Read Ecclesiastes 2:1-3. Acts 20:33-35
Today’s world has become a pleasure seeking world. Life has evolved to be about my happiness, in my entertainment and my pleasure. We see this life-philosophy in the number of people seeking extra-marital affairs, in the party-hard mentality of the masses and in the myriad of advertising that promises happiness or pleasure from the particular product advertised.
Unfortunately, the negative effects of a pleasure seeking society are seen in the high rates of alcohol & drug abuse, in the high levels of mental illness, the growing rate of relational breakdown & isolation and in the growing rates of suicide.
The Teacher in Ecclesiastes sought to find meaning and value in pleasure. He sought pleasure in wine, in laughter and ‘fun’ and in foolish behaviour. His goal was to find out what was worthwhile for mankind to do in his short life-span. However, during this foray into pleasure the Teacher made sure that it was never wanton abandonment. He was never lost in the pleasure or in the search. His mind was always guiding him with wisdom. Unlike so many in the world, he remained totally focused and totally in control.
There is no room in the Teacher’s report for suspense or drama. From the outset, see verse 1, he tells us that seeking pleasure proved to be meaningless. In verse 2 we are told that laughter is foolish. The Teacher wants us to understand the conclusion from the very beginning. He wants us to avoid being tempted to go down the very same road. He wants us to learn from his experience. Chasing pleasure is meaningless. It cannot and will not fulfil you.
Interestingly, a UCLA study has unexpectedly confirmed this. The results of a 10 year study shows that the human genome was positively affected by doing good to others but was adversely affected from hedonistic, self pleasure seeking. In the study the level of ‘happiness’ was the same in each category. What the Teacher proclaimed centuries ago, science is beginning to understand. Jesus also backed this up when He said, ’It is more blessed to give than to receive.’
We need to understand though, that no where in the Bible does it say that Christians are to be fun police, making sure that no one is having any fun. No where does it say that Christians are to be miserable lemon suckers who never smile.
Rather, our joy is to come from serving God, from being His light in the community and from loving others as ourselves. Our joy is a joy based not on what we get or what we have but is based on our relationship with God through Christ Jesus. That kind of joy gives life purpose, meaning and value that nothing in this world can imitate.
Prayer:
Write down at least one prayer point in each category based on the following verses.
In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive”.
Acts 20:35
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¥ Pray that your congregation would be a giving and generous congregation that finds real joy in giving and sharing. Pray that your mission budget would grow and multiply so much so that your mission committee would have to seek more missionaries to support.
¥ Pray that God would continue to bless the work of Teen Challenge here in Toowoomba. Pray that God would provide for all their financial, physical and personal needs. Pray especially that the residents would find meaning and value in Christ Jesus.
Discussion Questions For Families and Groups
Ducksville Presbyterian Church has a dilemma. The congregation is almost split down the middle between older Christians and young families. The older believers want to sing hymns and to have a more serious tone to church service. The younger believers want to have a bit of fun, together with some boppy songs.
1. What advice can you give to this congregation?
2. What do you think is the way forward?
3. If people threaten to leave the church because of this service issue, what could you do?
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