Ecclesiastes 7: 1-29
The Book Of Ecclesiastes:
Encourages Us To:
HONOR God, ( Give God Glory )
OBEY His Commandments, ( Advance His Kingdom )
ENJOY Life.
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 VANITIES OF ECCLESIASTES:
QUICK REVIEW:
The Preacher Began His Search For Meaning In Life.
First:
Human Wisdom Is Like Grasping For The Wind.
Second:
True Living: Not Found In Achievement Without God.
Third:
God’s Gifts Will Never Answer The Desire For Meaning In Life.
Fourth:
The Mysterious Purposes Of God Are Incomprehensible.
Revelation From Scripture Is How To Discern God’s Purposes.
Fifth:
Contrast Between Love Of SELF vs. Love Of Others.
Sixth:
Right Priorities Always Begin With God:
Regarding Worship: Not All Worship Is Acceptable To Him.
Regarding Oppression: God Is In Control.
Regarding Riches: Be Careful of Idolatry.
Seventh:
The Things We Think Will Bring Us Joy Fail Us.
NOW:
GEMS OF WISDOM
THAT LEAD TO BETTER LIVING:
OUTLINE THAT BEGINS WITH SHORT PROVERBS:
1. IDENTIFYING DEAD ENDS.
2. ADVICE FOR AVOIDING DEAD ENDS.
3. ADVICE FOR A BALANCED LIFE.
SHORT PROVERBS:
HONOR IS BETTER THAN LUXURY:
A Good Name Is Better Than Precious Ointment.
Posses The Value Of A Good Reputation.
Pro 22:1.
This Precious Ointment Is Representative Of Luxury.
Why This Is So?
We Have Already Seen The Vanity Of Wealth.
We May Leave It For Someone Who Is Foolish.
Ecc 2:18-19.
Unless God Give Us The Ability To Enjoy It, It Is All For Naught.
Ecc 6:1-2.
A Good Reputation Finds Honor Before God And Men.
A Good Reputation Finds Benefits For Us After Death.
Just As It Did With The ELDERS Of The Old Testament.
Hebrews 11:2, 39.
Especially If Our NAMES Are Written In Heaven!
LUKE 10:20; PHIL 4:3.
In What Time We Have In This Life,
It Is Better Spent Making A Good Name For Ourselves,
Than Accumulating Wealth!
YOUR DEATH DAY IS BETTER THAN YOUR BIRTHDAY:
The Day Of OUR Death Is BETTER Than The Day Of OUR Birth.
This Assumes One Has First Made A Good Name For Self.
How This Is So?
The Day Of One’s Birth Is The Beginning Of Many Sorrows.
As Job Observed.
And Even Cursed The Day Of His Birth.
Job 14:1; 3:1-3.
As Jeremiah Observed.
Jeremiah 20:14-18.
But For The Righteous:
The Day Of One’s Death Is The Beginning Of Eternal Bliss!
They Enter Into Peace And Rest.
Isaiah 57:1-2.
They Go To Be With The Lord.
Phil 1:21-22.
They Are Blessed To Be At Rest From Their Labors.
Revelation 14:13.
A FUNERAL IS BETTER THAN A PARTY:
BETTER At The House Of Mourning Than The House Of Feasting.
Everybody Loves A Party,
But Everybody Needs To Attend A Funeral!
Why?
For That Is The End Of All Mankind.
Life “Under The Sun” Is Not Forever.
We Must All Die And Face What Follows Next.
Hebrews 9:27.
AND THE LIVING WILL TAKE IT TO HEART
A Funeral Reminds Us Of The Shortness Of Life.
A Funeral Reminds Us Of The Reality Of Death.
A Funeral Forces Us To Face Reality.
A Funeral Encourages Us To Prepare For It.
SORROW IS BETTER THAN LAUGHTER:
Laughter Provides Temporary Reprieve From Burdens Of Life.
Sorrow Encourages Us To Make Positive Changes.
SHORT PROVERBS.
IDENTIFYING DEAD ENDS:
NOW:
ADVICE FOR AVOIDING DEAD ENDS:
DON’T TRUST YOUR IMMEDIATE REACTION:
THE END IS BETTER THAN THE BEGINNING:
As Mentioned:
The Day Of One’s Death Is Better Than The Day Of One’s Birth.
Ecc 7:1.
But The Principle Has Application To More Than Just One’s Overall Life.
How Is This So ?
Many Projects Start With Good Intentions,
But Are Not Completed;
It Is When They Are Finished
That We Can Truly Look Back With Satisfaction.
Many Things Begin With Grief And Difficulty,
Only To End In Joy And Peace.
Psalms 126:5-6.
Primary Concern:
How Will Things Turn Out In The End.
How Things Look At The Beginning Is The Primary Concern.
Keep Focused Till The End.
Let The Lord Complete His Purpose In Your Life.
PATIENCE IS BETTER THAN PRIDE.
THE PATIENT IN SPIRIT IS BETTER THAN THE PROUD IN SPIRIT.
Pride Is Evil.
Pride Is Not of God But Of The World.
