https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Enjoy-What-God-Has-Given-You.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n\tby Jeffrey W. Hamilton<\/p>\n\t
Text: Psalms 50<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
I. Have you given a gift that wasn’t appreciated?<\/p>\n
A. “That’s nice, but it wasn’t what I hoped to receive.”<\/p>\n
B. “Thanks, but it would have been better if you also included …”<\/p>\n
C. Or worse, it just sits there, not being used<\/p>\n
D. It’s frustrating to the giver.<\/p>\n
E. But consider the world from God’s point of view<\/p>\n
II. Dreams – Ecclesiastes 5:1-7<\/p>\n
A. When we go before God, we are there to worship and learn – Ecclesiastes 5:1 <\/p>\n
1. Fools think they are doing God a favor by offering sacrifices to Him.<\/p>\n
2. Somehow they believe that God needs their worship <\/p>\n
a. If God were hungry, He would not tell us – Psalms 50:12-15<\/p>\n
b. We are not here so that God owes us favors<\/p>\n
B. Too often people make requests of God without much thought – Ecclesiastes 5:2<\/p>\n 1. If you needed to ask a favor of the head of your company, or the president\nof the country, how much thought would you put into what you are asking\nfor?\n 2. We need to remember our place in the universe. God is not there to cater\nto our wishes\n
C. You gain your dreams through effort – Ecclesiastes 5:3<\/p>\n 1. Consider the teen who is given everything versus the one who must work\nand save to gain what he wants. One is spoiled and the other industrious.\n 2. Some treat God like a parent whom if they hound Him enough will give\nwhatever is asked.\n 3. Others try to bargain with God by promising to do something in exchange\nfor a granted request – Ecclesiastes 5:4-5\n
a. God warns that you must complete what you promised<\/p>\n b. You are better off not vowing something than vowing and no\ncompleting the vow\n (1) Some take this to the extreme to think that not fulfilling a\nvow becomes an unforgivable sin.\n (2) God is not happy with broken promises. There will be\nconsequences, but it doesn’t mean that this sin can’t be\nforgiven as any other sin.\n c. God doesn’t want excuses either, such as saying the promise was a\nmistake – Ecclesiastes 5:6\n
D. There are endless dreams and talk is cheap – Ecclesiastes 5:7<\/p>\n 1. So many spend their time thinking that accomplishing a dream will make\nthem happy, but there always more dreams\n
2. Others talk about doing something, but it never gets beyond talk<\/p>\n 3. The real important thing is to truly fear God because that is where true\nhappiness lies\n
III. Social Warriors – Ecclesiastes 5:8-9<\/p>\n
A. Some think society must be perfect for there to be happiness<\/p>\n
B. But where people are involved, there will always be problems because people sin <\/p>\n
C. All governments contain corruption because bureaucracy is always large<\/p>\n D. What should keep leadership in check is to remember that those at the top are\ndependent on those at the bottom of the social ladder.\n
IV. Money – Ecclesiastes 5:10-17<\/p>\n
A. Here is where most people think happiness can be found <\/p>\n B. Pursuing wealth will not bring happiness because there is no upper bound –\nEcclesiastes 5:10\n C. The more you make, the greater your expenses, so your actual wealth tends to\nremain roughly the same. All you can do is look at the money as it goes in one\ndoor and out the other – Ecclesiastes 5:11\n
D. Increased wealth comes with increased worry and stress – Ecclesiastes 5:12<\/p>\n 1. Having work that you enjoy, whether you make a lot or a little allows you\nto sleep contentedly\n 2. But consuming too much ruins a person’s sleep. Like trying to sleep after\neating a huge feast. It seems great at the moment, but you are miserable\nafterward.\n
E. Some hoard wealth. They accumulate, but never spend – Ecclesiastes 5:13<\/p>\n
1. The extreme is the person who won’t even purchase necessities to survive<\/p>\n F. Others build wealth, only to lose it suddenly, leaving nothing even to pass on to\nhis children – Ecclesiastes 5:14\n G. Core point: You come into this world with nothing and leave with nothing –\nEcclesiastes 5:15\n
H. You can’t take your wealth with you when you die – Ecclesiastes 5:16<\/p>\n
1. You gain no advantage. You only have the hard work<\/p>\n
I. You scrimp and save to your own disadvantage and harm – Ecclesiastes 5:17<\/p>\n
V. True happiness – Ecclesiastes 5:18-20<\/p>\n
A. Have food and drink<\/p>\n
B. Enjoy your work because it isn’t that long<\/p>\n
C. This is God reward to men<\/p>\n
D. If you do have wealth, God gives them to be used. This is a gift from God.<\/p>\n
E. Then we don’t focus on hardships or the length of life because we are busy<\/p>\n
VI. The Problem of Discontent – Ecclesiastes 6:1-8<\/p>\n
A. Gaining wealth, but not being able to enjoy them – Ecclesiastes 6:1-2<\/p>\n
1. For all the reasons listed back in chapter 5<\/p>\n
B. Having children, but not having their respect – Ecclesiastes 6:3-5<\/p>\n 1. Some see children as burdens, so they resent this gift from God – Psalms\n127:3-5\n
2. A stillborn child is better off<\/p>\n C. Living a very long life and not enjoying the good things you have – Ecclesiastes\n6:6-7\n
1. He works because of his desires, but he doesn’t find satisfaction<\/p>\n
D. What advantage does the wise have over the fool? – Ecclesiastes 6:8<\/p>\n
1. He knows to appreciate what he has. He doesn’t clamber for more<\/p>\n
E. What advantage does the poor man have?<\/p>\n
1. Again, he appreciates what he has, even if it is little<\/p>\n
VII. Back to the dreams – Ecclesiastes 6:9-12<\/p>\n
A. What you have is better that what you want – Ecclesiastes 6:9<\/p>\n
