Ecclesiastes 5:1-20
The Book Of Ecclesiastes:
Encourages Us To:
HONOR God, ( Give God Glory )
OBEY His Commandments, ( Advance His Kingdom )
ENJOY Life.
BOOK OUTLINED:
EXPLORATION:
Exploring The Problem Under The Sun:
CHAPTERS 1-8.
EXHORTATION:
Explaining Life In The Hand Of God:
CHAPTERS 9-12.
THE CONTRAST:
HUMAN WISDOM VERSUS GOD'S WISDOM:
HUMAN WISDOM GAINS FOR US NO ETERNAL VALUE.
YES: KNOWLEDGE IS GOOD AND COMMENDABLE.
BUT IT CANNOT SAVE US.
SUMMARY OF BOOK:
God Precisely Works Out All Activities Under The Sun.
God Has A Perfect Plan Revealed In His Perfect Time.
God Discloses Only What His Perfect Wisdom Dictates.
God Holds All Mankind Accountable.
THE ONLY HOPE OF A GOOD LIFE:
PREPARING OURSELVES FOR HEAVEN.
THE ONLY REASONABLE RESPONSE:
BELIEF IN HIM BY FAITH.
THE ONLY EXPECTED RESPONSE:
OBEDIENCE TO OUR SOVEREIGN GOD.
THE VANITIES OF ECCLESIASTES:
QUICK REVIEW:
The Preacher Began His Search For Meaning In Life.
First:
Beginning With Human Wisdom.
Human Wisdom Is Like Grasping For The Wind.
Human Wisdom Was The Source Of Much Grief And Sorrow.
Second:
True Living Is Not Found In:
Achievement, Possession, Pleasure, Or Work.
When We Fail To Consider God’s Will In Life?
Third:
The Teacher Is Seeking To Find Joy In God’s Good Gifts.
God Has Graciously Given Us Many Avenues To Find Joy.
But God’s Gifts Are Subject To Abuse Which Leads To Misery.
God’s Gifts Will Never Answer The Desire For Meaning In Life.
Seeking Ultimate Meaning In His Gifts Leads To Dissatisfaction.
The Preacher Finds Wickedness In Place Of Justice.
The Preacher Finds Oppression Instead Of Comfort.
But God Will Judge The Righteous And The Wicked.
Fourth:
The Mysterious Purposes Of God Are Incomprehensible.
Without Revelation From Scripture
We Can't Discern God’s Purposes.
Without God's Blessing
We Can't Enjoy The Fruit Of Labor.
Fifth:
The Vanity Of Skillful And Selfish Work:
Contrast Between Love Others Or Love Yourself.
Learn To Appreciate The Value Of Friends.
Friends Help Each Other In Time Of Work And In Time Of Need.
THE TEACHER ENCOURAGED HIS AUDIENCE:
To Protect Their Joy.
To Be Aware Of The Brutal Reality Of Oppression In The World.
To Labor For Their Own Joy Rather Than Out Of Envy Of Others.
To Pursue Joy Within Community.
TODAY:
THE TEACHER EMPHASIZES RIGHT PRIORITIES.
RIGHT PRIORITIES ALWAYS BEGIN WITH GOD:
REGARDING WORSHIP:
I. PRIORITIZING GOD (1–7):
WHY PROPER WORSHIP IS IMPORTANT.
THE ABILITY TO ENJOY FROM ONE'S LABOR IS A GIFT.
God Gives Some People Wealth, Possessions And Honor, So That They Lack Nothing Their Hearts Desire,
But God Does Not Grant Them The Ability To Enjoy Them, And Strangers Enjoy Them Instead.
Ecc 6:2.
2. IMPERATIVE THAT WE PLEASE HIM IN OUR WORSHIP.
There Is VAIN WORSHIP. Not All Worship Is Acceptable To God.
These People Honor Me With Their Lips,
But Their Hearts Are Far From Me.
They Worship Me In Vain;
Their Teachings Are Merely Human Rules.
Mt 15:7-9.
