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(Sermon)

Following is an excerpt of "B's To Keep the Honey Flowing!" by Steve Wagers added on 10/16/2009.
B's To Keep the Honey Flowing!
Pastor Steve N. Wagers
Ecclesiastes 5: 1-12
September 5. 2009

1. Be SERIOUS about Your WORSHIP!
A. Approach it Reverently
B. Attend it Sincerely
2. Be SELECTIVE in Your WORDS!
A. The Foolishness of an Empty Prayer
B. The Costliness of an Empty Promise
3. Be SATISFIED with Your WEALTH!
A. More Wealth Involves More Want
B. More Wealth Increases More Waste
C. More Wealth Inspires More Worry

According to a recent Gallup poll:
55% of Americans said they're "very happy,"
40% of Americans said they're at least "fairly happy."
4% said that they're not "too happy."

Another study published in Mental Health, Religion and Culture at the same time of the poll showed that people, who have a strong religious faith, go to church regularly, tithe, and pray often are happier than those who don't.

One husband remarked, "People ask us the secret of our long, and happy marriage. It's really quite simple. Two evenings a week we take time to go out to a restaurant and have a quiet dinner, soft music, some candlelight, and a slow walk home." He took a long pause and said, "She goes on Tuesdays; I go Fridays."

We live in a day where everyone wants to be happy. The Bible teaches us that while God wants His people to be happy, we can only experience, embrace and enjoy happiness as we do things God's way.

We could take a journey through the resumes of great men of history and discover that happiness is not found in pleasure. Lord Byron lived such a life of pleasure if anyone did; yet, he wrote, "The worm, the canker, and the grief are mine alone."

Happiness is not found in possessions—Jay Gould, the American millionaire, had plenty of that. When dying, he said, "I suppose I am the most miserable man on earth."

Happiness is not found in position—Lord Beaconsfield enjoyed more than his share of both. He wrote, "Youth is a mistake, manhood a struggle, and old age a regret."

Happiness is not found in power—Alexander the Great conquered the known world in his day. Having done so, he wept in his tent because, he said, "There are no more worlds to conquer."

Solomon had taken his own quest for happiness. He had experienced more pleasure, possessions, prestige and power than any man of his time. He had filled up on lust, labor, laughter, loot, luxury, and liquor only to return empty and conclude that it's all "vanity of vanities."

As we consider the first part of Ecclesiastes 5, Solomon says that God has designed a blueprint for happiness. However, happiness cannot and will not be found "under the sun;" we can only find true happiness OVER the sun and live our lives for the glory of God.

He offers practical advice by giving us 3 "B's" to keep the honey of happiness flowing in our lives.

1. Be SERIOUS about Your WORSHIP!

In chapter 4, Solomon went to the courtroom, the boardroom and the locker room. As we come to chapter 5, Solomon walks into the worship room. He ...

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