Lesson 13
Ecclesiastes
The Things That Don't
Work!
Intro to vs:9
In
verses 1-8 we have seen that there is order in the world - not the result of
chance but because of God's plan.
A key
question as we look at vs:9 - Is are we working at
cross purposes with God's order - operating out of line with God's time
schedule.
3:9 What profit is
there to the worker from that in which he toils?
(one who works to the point of exhaustion)
- A life apart from relationship with God boils down to zero
profit - benefit.
3:10-11 (These two verses go together)
I have seen the task ('inyan - burden) which God has given the sons of men with which to occupy
themselves.
- The solution of course is to view life from the
perspective of God, ......thru the eyes of faith. And even the most trivial tasks take on
meaning and purpose.
He has made everything appropriate in its time.
- When we see life from God's perspective, our times, our life becomes sensible and meaningful.
How does
God make everything fit appropriately, the word in you gives you the capacity
and perspective to deal with any and all circumstances in life. Where have we
seen that before?
His
second observation:
He has also set eternity in their heart,
- 'olam -
eternity, forever; derived from 'alam - to be hidden,
therefore the idea of something being hidden in the future
Man
has a longing, a deep seated desire, almost a compulsive drive to know the
future, to know eternity.
The
transient temporal things of time do not satisfy this desire to know eternity.
You
and I are not really ready to handle life -> until we're ready to face
death.
When
we get eternity squared away - secured, its remarkable
what it will do for time today and tomorrow.
3rd Observation
yet so that man
will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the
end.
- Even though the desire to know eternity, to be curious
about the future, man operating under the sun cannot know the Plan of God,
cannot know spiritual info because of the judgment of the fall.
Observations:
1. Every legitimate thing in life becomes meaningful with
God's word in you which gives you the capacity to enjoy life and to deal with
the highs and the lows.
2. This strong desire for a knowledge
of eternity is from God.
3. Yet apart from God, the answers are hidden from mankind.
4. One of the problems we have is that we focus our attention
on the wrong things. We see today, the
immediate; while God is working on the long haul, forever.
5. The application here is that He makes everything
beautiful in its time, including your loss, your hospital experience, your
failures, your battles, your fragmented dreams, your lost romance, your
heartache, your illness. Yes, even a terminal illness.
6. Under the empowering of the Holy Spirit and the
application the word in every situation, life becomes meaningful.
7. Time spent in the word - concentrating on it, studying it
is never wasted time.
3:12-13 I
know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and to do good in
one's lifetime; moreover, that every man who eats and drinks sees good in all
his labor-- ('mal - trouble, toil, labor -
includes the good and bad aspects of any job)
it is the gift of God. (mattat
- gift, reward)
We see four gifts from God here:
#1 -
the ability to rejoice and enjoy life
#2 - the ability to do good (tobh)
in our lifetime -
to produce DGP which will be rewarded at the JSC.
#3 - An appetite to eat and drink, therefore to appreciate
food
#4 - God gives the ability to see good
(tobh) in all our labor therefore we have the right
perspective in life.
3:14-21 Next segment is Keeping
Everything in Perspective
3:14-15 What God does!
I know that everything God does will remain forever;
there is nothing to add to it and there is nothing to take from it,
for God has so worked
that men should fear Him.
**
This fear is not an attitude of terror. It is instead a
commitment of the total being to trust and believe the living God.
**
This "fear" should evoke worship of God and humble
submission to His Word.
OBSERVATIONS:
1. Man's arrogance leads to ad libbing
the plan of God.
2. The quality of God's actions are
that they are permanent and they are complete.
God is thorough.
3. God's actions should cultivate respect - awe for Him not
hate as is the case with many.