I. The powerful oppress, and the oppressed are powerless. Ecc. 4:1-3

II. Why is justice so slow? Ecc. 8:11-14

1. God is patient with us and more patient than us.

2. God has reasons for delaying justice that we can't understand.

3. Count on it: God's judgment is coming God's time. Ecc. 3:16-17; 12:14

I. "Doing Church" is dangerous. 5:1

II. God is really God, so watch your mouth. 5:2-3

III. It's better to under-commit to God and over-deliver than over'commit to God and under-deliver. 5:4-7

The seasons of life are brushstrokes,

Time-trapped colors are all we see. (3:1-8)

God is the Timeless Painter

Fitting all together, beautifully. (3:9-15)

I. The seasons of life are brushstrokes. 3:1-8

II. God is the Timeless Painter. 3:9-15

I. Live in the shadow of MORTALITY… 9:1-6

II. LIVE (!!!) in the shadow of mortality! 9:7-10

There's no gain in working merely to gain. But godliness with contentment is great gain.

I. Why are you toiling your tail off?

II. What more do you need to be content?

Center your life on God and you will get pleasure "thrown in." Center your life on pleasure and you will get neither.

1. The Deliberate Pleasure-Seeker (2:1-8)

2. The Vanity of Pleasure (2:9-11)

3. God-Centered Pleasure (2:24-26, 8:15, 9:7-9)

I. The Worth of Wisdom

II. The Weariness of Wisdom

III. The Limits of Wisdom

IV. The of Wisdom of God

I. A Complex Preacher, 1:1

II. A Gloomy Perspective, 1:2-3

III. A Frustrating Cycle, 1:4-8

IV. An Unexpected Hope, 1:9-11

I. The Prospect of Redemption (4:1-6)

II. The Process of Redemption (4:7-12)

III. The Promise of Redemption (4:13-22)

Main Idea: We're called to respond to the providence of God with gospel-driven faithfulness.

I. Naomi's faith-filled plan (3:1-5)

II. Ruth's faith-filled obedience (3:6-9)

III. Boaz's faith-filled response (3:10-15)