B. You can’t change the past – Ecclesiastes 6:10<\/p>\n
C. You can’t argue with God about your position in life <\/p>\n
D. Words won’t change your life – Ecclesiastes 6:11<\/p>\n E. Do we really know what is best for us when our lives are so short? – Ecclesiastes\n6:12\n
F. Do we really know what the future holds?<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Psalms 50 I. Have you given a gift that wasn’t appreciated? A. “That’s nice, but it wasn’t what I hoped to receive.” B. “Thanks, but it would have been better if you also included …” C. Or worse, it just sits there, not being used D. It’s frustrating to the giver. E. But consider the…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[119,32],"tags":[385,341,886,791,374,576],"class_list":["post-15476","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-audio","category-sermon","tag-contentment","tag-desire","tag-dreams","tag-ecclesiastes","tag-happiness","tag-wealth"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":18659,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/how-noah-was-saved\/","url_meta":{"origin":15476,"position":0},"title":"How Noah Was Saved","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"April 11, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: I Peter 3:18-22 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0In our reading, Peter draws on the account of Noah\u2019s salvation to illustrate how the Christian is saved. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Many people object to the straight forward reading of I Peter 3:21 because it stands contrary to what they have accepted. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a01.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0To many\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":39603,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/did-the-vows-i-made-in-my-head-marry-me-to-someone-else\/","url_meta":{"origin":15476,"position":1},"title":"Did the vows I made in my head marry me to someone else?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"November 17, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Hi! Before I married the love of my life, I would read stories online where the reader would marry either a character or a real person in the stories. I cannot remember if any of these stories included vows that I may have read and given in my head\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":37023,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/what-would-god-have-us-do\/","url_meta":{"origin":15476,"position":2},"title":"What Would God Have Us Do?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"July 31, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: I Thessalonians 2:1-12 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0I was talking with a young man the other day. He wasn\u2019t certain what God wanted him to do in regards to school and career. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0I finally realized that he wanted someone else (God) to make his decisions for him. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a01.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":59676,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/given-to-change-2\/","url_meta":{"origin":15476,"position":3},"title":"Given to Change","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"March 5, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Proverbs 24:21-22 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0For many people, trying out something new is exciting. You don\u2019t know exactly what the result will be, which is part of the fun \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0So we try out new restaurants or travel to places we\u2019ve never been before \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0B.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Some changes are fun,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":37717,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/how-does-jeremiah-110-relate-to-priests-not-being-able-to-forgive-sins\/","url_meta":{"origin":15476,"position":4},"title":"How does Jeremiah 1:10 relate to priests not being able to forgive sins?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"March 9, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: It is my understanding that according to Catholic teaching, it is not the priest who forgives sins in the sacrament of reconciliation. It is Jesus. Also, there are two aspects to confession, or reconciliation as it is called, and that is 1. When we sin, we offend God. 2.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":61961,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/a-change-in-law\/","url_meta":{"origin":15476,"position":5},"title":"A Change in Law","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"May 30, 2010","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Hebrews 8:7-13 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Among those calling themselves Christian, many have a difficult time understanding the place the Old Testament has in God\u2019s scheme of redemption \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A few cling to the laws regarding the Sabbath and so modify the New Testament teaching of worship on the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15476","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15476"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15476\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15476"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15476"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15476"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}