself. And because of all the clues about being the wisest and wealthiest one in the kingdom, it's pretty much agreed that the author was actually Solomon. As we look at Ecclesiastes, we see the author reflecting back on his life. You can see that he was on a spiritual quest of sorts. He was seeking meaning in his life. Meaning and purpose and direction. He was on a QUEST FOR FAITH.

Why are you here this morning? Why did you choose to get out of your comfy bed and come to worship today? This isn't some high holy day. This isn't Easter or Christmas or even Thanksgiving. This is what is known in the church as Ordinary Time. It's the sixth week in a long period known in the church as the Season of Pentecost. A season filled with no celebrations except those WE put in. A season that really sort of mirrors our daily lives, just plain old, ordinary time.

If it's so ordinary, then what is it about this time and about you and your faith that brings you here today? I'm not foolish enough to believe that it's because of my preaching abilities (though I hope my sermons are inspirational and helpful.) I believe it's because we can identify so much with the writings found in Ecclesiastes. I think it's because we are all on a spiritual journey and a similar QUEST FOR FAITH.

That being the case, let's look at THE QUEST, WHAT SOLOMON FOUND and WHAT HE DIDN'T FIND.

I. THE QUEST:

A. All of life is a quest, is it not? We are on a Journey of Faith and Faithfulness. We're on a Quest of Faith, seeking to serve God and grow closer to and more like Christ each and every day. That's THE QUEST for us.

Unfortunately most folks think of THE QUEST more in terms of that popular show on television, "Survivor." I can honestly tell you that, all total, I've probably only watched no more than about 15 minutes of the show. It's just not really my kind of show. But the premise is easy to understand and it really is the way some people think about life.

The basic premise of Survivor is simple, to be the last one voted off. It's not a bad concept at the beginning because it's about developing community and teamwork. But that's about the last endearing quality about it. The rest of the show is about people positioning themselves for that final cut. As a consequence, there is no trust whatsoever amongst the players.

They make alliances that can change as the makeup of the teams change or as people get voted off. They lie to each other and stab each other in the back just to stay on the show. They'll do almost anything to stay on the show. And unfortunately, some folks think life is like that. They think life is all competition and the one with most toys wins. The one on top wins. And they'll do anything to be number one.

Contrast that to the story of the Seattle Special Olympics. Nine contestants, all physically or mentally challenged, assembled at the starting line for the 100-yard dash. At the sound of the starting gun they all started out, not exactly in a dash, but with deep enthusiasm to run the race, to the finish and win.

All, that is, except one boy who stumbled on the asphalt, tumbled over a couple of times, and began to cry. The other eight heard the boy cry. They slowed down and paused. Then they all turned around and went back. Every one of them.

One girl with Down's syndrome bent down and kissed the boy and said, "This will make it better." Then all nine linked arms and walked together to the finish line. Everyone in the stadium stood, and the cheering went on for 10 solid minutes. (2)

That second group knew instinctively, through their innocence, what it took Solomon a lifetime to understand. "Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up the other; but woe to one who is alone and falls and does not have another to help."

B. In his quest, Solomon found emptiness in all the answers which the world offered. He tried everything. His wealth, power and position allowed him to try anything and everything that struck his fancy. But what he really found out was that he was alone. There was no one to help lift him up. There was no one to help when he was down.

All of his stuff, all of his grand possessions and great leaders where nothing. They were meaningless. His stuff just pointed poignantly to his emptiness. That's why he writes: "Vanity of vanities! All is vanity." He looks at the work of his hands and the work of those around him and asks what good is it? Why do we struggle? And he concludes that we all wind up the same.

For him life was empty.

(Use changing bag trick).

Sometimes our lives are like that too. We pack them full of the things that really don't matter trying find what really DOES matter. And in the end we find OUR lives empty.

All of Solomon's efforts left him feeling empty and alone. But rather than cause him to feel totally defeated and give up, it caused him to search harder. It caused him to look deeper. It caused him to struggle more valiantly. Granted, a lot of the time he was running from God. A lot of the time he was seeking the sense of meaning and purpose in anything and anywhere else but God. But the point is, Solomon continued to seek. He continued his QUEST FOR FAITH.

