Handling Adversity

0:00Welcome to 2024. We're here. We made it. I know it's uh cliche to say, especially this time of year, but time really does fly, doesn't it? And it is it is wild. Um text says that same thing, but a little differently, uh, when it says, For who knows what is good for man while he lives the few days of his vain life, which he passes like a shadow. For who can tell a man what will come after him under the sun? Something that seems as certain as the fact that time rushes by us so quickly is that at some points, or perhaps at many points, uh along the way, we will face adversity. We will face adversity. We are a blessed people, but despite that, we all went through some things this past year in 2023. And we will no doubt find ourselves reflecting back on 2024, this time next year, and realize that we also went through some things this year. And church, my prayer for us as we begin a new year is that we don't let these realities frighten us or cause us to despair, but that we cling all the more to the precious word of God. And he is speaking directly to us this morning. He's guiding us through trials and adversity with wisdom and truth. May we hear his words this morning. May we be encouraged that our God has purposed something for us this year. Whatever that may be, will you receive it? Will you receive it? Will you walk this year in the light of his glory and grace? Well, turn with me to the book of Ecclesiastes. That's where you know that we are and where we'll be this morning. We're going to be covering verses 10 of chapter 6 through verse 14 of chapter 7. So kind of a large chunk of text. Uh, as you may have guessed, the theme for this morning is handling adversity. Handling adversity is the title and theme for this morning, and may it please the Lord to press this word upon our hearts today. So uh for the new year, please stand with me as we read Ecclesiastes 6, starting in verse 10. Whatever has come to be has already been named, and it is known what is what man is, and that he is not able to dispute with one stronger than he. The more words, the more vanity, and what is the advantage to man. For who knows what is good for man while he lives the few days of his vain life, which he passes like a shadow? For who can tell man what will be after him under the sun? A good name is better than precious ointment and the day of death than the day of birth. It is better to go into the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for this is the end of all mankind, and the living will lay it to heart. Sorrow is better than laughter, for by the sadness of face the heart is made glad. The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth. It is better for a man to hear the rebuke of the wise than to hear the song of fools. For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fools, this is also vanity. Surely oppression drives the wise into madness and bribe, and a bribe corrupts the heart. Better is the end of a thing than its beginning, and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. Be not quick in your spirit to become angry, for anger lodges in the heart of fools. Say not, why were the former days better than these? For it is not from wisdom that you ask this. Wisdom is good with an inheritance, an advantage to those who see the Son. For the protection of wisdom is like the protection of money, and the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of him who has it. Consider the works of God, who can make straight what he has made crooked. In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider God has made the one as well as the other, so that man may not find out anything that will be after him. This is the word of the Lord. Let's pray. Lord, we thank you again for your word. Lord, please speak now for Christ's sake, and it is in his name that I pray. Amen. Thank you. God's faithful will be no strangers to his refining fire. God's faithful will be no stranger to his refining fire. Charles Spurgeon was no stranger to his refining fire. Early in Spurgeon's ministry, during a vent where he was preaching to some 10,000 people, a few men, these were boys really, I say men, but that were in the congregation thought it would be funny to play a prank. And they yelled fire during this sermon. It was a lot of people, obviously, in there, and the panic, uh panic stampede that followed left seven people dead and many more wounded. Spurgeon was so stricken with grief that he considered quitting the ministry altogether right at the beginning. It is thought that many of his health problems were due, at least in some part, to the anxiety, stress, and grief that he bore from that day on. A few days after that tragic day, Spurgeon, or sorry, a few years after that tragic day, Spurgeon began suffering from painful gout, kidney disease, rheumatism. This was accompanied by crippling depression that left Spurgeon weeping for no apparent reason. That was followed by what is now called the downgrade controversy in which Spurgeon was battling for truth against the Baptist Union of that day. Things like the authority of Scripture, the atonement of Christ, justification by faith were all being compromised, and Spurgeon fought violently against those compromises. He ultimately withdrew from the Baptist Union, and being abandoned by most of his Baptist friends and ministry partners, he was later censured by the Baptist Union. As you can imagine, this was a further blow to his physical and emotional health. Looking out into our Christian world today. It would be unthinkable to call a man the Prince of Preachers who suffered from painful disease, crippling depression, religious controversy, and abandonment by his closest friends. But this was the refining fire through which Charles Spurgeon walked. And refined him it did. Near the end of his life, these were the words of Spurgeon, drawing from the truth of Isaiah 48, chapter 10. I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction. This has long been the motto fixed before our eye upon the wall of our bedchamber. And in many ways it has also been written on our heart. It is no mean thing to be chosen of God. God's choice makes chosen men choice men. We are chosen not in the palace, but in the furnace. In the furnace, beauty is marred, fashion is destroyed, strength is melted, glory is consumed. Here, eternal love reveals its secrets and declares its choice. So it has been in our case. Therefore, if today the furnace be heated seven times hotter, we will not dread it. For the glorious Son of God will walk with us amid the burning