By Pas. Carlos Barcelona Jr.
Genesis 30: 22- 24
“Then God remembered Rachel; he listened to her and enabled her to conceive. She became pregnant and gave birth to a son and said, “God has taken away my disgrace.” She named him Joseph, and said, “May the Lord add to me another son.”
Ecclesiastes 2: 1-2, 9- 11
“I said to myself, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure to find out what is good.” But that also proved to be meaningless. “Laughter,” I said, “is madness. And what does pleasure accomplish?” I became greater by far than anyone in Jerusalem before me. In all this my wisdom stayed with me. I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my labor, and this was the reward for all my toil. Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.”
We are not just living at the end of the age. We are living at the edge of the end. The road we are climbing is steep, narrow and long. We are living at a time when competitions are so intense and people are so busy pursuing what they think can bring them to the top of the world. They believe that when you don’t make it to the top you will be left behind and when you are not the best, you are like the rest. Nobody wants to be at the bottom so we try and pretend to be tough and strong. But are we really tough and strong?
Genesis 30: 1 tells us of the struggle of Rachel competing against her sister. She wanted to prove she was wiser by giving her maid to her husband to bear children for her, and stronger by controlling who would sleep with her husband. It was a struggle of barrenness and shame despite the favour and love of Jacob. But verses 22- 24 is a turning point. The Bible tells us, “God remembered Rachel.” It does not mean God forgot about her but it means favour. She gave birth to a son and named him Joseph and the name Joseph has 2 opposite meanings. Qsaf meaning, “take away” and Yosef meaning, “to add.” Joseph was God’s blessing and God ordained and the meanings of his name brings these very important messages to us. Something must be removed and something must be added.
I. RID YOURSELF OF BURDENS
1. The Burden of SIN and SHAME
Shame is always the consequence of sin. It is natural for humans to seek for pleasure. Not all pleasure is wrong. But when it is sought in such a way that violates God’s revealed standards, then they become wrong or sin. It is possible that Solomon bought out the property of others so that he could expand his own parks and private place. They were so focused on their desires to accomplish their project that they overstepped the boundaries. Remember how Queen Jezebel killed a man (Naboth) and chased off his widow in order to get his property and grapevines? This shows you how a goal can lead to many immoral and sinful decisions.
But there is another way to look at these things. Let’s look carefully again at the words Solomon wrote and see the heart of this problem.
I explored with my mind how to stimulate my body with wine.
I enlarged my works: I built houses for myself, I planted vineyards for myself; I made gardens and parks for myself
I collected for myself silver and gold
I provided for myself male and female singers and the pleasures of men
And all that my eyes desired I did not refuse them. I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure
Then I became great and increased more than all.
We will notice how many “I” there are in this passage. His focus was on what he did. I did this or I did that. There is an innate desire to be known and recognized. We want people to think well of us. Part of this is our desire to be accepted but part of it is associated with our pride- we want to be the best. When we focus on what we did, then we compare ourselves and compete with others. We want to be best.
We also see a number of ‘my’ and ‘for myself.’ Again, we agree that it is not wrong to think about our needs and try to care for them. God made us this way. But when we do this with our whole life, we fall into a great mass delusion of living for ourselves.
This is the ‘pride of life’ that John mentions. Esteeming what we decided to do and not to do. We even admire our decisions as to be the best decisions. When we focus on our own works, then we get to boast about how great we are.
God never made us to live for ourselves. All His gifts and life itself was never to live for our own selves. Humanists believe and die in that belief, but it simply fools a person to think that their greatest good is found when they live for themselves. Solomon found this out for himself and God wants to warn us not to enter into his folly. There is something much greater out there to live for. Only when we begin to live for the purpose God has made us, will everything begin to properly fall into place. God said He made us for Himself. When we focus on our own lives, then we resist and reject not only His ways but He Himself.
2. The Burden of Emptiness
EMPTY YOURSELF OF EMPTY THINGS
King Solomon said, “I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my labor, and this was the reward for all my toil. Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.” (Eccl. 2: 10, 11)
One of the most frustrating and disappointing things there is, is to have something that is empty.
