3. Finding Fulfilment in Life (1)

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Hymns: 310 Glorious Freedom, 314 Near, Still Nearer, 315 Walk In the Light

 

Study of the Book of Ecclesiastes

(Remember Now Thy Creator)

– Finding Fulfilment in Life (1)

Ecclesiastes 2:1-11

1 I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also is vanity. 2 I said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What doeth it? 3 I sought in mine heart to give myself unto wine, yet acquainting mine heart with wisdom; and to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was that good for the sons of men, which they should do under the heaven all the days of their life. 4 I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards: 5 I made me gardens and orchards, and I planted trees in them of all kind of fruits: 6 I made me pools of water, to water therewith the wood that bringeth forth trees: 7 I got me servants and maidens, and had servants born in my house; also I had great possessions of great and small cattle above all that were in Jerusalem before me: 8 I gathered me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces: I gat me men singers and women singers, and the delights of the sons of men, as musical instruments, and that of all sorts. 9 So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me. 10 And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour. 11 Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.

 

OUTLINE

  • Emptiness of Worldly Pleasures (v1-3)
  • Emptiness of Worldly Possessions (v4-11)

 

INTRODUCTION

In his quest to find fulfilment or satisfaction in life, Solomon in his old age conceded that there is no true happiness without God in the arithmetic of life.

Solomon teaches us to esteem the spiritual to find fulfilment in life with God in true happiness when he observes in Proverbs 3:13-18 Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. 14 For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. 15 She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her. 16 Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour. 17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. 18 She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her. 

He tells us that the wisdom of this world gives us no such happiness. It is barrenness and a sullen, cold chill. Whereas life with God is most precious because it brings true happiness (v13-15a), most pleasant because it gives true hopefulness (v14-15a) and most permanent because it brings true holiness (v15b-18). This is found when we find salvation in Jesus Christ, God’s precious and permanent peace comes to us.[1]

The renowned universities of this world – the Oxford and Cambridge, the Harvard and the Princeton began as Bible colleges to train men for the ministry so that they may after receiving a good grounding in God’s Word carry the truth to a dying world. And because God endowed them with the blessing of understanding the laws of nature that God put in place. These institutions became very powerful institutions of learning in the sciences leading research and innovation to better the life of man always with a perspective to give glory to the Creator. These youths for many generations remember their Creator making great contributions to the advance of human civilisation with a godly perspective to life.

Soon, these institutions are infiltrated, and the Bible and God are being cast aside, and they turned into institutions that have earth-bound objectives and thus their Creator is now clean forgotten and so goes also His blessings.

The natural wise man is a fool in heavenly wisdom. By his wisdom, he grasped nothing truly beneficial to his soul. What futility, Solomon wants to point to us.

Two thoughts as Solomon explores and brings us on a tour of the natural man’s ways to show us their futility:

  • Emptiness of Worldly Pleasures (v1-3)
  • Emptiness of Worldly Possessions (v4-11)

 

(1) Emptiness of Worldly Pleasures (v1-3)

1 I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also is vanity. 2 I said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What doeth it? 3 I sought in mine heart to give myself unto wine, yet acquainting mine heart with wisdom; and to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was that good for the sons of men, which they should do under the heaven all the days of their life.

He indulged himself with “mirth”, the pleasures of this world and he found it to be empty. So he began to try out (prove), to test out the pleasures of this world.

Folly refers to parties, frivolity and self-indulgence with the maxim, “If it feels good, do it.” Pull down all restrains, let the spirit go free. This is evil, Solomon concluded for us in verse 10-11.

He is talking in our modern terms illicit sexual relations, indulgent on alcohol and drugs and the occult things (of the devil), the appeals of sensual pleasures and erotic desires. He found them perverted and disgusting. Utter folly!

