Our scripture reading for this evening, to which I invite you to turn with me at this time, is found in the Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes, the third chapter. Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon, Ecclesiastes chapter three. Ecclesiastes chapter three, a book of the Bible penned under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit by the teacher, by the preacher, as some of the translations refer to him. The Hebrew name is Koholeth, Koholeth. It literally refers to the one who assembles God's people, who calls God's people into sacred assembly. And because the first verse of the first chapter reads, the words of the teacher, son of David, king in Jerusalem, and due to various other indications throughout the book. Most Bible scholars believe, and I think rightfully so, that this book was penned by none other than King Solomon, the son of King David. We begin reading, brothers and sisters, in the first verse of Ecclesiastes 3. We read through verse 14, but I draw your special attention to verses 12 and 13. Verses 12 and 13 will constitute our text for tonight. Ecclesiastes 3, beginning in verse 1, hear then the word of the Lord. There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under heaven, a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain. A time to search, and a time to give up. A time to keep, and a time to throw away. A time to tear, and a time to mend. A time to be silent, and a time to speak. A time to love, and a time to hate. A time for war, and a time for peace. What does the worker gain from his toil? I have seen the burden God has laid on men, He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men, yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and to do good while they live, that everyone may eat and drink and find satisfaction in all his toil. This is the gift of God. I know that everything God does will endure forever, nothing can be added to it, nothing taken from it. God does it so that men will revere Him. Thus far the reading of God's Holy Word and as always dear friends I ask and urge you to keep your Bibles open and handy as we look to God's Word together at the close of this Lord's Day. Dear congregation of Jesus Christ, Do the dates August 15 through 17, 1969 mean anything to you? August 15 through 17, 1969? I see some smiles. Well, if they do mean something to you, that means you are probably at least as old as I am. And the reason being, those were the dates when several hundred thousand young people gathered on Max Yazger's farm in upstate New York for what was then billed as the Woodstock Music and Arts Fair, or as the latest issue of the Weekly Standard refers to that event on its 40th anniversary review, it was a time of sex, drugs, music, and mud. Now, many of us may recall that the hippies and the yippies and the so-called flower children of that generation were earnestly seeking to usher in a sort of social utopia, a time in which they believed they would soon be celebrating universal peace and love and happiness for everyone. In fact, this particular article in the Weekly Standard quotes a man by the name of Abby Hoffman, which may also mean something to you. Abby Hoffman was a 1960s radical political activist and self-described child of Woodstock nation. And Abby Hoffman is quoted in here by saying this, listen carefully. He said out of that sense of community, out of that vision, that utopian vision, comes the energy to go out there and actually participate in the process so that social change occurs." Then the article goes on to indicate that Abbie Hoffman said this shortly before he killed himself. Shortly before he killed himself. Why? Why would he take his own life? Well, perhaps there could be many reasons, I suppose. But friends, no doubt one of the reasons has to do with the refrain which King Solomon keeps repeating over and over and over again in the book of Ecclesiastes. It has to do with the fact that if you or I or anyone were to live a life strictly, to use biblical language, under the sun. If we were to live a life strictly with no sense of God, with no sense of the being of God, of the love of God, with no sense of having any faith or trust in God, with no sense of believing that He created us in His image and sent His Son on Calvary to die and pay the penalty for our sins. Think of such a life. Existentialism. We'd all be crying out with King Solomon in Ecclesiastes, one verse, one meaningless, meaningless, utterly meaningless. Everything is meaningless. Isn't that true? Ah, but notice, but notice. Because the sacred scriptures teach us unequivocally that there is a God, that there is a God who has miraculously and mightily created us in his very image. because the scriptures unequivocally teach us that this very same God loved us so much that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life. My dear, dear friends, as we turn to the words of our text in Ecclesiastes 3, verses 12 and 13, we find ourselves being moved. And we find ourselves being incredibly motivated by the fact that even in the midst of all of the the the burdens and busyness of our everyday lives, even amidst all of the struggles and sorrows of this life. The Bible says that all people everywhere will, in fact, be able to attain a true, lasting, enduring peace and meaningfulness and purpose and joy in