The Father Who Had It All! Father s Day June 17, Meaningless is the key word of the Book of Ecclesiastes.

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1 The Father Who Had It All! Father s Day June 17, 2018 Intro: Today we look at a father who had it all, and he leaps at us from the pages of Scripture. He had wealth, fame, power, possessions, yet as he reviews all that he had accomplished in life, he cries out in Ecclesiastes 1:2 and all through this book, that it didn t mean a thing, it was like chasing the wind, of no use at all. Meaningless is the key word of the Book of Ecclesiastes. They are not uttered because of some passing adverse circumstance. They were not mentioned because of some passing bitterness. They are the result of experiences which came after deliberate thought. They are not the words of someone who was bored with routine tasks. These are the words of one who experienced all aspects of human experience, who possessed great wisdom and great wealth. With all that he had and all that he possessed, this mighty king could not and did not find genuine satisfaction in temporal and earthly material things. Solomon tried many things hoping to find happiness, peace and contentment. He marshaled evidence that supported his conclusions from his own experience and observations. We can trace his argument, and see all the avenues that he followed in his vain attempt to find a meaning for his life apart from God. Solomon Tried Wisdom. (Ecclesiastes 1:17) Take a listen! 1

2 And God gave Solomon wisdom and exceedingly great understanding. His wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the men of the East for he was wiser than all men. Solomon knew as much as any mortal man could know. He was a scientist. He was a philosopher. He was a moralist and a historian. He was a publicist and a poet. His mind was trained to observe. He could interpret the facts of history and the facts of science. He was familiar with botany. "He spoke of trees." (I Kings 4:33) He interpreted the movements of the heavenly bodies. He sailed the seas. He knew the birds. He wrote parables of the fields and the forests. He gathered great wealth of gold and precious stones. He wrote and published books. He wrote thousands of enduring proverbs. He interpreted human experience. He philosophized about divine revelation. But with all this, he missed the one essential truth and found no rest for his heart. Solomon with all his glory with all his wisdom and knowledge, cried, " It doesn t mean a thing! 2

3 E.G. Once, a man travelled many miles to interview a distinguished scholar. The butler ushered him into his study and he was warmly greeted. Before seating himself, he asked this question, "Doctor, I have come a long way to ask you just one question. I observe that the walls of your room are filled with books. This room is literally lined with them from ceiling to floor. I suppose you have read them all. I know you have also written many books. You have travelled the world over; and talked with many of the world's most famous people. Tell me, if you will, after all the years you have spent in study, of all the things you have learned, what is the one thing best worth knowing? " The great scholar's face flushed with emotion. He placed both his hands over the hands of his visitor and said: " My dear sir, out of all the things I have ever learned, there are only two lessons worth knowing. The first is, I am a great sinner. The second is, Jesus Christ is a great Saviour. In the knowledge of these two facts as applied in my own personal experience lies all my happiness and all my hopes! " "Men may treasure rags and throw away treasures. A man may know all about rocks, and his heart be as hard as they are. A man may know all about the winds and his life be swept by passions more fierce than the winds. A man may know all about the tides and the seas, and his life mirror their turbulence and have no peace or rest. 3

4 A man may know all about lights -- the light of showers of meteors, the light of phosphorus, the light of millions of stars, the light of the moon, candle light, lamp light, electric light, and not know Jesus who said, ' I am the light of the world.' " A man may know all about roads in the country, roads in the jungle, roads through burning deserts, and not know Jesus who said, ' I am the way.' " -- Dr. R. G. Lee "What shall it profit a man if he is a great artist and know not Jesus, the one altogether lovely? What shall it profit a man if he is a great architect and know not Jesus, the Chief Corner Stone? What shall it profit a man if he is a great baker and know not Jesus, the Living Bread? What shall it profit a man if he is a great banker and know not Jesus, the Priceless Possession? What shall it profit a man if he is a great biologist and know not Jesus, the Life? What shall it profit a man if he is a great builder and know not Jesus, the Sure Foundation? What shall it profit a man if he is a great carpenter and know not Jesus, the Door? What shall it profit a man if is a great doctor and know not Jesus, the Great Physician? What shall it profit a man if he is a great educator and know not Jesus, the Teacher? What shall it profit a man if he is a great engineer and know not Jesus, the New and Living Way? 4

5 What shall it profit a man if he is a great farmer and know not Jesus, the Sower and Lord of Harvests? What shall it profit a man if he is a great florist and know not Jesus, the Rose of Sharon? What shall it profit a man if he is a great geologist and know not Jesus, the Rock of Ages? What shall it profit a man if he is a great astronomer and know not Jesus, the Star of Bethlehem? What shall it profit a man if he is a great horticulturist and know not Jesus, the True Vine? What shall it profit a man if he is a great judge and know not Jesus, the Righteous judge? What shall it profit a man if he is a great jeweler and know not Jesus, the Pearl of Great Price? What shall it profit a man if he is a great lawyer and know not Jesus, the Sinner's Advocate? What shall it profit a man if he is a great philosopher and know not Jesus, the Wisdom of God? What shall it profit a man if he is a great sculptor and know not Jesus, the Living Stone? What shall it profit a man if he is a great student and know not Jesus, the Incarnate Truth? What shall it profit a man if he is a great sinner and know not Jesus, the Lamb of God?" -- From Dr. R. G. Lee Mere human wisdom never satisfies. 5