This is a report from the Asian Parent Community – More Singapore Teens Having Sex (http://sg.theasianparent.com/articles/more_teens_having_sex)

More teens in Singapore are having sex. The number of statutory rape cases involving girls under 14 in Singapore jumped more than 70 per cent in 2009 when compared to 2008. Most of the cases were surprisingly consensual sex amongst casual friends and boyfriends, most of whom were about the same age. The cases were mostly reported by girls’ parents or teachers once they found out. The punishment for statutory rape in Singapore varies. If the culprits are youngsters themselves, they might be fined, sent for reformative training or given probation. Some are jailed. But if older men are involved, more severe sentences like jail and caning are handed down. The girls involved in such cases are not punished, even if they initiate sex, but they are sometimes counselled. STDs and abortion rates amongst teens in Singapore are also on the rise. Last year, 787 teens caught STDs, more than three times the 238 in 2002. Teenage abortions last year was 1,289.

 

Straits Times report “Rise in teen sex” By Carolyn Quek and Kimberly Spykerman dated 9 Feb 2009:

NEVER mind that they know little about the birds and the bees, teenage girls here are still going ahead with the deed – and in larger numbers as well. The latest police figures show that 310 girls below the age of 16 were caught engaging in underage consensual sex last year – nearly 45per cent more than the year before. Put the number from five years ago – 163 – the jump is even starker. Most of the time, their parents or teachers report them to the police; police officers on patrol have also caught them in the act. The police say that most of the time, these girls are with men known to them, usually their boyfriends or friends.[2]

 Teens do not feel loved in the home! They sought love outside with their friends. Two other terms that described love at the superficial level. “Eros” expresses a possessive love and used mainly describing physical love.

Solomon gave himself over to the consumption of alcohol. He understood the snare of intoxication because he told us in KJV Proverbs 20:1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.

Nonetheless, he sought in his heart to give myself unto wine.

The wretched victims of strong or intoxicating drink “shekar” have been mocked and grievously deceived. Be not deceived is the warning! Not only does it overcome them before they are aware, but it promises pleasure that it can never give.

It’s raging power causes unruly behavior, degrades man below the level of a beast because the government of reason is surrendered to lust, appetite or passion.

Strong drink is deceptive in that it led us astray and wandered from the path of instruction. It is also destructive – raging means to be boisterous, turbulent, as the roaring of the sea (Jeremiah 5:22, Zechariah 9:15). Strong drink excites its victims to the worst passions – quarrels, brawls, murders (Hosea 4:11, 7:5; Galatians 5:21).

It makes shipwreck of chastity, conscience, reputations, homes and friendships. It is also delusive.

The Bible regards drunkenness as sin, “Woe unto him that giveth his neighbour drink, that puttest thy bottle to him, and makest him drunken also, that thou mayest look on their nakedness! Thou art filled with shame for glory: drink thou also, and let thy foreskin be uncovered: the cup of the LORD’S right hand shall be turned unto thee, and shameful spewing shall be on thy glory.” (Habakkuk 2:15-16), condemns it (Isaiah 5:22-23), warns of it (Luke 21:34-36), and admonishes watchfulness against it (1 Corinthians 9:27, 10:12, Ephesians 5:18).

I was invited to a department dinner with my colleagues. There were about 50 of us being encouraged to give ourselves to a little beer, or wine or hard liquor. When it was my turn, I requested for a soft drink. My department manager, a veteran Italian, challenged me in front of the whole department to drink. I politely declined the offer. Urged by others to join him. Again I declined.

As the dinner wore on, I saw one male colleague hugging another male colleague. He appeared a dignified man in his sober state. But in his drunkenness, he embarrassed himself. He could not control his senses. I thank the Lord for giving me the strength to abstain. I ask myself this question when I looked at my drunken colleague.

Would my manager give to him the charge of our multi-million dollar business? I knew in my heart he will not. It was a moment where self-control needs to be exercised to the fullest.

Then I also observed other colleagues who pretended to be drinking, holding the glass but taking small sips. These too were caught because the dinner lasted more than 3 hours. The accumulation of small sips caused them to be red like a persimmon fruit. Social drinking can be dangerous. A little alcohol can be too much.

