The Great Gamble
(Ecclesiastes 2:3) I tried cheering myself with wine, and
embracing folly—my mind still guiding me with wisdom. I wanted to see
what was worthwhile for men to do under heaven during the few days of
their lives.
(Ecclesiastes 2:4-6) I undertook great projects: I built houses for
myself 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.
(Ecclesiastes 2:7-8) 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 amassed silver and gold for
myself, and the treasure of kings and provinces. I acquired men and
women singers, and a harem as well—the delights of the heart of man.
(Ecclesiastes 2:9) I became greater by far than anyone in Jerusalem before me. In all this my wisdom stayed with me.
(Ecclesiastes 2:10) “I denied myself nothing my eyes desired”
(Ecclesiastes
2:11) Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had
toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the
wind; nothing was gained under the sun.”
Pleasure
(Ecclesiastes 2:10-11) “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.
Pursuits
(Ecclesiastes 2:17) “So I hated life, because the work that is done
under the sun was grievous to me. All of it is meaningless, a chasing
after the wind.”
People
(Ecclesiastes 4:8) “There was a man all alone; he had neither son nor brother…This too is meaningless.”
Possessions
(Ecclesiastes 5:10) “Whoever loves money
never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with
his income. This too is meaningless.”
(John 13:1) “It was
just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for
him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who
were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love.”
(John 13:4-5) “…so he got up from the meal, took off his outer
clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured
water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them
with the towel that was wrapped around him.”
(John 13:12-17) “When he had finished washing their feet, he put on
his clothes and returned to his place. "Do you understand what I have
done for you?" he asked them. "You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and
rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher,
have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have
set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell
you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a
messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these
things, you will be blessed if you do them.”
(John 13:17) “..Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.”
Serving others:
1. Serving others actually puts me first.
(Matthew 20:16) “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”
2. Serving others doesn’t make sense.
(John 13:7) Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”
(Matthew
20:25-28) Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the
rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials
exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants
to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be
first must be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be
served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
3. Serving others is your ultimate calling.
(John 13:14) “Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet.”
(Mark
8:35 NLT) “If you try to keep your life for yourself, you will lose
it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the
Good News, you will find true life.”
4. Serving others brings absolute fulfillment.
(John 13:17) “Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.”
(Hebrews
6:10 NLT) “He will not forget how hard you have worked for Him and how
you have shown your love to Him by caring for other Christians.”
(Matthew 25:21) “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have
been faithful with a few things so; I will put you in charge of many
things. Come and share your master's happiness!”
Do you really believe that?
For more information on the vision of Freedom Church, please visit our website at www.freedom-church.org.
