November 23, 2018, Sharing Recording:

Introduction

Ecclesiastes Chapter 3 speaks of life as merely an examination hall. Under the sun, everything is vanity of vanities, for these things are but shadows, possessing little value. Their sole purpose is to sift people out.

What is crooked cannot be straightened; what is lacking cannot be counted. (Ecclesiastes 1:15)

And I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven. God has given to the children of man a grievous task to keep them occupied. (Ecclesiastes 1:13)

He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. (Ecclesiastes 3:11)

Brothers and sisters, understand that only those with the concept of eternal life can truly understand these things. A person without the concept of eternal life is, in fact, no different from an animal. Some say: animals do not create, but humans can create tools, etc. However, in a sense, how animals are born, so are humans; how animals die, so do humans, with little difference.

What is the meaning of a person's lifelong toil? It has only one meaning: God wants to test us. God wants to sift out the treasures. If, after sifting, you are not a treasure but garbage, you will be thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur to be burned. My theological concept can explain many phenomena. For example, why did God create the devil? In fact, the devil is a good creation. God made everything beautiful in its time. Why is the devil beautiful? Because it effectively sifts out the treasures, and also effectively sifts out the garbage. In fact, the devil is working very hard for God.

Brothers and sisters, do not wait until after death to look back and realize that everything in this world is vanity of vanities, that our struggles and toils in this world are meaningless. Oppressing others is meaningless, and being oppressed is also meaningless.

The Toil of the World is Vanity

Ecclesiastes Chapter 4 continues this line of thought. Chapter 4 speaks of: walking out of the vanity of toil.

Walking out of the vanity of toil is a crucial part of whether we pass the exam. Solomon was very wise. He saw so many cases in the world, judged so many lawsuits, and he found that it was always the same things: there is oppression, there is being oppressed, there is this, there is that. The other day I saw a video online of a traffic policeman spraying a driver with pepper spray during law enforcement. A passerby stood up for the driver, and the video was filmed.

We see that there is oppression and being oppressed in this world. Why do these things happen? It is only for the sake of living. If Solomon lived today and saw these rotten things every day, he would wonder what is going on. People toil in this world, and after toiling, they conclude that the dead are better than the living, because after death there are no more of these things. Those who die without being born are better than both. God has arranged a heavy task for the world, and the examination God gives to man is also a heavy task. If people do not understand these things, to put it bluntly, these people are worse than the dead and the unborn.

So why does this chapter talk about walking out of the vanity of toil? Because the fourth verse of this chapter makes a summary: oppression and being oppressed, you take advantage of me, I take advantage of you, etc., are all for the sake of this little bit of worldly things, and then people are deceived by the devil into confusion, not knowing what they are doing. People are very serious about these things, but once they enter the coffin, they will find that these are meaningless.

Then I saw that all toil and all skill in work come from a man's envy of his neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind. (Ecclesiastes 4:4)

People work hard every day, and are still envied by their neighbors. Such people have a characteristic: they want to live well, but they are very laborious, and then they come up with many clever plans to do these things, which then bring envy from their neighbors. As the saying goes, “It is not the thief who steals, but the thief who covets.” Once someone covets and envies you, you are finished. Today they will give you this trouble, tomorrow they will give you that trouble. Can you still have peace?

Li Ka-shing is a very powerful person. Many years ago, his son was kidnapped, and Li Ka-shing negotiated with the kidnappers, agreeing to use 1 billion dollars to redeem his son. Li Ka-shing calmly told the kidnappers that now that you have money, you must be good people. As a result, this kidnapper kidnapped one after another, and was finally caught. What is this doing?

Brothers and sisters all know that people with high net worth have bodyguards around them whenever they go out. These people who originally lived very well and freely have now become objects of protection by bodyguards, and they are very tired wherever they go. Some people envy the richest man, what do they envy about the richest man? We have a saying in the Northeast: three full meals and two naps (breakfast, lunch, dinner, afternoon nap, evening nap). People originally lived very freely, but now their net worth is billions, and then they are busy, busy, busy, what is the meaning?

You think it's good, it's glamorous, but I think how did the originally good days become like this? When there wasn't much money before, it was also three full meals and two naps, and life was pretty good. Now that I have money, I pay 30,000 or 300,000 salaries to employees every month. Where does this money come from?

We see the things in this world, really vanity of vanities, but why can't some people see through it? If you can't see through it, you will toil, and then you will get sick. For example, some people become mentally ill because of taking university entrance exams, and come to us for healing and deliverance. In fact, people really don't need to be like this. For another example, some foolish people, after being healed, return to the vanity of toil, and then depression comes again for deliverance. What is this doing again?