The term social drinking suggests that the consumption of alcohol in respectable surroundings is in some way different from drinking in other environments. There was a time when it would have been unthinkable that we would have to speak out against social drinking among Christians. The fact that such a problem has grown to the currently distressing proportions shows what a powerful and insidious influence the present age exerts on the church of Jesus Christ.

 Scripture records tragedy due to alcohol. The earliest recorded instance of wine usage is found in the Bible Noah’s intoxication, Genesis 9:21 “And he drank of the wine, and was drunken, and he was uncovered within his tent.” It brought shame for his son Ham, the father of Canaan was condemned for seeing his father’s nakedness. Xerxes was powerful. He ruled over a great kingdom and had a beautiful wife. But his foolish action before his drinking guests resulted in the deposition of his queen and the dissolution of their marriage (Esther 1:9-22). Belshazzar, in a state of drunkenness, committed sacrilege with the sacred vessels from the Jewish temple. That very night he was killed as a fulfillment of prophecy (Daniel 5).

Drunkenness, according to Scripture, is a sin. The spirit and intent of Scripture emphasize the evil consequences of alcohol.

Drunkards shall not inherit the kingdom of God, 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.”

Alcohol destroys the body. Even in small amounts it begins its subtle work of destruction, taking its toll on mental and physical reactions. God knew this fact very well when He gave instructions that priests and kings (spiritual and secular leaders) should refrain from any use of alcoholic beverages.

“Total Abstinence” is a distinctive of the Bible-Presbyterian Church at its formation in 1937, predominantly through the efforts of such conservative Presbyterian clergymen as Carl McIntire, J. Oliver Buswell, and Allen A. MacRae. The First General Synod of the Bible Presbyterian Church was held in 1938 in Collingswood, NJ.[3] Two main issues made the existence of these factions within the Orthodox Presbyterian Church evident. The first had to do with a classic Reformed piety over against a piety of fundamentalism. It came down to a conflict of the use of alcoholic beverages. The “Orthodox” side condemned drunkenness, but nevertheless, did not agree that Scripture taught total abstinence from alcoholic beverages. The “Bible” side asserted that Christians ought to abstain totally from alcohol.[4]

Alcoholism in the US

Every one of the 13 million problem drinkers in the United States today started on the road to alcoholism with a social drink or an innocent first taste. Half of the fatal automobile accidents are caused by drinking drivers. According to government estimates, the economic cost of alcoholism–including lost production, automobile accidents, health care, violent crimes, and fire losses–exceeds 100 billion dollars every year.[5] Alcohol is consistently linked to a high percentage of reported murders, assaults, and rapes, as well as to suicide, domestic violence, and child abuse. The role of social drinking as the starting point for much of this abuse can only be estimated.

 

Alcoholism in Singapore

Alcohol consumption is associated with numerous medical problems such as hepatitis, cirrhosis, cancers of the oropharyngeal tract and colo-rectum, addiction and depression and encephalopathy. Alcohol consumption is also linked to road traffic accidents and physical injuries (Mura et al., 2003), family violence (Lipsky et al., 2005) and other social problems such as unemployment. (Lee et al.,1990) While, in recent years, researchers have recognized that moderate alcohol intake may be beneficial, (Corrao et al.,2000) it is accepted that the potential for harm far outweighs that for benefit in alcohol consumption. Recent studies have postulated that the pattern of alcohol consumption is as important as the total quantity of alcohol consumed. In particular, excess alcohol intake during a single session (binge drinking), defined as five or more units of alcohol consumed during a single episode, has been recognized as being harmful and is believed to contribute to mortality patterns in some countries. (Chenet et al., 2001; Evans et al., 2000) Binge drinking is associated with an increase in the risk of coronary heart disease (Murray et al., 2002). It is linked to mental and behavioural problems in children (of mothers who binge drink during pregnancy) (Bailey et al., 2004). Binge-drinkers are more likely to report mental distress and depression (Okoro et al., 2004) and to exhibit cognitive deficits (Hartley et al., 2004). Binge drinking is associated with offending and disorderly behaviour (Richardson and Budd, 2003), drink-driving (Duncan, 1997), unplanned pregnancies (Naimi et al., 2003) and risky sexual behaviours (Dunn et al., 2003).

