The Epilogue (Ecclesiastes 12:8-14)

We have just gone through the book of Ecclesiastes.  This is a sermon that instructs us on how to live by wisdom.  We might be tempted to think that these are just words that have no meaning or consequence for our lives today.  I guess we can try to make that claim about all of Scripture, but what about this Ecclesiastes?  There are people who claim that this is just a cynic who is not really trying to work out the Lord’s wisdom anyway.  Is this piece of literature about the Lord’s wisdom?  Can we find life in these words?

Beginning and Ending in Wisdom (Ecclesiastes 11:7-12:7)

The preacher is wrapping up his sermon on Solomonic wisdom.  The preacher is honest that we go through life and we experience the trials under the sun.  The preacher makes no mystery of the reality that we will experience many trials under the sun.  So, if we do suffer and experience pain under the sun then why do we continue to press forward? 

Wisdom’s Vexation and Value (Ecclesiastes 11:1-6)

If you read the book of Ecclesiastes you might be tempted not to do anything in this world.  The reason that we might be tempted not to do anything is because you will probably lose or experience frustration so why press forward?   Or we might think that we work hard and then we die so what is the point?  However, the preacher wants us to see that there is a value and there is something that is worthwhile in our working.  So, why press forward in life?  Why manage our money?  Why do anything under the sun if this world is in a curse? 

Random Musings (Ecclesiastes 10:1-20)

The preacher in Ecclesiastes as been accused of being a cynic.  It is easy to pick a few passages and claim that the preacher is undermining wisdom.  We can see that the preacher does not believe you can put God in a box, but does the preacher esteem wisdom?  Is there a benefit to pursuing and desiring wisdom?  Or is the preacher one who really believes that wisdom is just a waste of time? 

Wisdom in Strange Places (Ecclesiastes 9:13-18)

One would think that if they were saved from a dire consequence the amount of gratitude would be overwhelming.  Now, if our house was in danger of being destroyed you would think that we would be consumed with joy if someone saved it.  What if we liked our town and someone saved it?  We would probably want to have a parade and name a day after the individual who saved it all.  However, there is in instance where that did not happen.  Why was someone so significant forgotten?  What does such forgetting have to do with wisdom?

Life Has its Benefits (Ecclesiastes 9:1-12)

There is the temptation to read Ecclesiastes and think that maybe there is not much of a reason to live.  The preacher seems rather cynical when he talks about life under sun.  Such negative talk could leave someone with the impression that there is no reason to live nor are there any benefits to life.  Is this really what the preacher is saying?  Should we really think that there are no blessings of life under the sun?

The Folly of Short Term Gains (Ecclesiastes 8:10-17)

When we go through this life it might look like it is wise to please man because then one will receive more in return.  If man is pleased with you then it seems you will go far because people will promote you, remember you, and help you advance through life to greater amounts of success.  So, it seems that there is a great advantage to keeping up appearances.  So, is there a downside of trying to keep up an appearance before man?  Why would the preacher in Ecclesiastes say that such a view of life is short sighted?  What is a a view of life that is much wiser?

Approaching the King (Ecclesiastes 8:1-9)

Rulers and superiors are people who have authority.  This is an authority that can make things rather stressful for us if we try to enter into their presence because they have power to hire, fire, and even sentence.  How will they receive us?  How will they receive criticism if we have to give some? What will be the potential consequence for appearing to challenge their authority?  These are the sorts of things that the preacher in Ecclesiastes teaches us about in his sermon.  So, how do we approach the leaders of our day?

The Danger of Wisdom (Ecclesiastes 7:15-29)

We know that the beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord.  If we are consistent it would seem that it is better to go through life being wise rather than being a fool.  So, why does the preacher warn us not to make ourselves too wise?  Is he contradicting the wisdom tradition or is he communicating something that is essential for us to remember as we pursue wisdom?

Contrasting Wisdom and Folly (Ecclesiastes 7:1-13)

The saying in this age is that “laughter is the best medicine.”  I grant that no one likes an Eeyore crashing the party.  We all know that such a pessimist is not someone very fun to be around or listen to complain all the time.  So, if this is true then why does the preacher tell us that it is better to be in the funeral parlor rather than wedding feast?  Are we not to enjoy the fruits of our labors?  How can we go through life with such a pessimistic outlook?  Where is the joy and wisdom in such pessimism? 