HOW TO WORSHIP GOD:
1. WALK PRUDENTLY:
Ecc 5:1a.
The NIV SAYS: GUARD YOUR STEPS.
Worshipers Should:
Give Thought To What They Will Do.
Be Careful What They Will Do.
2. DRAW NEAR TO HEAR:
Ecc 5:1bd.
Be Concerned With What God Has Revealed Thru His Word.
Be Concerned About Attitude Our Toward The Word.
3. DO NOT OFFER THE SACRIFICE OF FOOLS:
Ecc 5:1c.
SOME WORSHIP IS CONSIDERED AN ABOMINATION.
If Anyone Turns A Deaf Ear To My Instruction, Even Their Prayers Are Detestable.
Prov 28:9.
4. DON’T BE RASH WITH YOUR VOWS (PROMISES):
Ecc 5:2-3.
Be Careful What You Say;
Herod’s Foolish Promise That Lead To The Death Of John.
Mark 6:23-26.
Be Careful When Making A Vow Of Commitment To God.
5. KEEP THE VOWS YOU MAKE:
Ecc 5:4-7.
God Has No Pleasure In Fools:
Fools Are Those Who Make Vows And Do Not Fulfill Them.
It Is Better Not To Vow Then To Vow And Not Pay.
Don’t Let Your Mouth Cause You To Sin:
Many Words Lead To Vanity And Sin.
Wise To Restrain.
Prov 10:19.
NOTE: PROPER WORSHIP: TO HONOR GOD.
REGARDING OPPRESSION:
A. OPPRESSION DOES OCCUR:
As The Preacher Observed.
Ecc 3:16.
B. YET DO NOT MARVEL:
There Is Oppression Of The Poor And Perversion Of Justice.
Ecc 5:8a.
For Even High Officials Answer To Someone Else.
Ecc 5:8b;
OFTEN IN THIS LIFE THEY ARE BROUGHT TO JUSTICE.
BUT EVEN IF NOT, THEN THERE IS THE DAY OF JUDGMENT!
The Profit Taken In Oppression Usually Comes Back To All.
Ecc 5:9.
THOSE WHO OPPRESS OTHERS TO GAIN MUCH
RARELY CONSUME IT ALL.
WHAT PROFIT FROM THE LAND THEY GAIN
“TRICKLES DOWN” EVENTUALLY.
REGARDING RICHES:
RICHES ARE EMPTY (8–17).
A. RICHES CAN BE TAKEN (8–9).
B. RICHES ARE NEVER ENOUGH (10–12).
C. RICHES ARE A POOR SUBSTITUTE FOR A SPIRITUAL HERITAGE (13–17).
RICHES ARE VANITY:
Because They Are Unable To Truly Satisfy.
Ecc 5:10-12.
Lovers Of Silver And Abundance Will Never Be Fulfilled.
As They Increase So Their Desire For More Will Increase.
Because Those Obsessed With Riches Are Hurt By Them.
Ecc 5:13-17.
Riches Can Hurt Those Who Possess Them.
Riches Provide Too Much Turmoil For Restful Sleep.
Through Misfortune, Through Death, One Loses Their Riches.
THE PREACHER’S OBSERVATIONS CONCERNING RICHES.
It Is Good To Enjoy The Good Of One’s Labor.
Ecc 5:18.
It Is God Who Gives One The Power To Truly Enjoy Them.
Ecc 5:19-20.
CONCLUSION:
TRUE JOY COMES FROM
PRIORITIZING GOD AND HIS GOOD GIFTS.
BE SURE TO TURN TO GOD NOT RICHES
FOR ANSWERS TO TRUE LIVING.
GUARD YOUR STEPS.
WE ALL NEED TO BE CAREFUL
IN OUR WORSHIP OF GOD!
ECCLESIASTES IS A WARNING
TO THOSE WHO ATTEMPT TO
FIND JOY WITHOUT GOD.
DRAW NEAR TO HEAR
WHAT GOD HAS REVEALED THROUGH HIS WORD.
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