ABOUT THIS EPISODE
Sermon Outline: I. Work ultimately gains us nothing A. We cannot take it with us B. We cannot control it after we are gone II. Dependence on work leaves us depressed and anxious III. There is nothing better than to enjoy our work and to enjoy it’s fruit A. If we don’t, someone else will B. Yet this also is vapor
Sermon Quotes: To be made partakers of this table is itself to begin to have life. For when he says in another book, which is called Ecclesiastes, “There is no good for a man, except that he should eat and drink,” what can he be more credibly understood to say, than what belongs to the participation of this table which the Mediator of the New Testament Himself, the Priest after the order of Melchizedek, furnishes with His own body and blood? -St. Augustine, 5th c.
What that good is which is here recommended to us; and which is the utmost pleasure and profit we can expect or extract from the business and profit of this world, and the furthest we can go to rescue it from its vanity and the vexation that is in it. There is therefore nothing better for a man, as to these things, than to allow himself a sober cheerful use of them, according as his rank and condition are, to have meat and drink out of them for himself, his family, his friends, and so delight his senses and make his soul enjoy good. -Matthew Henry, 17th c.
Wisdom does not teach us how to master the world. It does not give us techniques for programming life such that life becomes orderly and predictable. -Jeffrey J. Meyers
Man’s Chief and highest end is to glorify God, and fully to enjoy him forever. -Westminster Shorter Catechism, 17th c.
Scripture Text: Ecclesiastes 2:18-26 I hated all my toil in which I toil under the sun, seeing that I must leave it to the man who will come after me, 19 and who knows whether he will be wise or a fool? Yet he will be master of all for which I toiled and used my wisdom under the sun. This also is vapor. 20 So I turned about and gave my heart up to despair over all the toil of my labors under the sun, 21 because sometimes a person who has toiled with wisdom and knowledge and skill must leave everything to be enjoyed by someone who did not toil for it. This also is vapor and a great evil. 22 What has a man from all the toil and striving of heart with which he toils beneath the sun? 23 For all his days are full of sorrow, and his work is a vexation. Even in the night his heart does not rest. This also is vapor. 24 There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God, 25 for apart from him who can eat or who can have enjoyment? 26 For to the one who pleases him God has given wisdom and knowledge and joy, but to the sinner he has given the business of gathering and collecting, only to give to one who pleases God. This also is vapor and shepherding the wind.
Sermon Transcript Liturgy Bulletin
“Try Work” preached by Rev. Dr. Timothy R. LeCroy, Sunday, September 27, 2026 at 10:00AM at New Life Presbyterian Church in Ithaca, NY. Come see the beautiful Finger Lakes region, and worship God with us. www.newlifeithaca.org.Sermon music is from “We Will Feast in the House of Zion” provided by Sandra McCracken and with her permission. www.sandramccracken.com.
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