time and for all eternity. To the extent By the grace and mercy of God, we possess, we practice and we pursue three key aspects of that which King Solomon refers to as the gift of God, the gift of God. Why so? Because the Bible says there simply is nothing better. There simply is nothing better. Well, As we work our way through verses 12 and 13 of Ecclesiastes 3, we find that the first key aspect of this gift of God, of which King Solomon speaks, is happiness of heart. That's the first key aspect of this gift of God, of which he speaks, happiness of heart. Look at verse 12 with me, if you would please. Here we read, I know, says King Solomon, the Hebrew word is Yada, Y-A-D-A, Yada. It doesn't simply mean to be aware of, to have a knowledge of, Yadah refers to a very personal knowledge, a very intimate knowledge, a very experiential knowledge. He knows what he's talking about because he's lived it. That's what Yadah means. I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy or to be glad or to rejoice. Some of the translations may say, I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy. Now friends, think about that. Happiness. For example, no doubt, probably all of us have seen somewhere at one time or another the little international happy face, smiley face that you see on stickers and all sorts of places, billboards and the like, advertisements, the happy face. Maybe we've all read the expression, don't worry, be happy. here or there. Is that what Solomon is talking about? A happy face. Don't worry. Be happy. Philosophy of life. Trying to convince yourself all appearances to the contrary, that all is really okay. Put on a happy face. Trite, naive, sentimental. Is that what he's talking about? Well, needless to say, no. Needless to say, no, that is not what he is talking about, because you see, dear friends, whenever King Solomon or any other Holy Spirit-inspired author of the sacred scriptures talks about such gladness, talks about enduring happiness, talks about a true and lasting and enduring joy, they are speaking of it in relationship with the God who created us and the Christ who died for us. Because it is only in Him that such joy and happiness and peace and gladness can be found. In fact, turn with me, if you would, to Psalm 4, verses 6 and 7. Just go back to the left several pages. Psalm 4, verses 6 and 7. In Psalm 4, verses 6 and 7, the sacred psalmist David declares, many are asking, who can show us any good? And a lot of people today are asking, what is this country coming to? What is this world coming to? Who can show us any good? David goes on to say, let the light of your face shine upon us, O Lord. You have filled my heart with greater joy than when their grain and new wine abound. Let the world party. They don't know what happiness is about. You have filled my heart with greater joy than when their grain and new wine abound. Turn over a page or two to Psalm 9. Just go over to the right a couple of pages. Psalm 9, verses 1 and 2. David again declares, I will praise you, O Lord, with all my heart. I will tell of all your wonders. I will be glad and rejoice in you. I will sing praise to your name, O Most High. In Nehemiah 8, verse 10, we read, Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength. And in Philippians 4, for the apostle Paul declares, Rejoice in the Lord always. Again, I will say, Rejoice, rejoice in the Lord always. And again, I will say, Rejoice. You know, someone has once said that that joy is the flag that is flown from the castle of the heart when the king is in residence there. I love that. Joy is the flag that is flown from the castle of the heart when the king is in residence there. As John Calvin, the great reformer, while all men seek after happiness, scarcely one in a hundred looks for it from God. Did you catch that? While all men seek after happiness, scarcely one in a hundred looks for it from God. So, my friend, I ask you tonight, where are you looking for your happiness? In what or in whom are you seeking to find your happiness? Are you looking for happiness where King Solomon searched some 3,000 years ago? In fact, turn over to Ecclesiastes 2, just for a moment. If you're there, just turn back a page or two in Ecclesiastes 2, verses 4 and following, get a load of this. King Solomon says, I undertook great projects. I built houses for myself, Ecclesiastes 2, 4, 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. 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. I amass silver and gold for myself and the treasure of kings and provinces. Don't lose your place. The Bible elsewhere says that Solomon had so much gold, he made his weapons out of gold. He made his furniture out of gold. He made his dishes out of gold. On Wall Street, they weigh gold by the ounce. Solomon measured it by the ton, the Bible says. Think of it. I acquired men and women singers in a harem as well, the delights of the heart of man. 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 work, and this was the reward for all my labor. Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after wind. Nothing was gained under the sun. It was a vanity. It was a bubble, a bubble that burst. King Solomon said all of it was why? Because as the great French philosopher and mathematician Pascal once said, there is a God shaped vacuum inside every one of us, a vacuum that only God can fill. We can look anywhere else, just as this old world is, and we're going to find ourselves feeling just as empty and unfulfilled as before. It's only in Christ. It's only in Christ. In fact, if you'll go back to the Psalms with me again, just for a moment, Psalm 16, Psalm 16, verse 11, Psalm 16, verse 11. Again, a psalm of David, Psalm 16, verse 11. David says, You have made known to me the path of life. Remember, Jesus said the thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy. I have come that they may have life and have it to the full. You have made known to me the path of life. You will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand. And friends, that very same promise holds true to all those who, by the grace and mercy of God, repent of their sins and profess faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Because it is in Christ and Christ alone that we have his Holy Spirit who promises to be with us forever and to fill us with joy in his presence and eternal pleasures at his right hand. And so if we desire to experience that which Solomon refers to as Nothing better. Nothing better. We need to seek by the grace and mercy of God to possess, to practice and pursue this first key aspect of what he calls the gift of God. And that, my friends, is happiness of heart. Happiness of heart. Well, let's go back to our text in Ecclesiastes 3 verses 12 and 13, where we find a second key aspect of this gift of God concerning which there is nothing better is the doing of good deeds, the doing of good deeds. Look at verse 12 with me, if you would please once again. Solomon says, I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy. and to do good while they live and to do good while they live. You know, several years ago, I had one of our young people say to me is after a youth group meeting. Great question, Pastor Kukin, if we're saved by grace alone through faith alone. Why do we have to still do good deeds? It's a great question. How would you answer that question? Well, you know, that question is almost verbatim in the Heidelberg Catechism. In fact, turn with me, if you would please, for a moment to page 44. Once again, in the back of our Psalters, page 44. That question is asked right here in Lord's Day 32, page 44, at the beginning of the third section of the catechism on man's gratitude. We're sinners. We learned that in the first section. We're saved only through Christ, but because we're saved by grace, we've got to live lives of gratitude to him. And so question 86 asks, I'd like you to read the answer with me if you're there. If you're not there, don't worry about it. But if you're there, the question 86 asks, we have been delivered from our misery by God's grace alone through Christ. and not because we have earned it. Why then must we still do good? And let's read that answer together. To be sure, Christ has redeemed us by His blood, but we do good because Christ, by His Spirit, is also renewing us to be like Himself, so that in all our living we may show that we are thankful to God for all He has done for us, and so that he may be praised through us, and we do good so that we may be assured of our faith by its fruits, and so that by our godly living our neighbors may be won over to Christ." Thank you. Now look at all the footnotes there, the biblical footnotes. I just want to highlight a couple of them. For example, if you would care to turn with me, Matthew chapter 5. Matthew chapter 5 addresses that question this way. Matthew 5 14 through 16 it's part of the so-called Sermon on the Mount and in Matthew 5 14 through 16 Jesus is speaking to his disciples and he says you are the light of the world a City on a hill cannot be hidden Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl instead They put it on its stand then it gives light to everyone in the house boys and girls You may sing in Sunday school this little light of mine. I'm gonna let it shine that's where this is taken from in the same way let your light shine before men and that they may see your good deeds and praise your father in heaven. Now, similarly, another footnote was one Peter, chapter two, right near the end of the Bible, one Peter, chapter two. And in one Peter to eleven and twelve, the apostle Peter says this. He says, Dear friends, I urge you as aliens and strangers in the world to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. live such good lives among the pagans. Someone has once said that the Christian is the world's Bible. Think about that. Live such good lives among the pagans that though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see what your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. Now, finally, on this score, there's one passage that's not in the footnote of the catechism, but I'd like you to turn to it with me, please, is in Luke chapter 6, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Luke chapter 6. Jesus is again speaking to his disciples, and he says in Luke chapter 6, verses 27 and 28, first of all, but I tell you who hear me, love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who mistreat you and drop down to verse 32, same chapter, Luke six. Jesus says, if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them. and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful." Question. In what ways are you and I doing good? Not