FIND MEANING IN YOUR MISSION

• Ecclesiastes picks up on a downward spiral of pessimism.

• Solomon sets this up intentionally, though. He wants us to feel the agony of life’s monotony before starting to give us little nuggets of practical advice.

• In our second session, we will examine the first optimistic observation of the book.

• But, first, let’s revisit our friend Vincent Van Gough.

ILLUSTRATION:

• Vincent van Gogh chased after his dream for most of his life to no avail.

• Eventually, darkness overtook him, and he found himself confined to the walls of an asylum in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence.

• After decades of creating beauty, he was surrounded by stark white walls and a drab institution that resembled a prison more than a hospital.

• On a fateful night in 1889, Van Gogh’s heart fluttered when he saw the beauty of the night sky outside his window.

• Every light in the sky became a beacon of hope for his tormented soul. The artist felt a sense of awe and wonder that inspired him to capture this celestial scene on canvas.

• On that day, he unpacked his brushes to create his masterpiece—Starry Night.

•With feverish intensity, Van Gogh got to work. Mixing shades of blues and yellows, he intentionally applied each brushstroke.

• The swirling lines and thickly applied paint give the painting a hypnotic quality, transporting the viewer to a world of magic and wonder.

•With good reason, Starry Night is considered one of the greatest works of all time.

• There are two faulty assumptions about this painting.

• First, people may assume this was created by an artist on top of his professional career, but we know that’s far from the truth.

• The multicolored canvas came from the trembling hands of an asylum patient with a failed career.

• Secondly, some people (usually those who took Art History) assume his masterpiece resulted from his madness.

• People falsely celebrate it because the work symbolizes his descent into despair. However, that’s also not true. Starry Night proves the beauty of recovery.

• At the asylum, Van Gogh began to think more clearly and fight off his dark thoughts.

• Some of his greatest work came from his time in recovery.

TENSION

• Why is this important? Van Gogh’s name shouldn’t have lived past his tombstone.

• By cultural standards, he was a washed-up artist.

• However, we are still fawning over him a century later. • His artwork is recognized and acclaimed the world over.

• His life was temporary, but what he created was a legacy.

• King Solomon has some thoughts on this topic, so let’s survey his perspective on one way we can bring meaning to the minutiae of our lives.

Reject Trophy Collection

• As we have discussed, Solomon’s accolades were jaw-dropping. The man had a palace, a few dozen Ferrari-branded chariots, and the most lavish wardrobe money could buy. He still concluded that it was all meaningless.

• If trophies were a thing back then, Solomon would have had a trophy case the size of the art museum housing Starry Night.

• I imagine him drinking from a “world’s best king” mug, dusting his trophies, and rearranging his medals just to throw up his hands in exacerbation.

• “Meaningless. It’s all meaningless!” he would announce. Why? Because he was the wisest man to ever live.

• It’s time for a thought exercise. What is in your personal trophy case (not literally, but metaphorically)?

• From birth, we have an innate desire to accomplish something and make a name for ourselves.

• For that reason, we strive to collect and cherish our metaphorical trophies.

• Trophies tell us we accomplished something significant.

• Trophies tell us we made a mark on the world.

• Trophies tell us we matter.

• God doesn’t want you to fill a trophy case, though. He wants to fill your heart.

Embrace Your True Mission

• Vincent van Gogh painted Starry Night for one reason. He wanted to create beauty.

• He wasn’t going to sell it. He wasn’t going to go on tour. • He probably wasn’t even going to hang it on his wall.

• He was just struck by the beauty, so he did something that filled his heart.

• Let’s take this one step further. Van Gogh filled his heart with beauty, and it brought him some meaning.

• Unfortunately, that meaning was fleeting, like a vapor.

• You have a better option.

• You can fill your heart with God and consume your life with His mission.

• That’s a serious source of significance. That’s why I want us to zoom in on the first positive thing Solomon says in Ecclesiastes.

• He writes, “A person can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in their own toil. This too, I see, is from the hand of God” (2:24)"

• This sentence is a breath of fresh air after all the negativity. While Solomon still refers to work as toil, I get a little jolt of joy from what he says.

• Solomon wanted us to know that there is true satisfaction and meaning in living a life of mission.

• That’s when someone takes what they’re doing with their own hands and allows God to move through their work.

• When we live life on mission, our work becomes worship.

• So what does it look like to live out a life of mission? Here’s an equation: Your Uniqueness + God’s Glory = Your Mission

• Simply put, when you combine the way God made you with the reason God made you, you will begin to live out a life on mission.

• Your uniqueness is made up of your quirks, skills, gifts, and experiences.

• Putting all of these together points to what you can do well to make your mark on the world.

• However, if you do not add the second part, you are just toiling under the sun.

• When you incorporate God’s glory, mere action becomes mission.

• If you love creating art, create it in a way that brings God glory. That’s a life on mission.

• If you are into athletics, make much of God in your pursuits. That’s a life on mission.

• If you are funny, help people find the joy of Jesus.

• If you are a nurturer, care for people in a Christlike way.

• If you are a writer, write about God.

• If you are an influencer, tell people about Jesus.

Landing:

• All of those show life on mission. A life of mission is a life of meaning.

TALK IT OUT

Go through these questions with your circle. Be honest. Be open. Talk through the tough stuff.

Ice Breaker: Go around your circle and share this week’s highs and lows. What was the best part of your week and the lowest part of your week?

Q1: If you could be known for anything, what would it be? As in, what would you want your legacy to be?

Q2: What stuck out to you from today’s message?

Q3: Why do you think people are so driven to collect accolades in life?

Q4: “Your Uniqueness + God’s Glory = Life on Mission.” What would you say are some things that make you unique? What are some of the skills that God has given you?

Q5: What is a way you can attach your uniqueness to God’s glory? How can you use your specific gifts for Him?

Application: Evaluate how you can use your gifts within your community over the next month. Start small, and this will help you live a life of mission.

READING PLAN

READ THESE PASSAGES IN ORDER EVERY DAY

Ecclesiastes 4:13-16

Ecclesiastes 5:1-9

Ecclesiastes 5:10-20

Ecclesiastes 6

Ecclesiastes 7:1-15

Ecclesiastes 7:16-20

Ecclesiastes 8

Do the following with each passage: 

ASK– God to connect with you here. In prayer, start by slowing down and inviting God to be present. Begin with focus and openness to see what God has for you today.

READ– the selected section of Scripture slowly. Take note of the words and phrases that intrigue you, reading them a second time if necessary.

REFLECT– on what grabs you. How does this passage personally relate to your own life and experiences?

RESPOND– to the Scripture. Speak directly to God about what’s on your mind and heart. Look for ways to live out what you’ve uncovered.