LifeGroup Guide

Can I Have Your Attention Please?

Don’t Chase the Wind

Ecclesiastes 2:1-11

April 10, 2016

PREPARATION

> Spend the week reading through and studying Ecclesiastes 2:1-11. Consult the commentary provided and any additional study tools (such as a concordance or Bible dictionary) to enhance your preparation.

Determine which discussion points and questions will work best with your group.

> Pray for our pastors, the upcoming group meeting, your teaching, your group members, and their receptivity to the study.

HIGHLIGHTS

Biblical Emphasis: King Solomon looked to the world and its riches to find meaning, but he found it to be futile.

Teaching Aim: Christ followers are called to eliminate pursuits in life that are fruitless. This will create more space to spend time on what matters most.

INTRODUCTION

As your group time begins, use this section to help get the conversation going.

  • Have you ever pursued something that you thought would bring you great satisfaction, but once you got it you weren’t satisfied?
  • Have you ever bought something you thought you would enjoy but it turned out to be a burden? If so, explain what happened.
  • Tell about a time you worked hard for something and after the task was completed, your work appeared to be in vain.

The famous actor Jim Carrey once said, “I think everybody should get rich and famous and do everything they ever dreamed of so they can see that it’s not the answer.” Carrey’s words aren’t far from the words King Solomon wrote about in the Book of Ecclesiastes. Solomon provides us with a sobering reminder that accomplishments and pleasures of this world are fleeting. He likens a pursuit for worldly pleasure and accomplishment as “chasing the wind.” As Christ followers, we are called to eliminate things in our lives that are fruitless so we can create space in our hearts to focus on what is best.

UNDERSTANDING

Unpack the biblical text to discover what Scripture says or means about a particular topic.

> Have a volunteer read Ecclesiastes 2:1-3.

  • With what did Solomon “test himself” (v. 1)? What was the outcome?
    Is there anything wrong with enjoying ourselves?
  • Do you think there is a difference between enjoying good things in life and attempting to derive meaning from pleasure? If so, explain your answer.

Solomon allowed himself the pursuit of pleasure to find meaning in his life and found it to be futile. The Hebrew word used for pleasure in this passage can mean either “joy” or “mirth.” The reference to laughter in verse 2 suggests Solomon was referring to the latter. While there is certainly nothing wrong with pleasure and enjoying the good things God has blessed us with, attempting to find meaning in lighthearted pursuits is foolish and will leave us empty handed.

> Have a volunteer read Ecclesiastes 2:4-8.

  • What kind of things did Solomon pursue in search of pleasure?
  • Review the list of Solomon’s accomplishments. How do we attempt to acquire these things in our culture? What is the outcome for us?

Solomon became rich in every material way. He lived in luxurious homes surrounded by beautiful views and landscaping. He enjoyed the best foods and more than likely entertained friends in his palaces. He hired musicians to keep himself entertained. Solomon was free from hard labor because he had a large staff of people working for him. He owned more livestock than anyone before him and was undoubtedly legendary for his wealth and accomplishments. From a cultural standpoint, Solomon had experienced, achieved, and enjoyed everything life had to offer.

  • Why are people often tempted to believe pleasure and ease will bring fulfillment?
  • How do things usually turn out for people who have a similar lifestyle as Solomon?

> Have a volunteer read Ecclesiastes 2:9.

  • Who did Solomon surpass in terms of wealth and achievement? Notably, what remained with him?

Solomon surpassed everyone who had come before him in Jerusalem. It’s especially notable that Solomon’s wisdom remained with him. Solomon did not lose control and become an addict. If he had, it would be easy to understand why his wealth and luxury had not made him happy. But Solomon handled his prosperity far better than most and did not fall into addiction and debauchery.

  • In what areas of life have you found the most meaning and purpose?
  • Do you see any similarities or correlations between the things that bring you the most joy?

> Have a volunteer read Ecclesiastes 2:10-11.

  • What did Solomon deny himself?
  • How did Solomon view his achievements?
  • What do you think Solomon meant by “pursuing the wind”? Can you relate to this feeling?

Solomon’s search for happiness through wealth and pleasure failed him, but it wasn’t for lack of trying. The text says he didn’t deny himself any pleasure. He viewed his wealth and achievements as meaningless and as “chasing or pursuing the wind.” Not only did these things fail to bring him satisfaction, Solomon realized that none of his treasures would endure.

> Have a volunteer read Psalm 49:10.

  • According to this passage, what is the fate of both wise and foolish men? What happens to our wealth?