In September, we and every other United Methodist Church in the United States will be part of an advertising blitz. The whole purpose is to reach out to those folks who like us, are on a a spiritual Journey, who like us are on a QUEST FOR FAITH. Some of the folks who will visit us will be like Solomon and have found life to be empty. They will come here searching and seeking for meaning and purpose. What will they find?

II. WHAT HE FOUND:

A. One of the things Solomon found was hope. In the midst of the all the searching Solomon did, Solomon discovered that there was Hope In The Search itself.

Benjamin Franklin, with his wit, was a man who thoroughly enjoyed trimming hecklers down to size. During the early days of the American Republic, he spoke many times on that great document, the Constitution of the United States. After one such stirring speech, an uncouth fellow rose and boldly walked a few paces toward the platform. "Aw, them words don't mean nothin' a-tall!" he shouted at Franklin. "Where's all that happiness you say it guarantees us?"

Franklin smiled benevolently at the questioner, and quickly, blandly, Old Ben replied, "My friend, the Constitution only guarantees the American people the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it for yourself!"

Luckily for us, we don't have to find the hope ourselves. In the midst of our QUEST FOR FAITH we find hope because there is Hope In The Search itself.

B. Another thing that Solomon discovered was something he had really known all along. It was something he had known and forgotten. It was something he had known and ignored. It was something that the evidence of life and nature itself pointed to. But he overlooked that evidence as being too obvious.

What did he find? Solomon Discovered God At The Center of Life and faith.

We don't think that's very profound but for those who searched everywhere else and in everything else, it's possibly the most profound statement of all. Why? Because it was right under their noses and they didn't see it.

Solomon offers words of wisdom and encouragement to the young people of his age. He encourages them to seek God while still young so they can avoid the faith struggle he had. He wanted them to Discover God At The Center early in their life.

III. WHAT HE DIDN'T FIND:

A. Solomon discovered Hope In The Search and God At The Center of Life. But there were a couple of things that Solomon DIDN'T find.

He didn't find the promise of Eternal Life. And he didn't find the Life of Sacrificial Love that marks all Christians.

The promise that sets the Old Testament of Solomon's day apart from the New Testament of our day, is the promise bought through the cross and the empty tomb of Jesus the Son of God. And that's the promise of Eternal Life, life eternal beyond death.

For Solomon, death was still the great equalizer. Death was still to be feared and loathed. It's only through Christ's death on the cross and His resurrection from the grave, that we have come to know the promise of eternal life. And it's only through Christ that we can receive this promise. Nothing else offers this promise.

B. It's through Christ too, that we discover that part of the QUEST FOR FAITH is a Life of Sacrificial Love.

That Sacrificial Love is what makes a difference in the world. It makes us realize that in one sense Solomon WAS correct, "All is vanity," everything outside of Christ that is. For it is Jesus, the Christ, the Son of God who gives meaning and purpose to life. It is Jesus who gives us more than just a mere existence. It is Jesus who gives us life.

It is Jesus who replaces the emptiness in our life.

(Use Bubba's Sparkle Box).

The life that Jesus gives us is one that is easily shared with others simply by living out our QUEST FOR FAITH on Jesus' terms.

In NET RESULTS a story is told about Dr. Dale Galloway, who is now on the faculty of Asbury Theological Seminary. Dr. Galloway had the joy of building from scratch a 6,400 member church in Portland, Oregon, called New Hope Community Church.

Galloway tells the story of a single mother and son who belonged to the church. She was involved in a women's group at the church. One of the members of that group said, "Donna, you look yellow. Have you been to a doctor?" Donna said that she couldn't afford insurance. So, the group took up an offering and sent her for a checkup. The doctor found a very serious liver problem. Without a liver transplant in the next six weeks, she would die.

Doctors told her that specialists at a hospital here in Texas could perform the operation for $140,000. (That was ten years ago.) The situation appeared to be impossible.