 

The most lucrative business in the world is drugs. The profit is 30 to 50 times even after changing hands. The abuse of drugs has wrecked many lives. The pushing of drugs continues unabated. Thank God there is the death penalty in Singapore for drug trafficking.

There was a time when there was a great trade imbalance between China and the Western world. The British use gold and silver to purchase the goods from China. This imbalance when treacherously dealt with by the pushing of opium to China.

 The Opium Wars were two wars in the mid-19th century involving Anglo-Chinese disputes over British trade in China and China’s sovereignty. The disputes included the First Opium War (1839–1842) and the Second Opium War (1856–1860). The wars and events between them weakened the Qing dynasty and reduced China’s separation from the rest of the world.

 The First Opium War, during 1839–1842, was concluded by the Treaty of Nanking in 1842. The treaty ceded the island of Hong Kong to the United Kingdom in perpetuity, and it established five treaty ports at Shanghai, Canton, Ningpo, Fuchow, and Amoy.

Another treaty the next year gave most favoured nation status to the United Kingdom and added provisions for British extraterritoriality. Then France secured concessions on the same terms as the British, in treaties of 1843 and 1844.

During 1856–1860, British forces fought towards legalization of the opium trade, to expand coolie trade, to open all of China to British merchants, and to exempt foreign imports from internal transit duties. France joined the British. The war is also known as the “Arrow War”, referring to the name of a vessel at the starting point of the conflict. The Arrow War resulted in a second group of treaty ports being set up; eventually more than 80 treaty ports were established in China, involving many foreign powers. All foreign traders gained rights to travel within China.[6]

 

CONCLUSION

May God help us to see a true perspective of life by seeing through the deception of this worldly lifestyle and flee from it from our eternal safety and that of our family! Amen.

 

[1] Denis Gibson, Go for the Life that Wins!, D. & E. I. Gibson, 1 February.

[2] http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_336003.html

[3] The Bible Presbyterian Church was an offshoot of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, formed slightly earlier and a continuation of the Presbyterian Church of America (not to be confused with the similar but later Presbyterian Church in America). Once the conservative faction had left the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America (PCUSA), they found that there was considerable dissension among the conservatives themselves, and it became evident that there were two groups within the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. The first group was more closely bound to conservative modes of worship, theological formulations, and the like. This group held to the classic formulations of Reformed theology and piety and remained within the “Orthodox” faction.

The other faction had a conservatism that was more of a cultural and political conservatism, and saw the actions of the PCUSA as symptomatic of a rejection of long-held principles of conservative Christianity by much of the larger American society. This group was essentially fundamentalist in nature, and became associated with the “Bible” faction. McIntire laid the basis for much of what was to come to be called the “Christian right” in American religion and politics. [http://www.bpcknoxville.org/History.html]

[4] The second issue was over faithfulness to Covenant Theology versus the toleration of Dispensationalism. Those on the “Bible” side had come to tolerate, and even use the popular Scofield Reference Bible whose notes taught the theological system called Dispensationalism rather than Covenant Theology historically held in Reformed churches. Scofield’s notes were under considerable criticism by faculty members of Westminster Theological Seminary, who led the “Orthodox” faction. Historic premillennialism was tolerated within the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, yet the Dispensational form of premillennialism was considered to be serious error. Those who came to call themselves “Bible Presbyterians” saw the serious criticisms against Scofield’s notes as a swipe against historic premillennialism itself, rather than merely the Dispensational form of premillennialism, and wanted the freedom to use the Scofield Reference Bible. The formal exodus of Bible Presbyterian churches came about in 1938, only two years after the forming of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, but it was not on unkind terms, as with the original split with the PCUSA. It should be noted that the Bible Presbyterian Church has always maintained the unity of the Covenant of grace (a decidedly non-dispensational position), and has passed resolutions against dispensationalism in its annual Synod meetings. [Ibid.]

[5] Statistics provided by the National Council on Alcoholism, Inc., 12 West 21st Street, New York, NY 10010.

[6] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opium_Wars