Mark 7:21-23; 1 John 2:16.
Patience Is A Virtue To Be Pursued By The Man Of God.
1 Titus 6:11; Timothy 2:2.
WHY PATIENCE IS BETTER THAN PRIDE ?
Pride Leads To Arguing And Destruction.
Proverbs 13:10; 16:18.
Pride Leads To Anger That Resides In The Heart Of The Foolish.
Ecc 7:9.
Patience Is An Affirmation Of Wisdom.
Patience Is Necessary To Salvation.
Proverbs 14:29; Romans 2:7; Hebrews 10:36.
THE PRESENT IS BETTER THAN THE PAST.
We Are Not To Say WHY Were The Former Days Better?
1. People Often Reminisce About “the Good Old Days”
2. They Often Think About Things Were Better Then Than Now.
WHY IS THIS NOT WISE ?
1. Memory Has A Way Of Forgetting Bad Things In The Past.
2. Even Trials In The Present There Is Cause For Rejoicing.
James 1:2-4.
3. We May Neglect Opportunities For Much Good In The Present.
WAIT FOR THE BENEFITS OF WISDOM TO APPEAR:
WISDOM IS BETTER THAN WEALTH.
Wealth Has Its Advantages.
Money Can Serve As A Defense In Life.
Ecc 7:12; Pro 10:15.
Money Can Attract Many Friends.
Pro 14:20.
HOW IS WISDOM BETTER ?
Riches Do Not Profit One On The Day Of Judgment.
Proverbs 11:4.
The Presence Of Wealth Often Makes Things Worse.
EX: Marriages And Business Partners Fight Over Money.
Wisdom Gives Life To Those Who Have It.
Ecc 7:12.
Wisdom Will Make The Best Use Of One’s Wealth As A Defense.
Wisdom Will Help One Weather The Storms Of Life.
TO LIVE LIFE WELL, SEE GOD’S HAND AT WORK:
RESIGNATION IS BETTER THAN INDIGNATION.
There Are Some Things We Cannot Change.
God Has His Purpose Which We Cannot Change.
Ecc 7:13.
His Purpose Allows For Both Days Of Prosperity And Adversity.
Ecc 7:14.
We Need To Deal With This In The Best Way.
Enjoy The Days Of Prosperity.
In Days Of Adversity Consider What Lessons Might Be Learned.
It Does No Good To Get Angry About Things We Cannot Change.
There Is Both A Time To Weep And A Time To Laugh.
Ecc 3:4.
NOW,
ADVICE FOR A BALANCED LIFE (7:15-29).
DON’T ASSOCIATE GOD’S FAVOR WITH CIRCUMSTANCES.
DON’T THINK YOU CAN BARGAIN WITH GOD.
USE WISDOM AS YOUR GUIDE.
DO THINGS IN MODERATION:
EXTREMES CAN CREATE PROBLEMS.
The Righteous Do Not Always Prosper.
The Wicked Do Not Always Suffer.
Ecc 7:15.
It Will Be Well For Those Who Fear God.
Ecc 8:12-13.
Avoid Extremism In Seeking To Be Righteous And Wise.
Ecc 7:16.
Born Out Of Pride And Arrogance, One Should Also Avoid Extremism In Wickedness And Foolishness.
Ecc 7:17.
Don’t Refrain From True Righteousness And Wisdom.
One Should Still Fear God.
Ecc 7:18.
Wisdom Does Have Its Place.
Ecc 7:19.
Wisdom Is Better Than Strength.
Ecc 9:13-18.
Yet No One Is Perfect.
Ecc 7:20.
Don’t Believe Everything People Say.
So Don’t Take What You Hear Too Seriously.
You May Sometimes Hear Others Say Bad Things About Others.
Ecc 7:21-22.
WISDOM ALONE IS NOT THE ANSWER:
Some Questions Wisdom Can’t Answer.
Ecc 7:23-24.
The Preacher Applied His Heart To Know Wisdom And Folly.
Ecc 7:25.
He Found More Bitter Than Death Was The Wicked Woman.
Ecc 7:26.
Good People Are Hard To Find.
Seeking For A Good Man.
He Found Only One In A Thousand.
A Good Woman Was Even Rarer.
Ecc 7:27-28.
NOTE: Solomon Did Have 700 Wives And 300 Concubines.
OF COURSE, THE PROBLEM IS NOT WITH GOD.
God Made Mankind Upright.
Ecc 7:29a.
But Mankind Has Gone After Many Evil Things.
Ecc 7:29b.
CONCLUSION:
Human Pride Tends To Propel Us To Go To Extremes.
Those Not Content To Obey God's Word Often Seek Out Many Sinful Deeds.
Even Those Seeking Righteousness Can Go Too Far
Righteous Indignation Becomes SELF-Righteous Indignation,
Of Course:
The Solution Is Not To Refrain From Righteousness And Wisdom.
But To Seek After It Humbly.
To Apply Gentleness, Patience, And Humility In All Things.
Even Toward Those Who Are Opposing God!
No comments:
Post a Comment