Life Under the Sun

Part 2: Breaking Bad Connections

By Louie Marsh, 8-14-2022

Intro.  In order to make our lives more meaningful we need to connect to certain things and break our connections with other ways of thinking. Today I want to take a look at some of the more important connection we need to break and make to find true meaning in our lives.

 

BAD CONNECTIONS TO BREAK:

1) Break the connection between TEMPORARY pleasure & lasting happiness.

 

“1I said in my heart, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy yourself.” But behold, this also was vanity. 2I said of laughter, “It is mad,” and of pleasure, “What use is it?” 3I searched with my heart how to cheer my body with wine—my heart still guiding me with wisdom—and how to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was good for the children of man to do under heaven during the few days of their life.” (Ecclesiastes 2:1–3, ESV)

 

It was by faith that Moses, when he grew up, refused to be treated as the son of Pharaoh's daughter. He chose to share the oppression of God's people instead of enjoying the fleeting pleasures of sin. Hebrews 11:24-25 (NLT)

 2) Break the connection between your CIRCUMSTANCES  & your character.

 

“8I also gathered for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and provinces. I got singers, both men and women, and many concubines, the delight of the sons of man. 9So I became great and surpassed all who were before me in Jerusalem. Also my wisdom remained with me. 10And whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I kept my heart from no pleasure, for my heart found pleasure in all my toil, and this was my reward for all my toil.” (Ecclesiastes 2:8–10, ESV)

3) Break the connection between what you DO  & who you ARE.

 

“4I made great works. I built houses and planted vineyards for myself. 5I made myself gardens and parks, and planted in them all kinds of fruit trees. 6I made myself pools from which to water the forest of growing trees. 7I bought male and female slaves, and had slaves who were born in my house. I had also great possessions of herds and flocks, more than any who had been before me in Jerusalem.” (Ecclesiastes 2:4–7, ESV)

 

“21because sometimes a person who has toiled with wisdom and knowledge and skill must leave everything to be enjoyed by someone who did not toil for it. This also is vanity and a great evil. 22What has a man from all the toil and striving of heart with which he toils beneath the sun? 23For all his days are full of sorrow, and his work is a vexation. Even in the night his heart does not rest. This also is vanity.” (Ecclesiastes 2:21–23, ESV)

Meaning is An INSIDE JOB!

 

“17Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, 18yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation.” (Habakkuk 3:17–18, ESV)

CONNECTIONS I NEED TO MAKE:

 

4) GRASP God’s gift of contentment.

 

“24There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God, 25for apart from him who can eat or who can have enjoyment? 26For to the one who pleases him God has given wisdom and knowledge and joy, but to the sinner he has given the business of gathering and collecting, only to give to one who pleases God. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.” (Ecclesiastes 2:24–26, ESV)

 

“11Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.” (Philippians 4:11, ESV)

 

5) SUBMIT  to God’s discipline, His way of living.

 

Make me walk along the path of your commands, for that is where my happiness is found. Psalm 119:35 (NLT)

 

"Happy are those who listen to me, watching for me daily at my gates, waiting for me outside my home! Proverbs 8:34 (NLT)