The Irony of Wealth (Ecclesiastes 6:1-12)

Having more wealth and assets would improve one’s standing in this age.  If one is wealthy then one would have more joy because there are more things and distractions to keep someone from experiencing the pain of living life under the sun.  So, is this true?  Is it safe to affirm that we can find more joy and contentment just by acquiring and having more?

Where is the Joy? (Ecclesiastes 2:12-26)

The book of Ecclesiastes is not a book that opens with the most optimist outlook on life.   Our argument has been that the way to find life is to look above the sun rather than only under the sun.  So, how do we know that the preacher really wants us to look above the sun?  Is there a way that we can have life or joy in this life?  How do we have joy in this life or is just a series of disappointment culminating in death revealing dark humor of a very mean God? 

Sincere Worship (Ecclesiastes 5:1-7)

It is easy for us as Christians to think that the people outside the church are really bad people while we are the good or moral people.  The preacher in Ecclesiastes wants us to be careful of such a position because within the community we might worship the Lord, but we might not really be worshipping the Lord.  What is the problem of living this way?  How does making such a show of piety without true heart conviction present a problem?  How can this be a functional atheism when we are worshipping the Lord?

Foolish Ambition (Ecclesiastes 4:1-16)

The world tells us that ambition is something that is necessary to get ahead in life.  We certainly affirm that the one who does not work does not eat.  So, having work and ambition is not something that is necessarily sinful.  So, we have no problem with being ambitious or working hard. It seems that the preacher is warning us of an ambition that gets in the way of godliness. So, when does ambition become foolish?  Where is the line for being appropriately aggressive or ambitious and not being ambitious?  You would think that we need to launch a huge survey, but in reality Solomon’s wisdom applied to us by the preacher helps us with this issue.

Wisely Tolerating Imperfect Justice

This world is a place where you do not have to look far to see people doing very bad things and getting away with it. Sometimes we can use the modern day proverb, “If you can’t beat them join them.”  What does that mean?  It means play their game and try to beat them at their own game.  The problem with this thinking is that as a human being we are still trying to exalt ourselves rather than live by a principle of justice.  So, how do we go about our days in this world knowing that there are people who are beating the system and getting away with it?  Will they stand and be okay or will the Lord deal with them?  How do we find contentment in the midst of this frustration?

Perfect or Imperfect Timing Under Heaven? (Ecclesiastes 3:1-15)

The preacher in Ecclesiastes claims that all is vanity.  If this is true then why continue with life?  If this life is so meaningless then why get up every morning?  If this is really true does that mean that God has forsaken His creation? If God has not forsaken this creation what does it mean?  How do we account for non Christians actually enjoying their work or seeing it as fruitful?   So, is everything really vanity under the sun or is the preacher just overstating his case? 

The Wisdom of Hedonism (Ecclesiastes 2:1-11)

You do not have to look very far today to have someone tell you that the way you enjoy life is to pursue things that will give you pleasure and avoid pain.  This is something that sounds very wise and we might even say that it is common sense to enjoy life in a mindset of pursuing only pleasure.  It might seem like common sense, but can a pursuit of pleasure take away the emptiness and vanity of this age?  If this too leaves you empty then what will take away that emptiness and vanity of this age?

A Faith Crises Under Heaven (Ecclesiastes 1:12-18)

The reality of the Christian life is that the life is a struggle.  We do not simply believe and then everything in life falls into place easily without much effort.  That would be nice, but it is not the reality of life under the sun.  In the midst of this struggle we can have a bit of a crises in our faith.  We can begin to question, doubt, and be tempted to walk away.  Where do we turn to be refreshed in the life and wisdom of God?  Where do we find our comfort?  How does the preacher in Ecclesiastes teach us and encourage us to persevere in the midst of this faith crises?

Is It Really All Vanity? (Ecclesiastes 1:1-11)

The book of Ecclesiastes does not start with the greatest encouragement by telling us that life is all vanity.  This really does sound like some sort of skeptic who has given up on life.  However, this book is in our Bible, and I believe it should be in our Bible so it is doubtful that the author is a hopeless cynic. What are we missing if we think that this is just a hopeless book?  Why would we want to follow along with the preacher on his quest for wisdom?  What does this introduction to this sermon tell us about the preacher’s quest for wisdom?