Hello everyone, welcome to our Bible study on Ecclesiastes chapter two, verses nine, ten, and eleven. Part two. Part one was last week, and we're going to wrap up these three verses in this study. This study will be a little longer than the previous one, as last week's study was a bit short. So let's sit back and uh open the Word of God to Ecclesiastes chapter two. I'll have the verses on the screen for us, but please read them once again so that we're familiar with them as we go into the study. And with the help of the Spirit of the Living God, may He be our guide and our teacher as we go through this portion of Scripture to see how it impacts our lives or to see how we need to change our attitudes to live more like Jesus and to walk more closely with him. All right, let's go. We must not have any other gods before us. The Ten Commandments say in Exodus chapter 20, verse 4, you must not make for yourself an idol of any kind. Jesus says in Luke 16, 13, no one can serve two masters. You know, if we listed the uh if we made a column, two columns, and and in that, and in, or maybe three columns, and in that first column on the left, we list the various compartments of our lives. You know, whatever it might be, things that make me happy, things that things or people that I love, um you know, things that um I would not want to get rid of, things, whatever. You list all of those things, and then the two following common columns, one says Jesus, and the other one says me. And then you put a checkbox in those columns as to whether or not Jesus is the ruler of that item in column one, row one, row two, row three, or are you the ruler of it? Put a check mark into those. This may not be an actual physical exercise you do, but mentally do this. There are areas in your life, and there are areas in my life that we have yet to completely turn over to Jesus, and that must be a goal of ours to do that. Remember, he has made us holy, he has separated us to be more like him. And his word says, Be ye holy, for I am holy. Find those areas in your life. I need to find the areas in my life again and again and again, where I have not separated myself from those areas to be more like Jesus. In the Ten Commandments in Exodus chapter 20, verse 7, we read this you shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain. Jesus said in Matthew 5 34, Do not make any vows. Do not say by heaven, because heaven is God's throne. How many promises have you or I made to God and not followed through on them? Oh yeah, Lord, I'm gonna do this for you. Oh yeah, Lord, I'm gonna do that for you. And you know, maybe the cares of this world or whatever just kind of pull us away and we wind up not doing those for him. We need to repent of those things that we told him we were gonna do and didn't do, and then ask him to reveal to us what he would have us do for him. In addition to what we're already doing, if he wants us to do something more or something else. And then the commandment says, Don't take the nor the name of the Lord your God in vain, because he's not gonna hold anyone guiltless who does that. How many times have we been careless with the use of the name that is above every other name? How many times have we not given reverence and honor to the name of Jesus just in our thoughts, if not in our habits? This doesn't mean that we go out and use the Lord's name in vain the way the world does. I hope there's no one here that does that. And if there is, any one of us that do that at any time need to ask for forgiveness and repent because God says he will not hold us guiltless for doing that. It's very, very, very important that we hold the name of Jesus in the highest regard at all times. And when we slip up, don't brush it under the rug and think that it's okay. Ask for forgiveness. Ask for forgiveness and feel the warmth of the forgiveness of Jesus. Ten Commandments say in Exodus 20, verse 8, remember to observe the Sabbath day and keep it holy. Jesus says in Mark chapter 2, verses 27 and 28, the Sabbath was made to meet the needs of the people, and not people to meet the requirements of the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even over the Sabbath. You know, there are pastors that say that that's one commandment that no longer exists out of the Ten Commandments. And they say why? Because since the birth of Jesus, or at least since his death, burial, and resurrection, he is our rest. Now, I agree to the fact that Jesus is our rest in many, many different ways. He is the one that brings us to rest because we now have a relationship with the Father, and we don't have to strive anymore for that. We don't have to strive for good works because he's our rest in that regard. You know, when he says that, you know, when you are burdened and heavy laden, come unto me, for I will give you rest. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. In other words, Jesus is saying, I did all that work for you that you could never have accomplished by yourself or for yourself. Therefore, take rest in me as the Lamb of God as your sacrifice for your sins. We praise God for that, and that is clearly rest that Jesus brings for us. But is it rest such that we no longer have to obey the commandment to keep the Sabbath holy? Listen to what Jesus says in answer to that question. Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have not come to abolish them, but to fulfill them. For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot will pass from the law until it is all accomplished. Therefore, whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and the Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Jesus did not replace any of the commandments. Jesus is not replacing any of the prophets. He said, I did not come to abolish them, I came to fulfill them. He is the answer for all the woes of our sinfulness, and he is the answer for every sin and every transgression that we have made against the holy God in breaking his ten commandments. Therefore, he is our rest in all of those cases, but he has not abolished those commandments. We are to live by those commandments, not to receive eternal salvation and security in him, but we are to live by those commandments out of respect and love and obedience for what he has done for us. How are we doing on keeping the Sabbath day holy? How are we doing on setting that day apart for him? And I know that in some instances you may be a police officer or some other first-line kind of person. You may be a someone in a you may be a nurse or a doctor or some kind of technician or attendant in a hospital, and Sunday is a work day for you, and that's fine. That's fine. All right. You know, Jesus had another parable, right, about that. When the Pharisees tried to say you couldn't do any work on the Sabbath, Jesus, because you're breaking the law. And Jesus essentially says, I'm paraphrasing, you know, if on the Sabbath your work is to show mercy, then you go ahead and do that. That's not the work that the Lord is talking about. As a matter of fact, by showing mercy on that Sabbath day, you in part, you in part are helping to keep it holy. But if you work on Sunday as a normal course of a job that you take, showing mercy to others, helping the public in whatever way it is, law enforcement or helping to heal the sick or whatever it is, then find a day that you can rest, even if that day is a day that you can't do every day of the week. In other words, I can't always do every Wednesday if you choose Wednesday because I have a rotating or a rolling work schedule. But God knows we need rest. And not only does our body need rest, it needs to focus on the Lord during one day of the week more so than any other day. And if you've walked away from that in the course of your life, ask the Lord for forgiveness and have Him help you find the time when you can do that week in and week out. Exodus 20, 12 says, Honor your mother and your father. Jesus said, if you love your father and mother more than you love me, you're not worthy of me. But let us continue. Because there is no scripture does not go against scripture. In in um, as we continue on in Matthew 10, beyond verse 37, in 38 and 39, Jesus says, If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine. If you cling to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for me, you will find it. That came out of the NLT. And so what is Jesus saying here? Yes, we need to honor our father and mother. Even after marriage, if your father and mother are still alive, we need to honor them. It's different than it is when we are under their roof and they're providing for us. But we still honor them. That commandment has no ending to it as long as they're alive. But we must remember that family, as important as family is, God puts family way, way, way up on the ladder of importance in the life of a Christian man and a Christian woman and a Christian child. But it's not number one on the rung. He's number one on the rung. So while we are called to honor our mother and our father, as long as we are able and as long as they are here with us, remember that family is not first in God's economy. And if we have our children or our grandchildren or even our spouses taking the place of Jesus in the prime importance in our lives, it needs to change. It needs to change. Because when you take him off the throne of your life, you will in fact replace him with someone or something else. That's why he says you can't serve two masters. And while we typically think of that master, that other master being money, it can be a person, it can be people. We have to be careful. Do you see how easy it is for us to go off to a path from the left or the right from where we should be? Exodus 20, 13 says you must not murder. Jesus said, if you are even angry with someone, you're subject to judgment. Ever been angry with someone that wasn't righteous anger? I would guess sure. We would all raise our hand. My hand is certainly in the air, and I don't believe there's anyone exempt from this. How many times has this happened to each of us, maybe even in the last month where we've been angered by somebody? Compare that to how many times we have literally or figuratively wept over that sin of anger. Run to our Lord and turn from it the anger and that person that we're angry with, and turn to him and asked for forgiveness. Exodus 20, 14 says, Thou shalt not commit adultery. And Jesus said. In Matthew 5, 28, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery in his heart. Well, this may pertain a little bit more to men than women, it is true for every single one of us that's listening to this message. And to ignore this is to mock God. To ignore the fact that you may be lusting after someone else in your heart and just let it go. Just brush it under the rug. Just not give it another thought. Can we say it's mocking God? I think we can say it's mocking God. Because we're not running to him, we're running from him. We're not ready to expose this sinfulness and receive again the warmth of his forgiveness. No, we're saying we're gonna do it our own way. And God will not be mocked. The Ten Commandments go on to say in Exodus 20, verse 15, thou shalt not steal. Jesus said in Matthew 5, 40, if you're sued in court and your shirt is taken from you, give your coat too. Not only are we not to take anything that does not belong to us, we must be the opposite and be ready to give to others what he has given to us when those circumstances confront us. We are to be a giving people, not a stealing people. Oh, that money I've made, I've earned. Those retirement funds that are coming in to my checking account, I've paid for. Whether it was through my toil and labor or whatever it might be. And I'm not giving them to anybody. I'm not giving them to anybody. Okay? So we won't take what don't doesn't belong to us. But what do we do when we read Matthew 5, verse 40, which we just read? What do we do when Jesus says, if you're sued in court and your shirt is taken from you, give your coat to? Are we generous with what God has given us? And I'm not saying that anyone listening to this is not generous. Please don't misunderstand me. What I'm asking all of us to do is this look at our hearts. Are we truly giving with what he's given us to those that are in need? Is there something else that his spirit is prompting you or me to do that we are holding back on because we just don't want to give it up? Jesus would say to you, and he would say to me, give him your coat too. Exodus 20, 16 says, You must not testify falsely against your neighbor. Jesus says in Matthew 12, 36 and 37, I tell you on the day of judgment, people will give account for every careless word they speak. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned. We must be truth tellers, especially when it isn't easy. We like to compartmentalize our sins. Admittedly, some are wrong, but others, well, they're really kind of sorta okay. You know, there's no low limits, if you will, for the Ten Commandments. There are no white lies. I gotta remember, as I have to remember, that although we're not talking about our salvation, Jesus tells us that every idle word we speak will be judged. Do not testify falsely against your neighbor. We need to tell the truth. We need to tell the truth always. It's a sin that I think can easily beset us. Maybe that's because it's a sin that can so easily beset me. The Ten Commandments go on to say in verse 17 of that same chapter in Exodus, you must not covet anything that belongs to your neighbor. Jesus says in Luke 12, verses 13 through 15, someone in the crowd said to him, and I'm sorry, I'm quoting from Luke 12, 13 to 15, someone in the crowd said to him, Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me. But he said to them, or to him, man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you? And he said to them, Take care and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions. See, Solomon, Solomon didn't realize that until it was after the fact. We have an opportunity to listen to Jesus, to read his words, and not get to the point that Solomon got at before we are so caught up in the things of this world that we lose sight of our Savior and the kingdom of heaven. We need to think on the kingdom of heaven first. Jesus says, if you do that, all the things that you need will be given unto you. And to this list of these Ten Commandments, let me let me add this. Here's Jesus' words on retaliation. That's something that we like to do because our flesh flesh delights in vengeance. Matthew 5, 38 to 42. You've heard that it was said, an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth. But I say to you, this is Jesus speaking. Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any one would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if any one forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you. How's that? For some life verses to live by. The world says an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. Our flesh says an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. Jesus says, return good for evil. Jesus says, be merciful to those that don't deserve mercy. Jesus says, return grace for evil. And why does he say that? And how can he say that? We certainly can't say he doesn't understand our circumstances because he was tempted in all ways, but yet was perfect. Why can he say that? Because, because he showed us his grace. And he's saying to us, go, go and do likewise. Listen, these things are all good to hear in our ears, but if we don't take it from our ears and our brain and bring them down to our heart and have them change us, we will go on living the way we've lived for the last year, the last five years, the last 10 years, without ever changing, thinking we're as far as we want to get in our sanctification process. And that is wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong. It is about time. It's past time that you and I ditch our self-centeredness and make him first. And when those decisions, those choices come to us in our life, which way do we go? Do I give? Do I hold on to? Do I turn my other cheek? Do I give to the one that's begging? Do I loan to the one that needs help in one way or the other? Instead of us saying, no, no, no, I've done enough for the Lord this week. I've given him an hour of my time this week or two hours of my time this week. No more. How about if you're married and your spouse says, I would like to do this for Jesus or that for Jesus? And the other part of the marriage, the other person in the marriage, says, I think we've done enough this week, don't you? Are you really sure you want to give that extra $20 when they pass the plate or when we go visit this person or that person? You know, we've already tithed. We've already given the money we agreed to give. And so let's not put that extra in. Saying, I guess you're telling me I feel the spirit of God calling you to give some extra money or some extra time or a coat or something. You must be feeling the spirit of God uh tugging on you a little bit, but you know what? We've done enough. Guys and gals, if that's you, if that's me, if that's ever any one of us putting a lid on what the Holy Spirit is telling our spouse to do, or maybe our kids to do. Oh, we need to get on our knees and ask for forgiveness and repent of that and allow our family member to move in a way that the Spirit of God is asking them to move. Don't stand in the way of God using one of your loved ones to bring glory to his name in whatever way, big or small. Jesus' words on loving your enemies. Matthew 5, 43 through 48. You have heard that it was said, you shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. That's what we'd like to do. But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. Wow. Why? So that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. Whoa, what is Jesus saying right