E.g. Wallet – Gas Tank – Head – Refrigerator
Life is our greatest possession – yet most people just exist. I believe within every person is a void, an emptiness and it is very frustrating and disappointing to have this thing called life and for it to be empty.
Just like our wallet, gas tank, refrigerator, our lives are empty, not because it has nothing inside but it’s full of many void things. This is not about sin but it is about the legitimate, reasonable, desirable and admirable effects that we allowed to enter our hearts until we become full only of ourselves.
None are so empty as those who are full of themselves.” – Benjamin Whichcote (1609-1683AD)
Solomon was after delighting himself. He wanted a good life, or should we say the best life possible. He gave himself over to his eyes and did not refuse them. Many of us, perhaps, have coveted this position in life: to do anything that one wanted. But I would say that it is the most dangerous position to be in.
What are those things we delight ourselves in that are empty?
1. Amusement (2:2) “Laughter,” I said, “is madness. And what does pleasure accomplish?”
Amusement are things that catch and keep our attention. A computer game or soap opera. A comedy. Music. They keep us distracted from our personal troubles or boredom. But in the end, we might come to believe that our goal in life is to be kept amused.
2. Projects (2:4-6) “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.”
Solomon had a number of projects. Notice the ecological sound plans. He wrestled God’s creation into beauty and function. He made a pond so that it would water a group of trees. Busyness is no sign of spirituality or any kind of a full life. In fact, it’s more likely the sign of an empty life. (That’s why busy people are always empty. Their reply to you is always, “I’m busy”)
3. Possessions (2:7) “I bought male and female slaves and had other slaves who were born in my house. I also owned more herds and flocks than anyone in Jerusalem before me.”
Most people believe they are what they own. They feel stripped if they do not have any possessions. In their mind is a belief that having is everything. They cannot believe that those who do not have can be happy. Solomon had slaves and flocks. He could say, “I possessed flocks and herds larger than all who preceded me in Jerusalem” (2:7) yet he said it is vanity.
Illus. A young banker was driving his BMW, on the mountains, during a snowstorm. As he rounded a turn the vehicle slid out of control and toward a cliff. At the last moment he unbuckled his seatbelt and jumped from the car. Though he escaped with his life, his left arm was caught near the hinge of the door and tore it off at the shoulder.
A trucker passing nearby witnessed the accident, stopped and ran back to see if he could be of help. There standing, in a state of shock, was the banker at the edge of the cliff moaning, “Oh no, my BMW, my BMW”. The trucker pointed to the banker’s shoulder and said “man you’ve got bigger problems than a car”. With that the banker looked at his shoulder, finally realizing he’d lost his arm, and began crying: “Oh no, my new Rolex, my new Rolex”.
The pull of the world can easily steal our affections away, and cause us to live for the wrong things.
4. Collections (2:8a) “I amassed silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and provinces.”
The rich look for ways to impress and to store their wealth. Collections are a cool way to do both at the same time. Whether it be books, art pieces, cars, etc., all are there to show off. They actually do not need them. Solomon collected, silver, gold and treasures from around the world. He only showed them off. It is vanity.
5. Entertainment (2:8b) “I acquired male and female singers, and a harem as well—the delights of a man’s heart.”
Entertainment has become a pleasure for everyone. It used to be only for the rich and upper class. Solomon had to provide the entertainment for himself. In this case, he got male and female singers. He developed his own personal theatre but he said it is vanity.
6. Fame/Name (2:9) “I became greater by far than anyone in Jerusalem before me. In all this my wisdom stayed with me.”
Do you know what makes a person’s name longer? It is the title scripted before his name, like Engineer, Architect, Doctor, Attorney, Master, General, etc. We give special attention and respect to people’s name.
One day a priest conducted a baby baptism and two couples with their babies lined up. The priest came to the first couple and asked, “what is the name of your baby?” the couple replied, “celpon.”because my wife’s name is Celia and my name is Ponciano. The priest found the name funny due to combining the parents’ name anyhow. And so he proceeded to the next couple. First he asked for the name of the couple and they answered, “Charmaine and Roger.” So the priest said, “the baby’s name should be nice, what’s his name?” They replied, “Charger.”