The women in the small group went to talk to their pastor about whether the church could do something for Donna. The pastor was troubled. They were completing a building addition and were $400,000 in debt. He was convinced that the church was financially tapped out and he was losing sleep over money as it was.

But as he prayed about Donna's situation, he was convicted that the church had to help. A lay leader whose business was known across the city agreed to be honorary chair of the effort. It would be called "Save My Mom." Another person volunteered to give the next six weeks working full-time on the project.

That Sunday, the pastor shared the need of this mother with his congregation and was shocked when $60,000 in cash was given. The next day, the pastor received an invitation to testify before the Oregon legislature with Donna about the issue of people who couldn't afford insurance. A major newspaper took a picture and ran it on the front page.

People started bringing jars of money from bars. Kids brought in their allowance. TV stations joined in the publicity. The effort raised $220,000 in seven days, and Donna, check in hand, went to Texas for the transplant. (4)

A decade later, when people talk about that church, they do not talk about their new building. They talk about the love and the caring that mother received.

That's how Jesus wants us to be. And I think that's what people experience when they come to this Church. Christ like love, caring for one another. That's our strong suit. That's what this Church does best because everyone here is on a QUEST FOR FAITH. When people come to visit, whether as a result of a campaign or our invitation, they experience the love of God through Christ through our love for each other and for them.

Like Solomon, folks on a QUEST FOR FAITH will find Hope In The Search and God At The Center of Life. They will experience the promise of Eternal Life along with the Life of Sacrificial Love. And that will influence their lives and the lives of those around them in profound ways.

And if you'll let yourself, your life will be filled, too. All you have to do is get onboard this QUEST FOR FAITH.

CONCLUSION:

While the world might be enthralled with Survivor mentality, the Church isn't about Surviving. The Church isn't even for Survivors. The Church is for Thrivers. Those who Thrive on the Word of God. Those who Thrive on the Love of God. Those who Thrive on sharing that love. Those who Thrive on offering that love no matter what the circumstance.

Joe DiMaggio, in commenting on the suicide of his former wife, Marilyn Monroe, said, "She had everything to live with but nothing to live for."

So many people in the world live like that. Like the author of Ecclesiastes they come to a point in their life where they feel empty and alone. They have plenty to live with but nothing to live for.

What about you? Are you simply a Survivor? Or are you a Thriver? It doesn't take much to be a Thriver either. Missionary Paul Bell tells about leading an elderly, illiterate man to Christ. The old man couldn't read or write, but he memorized John 3:16, and the first verse of the hymn, "What a Friend We Have in Jesus." And with just that one verse and that one song, he brought over fifty men to Christ in the next two years. (5) How? He was a Thriver.

What about you? Are you a Survivor or a Thriver? Jesus needs Thrivers. The Kingdom of God needs Thrivers. Our Church and Community needs Thrivers. Don't know which you are yet, then hook up with Jesus. Put your life in His hands. He'll make a Thriver out of you.

I can't and wouldn't and won't promise you riches or power or prestige. Those aren't the things that fulill our lives and gives us meaning and purpose, anyway. But I can promise you an Adventure in Faith. An Adventure in the QUEST FOR FAITH.

You'll become a Thriver. And along the journey, in the midst of the adventure, you will discover Hope In The Search and God At The Center of Life. You will experience the promise of Eternal Life through a Life of Sacrificial Love. Both your own and the one Jesus Christ, the Son of God, gave for you.

1. News Of The Weird, Fort Worth Satr Telegram, July 6, 2001

2. A 3rd Serving of Chicken Soup For the Soul, Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hanson, (1996, Health Communications, Inc, Deerfield Beach, FL) p. 70.

3. SFJan87

4. May 1998 edition, Cokesbury, page 20.

5. W. Herschel Ford, Simple Sermons from the Gospel of John, vol. 2, (Grand Rapids, Mich: Zondervan Press, 1958), p. 223. Cited in Living Expectantly by Brian L. Harbour, Broadman Press, Nashville, 1990.