The Joy in Politics
Part of Enjoy—Study in Ecclesiastes
August 30, 2020

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Ecclesiastes 4:13-16 New Living Translation (NLT)
13 It is better to be a poor but wise youth than an old and foolish king who refuses all advice. 14 Such a youth could rise from poverty and succeed. He might even become king, though he has been in prison. 15 But then everyone rushes to the side of yet another youth who replaces him. 16 Endless crowds stand around him, but then another generation grows up and rejects him, too. So it is all meaningless—like chasing the wind.*

I. Guard against destroying friendships (v. 13)
• Two people are better off than one if we want to

. (4:9)
• Better to have one handful with than two handfuls with
hard work. (4:6)
• Inability to empathize results in unjustified of friends.
II. Guard against unjustified expectations (v. 14)
• A single social issue does not good politics.
• Good politics is not disqualified by evident .
• Madness is the boastful arrogance of decisions. (1:17, 4:9)
• Folly is the failure to make an impact due to .
III. Guard against unreasonable hope (v. 15)
• Unreasonable hope is change for the sake of .
• Idealism is chasing perfection which is hope.
• Delusion is to falsely believe something despite the .
IV. Recognize the shadows of reasonable hope (v. 16)
• There is no end to about politics among friends.
• Politics is toil because we know we need a leader.
• Cultural Christianity prioritizes autonomy over friendship by being
influenced by the . (Eph. 2:1-2, 1 Cor. 11:18-19, Gal. 5:19-20)