God Offers us a Full Life in an Empty World 2 I said in my heart, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy yourself.” But behold, this also was vanity. - Ecclesiastes 2:1 I said of laughter, “It is mad,” and of pleasure, “What use is it?” 3 I 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 2:2-4 “8 I 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. - Ecclesiastes 2:8 “10 And whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them..” Ecclesiastes 2:10 “4 I made great works. I built houses and planted vineyards for myself. 5 I made myself gardens and parks, and planted in them all kinds of fruit trees. 6 I made myself pools from which to water the forest of growing trees. 7 I 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 “11 Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun.” - Ecclesiastes 2:11 Why doesn’t enjoyment or employment bring ultimate satisfaction and meaning to our life? “11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” - Ecclesiastes 3:11 We were made by God for God and nothing but God can satisfy our souls. We Will Rob Ourselves of Pleasure if We Pursue Pleasure Without Boundaries. Obedience to God’s Boundaries Does Not Limit Pleasure; Obedience Increases Pleasure. We Need to Identify Our Delight Because Our Delight Directs Our Desire. “8 I 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.” - Ecclesiastes 2:8 “Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4 We Delight in the Person of Jesus We Delight in the Power of Jesus We Delight in the Presence of Jesus In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. 3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. 4 So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs. - Hebrews 1:1-4 “12 I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and among the lampstands was someone like a son of man, dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. 14 The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. 15 His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. 16 In his right hand he held seven stars, and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance. 17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Revelation 1:12-17 “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. - Romans 10:9 “15 “If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— - John 14:15 Jesus is worthy of our Delight.