Solomon looked to be known by others. “I became great and increased more than all who preceded me.” Some people want to be recognized as others by great. They think, “if others think great of me, then I will feel important.” But Solomon recognized it was all a sham, unfortunately he didn’t realize this until it was too late.
As he looked back in life, he could see all of these things as mere searches for pleasure or satisfaction. If any of the things satisfied them, he would not need to go on to other searches. They all failed him and they would fail us too. In his conclusion he said, “All is vanity.” He named his activities as vanity. Deep satisfaction will never come from what we have.
II. FILL YOURSELF UP WITH THE SPIRIT
“To be full of things is to be empty of God. To be empty of things is to be full of God.” – Meister Eckhart (1260-1327AD)
“You must be emptied of that that which fills you, to be filled with that of which you are empty.“ – Saint Augustine (354-406AD)
This Book of Ecclesiastes makes it clear that every man desires significance and satisfaction and fullness and meaning in life. The problem is people seek it the wrong way and people seek for it in the wrong things. And so, the Preacher begins this book by saying that everything is vain, everything is empty, everything is futile, everything is meaningless; there is no satisfaction under the sun not because the desire for meaning in this life is wrong, but because so many seek meaning in this life in the wrong places and in the wrong way. They are not experiencing true meaning and satisfaction and blessedness; they are experiencing a false substitute.
Let’s look back again at what Rachel, the wife of Jacob said in Genesis 30: 23- 24, “God has taken away my disgrace…. God will add a blessing” How will God add a blessing?
Zech. 4: 6- 7 “So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty. “What are you, mighty mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become level ground. Then he will bring out the capstone to shouts of ‘God bless it! God bless it!’”
Isaiah 61- the Holy Spirit will bring the blessings of…
1. Enlightenment- PREACH THE GOOD NEWS
The Holy Spirit comes upon a person and causes him to be a messenger of good news. In this world which is filled with bad news the spirit filled child of God comes as a carrier of good news with a message of hope to this dying world.
2. Encouragement – BIND UP THE BROKEN HEARTED
The Holy Spirit comes upon a person and causes him to be a healer of broken hearts. In this world filled with people who are broken hearted due to sorrow, disappointment and loss, the spirit filled child of God comes with a healing ministry. He will not add to the suffering with insensitive remarks and cruel criticisms but will be a channel of peace and restoration.
3. Exchange – BEAUTY FOR ASHES-OIL OF JOY FOR MOURNING-GARMENT OF PRAISE FOR THE SPIRIT OF HEAVINESS
The Holy Spirit comes upon a person and causes him to exchange his sorrow and pain and mourning for joy and praise. When we surrender our mourning and sorrows and pain to Him, He will remove them from our hearts and will replace them with His joy
4. Establishment- REBUILD THE WASTE AND DESOLATE PLACES
The Holy Spirit comes upon a person and causes him to rebuild those places and areas in his life which are broken down and desolate. In this world which is filled with people with broken down relationships and desolate lives the Spirit-filled child of God comes as a rebuilder and helps others to rebuild their lives.
5. Exaltation- GET DOUBLE BLESSING FOR YOUR SHAME AND CONFUSION
The Holy Spirit comes upon a person and causes him to experience a double blessing for all the shame and humiliation and confusion he has experienced in his life. In this world which is filled with tribulation and persecution the spirit filled child of God has a hope and confidence of a double blessing for all the pain he has endured.
6. Example – YOU WILL BE AN EXAMPLE OF GOD’S BLESSING BEFORE OTHERS
The Holy Spirit comes upon a person and causes him to be blessed with all the blessings of God so that others would look up to them as an example of one who is blessed of God .The spirit filled child of God will bring praise and glory to God
CONCLUSION:
I. RID YOURSELF OF BURDENS
1. The Burden of SIN and SHAME
2. The Burden of Emptiness- EMPTY YOURSELF OF EMPTY THINGS
II. FILL YOURSELF UP WITH THE SPIRIT
It is not by might nor by power but by my Spirit says the Lord.
Preached at E_tab
March 2, 2014