Labor for the Food That Endures to Eternal Life

Today brothers and sisters must know that under the sun, everything is just a shadow. Whether you can pass this exam depends entirely on your attitude. Why do many people compete, envy, and feel so uncomfortable that they want to die? It is because they take these things too seriously. Some pastors of large churches start from scratch to serve God and love God, and as they love, they forget that this is an exam, and then they become more and more unable to understand, and as a result, they go to jail. Toil for the things of this world, but not understand, is vanity, a striving after wind. Why bother with these things?

I don’t want to do these things. As a preacher, I must know everything under the sun, oppression and being oppressed, envy and not envy, etc., are all vanity. So I advise everyone to pay taxes properly, don’t evade taxes, don’t forget that this is an exam as you live. Once I told a sister that there is a large church with tens of thousands of people, and the monthly offerings are very large. The senior pastor passed his position to his son, supporting his son to become the senior pastor. Then our sister said: Wow! That must be very glamorous!

Glamorous what? Can that be called glamorous? In my opinion, that is stupid, not understanding, because that chair is not easy to sit on. The people below are not convinced, can it not be hard? Living is originally a very simple thing. In order to live better and more glamorously, people use many clever plans, resulting in a very uncomfortable life. Being envied by others, stabbed in the back, how uncomfortable is that?

Some people may ask: What about you? I wouldn't do that, what would I do that for? Those are vanity of vanities. What is most important? It is to seek God's will, to know how to walk out of toil, don't be busy for the sake of glamour, learn to see through. I have seen through my life, and it is difficult for the devil to deceive me. Although I say this, I am still very careful. I want to labor for the food that endures to eternal life. I came into this world to keep and do the will of my Father. If the will of my Father conflicts with these labors in my hands, I will unswervingly choose to keep and do the will of God.

The things of this world, whether it is church ministry, personal business, family children, money, houses, cars, are all meaningless. So brothers and sisters must know that everything under the sun is vanity, walk out of it, don't live and live and return to that vanity again! Our church's healing and deliverance is done very well, but deliverance after deliverance is like the judge Solomon did, judging and judging, discovering that there are too many foolish people in this world, and after so much, they return to that toil again.

A person had cancer twice. The first time I prayed for her and she was healed. The second time she was still so entangled and uncomfortable. I prayed for her again and she was healed again. But then she said to me: Can my son still live if he serves and pays the price like you guys? I was puzzled, didn’t we heal you? What is this? Then she added: Won’t that delay work? Won’t that delay family life? Didn’t you delay work before? How did you get cancer? Didn’t you delay family life before? Didn’t you spend a lot of money on treatment? Why are people so stupid?

The funniest thing is that many people who followed me to cast out demons were deceived by the demons. They cast out so many demons and released so many people, but they themselves fell into the vanity of toil. These are really things I cannot understand. The fool folds his hands and eats his own flesh. It really is the case, if you like it, eat it slowly. Eating your own flesh, can it not be painful? People, just can't see through. After seeing through, no matter how much people have, they will be content. You can't spend much money, and you can't use much stuff.

Some people see others rushing to buy houses, and they also rush to buy one, and as a result, they are trapped. Then they follow to buy P2P, microloans, blockchain, investment, artificial intelligence, and finally fall into a Ponzi scheme. No matter if they invest 200,000 or 2 million, it’s all gone in the end. Why do people do this? It's just that they don't think they are full with one hand and enjoy peace, they have to grab two hands, eat their own flesh, toiling after wind. You say this is not foolish, what is it?

There are also those who buy Laoma Le, finally earning some money, lining up to send money to others. In the end, the old mothers cried, the scammers laughed, and took the money and left. There are so many pyramid schemes, rat clubs, and titles. Some people are for money, some people are for a very noble reason, and then they toss, if you don't see through, you will be in a very heavy toil. What's even more fun is that those who are full alone don't care if the whole family is hungry are also toiling there. Why toil? Don't know. What to do with so much money? Don't know. And then they keep suffering there, is that not vanity and a grievous task?

Today we must walk out of this grievous task and labor for the food that endures to eternal life. How to walk out? Keep and do the will of our Father, do according to His words. Ecclesiastes is the word of God, He tells you again and again, don't be foolish, don't be foolish, but you insist on being foolish, who are you competing with? God says: Don't eat your own flesh. People say: I will eat my own flesh. Heavens, why don't they understand, people are like this.

Those of us who do pastoral care take that pastoral care and ministry very seriously, that is foolishness. Don't think that thing is very important, that thing is not important. Oh, this person is not good, I want to serve him. Why don't you understand, if you want to serve, then serve. I say this not to encourage you not to serve, I am telling you not to fall into that toil and vanity for the sake of serving. You should serve based on your belief in God, serve according to God's word, not according to your meaning. Many people serve according to their own set of ideas, that is really a Bodhisattva's heart. Not God's will, our God is not a God of great compassion.

