Mosaic - Erwin McManus Mosaic - Erwin McManus

Salomon saw the difference between knowing what to do and someone who actually made their life count. In this moment, Solomon was able to see the power of wisdom without advantage. Every person who's determined to make life count is going to face an overwhelming sense of insignificance. In a sense, we're all faking it. We're all trying to act like we know more than we know. When you strip us away, we are all naked and ashamed.


To live with the name Irwin is a constant reminder that I was not born for great things. I kept wanting to change my name, but my grandfather said it was the name of someone whose life will make a difference in the world. The way you overcome a sense of insignificance is understanding the significance of each individual. There's no context too small for God to do something, something really, really big. When you enter a relationship with God, he changes you at the very core. Don't be afraid to let the circumstances of life strip you down to who you really are. Look at the power of wisdom without anything.

Solomon saw the difference between knowing what to do and someone who actually made their life count. In this moment, Solomon was able to see the power of wisdom without advantage. Every person who's determined to
make life count is going to face an overwhelming sense of
insignificance. In a sense, we're all faking it. We're all trying to act like we know more than we know. When you strip us away, we are all naked and ashamed. The way you overcome a sense of insignificance is understanding the significance of each individual. There's no context too small for God to do something, something really, really big. When you enter a relationship with God, he changes you at the very core. Don't be afraid to let the circumstances of life strip you down to who you really are. Look at the power of wisdom without anything.

A lot of us live in this compulsive religious trap where we keep performing for God rather than listening to God. He says Solomon warned us that we need to stop playing with God. Greene: If you're giving because you hope that giving will somehow get God on your side, you're just wasting your money. Sometimes we just perform for God, but I think other times we're actually pretending with God. Solomon tells us not to be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. There's nothing more destructive to the human spirit than pretending withGod. It is better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfill it. Much dreaming and many words are meaningless, therefore fear God. God holds us accountable for our dreams. I think it's better to make fewer promises and live on the promises.


A husband and a wife made a vow to God, and didn't keep it. With his wife's full knowledge, he kept back part of the money for himself. When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. Great fear seized the whole church. If you're going to lie about God and pretend you're doing things
for God, you have just provoked God.

Until you change your values, you will not change how you live your life. We need to recognize that everything in life will pull away at the relationships that we have. It's what we do to nurture those relationships that really brings meaning to our lives. I think one of the greatest gifts that we have as a community is to create community and provide community for those around us. Relationships are tough. Sometimes the greatest gift you can give another human being is to invite them to come with you and serve the world together.
When two or more are gathered in my name, he says, I am there in the mist. The church has not been particularly helpful in the last few decades of helping people connect to God. Don't use all the problems in the church to be an excuse for an individualistic spirituality. When we're all alone, I can't always explain it. It has been with me
for 50 years of my life. The difference now is that for decades, I just carried that inside of me alone. We all are just one thin breath away from feeling as if we're alone in the world.

Podcast Summary: "Existential Musings: Humanity and the Animal Condition"

In this episode, we explore Solomon's reflections on human and animal existence. Solomon suggests that humans and animals share the same fate—both return to dust after death—highlighting life's inherent futility. Humans, unlike animals, are burdened with the awareness of their mortality, deepening existential despair and raising the question of whether it is better never to have been born to avoid life's inevitable suffering.

We critique modern society's prioritization of animal life over human suffering, hinting at a deeper cultural nihilism. This observation challenges us to rethink our valuation of life and the essence of our existence.

Personal anecdotes and near-death experiences enrich the dialogue, offering a glimpse into the transformative power of confronting mortality. These stories underscore the fragility of life and the impact of existential realizations on personal and spiritual growth.

Ultimately, this dive back into the archives invites listeners to appreciate the present moment and redefine true living, seeking a deeper understanding of life's purpose and the interconnectedness of all beings. Join us as we delve into these existential musings and uncover deeper meanings in our shared human experience.

Welcome to the "Reality Check: Search for the Real" podcast. In this series, we've explored Solomon’s quest for meaning in the Book of Ecclesiastes. Solomon finds that work, wealth, power, and pleasure all ultimately lead to emptiness.

In Ecclesiastes chapter 3, Solomon offers hope through the passage, “There is a time for everything.” This highlights life's cycles and contrasts—joy and sorrow, birth and death. Solomon notes that while we live in time, God has placed eternity in our hearts, creating a tension between our temporal lives and our eternal longings.

Paul’s New Testament writings echo this, suggesting that our experiences, both good and bad, are designed by God to draw us closer to Him. This divine orchestration aims to awaken our search for the eternal.

Through our struggles and triumphs, we can find purpose and beauty, trusting that God makes everything beautiful in its time. Join us next week as we continue to explore the profound wisdom of Ecclesiastes and our search for life's meaning.