“Take Life As It Comes”
(based on the devotions of Selwyn Hughes: “Every Day Light”)
Series on the Book of Ecclesiastes
Sunday, August 7, 2011; Ecclesiastes 9:1-10:20
Introduction: Have you ever noticed a child who is almost at the walking stage? It actually starts with them standing up and getting their balance. Then, when they try and take a step, they often fall. Partly this is because they haven’t gotten the hang of walking., but it is also about confidence. They don’t have the confidence to believe that they can walk on their own. If their parent holds their hand, then they can walk fine, but without their parent’s hand they stumble and fall.
In the first 8 chapters of the book of Ecclesiastes, King Solomon has been telling us that we need to look to God to help us walk in our life. We can easily stumble and fall by looking to money and possessions for contentment, by thinking we can do it on our own, by forgetting that life will bring us struggles. With God holding our hands He will lead us forward and give us the confidence we need to experience the wonder of this life He has given us. This morning we will be talking about being able to ‘take life as it comes.’
I. Everything is in God’s Hands- (Ecclesiastes 9:1-10)
a. In God’s hands- Solomon tells us that we who are righteous and
wise are in the hands of God. This makes sense, because the righteous and the wise are the ones who are seeking after God; giving themselves over to God. As we think about being in the hands of God, it should give us reassurance. If matters in our lives seem to get out of control, then we just remember that we are in God’s hands. If we don’t understand something, we know that we can turn to God who can give us the wisdom we need to not only understand, but to respond in the appropriate way. We know that we are not alone in life, but have God right there with us helping us to handle all the many challenges of life. When we are in God’s hands we know that it isn’t just about us handling the situations of life.
b. Death comes to all- Solomon next wants us to have a foundational
perspective, as he tells us that death comes to all. It doesn’t matter if you are righteous or wicked, good or evil, clean or unclean, you will experience death. So often in this life we struggle to do what is right; we struggle to be good; we struggle to be faithful to God. But when we are in God’s hands, what matters is the faith we place in God. Because of this faith, when death ultimately comes to us, we won’t have to try and ‘win’ ourselves into heaven based on our works, but will receive a reward based on the faith we have placed in God. Anyone who lives only for this time here on earth is a fool. When we know that death is a certainty, we can live for God here on the earth, preparing ourselves for heaven with God.
c. Don’t expect too much- Solomon also instructs us to not expect too
much of humanity. If we keep our expectations reasonable, understanding how sinful and selfish we can be, then we won’t be disappointed. Instead, place your expectations on God to guide you, and instruct you, and bring blessings and contentment into your life. We cannot run our lives successfully without God, and putting our trust in others will surely disappoint us.
d. There is always hope- But in all of this Solomon wants us to know
that in life there is always hope. In 9:4 Solomon says: “But whoever is joined with all the living has hope…” If you were to look through the Bible, you would see that even when the Israelites were in slavery, or lost in their sin and rebellious ways, there was still hope. God continued to reach out to them and promise them help if they would only turn back to God. They were never without hope, and neither are we.
e. Keep yourself clean- Solomon encourages us to live our lives with
joyful living. Know that God has given you this life to enjoy. So eat your bread with enjoyment and have a merry heart. Then in verse 8 Solomon says: “Always be clothed in white, and always anoint your head with oil.” This statement is a symbolic statement to keep yourselves clean. Solomon wants us to understand that God wants us to enjoy ourselves, but in a way that in not sinful or that brings dishonor to God. When you get to the end of the day, you may be weary and spent, but you can know that you enjoyed God by enjoying your life.
II. True Success Comes By Walking with God- (Eccl. 9:11-18)
a. Keep balanced- It is important for us to understand that God has
given us this life to enjoy. Solomon talks about this many times in the book of Ecclesiastes. But Solomon wants us to understand that we need to keep balanced in how we live. We need to be careful not to go too far in our trying to enjoy life so that we indulge ourselves in sinful living.
EX. Remember The Prodigal Son, in Luke, chapter 15. The youngest son got his inheritance early, and he decided to go and enjoy his newfound wealth. He ended up squandering it in sinful living; in partying and other frivolous ways.
Too often I have seen people, even Christians, think that they can indulge themselves in worldly entertainment that is not honoring of God, in the thinking that they are just ‘enjoying’ their lives. People who love God and want to honor God will resist this pressure. You can make money without cheating others. Your can be well liked and still be honorable. You can have fun in this world and not have to give yourself over to worldly pleasures.