coals. God's faithful will be no strangers to his refining fire. As we peel those layers back this morning, let us begin by looking at some of the truths given to us in the text, the first of which is given to us right at the beginning of chapter 6, verse 10. Whatever has come to be has already been named. Whatever has come to be has already been named. To name something in biblical terms is to give that thing existence, to make the thing dependent upon the one who named it. And this is the danger of the name it and claim it heresy, which purports to have the power to speak realities into existence. This is a thing only God can do. And we see in our text a thing that God actually does. It's one thing to say that God can do something, which many a person may confess. But it is quite another to admit with great fear and trembling that God truly does do something. Many will say that God certainly has the power to ordain and command whatsoever would come to pass, but far fewer think that he actually does that. The heretics will claim that they themselves have the power to speak realities into being, but they shudder, they lie, or they make excuses when Paul says in 2 Corinthians, for we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction that we experienced in Asia, for we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we have received the sentence of death, but that was to make us not rely on ourselves, but on God who raises the dead. Paul certainly believed that whatever has come to be has already been named. Paul did not question to whom his affliction and despair could ultimately be attributed to. And the reason why such affliction was given to him. Paul did not grumble at God or make excuses for him, saying, surely a thing is not the will of God or in his will. Rather, Paul sees his desperation of life itself as the means by which God is teaching him to cling to the hand of God for every breath and every word. When he cried out to the Father before his torture and crucifixion, he did not plead with God to save him from wicked men who wished to kill him or to intervene in the corrupt actions of men. His paraphrased prayer was this. Father, if there is any other way to do this other than drinking the cup that you have prepared for me, then let it be. But I will trust your will. This is a seeming echo of the words of Job, which was perhaps a foreshadowing of the work of Christ, words that continue to reverberate through the church today. And those words of Job were, though he slay me, I will hope in him. And that is that we are not able to dispute with one stronger than us. We are not able to dispute with one stronger than us. The strength and wisdom and knowledge of God is so far superior to ours that perhaps the vainest of vanities is disputing with God. And that follows along with our second truth from the text, which is starting in verse. Or what is or should be considered good for you. Everyone wants to tell you how to live. Judge the decisions that you've made or haven't made. I think it's clear from this text, and many portions of the biblical text is this. If the advice or judgment isn't guided by the wisdom of God, then it is of little to no value for you. Because who knows what is good for you? Really? Who knows what is good for you? Who can tell you what is good, even? Who can even define what is good? 1 Corinthians 1.18, for the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart. How foolish is Christian wisdom? The wisdom of God to the world. How foolish is it? How silly does it seem to confess that in order to save men from the sins which he has committed against a holy God, that same God had to become man himself, and to subject himself to the same temptations as the creation which he named into existence, so that by his perfection we may be perfected. The author of life becomes death to give death new life. The glory of heaven becomes a dependent child to bring back with him dependent children to glory. To be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in him. 2 Corinthians 5, 21. And what foolishness is this to those who've never tasted the goodness of the gospel? What foolish words are those who say that I may know him and the power of his resurrection? And that I may share in his suffering, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may obtain the resurrection from the dead. Who says those things? Who lives like that? Who can confess with David one thing I have asked of the Lord, that I will seek after him, that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, and to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord? Psalm 27, 4. For what man of this world can tell you what will come after you in this life? What man of this world can offer that? Who can offer wisdom wiser than the foolishness of the gospel? None can. Because for us, such truths are not foolishness. For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing. But to us who are being saved, it is the power of God. Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has God not made the foolish, made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God, the world through its wisdom did not come to know God. God was well pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. For indeed, Jews ask for signs and Greeks seek for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified. To the Jews a stumbling block, and to Gentiles foolishness. But to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ, the power of God, and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. So beginning in chapter 7, we see the teacher unpack this wisdom of God against the wisdom of the world. And he does so in a way that might make our heads scratch a little. Certainly in a way that the world would find utterly foolish, blasphemous even, repulsive. A good name is better than precious ointment. A good name is better than precious ointment. I think we can all get on board with that one, right? Solid reputation is worth more than things that you can buy. So the wisdom is to be known as a good person. That's better than precious ointment. I think we're perfectly fine with that one. How about the day of death is better than the day of birth? Do we agree with that? It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting. Put another way, it's better to go to a funeral than to a wedding. Sorrow is better than laughter. The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning. Better is the end of a thing than its beginning. Surely that can't be true, right? Surely that can't be true. Death is full