just to our friends, but also to our enemies. Think about that. In the words of the Catechism, in what ways are your and my good deeds showing that we are thankful to God? In what ways are our good deeds bringing praise to God? In what ways do our good deeds assure us of our faith by its fruits? In what ways is God using our good deeds so that our neighbors may be won over to Christ? Especially considering the fact, brothers and sisters, as someone once so wisely said, people do not care what you know. Until they know how much you care. People do not care what you know. Until they know how much you care, it's true. Now, these are these are critical questions. Especially considering those last few words of verse 12 of Ecclesiastes 3 turn back there with me if you would please those last few words are critically important Solomon says I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good What's the next three words? while they live while they live When I read that was studying that for the first time I thought of Isaiah 55 verse 6 where it says seek the Lord while he may be found Implication being he's not always going to be able to be found And so when I read this and I'm saying I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live What's the implication? We're not always going to be living on this earth. I And isn't it true that the headlines are filled virtually every day with with accounts of younger and older being swept out to sea by rip currents, for example, or or somebody being tragically killed in an automobile accident or or somebody suddenly being stricken with it with a deadly disease? And you can't help wondering who's next, who's next, will it be me? Will it be you? I often think at our New Year's Eve service, After another year goes by, which of us may not be sitting in the pew? But will be celebrating in glory. We don't know. We don't know. We don't know. Do good while they live, while they live. And so, brothers and sisters, resting in the grace and goodness of God. And rejoicing in his perfect plan and providence for our lives, the God who holds our times in his hands, the God was numbered every one of our days before one of them comes to be the written in his book, the psalmist says. We need to seize the day. And we need to ask ourselves this question each and every day, Lord, since you have given life to me today. What can I do that is good? For my neighbor's good. And for your glory. We need to ask ourselves that question every day, because we don't know if we're going to be here tomorrow, you see. Lord, as long as you're giving me life today. What can I do for my neighbor's good? And for your glory. We have to ask ourselves that question every day. writes Matthew Henry, and I quote, What have we, our beings, capacities and estates for but to be some way useful to our generation? I'm going to read that again. What have we, our beings, capacities and estates for but to be some way useful to our generation? That's true. And so, my dear, dear friends, by the grace and mercy of God, you and I must seek not simply to possess and practice and pursue happiness of heart, But if we want what the Bible calls nothing better, nothing better, nothing better, we must also practice the doing of good deeds, the doing of good deeds. Well, let's go back to our text one last time together where we find a third and final aspect of this gift of God concerning which there is nothing better. And that is the simple enjoyment of every day, the simple enjoyment of every day. verses 12 and 13 one last time. I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. That everyone may eat and drink and find satisfaction. The Hebrew could literally be translated to read to enjoy the good, to enjoy the good, to find satisfaction in all his toil. This is the gift of God. Friends, notice here that King Solomon is referring to some very basic, simple, seemingly mundane items and issues of life. He's referring, first of all, to simply eating and drinking, something we all do every day, or at least should do every day. And the Bible says that even our eating and drinking ought to be done as unto the Lord. For example, in 1 Corinthians 10 31, the apostle Paul proclaims. So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Do it all for the glory of God. Then seemingly another incidental aspect of our everyday lives, he refers to to our work, our daily labor, what what Solomon refers to as as all his toil. both within and outside of the home. Think about all our work, our labor, our toil within and outside of the home. The doing of dishes, changing of diapers, doing of laundry, baking, banking, teaching, truck driving, construction, computers, farming, fill in the blank. All of our work, all of our labor, all of our toil. The Bible says that we need to do it as unto the Lord because this is a gift of God. Now, while you may not feel this way when an average Monday morning rolls around, We need to remember that God ordained man to work, not following the fall, but prior to the fall. It's significant. Work was not assigned to us, brothers and sisters, after the fall. Well, I'll get them, I'll make them work. It was given to us before the fall. In fact, go to Genesis 2 with me just for a moment, if you would please. First book of the Bible, second chapter, Genesis 2. Genesis chapter 2 verse 8. Genesis chapter 2 verse 8. Here we read Genesis 2 8. Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east in Eden. And there he put the man he had formed. Verse 15. Genesis 2 verse 15. The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. The fall of our first parents, Adam and Eve, in the Garden of Eden didn't happen until chapter three. God put man in the garden to work and take care of it. It was part of his blessing, his good creation, his very good creation. That's also why, of course, in in Exodus 20, verses seven through 11, we read that our own work week is patterned after God's creation week, six days of work and one day of rest, six day of work and one day of rest. It was part of his good creation. Now, we think about that. It was given as a blessing by God to bring glory to God. Friends, does this not raise the significance of what we sometimes consider to be drudgery of our labor, of our toil, of our work every day? It raises its significance. In fact, one commentator has so well said, and I quote, there is a practical life to be lived And it is in the conscientious fulfillment of daily duty and the moderate use of ordinary enjoyments so that as Christians we may adorn the doctrine of our God and savior. End of quote. And that's true. In fact, in Colossians chapter three, verses 23 and 24, the apostle Paul says essentially that same thing. Colossians three, verses 23 and 24. Paul says this, whatever you do, fill in the blank, whatever you do, Work at it with all your heart. Christians ought to be the best employers and employees this country, this world has ever seen. It's part of our testimony to the glory of God. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart. It's working for the Lord, not for men. You're a student, you're a salesman, you're a factory worker. Look beyond the teacher, look beyond the boss. To the Lord, to the Lord. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Consequently, if you and I truly desire the gift of God concerning which there is nothing better, the Bible says, brothers and sisters, that you and I must seek to possess and and practice and pursue the simple enjoyment of every day. the simple enjoyment of every day. You know, friends, I have always been intrigued by the account recorded for us in John chapter 5, and I ask you to turn there as we close. John chapter 5, Gospel of John, the fifth chapter. Here we read of the Lord Jesus healing a man who had been an invalid for some 38 years. In fact, in John chapter 5, one and following, we read sometime later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for a feast of the Jews. Now there is in Jerusalem near the sheep gate, a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda, and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. Here a great number of disabled people used to lie, the blind, the lame, the paralyzed. One who was there had been an invalid for 38 years. Think of that. When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, Do you want to get well? Sir, the invalid replied, I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred while I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me. My friends, think about that. Jesus Christ is standing right there in front of him. The Lord of heaven and earth. And Jesus sees him lying there and he says to him, do you want to get well? It seems like a no brainer. You would think he would say yes. It answered to your question. Yes, yes, I want to get well more than anything else in all the world. I've been an invalid for 38 years. You please heal me. It's not what he says. Jesus says, do you want to get well? And the invalid replies, sir, I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me. Can you spell pity party? Can you spell self pity? My friend, listen, no matter who you are, No matter what the situation or circumstances of our life may be. Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, tonight, by his word and spirit, is saying to each and every one of us that same question. Do you want to get well? Do you want to get well? Do you want to get well? If we do, if we do. Then by the grace and mercy of God, let us repent of our sins. Let us put our faith and trust in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. And then let us go forth into this new week seeking to possess and practice and pursue happiness of heart, the doing of good deeds and the enjoyment of every day. Because you see, according to God's own word, these are the three key aspects of the gift of God concerning which. There is nothing better. Amen. Let's bow our heads and our hearts together in prayer. Oh, our merciful God and ever faithful Heavenly Father. So many years ago, the man of God Moses prayed, saying, May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us. establish the work of our hands for us. Yes, establish the work of our hands. And, O Lord, we make this prayer of Moses our prayer tonight as well, praying that as this summer season soon draws to a close and all the labor and busyness of the fall settles in upon us, that Your grace would be sufficient for us. And that in all of our labor and in all of our leisure, as we consecrate all to you, we too would find, as did King Solomon so many years ago, that in loving you and in living for you, there simply is nothing better. Hear us, Heavenly Father, we pray for Jesus' sake. Amen.