True success and true enjoyment comes by walking with God. As I said before, because everything is in God’s hands, and things can happen when you least expect them, we must stay strong in our walking with God. If we are not balanced, then when the uncertainty of the world hits us, we will be thrown for a loop and feel like we our lives are spinning out of control. We need to stay balanced with both the way we live, and the trust we place in God.
b. Wisdom is better than strength- Solomon then tells us a little story
in 9:14-16. Let me read that passage for you again… “There was once a small city with only a few people in it. And a powerful king came against it, surrounded it and built huge siege works against it. 15 Now there lived in that city a man poor but wise, and he saved the city by his wisdom. But nobody remembered that poor man. 16 So I said, “Wisdom is better than strength.” But the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are no longer heeded.”
The moral of Solomon’s story is that wisdom is better than strength. This comes from the one, King Solomon, who has experienced both in full. From a worldly observation, strength is more impressive than wisdom, but in the long run wisdom is more effective. The way of the world tells us to be strong, be smart, and be competitive. But when the real trouble hits, a wise word that gets us out of trouble, is better received.
We are surrounded by troubles and evil. We are under threat. Marriages are struggling. Morals are eroding. Responsibilities are being forgotten. Commitments are being laid aside. But we have a book, the Bible, which contains the wisdom of God that we need, and the world needs. We need to know it, follow it, and share it with all that we encounter.
III. Don’t Be A Fool- (Ecclesiastes 10:1-7; Matthew 5:22)
a. Fools are careless- Next we see in chapter 10, Solomon give us a
tour of the anatomy of a fool. He helps us to see how a fool behaves, not only so that we can recognize a fool when we see one, but so that we can avoid being a fool. We need to be careful not to point a finger at a fool, only to notice that there is a finger pointing back at us.
Jesus warned us in Matthew 5:22 to not call others fools. But what Jesus was referring to is to not call someone worthless. In understanding what a foolish person looks like, it will help us to avoid foolishness ourselves, to not get caught up in their foolish actions, and maybe even to help them move out of their foolish behavior. Just because a person does some silly things doesn’t make them worthless.
In 10:1 Solomon starts the chapter by saying, “As dead flies give perfume a bad smell, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.” It doesn’t take much to bring dishonor to an honorable life. A faithful spouse who cheats on their spouse quickly becomes a fool. A respected businessman who turns to drugs loses his place of respect. A politician who has had an “indiscretion” is forced to resign in shame.
Solomon instructs us in verse 2: “The heart of the wise inclines to the right, but the heart of the fool to the left.” By having God impart His wisdom to us, we can keep on the right track and avoid falling into those careless behaviors.
b. Fools in authority- Solomon goes on to tell us that a further
characteristic of a fool is that he cannot control his anger. A boss who can’t control his temper. An employee who quits his job in an angry outburst. But the one who is wise is the one who can remain calm under stressful situations.
Solomon points out to us that all too often an aggressive personality is put in a position of authority. This person is really an incompetent fool who doesn’t know how to manage employees or keep his calm when stress arises. In response to the challenges of the job this fool leads through anger instead of wisdom and guidance.
Dr. Kenneth Gangtel says in his book Thus Spake Qoheleth (Qoheleth is a synonym for Solomon): “Certainly we see things every day in our own country and around the world which make us wonder whether there is a great deal more of foolishness than wisdom in every human government. Maybe God just wants us to see how foolish we are and how useless it is to trust in the vanities of mankind ‘under the sun’.”
We can look to our own government and understand that many act with foolishness, not caring about the people they are supposed to be representing and serving, but only caring about themselves and their payoffs. Instead, we must entrust ourselves to God in the midst of the foolish authority around us.
IV. Operate By Wisdom- (Ecclesiastes 10:8-20; Ephesians 4:29)
a. Keep aware- In verses 8-11 Solomon points out our need to be
aware of our surroundings and the results of our efforts, by identifying some dangerous activities. If you dig a pit, be careful not to fall in it. If you break through a wall, be careful there is not a snake on the other side. If you carry heavy stones, be careful not to be injured by them. If you split a log, remember that it is an activity that can cause harm. In other words, fools don’t see the harm that could come to them. This passage is what gave rise to the quote: “Fools rush in where angels fear to tread.” If people operated from wisdom, instead of foolishness, then these kinds of accidents wouldn’t take place.