there? He's saying this that when you love your neighbor and pray and love your enemy and pray for your enemy, you are reflecting the grace, the mercy, and the love that God has shown you and that God has for those that have yet to come into the kingdom. That's the evidence that you are his son or his daughter. Praying for your enemy, loving your enemy. For he, God, makes his son rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust. Why do you think he does that? Do you think that you've been justified by the blood of Jesus and and uh you're in a drought situation, and you're praying for it to rain, and praying for it to rain, and the person that lives across the street from you, or the person that works on the desk next to you at work, is a vile, evil sinner. And they too need it to rain. And God allows the rain to fall in your neck of the woods and in their neck of the woods. Is it simply because God's got it raining in, you know, the zip code you live in, and the the unrighteous one lives in that same zip code? No, God is allowing that rain to fall on the unrighteous and the unjust as he does on the righteous and the just because of his love and his grace and his mercy. For if you love, Jesus goes on to say, for if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? Don't tax collectors pal around with one another? Well, sure they do. And they empathize with one another. They've got something in common, they're tax collectors. And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. I read these verses, folks, beloved, and I have got a long way to go, and I need to be reminded of these things simply because I forget them, and my selfishness and my self-centeredness and my pridefulness take over again and again and again and again. Here's Jesus' words on giving to the needy, coming out of Matthew 5. Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them. For then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly I say to you, you have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your father, who sees in secret, will reward you. How precious is that. No one on this planet knows what you give, whatever it might be. But your God, your savior, the lover of your soul, knows what you've given in secret and will reward you. Maybe it's giving of prayer time. The fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. He hears you in your prayer closet. Maybe it's giving anonymously in one way or another. Your father sees that. And the word says by Jesus himself, he will reward you. That reward may be here on earth, it may be in heaven, it may be both, but you will be rewarded for that. We've raised some serious issues about our attitudes and our behaviors. What is in our hearts is what will motivate our words and actions. We must, beloved, we must lay up our treasures in heaven and not here on earth. Jesus Himself says this do not lay up for yourselves treasure on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. The eye is the lamp of the body. So if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be filled with light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is that darkness. No one can serve two masters. For either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. These words in Matthew can provide us with a graciously revealing mirror of God's will concerning our treasures, as well as a reflection of the condition of our souls. In that passage, Jesus tells us not to store up earthly treasures, which are transitory, but to lay up for ourselves treasures in heaven. He then goes on to proclaim where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. If we want to know where the center of our being is, all we have to do is honestly admit where our treasure is. The image we see in this spiritual mirror may be terrifying to us. But that reflection is gracious for when we can do, for it is then that we can do something about our situation with God's help. We need to look into that mirror of God daily. We need to look into that mirror of God daily to see the condition of our souls. Then we need to look into the mirror of God to see his will. And then we need to see the two are so far apart and drifting ever further apart, that we will see that our treasure has been placed in a sandy place where there is no foundation. It is then that we must turn back to him, again, asking him for his forgiveness. And then, as his forgiveness brings us back into the light, puts us back on that sound foundation of the Lord Jesus Christ, our eyes will then once again be filled with light. And then and then only will our light, that is the reflected light of our merciful Savior, make a change in us, make a change in those around us, and lift him up where he and he alone belongs, to the limits of our minds, our emotions, our hearts, our breath, our life. And then and only then can we honestly sing with the elders in heaven? Then I looked and heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing. And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever. And the four living creatures said, Amen. And the elders fell down and worshipped. May that be our goal. To live our lives to the only one who is worthy of being obeyed and followed. And may that be our song on earth as it is in heaven, all blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever to the Lamb, and may it start once again with you and with me right here and right now. Open your heart. Evaluate your heart. Open it to Jesus. Let him do the surgery on your heart and my heart that we need every single day of our lives. And may we do that to his glory and to his blessing. I want to reread a part of this. From the preach the word commentary on these words that I've just read from Matthew. The commentary says this These words in Matthew can provide us with a graciously revealing mirror of God's will concerning our treasures, as well as a reflection of the condition of our souls. In that passage, Jesus tells us.