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ECCLESIASTES 1: 1- 3

"FRUSTRATION, IT'S CAUSE AND CURE"

I. FRUSTRATION - THWARTED DESIRES.
        A. Three types:
                1. Environmental.
                2. Personal.
                3. Conflict.
                        a. Approach - approach.
                        b. Avoidance - avoidance.
                        c. Approach- avoidance.
        B. Our reactions to them can take two forms:
                1. Aggressive.
                2. Withdraw, hide.

II. THE CAUSES OF FRUSTRATIONS.
        A. Trying to find fulfillment in things physical.
                1. Some seek to deny of ignore the spiritual dimension of man's nature.
                2. The real you is spirit.
                3. The body not real you, only house.
                        a. Thus to live for body and to seek only to satisfy its appetites 
                           will lead to emptiness.
                4. Physical life moves in monotonous cycles, vs. 4-12.
                        a. Nothing new "under sun."
                5. Physical joys not lasting, vs. 2:1-3.
                6. Physicals work and possession are also empty, vs. 2 :4-11.
                7. Even intellectual pursuit of purely physical things is empty and 
                   frustrating. vs. 2:12- 23.
        B. Why is the physical realm frustration?
                1. It is so short lived.
                        a. My strength fails.
                        b. Beauty fades.
                        c. The grave waits for what's left.
                2. You give your life for a project.
                        a. After you are gone those who follow may destroy all you built up.

III. THE CURE.
        A. Place the spiritual dimension of your life first. Give it top priority. 
                1. "Seek ye first the kingdom..."
                2. This is the supernatural way to live.
                        a. From natural birth, body appetites ruled. "Ye must be born again."
                        b. From spiritual birth now rules.
        B. So gratifying to know my labor is not just wasted on my appetite.
                1. "Your labor for the Lord is not vain."
                2. That my treasure cannot be lost to:
                        a. Decaying processes.
                        b. Thieves.
                        c. Inflation.
        C. It all begins when you invite Jesus Christ to become Lord of your life.