Wealth and achievements won’t buy us more time on earth. Both wise and foolish men alike will pass away and leave their wealth to someone else. While the Bible has a lot to say about the importance of a good work ethic, godly stewardship, and care for our families, searching for meaning through wealth and pleasure is foolish and will leave us empty-handed. Jesus taught us how to wisely steward our possessions.

> Have a volunteer read Matthew 6:19-21.

  • What does Jesus say about storing up treasures on earth?
  • Where does Jesus say to collect treasure?
  • Why does our heart go where our treasure is? Share a time when you experienced this in your own life.

Jesus stressed the fleeting value of worldly wealth. He tells His followers to build wealth in heaven where it will have great meaning and will never be destroyed. Jesus taught that a person’s heart belongs to what it treasures the most. Since Christ followers are to love God above all things (Mark 12:30), love for worldly possessions is a form of idolatry and should be treated as sin. Ridding ourselves of things that are eternally fruitless creates space in our lives to make time for what matters most.

APPLICATION

Help your group identify how the truths from the Scripture passage apply directly to their lives.

  • Are there areas in your life where you need to cut back to make room for what matters most?
  • What is one fruitless thing you would like to give up? Ask someone else in our group to hold you accountable.
  • If we truly value storing up treasure in heaven, what are some of the things we as individuals, a Life Group, and a church body should be investing our time in?

PRAY

Thank God for the wisdom He gives us through the study of His Word. Ask Him to increase our wisdom and make us excellent stewards of our time and money on earth. Pray that each group member will know the meaning of life to be found only in Christ Jesus.

FOLLOW UP

Midway through this week, send a follow-up email to your group with some or all of the following information:

Questions to consider as they continue to reflect on what they learned this week:

  • Have you identified areas in your life where you need to cut back to create space for the things that matter the most?

> A note of encouragement, following up on any specific prayer requests mentioned during your group gathering.

> The challenge to memorize Ecclesiastes 2:11.

COMMENTARY

Ecclesiastes 2:1-11

2:1-3 These verses summarize in advance the whole of verses 1-11. Solomon looked into finding meaning through riches, and he found it futile. The word “wine” is literal wine, but it also stands for all the pleasure-giving luxuries of life. “Folly” refers to parties, frivolity, and self-indulgence. When the Teacher said “my mind still guiding me with wisdom,” he meant that he did not give himself over to total dissipation. Anyone can see that a person who has cast off all self-restraint, such as the alcoholic, will not be happy. Solomon never lost self-control or became an addict. Still, even pleasures pursued in moderation will not bring happiness.

2:4-8 The Teacher was rich in every way, including palatial homes, the natural beauty of vineyards and gardens, abundant and varied food from his herds and estates, riches in the form of livestock and precious metals, and feats of engineering in the form of reservoirs and aqueducts. He was free of hard labor and was served by an army of slaves. He was entertained by singers, and his sexual desires were fulfilled by concubines.

2:9 Solomon’s assertion that “my wisdom also remained with me” is important. If he had lost all self-control and had become an addict, then the fact that his wealth and luxury had not made him happy would be self-evident. But he did handle the prosperity well and did not fall into debauchery. It is not only excess and dissipation that leads to ruin, but even indulgence with moderation does not satisfy.

2:10-11 The Teacher’s quest for happiness through wealth failed, but not for lack of trying. He did not deny himself any pleasure. Not only did Solomon realize his treasures and accomplishments failed to give him satisfaction, he also understood that none would endure. Consider that virtually nothing remains of all of Solomon’s architectural achievements—they were all doomed to disappear.

Psalm 49:10

49:10-12 This section as well as verses 16-20 are similar to the arguments in other Wisdom texts, especially Ecclesiastes, about the futility of wealth: it is left to others (39:6; EcEcc 2:18), graves are the eternal homes of the wealthy (EcEcc 12:5), they are like... animals that perish (EcEcc 3:19), they will take nothing with them (Job 27:19; Ps 49:17), and they praise themselves (v. 18; Dt 29:18; Lk 12:19).

Matthew 6:19-21

6:19-20 Jesus emphasized the fleeting value of worldly wealth. The larvae of the moth could quickly destroy valuable fabrics that were treasured by the ancients. The word rust is literally “eating.” It can refer to the pitting of metal coins or to vermin that ruin valuable food stores.

6:21 Jesus taught that a person’s heart truly belongs to what it most treasures. Since a disciple is to love God with all his heart (22:37; Dt 6:4), love for material possessions and riches is a subtle form of idolatry (Col 3:5).