Untitled Slide

Wise Sayings

Untitled Slide

Ecclesiastes

• All about wisdom & wise sayings
• Author is Solomon (Ch. 1, v. 1)
• Background of King Solomon (I Kings 3: 5 - 15)
• If God asked you the same question he asked Solomon, what would be your answer?
• Solomon was asked by God what HE wants. This doesn't happen very often.

Solomon's Answer

• Solomon gets a choice from God, & he chooses wisely.
• Didn't ask for riches, women, status, fame, power.
• Asked for wisdom?
• Why?

Solomon's Answer

• He asked so that he would rule his people - God's people - well.
• Look at v. 14
• What did God promise Solomon, if he kept His promise?
• Give him a longer life if Solomon kept God's statutes & commands.

Ecclesiastes 1:1-11

• "Under the Sun" - apart from God.
• What does he i.d. himself as first? Teacher, son of David, & King of Jerusalem

Ecclesiastes 1:1-11

• What is meaningless? Everything
• v. 10-11, is there anything new on Earth? No
• What do you think Solomon means here?

In Ecclesiastes 1, Solomon makes a simple point: Knowledge, wealth, & life are meaningless apart from God. Everything else is worthless!

Ecclesiastes 1:12-18

• Mood of Solomon?
• Pursuit of knowledge = "chasing after wind"
• Trying to catch the wind means you always come up empty.
• If everything is meaningless apart from God, how can life have meaning?

Ecclesiastes 12:13

• Solomon's conclusion when all is said & done?
• FEAR GOD & KEEP HIS COMMANDS!!!
• What should everything else be considered? Meaningless!!!

Are you willing to do what it takes to have a life of meaning?

List the 10 most important things in your life.
Be honest!

List the 10 things you spend most of your time doing. Prioritize 1 to 10 in order of time spent.

Time = Priority

• Which item did you spend the most amount of time?
• Least amount of time?
• Time Spent = Priority In Our Life

Where is God on each list?
If you put Him high on your priority list but low on your time list, how much do you really fear Him?

Fear God & Keep His Commands

• How can loving God be a part of your friendships?
• How can fearing God be a part of life at school?
• How does obeying God's commands affect the way you treat your family?

Loving God and Obeying His Commandments are the ONLY things that really matter.