Ecclesiastes
Lesson 5Ecclesiastes 6:1-12
This week Solomon concludes his discourse on the futility of man finding happiness and pleasure through his own endeavors. As I consider all that Solomon has written it can be perplexing, as I’m sure it is to you. Most, if not all, of us do not have the wealth Solomon had, nor the power and honor, nor the wisdom and so I ask myself why would God intentionally put these writings of Solomon in the Bible when most of us don’t have the things Solomon had, and of course the answer is even at our level we struggle with many of the questions Solomon did as well.
This week we’ll study chapter six, but first - something normally uncharacteristic of me - I wanted to say a few words from my heart about a subject Solomon briefly raises in verses three through six of Chapter 6. His reference to a stillborn baby. For those who may not know I’m the oldest of eleven children, however, growing up we were always referred to as a family with nine children due to two of my sisters being lost at birth, one just prior to being born – stillborn, and one during birth. Their names are Melissa Jean and Ruth Ann. My mom and dad, and all of us children mourned deeply for both of them and especially for my mother who was particularly devastated as two pregnancies in a row ended in death not life. Over the years we’ve all comforted ourselves with the knowledge that both of those babies were in heaven and today my mother’s there with them and I’m sure she’s happy to finally be reunited with them.
Through the years I’ve come to realize how many miscarriages, still births, or babies born with severe birth defects actually occur and more recently the number of abortions that take babies before birth as well. I haven’t look at the statistics in a while so I can’t quote an exact number but if you were not aware worldwide abortion takes millions upon millions of babies. Please be rest assured I’m not an “activist” and this space is for Bible study not personal agendas, but the Bible is clear on the sanctity of life and the moral error abortion brings about. What overwhelms me at times is the realization that heaven is filled with these innocent babies and while their loss on earth is incalculable God has a special place for them and I praise Him for it.
As I told our class at Southview this past week working as a CFO I interact with wealthy people and those hoping to become wealthy on a daily basis and I’ve seen the good and bad side of what wealth and the “promise” of wealth can do to folks and how it can affect them. I’ve talked with a man for instance who worried constantly that it was taking him so long to accumulate his wealth that he’d die before he could enjoy it, and another who wanted to live another two hundred years just so he could see what changes new technology would bring and the opportunities for gain that all that held. I’ve seen people so consumed by their desire to gain wealth or by the fear that their wealth would be lost or stolen it affected their judgment, their health, and the loss of any real family or purpose other than the accumulation of wealth. Solomon speaks to them this week.
Now to our lesson, while I only have three questions for you this week give some thought to each, there is much to be learned about the world around us and our own desires as compared with what being a follower of Christ means and what it offers us in terms of peace, purpose and providing a direction for our lives.
Let’s read Chapter 6 and consider the following:
- Contrast Chapter 5, verses 18-20 with Chapter 6:1-9. List all of the differences Solomon mentions between someone who sees all that they have coming from God, with someone who sees all that they are and have as coming from their own endeavors.
- What does Solomon mean in verses seven through nine? Do any of us fall into this same trap, list some examples.
- Read verses ten through twelve. How does the way Christ teaches us, Matthew 6:19-34, compare with what Solomon writes here about a man who is striving under his own wisdom and actions?
As we continue to study Solomon’s writings I pray that God is leading each of us to consider what the real priorities are to be in our lives, how God is our Sovereign provider and how trusting in Christ not only meets our physical needs but provides us with a sense of purpose and direction. Troubles come in all shapes and sizes, as do blessings and we need to be prepared for both. This week Solomon shows us the futility of trusting in our own efforts, or following after others who do as well. In the final analysis only God and His Son Jesus know the outcome and only they can provide the kind of peace and fulfillment we seek in this life.
As the time of Christ’s coming draws closer the Bible tells us the world around us will grow increasingly dependent on man’s wisdom and the pursuit of wealth and pleasure, but in the end that will lead to destruction. Matthew 7:13-14 should be a warning to us all not to get caught up in the ways of the world, no matter how attractive those ways may seem they do not lead to eternal peace and fulfillment, don’t get caught in one of Satan’s biggest lies. Just as he did with Eve he does with us today, promising wisdom and pleasure at the expense of an eternal separation from God.
May God grant you this week His peace and wisdom and may the Holy Spirit comfort you as you seek God’s will for your life.
Thanks for studying with us,
Wes