You have heard the term ‘poetic justice’? Poetic justice is where people get what they deserve. Fools don’t understand the danger before them, and so they continue in their foolish behavior.
b. The tongue- Here’s a question for you: “What has stirred up more
strife than any other thing in the history of the world?” The answer is: THE TONGUE! While the words of the wise are gracious, the words of a fool consume them. While we might be on the one side of being berated or offended by the tongue of a fool, the fool is ultimately ‘consumed’ by his own tongue. That is exactly what Solomon says in 10:12, “…but fools are consumed by their own lips.”
To be consumed really means to be swallowed up. The fool is the one who is undone by his words. He speaks words that leads to his undoing. If you come across a fool, don’t try and counsel them, because you will really just be wasting your time. As Solomon tells us in verse 15: “The toil of fools wearies them; they do not know the way to town.” Or as someone once said: “Fools are ever learning, but never arriving.” (Hughes, Every Day Light, p. 115) The only time you should counsel a fool is if they arrive at the understanding that they have been foolish and they must change their ways!
c. A little bird told me- Solomon gives another warning when he says
in verse 16: “Woe to the land whose king was a servant and whose princes feast in the morning…” Solomon speaks of this king as an immature king; a foolish king. When there is a fool on the throne chaos and disorder will reign. The greatest fool is the leader who will not listen to God.
Solomon closes up this chapter in verse 20, saying: “Do not revile the king even in your thoughts, or curse the rich in your bedroom, because a bird in the sky may carry your words, and a bird on the wing may report what you say.” We are foolish if we speak foolish words, even when we think no one is listening. A little bird may take your words to the person you are talking about. How often is something said in private, and it becomes public?
So, Solomon insinuates, keep things to yourself, because you never know when a fool might repeat your words. We are wise to think before we talk. As Ephesians 4:29 says, “Do not let any unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification, according to the need of the moment, that it may give grace to those who hear.”
Conclusion: In these two chapters Solomon is reminding us that everything is in God’s Hands. If we don’t expect too much from this world, or from the people of this world, and keep our hope in God, watching what we say, then we will be able to take life as it comes, and enjoy the life we have been given. Let us praise God for these wise words to us, and honor God by living according to them. Amen.
(based on the devotions of Selwyn Hughes: “Every Day Light”)
Series on the Book of Ecclesiastes
Sunday, August 7, 2011; Ecclesiastes 9:1-10:20
Introduction: Have you ever noticed a child who is almost at the walking stage? It actually starts with them standing up and getting their balance. Then, when they try and take a step, they often fall. Partly this is because they haven’t gotten the hang of walking., but it is also about confidence. They don’t have the confidence to believe that they can walk on their own. If their parent holds their hand, then they can walk fine, but without their parent’s hand they stumble and fall.
In the first 8 chapters of the book of Ecclesiastes, King Solomon has been telling us that we need to look to God to help us walk in our life. We can easily stumble and fall by looking to money and possessions for contentment, by thinking we can do it on our own, by forgetting that life will bring us struggles. With God holding our hands He will lead us forward and give us the confidence we need to experience the wonder of this life He has given us. This morning we will be talking about being able to ‘take life as it comes.’
I. Everything is in God’s Hands- (Ecclesiastes 9:1-10)
a. In God’s hands- Solomon tells us that we who are righteous and
wise are in the hands of God. This makes sense, because the righteous and the wise are the ones who are seeking after God; giving themselves over to God. As we think about being in the hands of God, it should give us reassurance. If matters in our lives seem to get out of control, then we just remember that we are in God’s hands. If we don’t understand something, we know that we can turn to God who can give us the wisdom we need to not only understand, but to respond in the appropriate way. We know that we are not alone in life, but have God right there with us helping us to handle all the many challenges of life. When we are in God’s hands we know that it isn’t just about us handling the situations of life.
b. Death comes to all- Solomon next wants us to have a foundational
perspective, as he tells us that death comes to all. It doesn’t matter if you are righteous or wicked, good or evil, clean or unclean, you will experience death. So often in this life we struggle to do what is right; we struggle to be good; we struggle to be faithful to God. But when we are in God’s hands, what matters is the faith we place in God. Because of this faith, when death ultimately comes to us, we won’t have to try and ‘win’ ourselves into heaven based on our works, but will receive a reward based on the faith we have placed in God. Anyone who lives only for this time here on earth is a fool. When we know that death is a certainty, we can live for God here on the earth, preparing ourselves for heaven with God.