6 Even if we thought we knew all things, there are many things we never would and never could know. There are millions of things we don t know. And even if we knew all that there is to know in the realm of human knowledge, it would is disappointing if we did not learn the two things most worth knowing. The first, we are great sinners. The second, Jesus Christ is a great Saviour. Solomon Also Tried Wine. I sought in my heart, to give myself unto wine, yet acquainting my heart with wisdom;..." (Ecclesiastes 2:3) Having tried earthly knowledge and wisdom and yet failing to find satisfaction and contentment, Solomon next turns to wine. Solomon may not have been in the gutter, and he may not have done some of the foolish things many do under the influence of wine. But he wrote: "Who has woe? Who has sorrow? who has babbling? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes? They that tarry long at the wine; Look not upon the wine when it is red, when it gives his colour in the cup, when it moves itself aright. At the last it bites like a serpent, and stings like an adder. Men and women have done many foolish and tragic things under the influence of intoxicating drink. Strong drink has ruined hopes, broken families, brought disappointments, bitterness, and all kinds of misery. You are called old fashioned and out of touch today, when you question the wisdom of this choice. 6

7 This morning, as one whose childhood home was ravaged by this thief in a bottle, I unashamedly take my stand with those who believe booze has never contributed to the happiness or moral uplift of a single person." -- Dr. R. G. Lee "Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise." (Proverbs 20:1). This father who had it all, tried Wisdom, he also Tried Wine. But Solomon found more disappointment in Wealth. Solomon Tried Wealth He found bitterness in the use of wine, and found no peace in human wisdom alone. He turned to wealth, hoping to find the joy and the peace the human heart needs. Here is a list of some of his wealth: and what a list it is! And they came to Ophir, and fetched from there gold, four hundred and twenty talents," (I Kings 9:28) And the navy also of Hiram, brought gold from Ophir, and precious stones." (I Kings 10:11) Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred sixty six talents of gold." (I Kings 10:14) "And king Solomon made two hundred targets of beaten gold, six hundred shekels of gold went to one target. And he made three hundred shields, of beaten gold; three pounds of gold went to one shield;" (I Kings 10:16,17) Besides that he had of the merchantmen and of the traffic of spice merchants, and of all the kings of Arabia, and of the governors of the country." (I Kings 10:15) 7

8 For the king had at sea a navy of Tarshish that once every three years brought gold, and silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks." (I Kings 10:22) "And the king made silver to is in Jerusalem as stones, and cedars made he as the sycamore trees that are in the vale, for abundance." (I Kings 10:27) So king Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth for riches and for wisdom." (I Kings 10:23) This king knew what it was to be filthy rich. Gifts poured into his coffers in a continuous stream so that he was able to hire men singers and women singers. He enjoyed all that his riches could provide. He had riches till the end of his life. He never knew what it was to be poor. He never was anxious about his daily bread. Yet, even in the security of all his vast wealth, he fully realized the futility of their values. " It doesn t mean a thing! Wealth can t buy contentment. Wealth can t guarantee health, or hold friends! Wealth can t purchase peace of soul with God. Wealth can t purchase the salvation that God gives freely. All the money in the world can t buy eternal life. Disappointed in wisdom, wine, and wealth, Solomon tried works 8

9 Solomon Tried Works He built magnificent palaces. He established great public works. (I Kings 9:17-19) He increased the size and magnificence of his city. He transported forests. But when he had finished all his great works he looked out upon them and cried, it doesn t mean a thing! Solomon also tried to find happiness with many women. Solomon Tried Women When he found disappointment in wisdom, in wine, and in wealth, in great works of construction, he turned to seek happiness with a multitude of women. With all his wisdom, he played the fool with them. With the power to command and to persuade, with the whole world from which to choose, with wealth to have anything he desired, he delighted his heart with sex. But king Solomon loved many strange women, he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart..." (I Kings 11:1-8) Boy, imagine what Father s Day would have been like for him! Solomon who had seven hundred wives knew what he was talking about when he said; can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned? Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned? " (Proverbs 6:23-28) 9

10 To be fair, in spite of his falling away, he also said many lovely things about women (Proverbs 18:22); Of a woman being God's loveliest gift to man. Solomon doubtless proved all this, as he had been to the altar so many times. And yet, because he left God out and, reckoned not with his laws in relation to women, he found the path of so many ladies, a path of great disappointment. Having tried all the avenues of legitimate love; he tried the other way. And so great was his disappointment and bitterness, he was constrained to cry the cry that has echoed across the centuries- It doesn t mean a thing. Having tried all the delights of legitimate love, he then indulged himself in all the fancied pleasures of unholy desires and animal appetite And he reaped ashes instead of joy, and a turning away from God. Christian father s and men; what a warning to us! In summary, Solomon, the wisest man that ever lived, the father of many children, the father who had it all, tells us Wisdom, Wealth, Wine, Works and affairs with Women leave an empty void in our lives if we leave God out of the equation. May none of these things dominate, or be part of our lives? On this Father s Day 2018, I challenge you as Christian fathers and men to strive by the help of the Holy Spirit to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. I challenge you as fathers to lay up treasures in heaven and not on earth, and to love the Lord with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and all your strength. You will never be disappointed with Him. 10