Reliable Truth

What's so wrong with wanting more? To want something that someone else has?

In Ecclesiastes 4:4, Solomon tells us what he observed about this:
"And I saw that all toil and all achievement spring from one person’s envy of another. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind." >>Watch on YouTube

What would it mean if there was no God?

As we continue studying the book of Ecclesiastes, we see that Solomon goes through some really interesting times in his life. He experiences a dark period where he thinks about life as if there is no God, and what that would mean.

I recently heard the famous song by John Lennon called "Imagine." Lennon sings:

"Imagine there is no heaven. It's easy if you try.

No hell below us above us only sky.

Imagine all the people living for today..."

Solomon expressed the same message. He said that without the existence of God—no heaven, and no hell—then life is bleak.

The only thing we can do is try to divert our minds. One of the ways you do that is to live for today.

And living for the moment is what pleasure is all about. You.

But in Ecclesiastes 3:11, Solomon expresses that God set eternity in the heart of mankind:

"He (God) has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also set eternity in their heart, without the possibility that mankind will find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end." >>Watch on YouTube

Why are we always looking for more?

It seems as if we are always looking over the horizon for something more or different than what we have, regardless of how much we have.

Do we believe that more is better?

Could it be that materialism is not so much about things, but more about the heart? Perhaps we believe more is always better because we believe that life is linear.

From Ecclesiastes 2, Solomon tells us, "I said to myself, 'Come now, I will test you with pleasure. So enjoy yourself.' And behold, it too was futility. I said of laughter, “It is senseless,” and of pleasure, “What does this accomplish?”

I explored with my mind how to refresh my body with wine while my mind was guiding me wisely; and how to seize foolishness, until I could see what good there is for the sons of mankind to do under heaven for the few years of their lives.

I enlarged my works: I built houses for myself, I planted vineyards for myself; I made gardens and parks for myself, and I planted in them all kinds of fruit trees; I made ponds of water for myself from which to irrigate a forest of growing trees.... 

All that my eyes desired, I did not refuse them. I did not restrain my heart from any pleasure.... So I considered all my activities which my hands had done and the labor which I had exerted, and behold, all was futility and striving after wind, and there was no benefit under the sun." >>Watch on YouTube

What is your life all about? What are you trying to accomplish?

If we are not asking these kind of questions, we may not be living very thoughtfully. And where can we find lasting enjoyment?

Ecclesiastes 2:24-25 says, "There is nothing better for a man than to eat and to drink and to tell himself that his labor is good. This also I have seen that it is from the hand of God. For who can eat and who can have enjoyment without God?"

We hope this series will help us to think more thoughtfully about our lives and what our lives are all about. >>Watch on YouTube

Today's episode is Jerry Leachman's message from our recent Men's Breakfast, a great event with almost 400 in attendance! He shared from his new book, Brave Hearts, Strong Arms.

Jerry read from Deuteronomy 6:6-7, " These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up." 

Brave Hearts, Strong Arms is not about being a perfect man. It's a book about being a committed one—showing up, staying in the fight, and playing for a Head Coach who never leaves the field.⁠⁠  >>Watch on YouTube

>>Get Jerry's book on Amazon. Also now on Audible!

Jerry Leachman of Leachman Ministries is a favorite speaker at The Center's events. Along with being an associate Chaplain in The NFL for many years, Jerry has done ministry in Guatemala, Scotland, Russia, Europe and Africa as well as all over the U.S. He and his wife Holly have been on Young Life Staff and continue to be involved with Young Life here and also internationally.

Join Richard for Part 2 of his interview with former chaplain Jerry Leachman on his brand new book ⁠Brave Hearts, Strong Arms⁠.

Drawn from years of heartfelt talks, Jerry Leachman blends the grit of the game with the truth of Scripture. Forty‑six short chapters, written to be read one locker‑room talk at a time. This isn't a book about being a perfect man. It's a book about being a committed one—showing up, staying in the fight, and playing for a Head Coach who never leaves the field.⁠ >>Watch on YouTube⁠

⁠>>Get Jerry's book Brave Hearts, Strong Arms

Join Richard in this 2-part interview with former chaplain Jerry Leachman on his brand new book Brave Hearts, Strong Arms.

Drawn from years of heartfelt talks, Jerry Leachman blends the grit of the game with the truth of Scripture. Forty‑six short chapters, written to be read one locker‑room talk at a time. This isn't a book about being a perfect man. It's a book about being a committed one—showing up, staying in the fight, and playing for a Head Coach who never leaves the field. >>Watch on YouTube

>>Get Jerry's book Brave Hearts, Strong Arms

What is it that really drives us as human beings?

We really have two primary dimensions:

1) The physical dimension - our bodies, and

2) The spiritual dimension - our souls.

So every human body has a soul, and that soul thirsts for God. But many of us don't realize that we yearn for Him.

Psalm 42:1-2 tells us, "As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants for You, God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God; when shall I come and appear before God?" >>Watch on YouTube

How should we be sharing our faith in the public square?

Paul gives us some great instruction about dealing with with those outside the faith. In Colossians 4:5-6 he says, "Conduct yourself with wisdom towards outsiders (those outside of the faith). Let your speech be with grace, seasoned as it were with salt, so that you know how to respond to each person."

I think Paul is following his own instruction and we should too.

Acts 17:16-17 tells of Paul's time in Athens:

"Now while Paul was waiting for them in Athens, his spirit was being provoked within him as he observed that the city was full of idols. So he was reasoning in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Gentiles, and in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be present." >>Watch on YouTube

Once you realize how big God is, is anything too hard for Him?

What's harder for God to pick up one pound or a million pounds? Neither one. Nothing's hard for God. Remember that when you say your prayers. Preach to yourself.

If you take all the teachings of Christ, they can be distilled down to three ways you can spend your life:

1. You can just waste it. It's like the Lord's given you a bag of tremendous seeds to grow marvelous things and you just walk around. There's a hole in your bag, then the last seed goes out, you're dead. It was like you were never here.
2. You can sell out. Spend all you have on things for yourself. But on the day you die, who's all this stuff belong to?
3. You can give your life away. It's what Jesus did. He gave his whole life away for us. You give your whole life to God and you give your whole life to people that God loves. Just give it away.

I want you to check yourself. Are you all in or is this just the religion you believe in? If that's true, you're wasting your life. He wants you to deploy, get in the fray, stay in it till you cross the finish line. Amen.

Luke 6:38, "Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

⁠>>Watch on YouTube⁠ 

Jerry Leachman is a favorite speaker at The Center's events. Along with being an associate Chaplain in The NFL for many years, Jerry has done ministry in Guatemala, Scotland, Russia, Europe and Africa as well as all over the U.S. He and his wife Holly have been on Young Life Staff and continue to be involved with Young Life here and also internationally.