Sunday, September 16, 2007

Been there, done that. Now what?: Purpose

Series: Been there, Done that. Now what?
Purpose by John Burke, September 16, 2007

Finally a message on a topic that is not too important. What a relief. This one was just on the meaning of life. OK – so it’s a little important. In truth – it’s a huge topic and it was a big message - one worth pushing into deeper. Turns out that the person the Bible says was the “wisest man that ever lived” had some thoughts on the subject (if you’re thinking it’s John, sorry... in this case it was Solomon). Probably worth hearing what he had to say on the topic too....

1. John started with a powerful question: “Where is your life going?” Maybe a bit strong for a warm-up question for a group, but we can trade on it to generate some thoughts/discussion. Spend a few minutes talking about the following questions: (10 - 15 minutes)

  • Do you think most people could answer that question if asked?
  • For those that could – what kinds of answers would you expect to hear?
  • For those who couldn’t, why do you think it could be a hard question to know the answer to?

If you can, keep a casual list of responses to refer back to at the end.

2. Now, continuing on the theme of the questions above, it seems that whether we have a clear idea of where we’re going or not, most of act like we are going somewhere fast, and have some ideas about the routes we should travel. (John called this the “dash” that represents our life between the day we’re born and the day we die.) What are some of the most common routes people take to try to fill their dash with meaning and happiness? (5-10 minutes)

3. Solomon launched a personal quest to understand the meaning of life and happiness and then shared his travel journal with us in the book of Ecclesiastes. John talked about Solomon’s journeys into knowledge, achievement, pleasure, wealth, and fame. What did Solomon conclude about the different paths he traveled?: “It’s all meaningless.” (see Bible verses below). WHEW! Pretty heavy. We’ll come back to this later.

John told us about a train set he had when he was a kid. So, what about you? Think for a minutes: Was there something you really thought would make you happy when you were young – but only discovered that, once you had it, the “buzz” only lasted for awhile? A Barbie doll? Cabbage Patch Kid? Red Ryder B-B gun (Ralphie?) Whatever. What was your happy pill? My bet is that there was nothing inherently wrong with those things… so, why didn’t the happy last? Discuss this some… even if the answer seems obvious at first. Are there any general lessons we can draw about why we don’t get lasting happiness out of so many of the things we THINK will make us happy – even from this simplistic example? (10 minutes)

4. Going back to Solomon now: Was he right? Is it all meaningless? If so, why? If not, what could he have meant? (10 - 15 minutes)

5. Because this question is so central to us, it’s really important to take some time to ask real questions about our own real dash – the one we’re living right now. Think about the question at the beginning: “Where is your life going?” Where do you want it to go? Are you trying any of Solomon’s methods to get there? Will it work? These are heavy questions – certainly not ones that are easy to answer. But take 2-3 minutes to write down your first thoughts. And if you think God is telling you there is more to think about later – write down when you’ll do it. Make it a commitment to God to come back and have that conversation - and be sure to look at the Bible verses below to see what Solomon's answer was.

If anyone wants to ask the group for prayer on anything related to these questions, be sure to take some time at the end to pray for each other.

Bible verses from the message:

I devoted myself to study and to explore by wisdom all that is done under heaven.
Ecclesiastes 1:13

"Meaningless! Meaningless!" says the Teacher. "Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless."
Ecclesiastes 1:2

“I thought to myself, ‘Look, I have grown and increased in wisdom more than anyone…[but] with much wisdom comes much sorrow; the more knowledge, the more grief.’”
Ecclesiastes 1:16, 18

“I undertook great projects: I built houses for myself and planted vineyards. I made gardens and parks and planted all kinds of fruit trees in them. I made reservoirs to water groves of flourishing trees…”
Ecclesiastes 2:4-6

I even found great pleasure in hard work, a reward for all my labors. 11 But as I looked at everything I had worked so hard to accomplish, it was all so meaningless—like chasing the wind. There was nothing really worthwhile anywhere.
Ecclesiastes 2:10-11

I collected great sums of silver and gold, the treasure of many kings and provinces. I hired wonderful singers, both men and women, and had many beautiful concubines. I had everything a man could desire! So I became greater than all who had lived in Jerusalem before me, and my wisdom never failed me. Anything I wanted, I would take. I denied myself no pleasure.
Ecclesiastes 2:8-10

Those who love money never have enough; those who love wealth are never satisfied with their income. This too is meaningless.
Ecclesiastes 5:10

I have seen the burden God has placed on us all. Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart...God does it so people will revere him.
Ecclesiastes 3:10-11, 14

Remember your Maker while you are young, before the days of trouble come and the years when you will say, "I have no joy in them,"… Remember Him before the silver rope of life is broken and…the dust will return to the earth as it was. And the spirit will return to God Who gave it… The last word, after all has been heard, is: Honor God and obey His Laws. This is all that every person must do.
Ecclesiastes 12:1,7,13

I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God. I know that everything God does will endure forever.
Ecclesiastes 3:12-14

“But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul.”
Deuteronomy 4:29

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