Aug. 23, 2023

“LIFE ACCORDING TO THIS WORLD”

“LIVING A LIFE OF HUMILITY”

ECCLESIASTES 8:1-17

4.   Humility Is Enjoying What You Can’t Explain- Ecclesiastes 8:14-15

Solomon reminds us that our privilege is to “eat, drink, and be merry” in this life.

Ecclesiastes 8:14-15 “There is a vanity which occurs on earth, that there are just men to whom it happens according to the work of the wicked; again, there are wicked men to whom it happens according to the work of the righteous. I said that this also is vanity. 15So I commended enjoyment, because a man has nothing better under the sun than to eat, drink, and be merry; for this will remain with him in his labor all the days of his life which God gives him under the sun.”

Focus on what you can control, the choice to enjoy the life Almighty God has given you as His gift.

We need to count each day as precious and live it to the fullest, thanking God all the while for the opportunity.

5.   Humility Is Discovering What You Can’t Discover- Ecclesiastes 8:16-17 

Ecclesiastes 8:16-17 “When I applied my heart to know wisdom and to see the business that is done on earth, even though one sees no sleep day or night, 17then I saw all the work of God, that a man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun. For though a man labors to discover it, yet he will not find it; moreover, though a wise man attempts to know it, he will not be able to find it.”

Wisdom and humility acknowledge the gap that exists between Him and us and doesn’t try to close it beyond what He allows.

John 1:14 “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”

Philippians 2:7-8 “But made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.”

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“LIFE ACCORDING TO THIS WORLD”

“THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH”

ECCLESIASTES 9:1-18

Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

The only way to prepare to live is to prepare to die.

1.   Death Is Certain- Ecclesiastes 9:1-10

Woody Allen said, “I am not afraid to die, I just don’t want to be there when it happens.” 

Death is not an accident, it is an appointment:

Hebrews 9:27 “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment.”

*The Reality Of Death

Ecclesiastes 9:1 “For I considered all this in my heart, so that I could declare it all: that the righteous and the wise and their works are in the hand of God. People know neither love nor hatred by anything they see before them.”

Life and death are “in the hand of God” vs.1 Only He know the future, whether it will bring blessing (love) or sorrow (hatred).

*How Do We Respond To Death?

*Don’t Deny Death

Ecclesiastes 9:2 “All things come alike to all: One event happens to the righteous and the wicked; To the good, the clean, and the unclean; To him who sacrifices and him who does not sacrifice. As is the good, so is the sinner; He who takes an oath as he who fears an oath.” 

vs.2 “All things come alike to all…” If so, why bother to live a godly life? Someone may ask.

1 Corinthians 15:26 “The last enemy that will be destroyed is death.”

Christians have trusted Jesus Christ to save them from their sin and death, so as far as we are concerned, “the last enemy” has been defeated:

Romans 6:23

John 11:25-26

How people deal with the reality of death reveals itself in the way they deal with the realities of life. Solomon shares some possible responses:

*Escape

Ecclesiastes 2:3 “This is an evil in all that is done under the sun: that one thing happens to all. Truly the hearts of the sons of men are full of evil; madness is in their hearts while they live, and after that they go to the dead.”

The fact of death and the fear of death will either bring out the best in people or the worst in people.

*Don’t Ignore Death

Ecclesiastes 9:4 “But for him who is joined to all the living there is hope, for a living dog is better than a dead lion.”

Solomon now reminds us of everything that can’t be done after we die, especially the person who dies apart from God.

Ecclesiastes 9:5-6 “For the living know that they will die; But the dead know nothing, And they have no more reward, For the memory of them is forgotten. 6Also their love, their hatred, and their envy have now perished; Nevermore will they have a share
In anything done under the sun.”

Death is coming, so live life while while you can.

2 Timothy 1:10 “But has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.”

John 10:10 “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”

Life is not easy, but there is more to life than simply enduring. We can have an abundant life.

*Enjoy Life and Embrace Death- Ecclesiastes 9:7-10

Ecclesiastes 9:7 “Go, eat your bread with joy, And drink your wine with a merry heart; For God has already accepted your works.”

Don’t sit around and brood, get up and live.

Proverbs 15:17 “Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, Than a fatted calf with hatred.”

Ecclesiastes 9:8-9 “Let your garments always be white, And let your head lack no oil. 9Live joyfully with the wife whom you love all the days of your vain life which He has given you under the sun, all your days of vanity; for that is your portion in life, and in the labor which you perform under the sun.”

We should enjoy every occasion.

Philippians 4:4 “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!”

It is not searching for special things that we find joy, but by making the everyday things special.

Solomon says enjoy your marriage. He saw a wife as a gift from God.

Proverbs 18:22 “He who finds a wife finds a good thing,
And obtains favor from the Lord.”

Proverbs 19:14 “Houses and riches are an inheritance from fathers, But a prudent wife is from the Lord.”

Enjoy your work.

Ecclesiastes 9:10 “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going.”

Colossians 3:23 “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men.”

Ecclesiastes 5:20 “For he will not dwell unduly on the days of his life, because God keeps him busy with the joy of his heart.”

2.   Life Is Unpredictable- Ecclesiastes 9:11-18

*Our Abilities Are No Guarantee For Success- vs.11-12

Ecclesiastes 9:11-12 “I returned and saw under the sun that, The race is not to the swift, Nor the battle to the strong, Nor bread to the wise, Nor riches to men of understanding, Nor favor to men of skill But time and chance happen to them all. 12For man also does not know his time: Like fish taken in a cruel net, Like birds caught in a snare, So the sons of men are snared in an evil time,
When it falls suddenly upon them.”

As believers we trust God to guide us and help us in making decisions, and we believe that His will his the best.

Pursue life with everything at your disposal, but be a realist. Sometimes the best person isn’t always rewarded in this life.

*Our Opportunities Are No Guarantee of Success- vs.13-18

Ecclesiastes 9:13-18 “This wisdom I have also seen under the sun, and it seemed great to me: 14There was a little city with few men in it; and a great king came against it, besieged it, and built great snares around it. 15Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city. Yet no one remembered that same poor man. 16Then I said: “Wisdom is better than strength. Nevertheless the poor man’s wisdom is despised, And his words are not heard. 17Words of the wise, spoken quietly, should be heard Rather than the shout of a ruler of fools. 18Wisdom is better than weapons of war; But one sinner destroys much good.”

Have you ever done the right thing and then felt you were ignored or overlooked for your contribution?

How to plan?

1 Corinthians 15:57-58 “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”