of sadness. Birth is full of happiness and new life. Funerals are heart-wrenching, somber, while weddings are defined by joy and laughter, dancing. Where is the wisdom in the house of mourning? And how is something ending better than it beginning? These are things that faithful Christians must wrestle with. We have to do something with these truths in the text. We have to square them against the rest of Scripture so that we are well-rounded, faithful, Bible-trusting people. And I pray that he does that for us this morning. Let me offer two points of clarification as we look into this. It is very important to understand these verses correctly, lest we slip into masochism and all start wearing black and veiling our faces and taking pride and pleasure in ourselves being sad and mournful all the time. That is not what's being communicated here. And keep in mind what we said is the overarching theme of this book. Apart from God, we gain nothing. Apart from God, we gain nothing. So laughter without the knowledge of Christ is just noise. Celebration and joy without being united to a Savior is just shallow amusement. Beginning a thing that does not have its foundation in the Lord will not last. That is what's truly being communicated here. Not that sorrow in and of itself is better than joy, but that one cannot even compare worldly happiness against godly sorrow. They are not comparable. Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die. Live your life to the fullest, because this is the only life you get. Smile. Life is too short to be unhappy. Those are shallow platitudes, regurgitated by a foolish world. The call of Christ and the eternal life that He has given us is so much deeper than that. And if there is one among us who prides themselves on being joyful, on being happy all the time, on never letting anything get to them. May our God humble you this morning. There is a time for laughing. There is a time for rejoicing. Sorrow is better than laughter. For by the sadness of face the heart is made glad. And that is the wisdom and application that we must draw from this text for all of our lives. We are so prone to pay God lip service, aren't we? The words of Christ, quoting the prophet Isaiah, this people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. We know this to be true, for we see people every day who might claim Christ, but live in such a way as to show that their hearts are turned to anything and everything but Christ. You also know that there are many, many, perhaps even some in this room, who just put on a happy face every day? Because they think that's what they're supposed to do. Meanwhile, their hearts are darkened with despair. Why do we lie to the God who knows our heart? Why do we think, or who do we think we are making feel better by such actions? Are we that influenced by the wisdom of the world to think that that is what's actually best for us? And do you see that the wisdom of God says exactly the opposite of that here? Sadness of face brings gladness of heart. Sadness of face brings gladness of heart, and maybe I haven't fully convinced you yet. Hopefully I will now. It is through the honest and real reflection of our own sin, our own separation from God that drives us to our knees and leads us to our Savior and our salvation, isn't it? It's an honest reflection of our own sin and our own separation for God. That's what leads us to salvation. Doesn't the gospel tell us that despairing over our own wretchedness, over our inability to bridge the chasm to God, that's the first step towards salvation. In much the same way. We cannot get to a truly glad heart by being fake. And as foolish as it sounds, it is through the furnace of trial, adversity, suffering, and sorrow that God gladdens our heart. We cannot know what true joy is until we have experienced sorrow. We cannot know what it means to be saved unless there is something from which we need to be saved from. We cannot experience the peace of Christ that surpasses all worldly understanding unless we walk in the valley. I don't know why God does that. I don't. It seems to me like there could be a better way. There should be a better way, right? Oh the depths of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God. How unsearchable are his judgments, how inscrutable his ways. For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor? Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid? For from him and through him and to him are all things, to him be the glory forever. Amen. For those who have experienced the joy of salvation, for the peace of God in suffering, can relate in a very real and honest way. The words of Peter. In this you rejoice. Though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him, and rejoice with a joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. What I hope we take then from this text this morning is simple. That we are God-fearing, Christ-dependent people. That whatever season we are in, we are real or honest. Or faithful people. That we don't fear the world or anything in it, but we fear only God who has named us and saved us. And may we know and live the final verse of our text this morning, verse 14 of chapter 7. In the day of prosperity, be joyful. And in the day of adversity, consider that God has made the one as well as the other. So that man may not find out anything that will be after him. And the translation there, whatever your situation, God is calling you to faith and trust in him alone. That is how we live, and that is how we handle adversity. Amen? Let's pray. Lord, we thank you again for your word. We confess to you, Lord, that we do not understand the unsearchableness of your ways or your unscrutable judgments. We confess that we don't know why you do the things the way that you do, Lord, but we trust you. Lord, be with us when we walk through the valley of shadow of death. Lord, be with us when we are lying on green pastures. Be with us in the valleys and in the mountaintops, Lord. Be with us through everything. We desperately need you, Lord. We pray and ask that you would help us to be real with our thoughts and our feelings and our emotions, Lord. Let us not be a fake people, Lord. But a people that seeks you and serves you. That is our goal. And we pray and we ask you for your help in that. Lord, be with us now as we go into this time of supper, Lord. Bring to our hearts and minds those things that we have sinned against you, Lord. May we confess them to you. Lord, to know that you are just and faithful to forgive them. We ask all these things in the name of Jesus. Amen.