The More Seriously You Take Worldly Matters, the More Toil You Endure

We shouldn't drudge and be harsh on ourselves, denying ourselves enjoyment and pleasure. For whom are you toiling so diligently? Among us, there was a sister whose husband passed away, leaving her with a son. Both she and her son had to fend for themselves. In reality, being alone should be a simple matter, yet she insisted on making a fuss, ultimately being deceived by the devil. The devil deceives those who place great importance on shepherding and ministry. We mustn't take these matters too seriously, exceeding God! Understand that we are serving God according to His will. Some people have excellent relationships with those below them, but their relationship with God is lacking – foolish indeed. The following passage is even more insightful:

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12)

Many, upon reading this, assume it merely expresses this sentiment. However, if you continue reading to the last verse: This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind. Verse 9 is connected to verse 16, with verse 16 summarizing all that precedes it.

People often feel compelled to marry, so they go on dates. Following dates, they fall in love and then marry. The initial thought is pleasant – two people sleeping together for warmth. However, they discover that they kick each other in their sleep, bickering and fighting. I have ministered to so many such cases that I no longer wish to do so. The noxious atmosphere within those homes – they should handle it themselves. Insisting on marriage only to have the husband engage in affairs, leaving the wife weeping like a fountain of tears. And then, adding a child to the mix, the child acts foolishly. Finally, hiring a maid, leading to even more trouble. Being alone was perfectly fine, so why create such complications? People may say that Ecclesiastes states that two are better than one, but they fail to see that it later says it is utter futility!

This isn't saying that being together is good, but that the very concept of being together is futile and a chasing after the wind. If I've misinterpreted, you may disagree. However, we must know that toiling for ourselves is futility. Toiling for the sake of interpersonal relationships is nonsense. If you ask me what the most disappointing aspect of God's creation is, it would undoubtedly be modern marriage, where people contemplate divorce even before marrying.

Life was originally simple, but one person's problems become two people's, then three. It's said that a cord of three strands is not easily broken, but that cord becomes one of mutual antagonism. Therefore, whether we toil for ourselves or for those around us, it's all futility! We must break free from it. I know very clearly for whom I live – I live for my God. If anything conflicts with my living for God, I will unhesitatingly choose to follow God's will.

We must therefore break free from futility. Having come into this world with such difficulty, isn't it foolish not to live for God? Having come into this world to take an exam, why fail because of your wife, your husband, or your son? Therefore, we, brothers and sisters, must understand what Jesus said: Work for food that endures to eternal life, not for food that perishes. Earthly toil is merely futility, a chasing after the wind.

The Bible states that for the sake of Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God, we must forsake many things. That is, when interests conflict, what do you choose? I've seen through it all. I truly have. Relying on God is far better than relying on anyone else. If you rely on people, it's good if they don't harm you. The closer people are to you, the more dangerous it becomes. So Jesus said, Who is my mother, and who are my brothers? Only those who do the will of my Father in heaven are my family. Whether we wake up to this depends on our destiny.

Whether two or three, there was once one person more powerful than any two or three combined. He not only united two or three people, but this wise young man eventually became king. Emerging from prison, he became king. A poor boy became king, like Liu Bang, the ancestor of our Lao Liu family, a street ruffian who became Emperor Gaozu of Han. And what happened to Emperor Gaozu of Han? As the scripture says, “I saw that all who lived and walked under the sun followed the youth, the king’s successor.” Amazing. The entire nation was united under him. How impressive and wonderful! But the author says, so what? It is still futility, a chasing after the wind. Whether later generations like him or not is irrelevant. Whether they like him or hate him, it is all futility. What does it matter? It means nothing. In the end, he dies, closes his eyes, kicks his legs, and that's it.

I saw a photo of a great man before he died. It was truly pathetic. So even if you are a young king, toiling for the entire city, helping everyone, it is still futility. You say it's your great dream? Can your great dream surpass that of this young king? Some people can, at best, accomplish minor things, becoming professors at universities, and their parents say, My son/daughter is truly successful! They're overjoyed. This is the so-called great dream? There are countless professors. Some people boast about their children being admitted to Tsinghua or Peking University, as thrilled as if they've won the world. But go to the streets and campuses of Tsinghua and Peking University and see what each of them has. Nothing.

Even if you toil for yourself, for those around you, for the entire city, if you don't see through it, you are worse off than the dead, even worse than those never born, and you have lived in vain. What I'm saying today is a bit harsh. Don't live and die like animals. Ponder this thoroughly today. Don't be trapped by the things of this world. Even if the things you're obsessing over are meaningful, don't be shackled by them. I oppress him because he is too evil. Whether oppressing or being oppressed, neither has meaning.