c. Don’t expect too much- Solomon also instructs us to not expect too
much of humanity. If we keep our expectations reasonable, understanding how sinful and selfish we can be, then we won’t be disappointed. Instead, place your expectations on God to guide you, and instruct you, and bring blessings and contentment into your life. We cannot run our lives successfully without God, and putting our trust in others will surely disappoint us.
d. There is always hope- But in all of this Solomon wants us to know
that in life there is always hope. In 9:4 Solomon says: “But whoever is joined with all the living has hope…” If you were to look through the Bible, you would see that even when the Israelites were in slavery, or lost in their sin and rebellious ways, there was still hope. God continued to reach out to them and promise them help if they would only turn back to God. They were never without hope, and neither are we.
e. Keep yourself clean- Solomon encourages us to live our lives with
joyful living. Know that God has given you this life to enjoy. So eat your bread with enjoyment and have a merry heart. Then in verse 8 Solomon says: “Always be clothed in white, and always anoint your head with oil.” This statement is a symbolic statement to keep yourselves clean. Solomon wants us to understand that God wants us to enjoy ourselves, but in a way that in not sinful or that brings dishonor to God. When you get to the end of the day, you may be weary and spent, but you can know that you enjoyed God by enjoying your life.
II. True Success Comes By Walking with God- (Eccl. 9:11-18)
a. Keep balanced- It is important for us to understand that God has
given us this life to enjoy. Solomon talks about this many times in the book of Ecclesiastes. But Solomon wants us to understand that we need to keep balanced in how we live. We need to be careful not to go too far in our trying to enjoy life so that we indulge ourselves in sinful living.
EX. Remember The Prodigal Son, in Luke, chapter 15. The youngest son got his inheritance early, and he decided to go and enjoy his newfound wealth. He ended up squandering it in sinful living; in partying and other frivolous ways.
Too often I have seen people, even Christians, think that they can indulge themselves in worldly entertainment that is not honoring of God, in the thinking that they are just ‘enjoying’ their lives. People who love God and want to honor God will resist this pressure. You can make money without cheating others. Your can be well liked and still be honorable. You can have fun in this world and not have to give yourself over to worldly pleasures.
True success and true enjoyment comes by walking with God. As I said before, because everything is in God’s hands, and things can happen when you least expect them, we must stay strong in our walking with God. If we are not balanced, then when the uncertainty of the world hits us, we will be thrown for a loop and feel like we our lives are spinning out of control. We need to stay balanced with both the way we live, and the trust we place in God.
b. Wisdom is better than strength- Solomon then tells us a little story
in 9:14-16. Let me read that passage for you again… “There was once a small city with only a few people in it. And a powerful king came against it, surrounded it and built huge siege works against it. 15 Now there lived in that city a man poor but wise, and he saved the city by his wisdom. But nobody remembered that poor man. 16 So I said, “Wisdom is better than strength.” But the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are no longer heeded.”
The moral of Solomon’s story is that wisdom is better than strength. This comes from the one, King Solomon, who has experienced both in full. From a worldly observation, strength is more impressive than wisdom, but in the long run wisdom is more effective. The way of the world tells us to be strong, be smart, and be competitive. But when the real trouble hits, a wise word that gets us out of trouble, is better received.
We are surrounded by troubles and evil. We are under threat. Marriages are struggling. Morals are eroding. Responsibilities are being forgotten. Commitments are being laid aside. But we have a book, the Bible, which contains the wisdom of God that we need, and the world needs. We need to know it, follow it, and share it with all that we encounter.
III. Don’t Be A Fool- (Ecclesiastes 10:1-7; Matthew 5:22)
a. Fools are careless- Next we see in chapter 10, Solomon give us a
tour of the anatomy of a fool. He helps us to see how a fool behaves, not only so that we can recognize a fool when we see one, but so that we can avoid being a fool. We need to be careful not to point a finger at a fool, only to notice that there is a finger pointing back at us.
Jesus warned us in Matthew 5:22 to not call others fools. But what Jesus was referring to is to not call someone worthless. In understanding what a foolish person looks like, it will help us to avoid foolishness ourselves, to not get caught up in their foolish actions, and maybe even to help them move out of their foolish behavior. Just because a person does some silly things doesn’t make them worthless.
