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The Hidden Cost of Materialism

James Rochford

1 Timothy 6:3-19

Materialism is deceiving because it promises happiness but delivers depression. It promises fulfillment but leaves you feeling empty. Studies show again and again that attaining the one's highest material goals never satisfies. The Bible has a solution. God instructs those who want to be rich to invest in eternal things. Develop critical thinking skills to combat the lies of this world, practice gratitude for what you do have, think about your end of life and what you want to leave behind, and become a generous giver.

Keywords

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Avoiding Avarice

Chris Hearty

1 Timothy 6:6-19

In this world, we are flooded with the message that material things will bring happiness. The Bible strongly refutes this belief. True happiness is found in pursuing an eternal value system. Without God's perspective on material things, we cannot fully enjoy the things we do obtain. One of the best ways to avoid the trap of materialism is to be a generous giver.

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{"passage": "1 Timothy 6:6-19","passageabreviated": "1 Tim 6:6-19","passagetiny": "1Tim 6:6-19","teacher": "Chris Hearty","teachingDate":...

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Escaping Avarice

Dennis McCallum

1 Timothy 6:6-19

Paul warns Timothy of the danger of material avarice, which is the extreme greed for wealth or material gain. Instead, Paul encourages the positive values of simple living and the compassionate us of wealth. Paul is not condemning being wealthy, but putting your faith in your wealth instead of God. The problem is not money but the love of money which can lead to conceit and fixing your hope in the uncertainty of riches. There are great riches to be found in contentment and appreciation.

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Chapter Four

Chris Hearty

Ecclesiastes 4:1-12

King Solomon considered the oppression the powerful exert over the earth and saw the meaninglessness of justice apart from God. He saw people either try excessively to achieve or the alternative, just give up trying. He saw the perils of being alone in this world. Solomon warns trying to live a life apart from God leads to oppression, discontentment or loneliness.

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Is Pleasure Meaningless without God?

James Rochford

Ecclesiastes 2:1-11

There was no pleasure that King Solomon denied himself. He indulged himself in alcohol, entertainment, women, anything money could buy. Not that any of those things are wrong in themselves, but pursuing them for happiness or meaning is fruitless. He found all those things were meaningless. He discovered he could not enjoy the gifts apart from the Giver of the gifts, God.

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The Pursuit of Achievement and Success

Conrad Hilario

Ecclesiastes 2:17-23

King Solomon, having already determined that pursuing wonton pleasure does not lead to a meaningful life, now turns his attention to attaining achievement and material success. But once again he comes up empty. He understands all his toil and anxious striving only leads to grief and pain, and restlessness. The Bible does not teach that work is sinful, but seeking ones significance from work is. There is a type of work that is meaningful, due to its enduring quality. When we pursue the work of the Lord, we will find significance and meaning.

Keywords

{"passage": "Ecclesiastes 2:4-6","passageabreviated": "Ecc 2:4-6","passagetiny": "Eccl 2:4-6","teacher": "Conrad Hilario","teachingDate":...

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The Pleasure Hunt

Scott Risley

Ecclesiastes 2:24-25

King Solomon in spite of all his wisdom and wealth found no meaningful satisfaction in any of the pleasures he indulged in. No amount of sex, wine or entertainment satisfied his soul. Solomon realized he tried to enjoy the gifts apart from the Giver. All these pleasures come from the hand of God, but we can't enjoy them unless they are put in their proper place. We can experience pleasure under His loving guidance.

Keywords

{"passage": "Ecclesiastes 2:1-11","passageabreviated": "Ecc 2:1-11","passagetiny": "Eccl 2:1-11","teacher": "Scott Risley","teachingDate"...

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The Pursuit of Pleasure

Chris Hearty

Ecclesiastes 2:1-26

King Solomon, who had more wealth and possessions than any man who ever lived, did not deny himself anything that would bring him pleasure. Yet, it did not bring him what he was looking for. Instead, he discovered pursuing pleasure only resulted in chasing the wind. Whether he pursued wisdom or folly, the end was the same, futility. But what he did learn was the ability to find enjoyment and joy comes from God. We cannot enjoy the things of this life without God.

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{"passage": "Ecclesiastes 2:1-26","passageabreviated": "Ecc 2:1-26","passagetiny": "Eccl 2:1-26","teacher": "Chris Hearty","teachingDate"...

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Experimenting with Pleasure

Conrad Hilario

Ecclesiastes 2:24-25

King Solomon decided to do a little experiment where he would not deny himself anything his eye desired. Although King Solomon had all the wealth and sexual pleasures a man could ever want, he realizes it all left him empty. All of it was meaningless, chasing after the wind. A life lived as if there was no God, was utterly meaningless, but a life lived for God is where one finds true meaning under the sun.

Keywords

{"passage": "Ecclesiastes 2:1-3","passageabreviated": "Ecc 2:1-3","passagetiny": "Eccl 2:1-3","teacher": "Conrad Hilario","teachingDate":...

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