If people live simply to live, the ending is truly tragic. Today, carefully ask yourself why you live in the midst of the heavy toil God gives. Why fall into this pit? Why fall into the pit God has dug for you? Why insist on failing the exam? You know how difficult the current exam questions are. Why? Because the questions have to dig a pit. If you fall into the pit, you haven't answered correctly; if you don't fall into the pit, you have. The tests God gives us also deliberately dig pits. For example, He asks backward, forward, straight, and reverse questions. There are many test-taking techniques. Some people become mentally ill from taking these tests. Who do you blame? You are the one who takes living so seriously!

The more seriously you take living, the more intense your toil. Recently, I saw a girl who was a fan of Andy Lau. Her father sold their house to finance her pursuit of her idol. Eventually, her father, at his wit's end, committed suicide. So, over the years, she doesn't talk about her own situation; she blames Andy Lau. Andy Lau is quite wronged. I don't take sides with anyone. I'm just saying that God gives people heavy toil. If people don't see through it and break free from this futility, they cannot live well.

If people don't break free from this futility and feel that they are living a fulfilling life, they are, in reality, living in futility, chasing after the wind in earnestness, only to find that the wind they catch is all futility. If you don't shatter the futility within you today, I truly cannot help you. Why? Because all your problems stem from this futility. If you pursue this futility as the most meaningful thing in your life, I tell you the consequences will be severe. Because behind this futility is something called a demon. The demon pierces you with pain, preventing you from ever living well.

Some of our brothers and sisters pursued doctoral or university degrees before believing in the Lord. Their families were overjoyed. Their child was admitted to the National University of Singapore with a full scholarship and living expenses, requiring no financial support from the family. They studied until they earned their doctorate, and then they broke down because the demon behind it was tearing them apart! We have seen with our own eyes that these seemingly noble pursuits ultimately pierce people with sorrow. Because you take these things too seriously. If you take your doctoral degree too seriously, the degree will pierce you with sorrow. If you take marriage and romance, sharing warmth in the same bed, too seriously, it will pierce you with sorrow.

Conclusion

Today, I give you a very good suggestion: From now on, work for food that endures to eternal life, no longer living for these worldly things, and completely destroy the worldly dreams within us. If you take your work too seriously, you will sacrifice your life for your work. If you take human relationships too seriously, human relationships will bind you, and you will sacrifice your life for your interpersonal relationships. But if you sacrifice yourself for God, you will surely gain life.

The Lord Jesus said: Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it. (Matthew 10:39) I have said these things with purpose, so don't listen to them and then turn around and say, Pray for my work, pray for my business, pray for my health. I say I can no longer pray, why? Your physical condition is clear evidence that you are living in the heavy toil that God gives you. It is utter futility. So can brothers and sisters see through these things? If you see through them, can you not live well? Do your work as best as you can, since you've already done your best.

I'm not encouraging you not to work hard; I'm encouraging you not to be bound by work. I'm not encouraging you not to manage your home well; I'm encouraging you not to be bound by your home and your closest loved ones. Having come into this world with such difficulty, having lived once with such difficulty, how can we live in futility? Break free from futility today and live in the will God has established for us. In any case, when you come before God, tell Him, I have kept the faith, I have finished the race, I have fought the good fight, and I have passed all the tests. With excellent scores, come before God and say, God, here I am. I want to enjoy the immeasurable and eternal glory You have prepared for me.

May God bless you all!

Scripture

Ecc 4:1 Again I looked and saw all the oppression that was taking place under the sun: I saw the tears of the oppressed— and they have no comforter; power was on the side of their oppressors— and they have no comforter.
Ecc 4:2 And I declared that the dead, who had already died, are happier than the living, who are still alive.
Ecc 4:3 But better than both is the one who has never been born, who has not seen the evil that is done under the sun.
Ecc 4:4 And I saw that all toil and all achievement spring from one person’s envy of another. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.
Ecc 4:5 Fools fold their hands and ruin themselves.
Ecc 4:6 Better one handful with tranquility than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind.
Ecc 4:7 Again I saw something meaningless under the sun:
Ecc 4:8 There was a man all alone; he had neither son nor brother. Yet there was no end to his toil, nor could his eyes be content with his wealth. “For whom am I toiling,” he asked, “and why am I depriving myself of enjoyment?” This too is meaningless— a miserable business!
Ecc 4:9 Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor:
Ecc 4:10 If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.
Ecc 4:11 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone?
Ecc 4:12 Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
Ecc 4:13 Better a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to heed a warning.
Ecc 4:14 The youth may have come from prison to the kingship, or he may have been born in poverty within his kingdom.
Ecc 4:15 I saw that all who lived and walked under the sun followed the youth, the king’s successor.
Ecc 4:16 There was no end to the throngs who were before him. But those who came later were not pleased with him. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

Ecclesiastes List