In 10:1 Solomon starts the chapter by saying, “As dead flies give perfume a bad smell, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.” It doesn’t take much to bring dishonor to an honorable life. A faithful spouse who cheats on their spouse quickly becomes a fool. A respected businessman who turns to drugs loses his place of respect. A politician who has had an “indiscretion” is forced to resign in shame.
Solomon instructs us in verse 2: “The heart of the wise inclines to the right, but the heart of the fool to the left.” By having God impart His wisdom to us, we can keep on the right track and avoid falling into those careless behaviors.
b. Fools in authority- Solomon goes on to tell us that a further
characteristic of a fool is that he cannot control his anger. A boss who can’t control his temper. An employee who quits his job in an angry outburst. But the one who is wise is the one who can remain calm under stressful situations.
Solomon points out to us that all too often an aggressive personality is put in a position of authority. This person is really an incompetent fool who doesn’t know how to manage employees or keep his calm when stress arises. In response to the challenges of the job this fool leads through anger instead of wisdom and guidance.
Dr. Kenneth Gangtel says in his book Thus Spake Qoheleth (Qoheleth is a synonym for Solomon): “Certainly we see things every day in our own country and around the world which make us wonder whether there is a great deal more of foolishness than wisdom in every human government. Maybe God just wants us to see how foolish we are and how useless it is to trust in the vanities of mankind ‘under the sun’.”
We can look to our own government and understand that many act with foolishness, not caring about the people they are supposed to be representing and serving, but only caring about themselves and their payoffs. Instead, we must entrust ourselves to God in the midst of the foolish authority around us.
IV. Operate By Wisdom- (Ecclesiastes 10:8-20; Ephesians 4:29)
a. Keep aware- In verses 8-11 Solomon points out our need to be
aware of our surroundings and the results of our efforts, by identifying some dangerous activities. If you dig a pit, be careful not to fall in it. If you break through a wall, be careful there is not a snake on the other side. If you carry heavy stones, be careful not to be injured by them. If you split a log, remember that it is an activity that can cause harm. In other words, fools don’t see the harm that could come to them. This passage is what gave rise to the quote: “Fools rush in where angels fear to tread.” If people operated from wisdom, instead of foolishness, then these kinds of accidents wouldn’t take place.
You have heard the term ‘poetic justice’? Poetic justice is where people get what they deserve. Fools don’t understand the danger before them, and so they continue in their foolish behavior.
b. The tongue- Here’s a question for you: “What has stirred up more
strife than any other thing in the history of the world?” The answer is: THE TONGUE! While the words of the wise are gracious, the words of a fool consume them. While we might be on the one side of being berated or offended by the tongue of a fool, the fool is ultimately ‘consumed’ by his own tongue. That is exactly what Solomon says in 10:12, “…but fools are consumed by their own lips.”
To be consumed really means to be swallowed up. The fool is the one who is undone by his words. He speaks words that leads to his undoing. If you come across a fool, don’t try and counsel them, because you will really just be wasting your time. As Solomon tells us in verse 15: “The toil of fools wearies them; they do not know the way to town.” Or as someone once said: “Fools are ever learning, but never arriving.” (Hughes, Every Day Light, p. 115) The only time you should counsel a fool is if they arrive at the understanding that they have been foolish and they must change their ways!
c. A little bird told me- Solomon gives another warning when he says
in verse 16: “Woe to the land whose king was a servant and whose princes feast in the morning…” Solomon speaks of this king as an immature king; a foolish king. When there is a fool on the throne chaos and disorder will reign. The greatest fool is the leader who will not listen to God.
Solomon closes up this chapter in verse 20, saying: “Do not revile the king even in your thoughts, or curse the rich in your bedroom, because a bird in the sky may carry your words, and a bird on the wing may report what you say.” We are foolish if we speak foolish words, even when we think no one is listening. A little bird may take your words to the person you are talking about. How often is something said in private, and it becomes public?
So, Solomon insinuates, keep things to yourself, because you never know when a fool might repeat your words. We are wise to think before we talk. As Ephesians 4:29 says, “Do not let any unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification, according to the need of the moment, that it may give grace to those who hear.”
Conclusion: In these two chapters Solomon is reminding us that everything is in God’s Hands. If we don’t expect too much from this world, or from the people of this world, and keep our hope in God, watching what we say, then we will be able to take life as it comes, and enjoy the life we have been given. Let us praise God for these wise words to us, and honor God by living according to them. Amen.
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