Review of Eccl.

1 Chapter 1-6 The smashing of man’s self-sufficiency; self-determination

2 7:1-14, First in order of wisdom and out of this self-determination is to mourn our fallen-ness and humbly apply wisdom.

3 7:15-22, wisdom includes submission and balance.

4 7:23-29, wisdom includes a hard look at our fallen-ness

5 8:1-15, wisdom will be beautiful in the midst of evil but requires faith

6 8:16-9:10, wisdom includes living life the fullest given our limitations

7 9:11-17, wisdom includes submitting to God’s odd ways

8 9:18-10:20, wisdom includes not giving into temptations

9 11:1-10, wisdom includes investing and enjoying our lives

10 12:18, wisdom includes developing our relationship with God to face life.

God’s instructions for life lead us to stability because it leads us to our need to obey Him.

What are we focusing on? Our careers, bank account. What takes up most of our mental energies? The things of God? Relationship with God, will prepare use to face the storms of life but must be developed at every opportunity.

Are we as Christians intimidated by the world around us? Are we hiding our Christianity because we are fearful of the tongue lashing we might get? Solomon has taken us down into human depravity and is now up human activity in wisdom and the fear of the Lord. Living life in wisdom means we continually invest our life and enjoy it in every healthy way.

Are we aware how much wisdom is needed in our times? Some of us are so aware of the corruption, we scared. Others are sticking their heads in the sand! Now even with the uncertainties of life, wisdom is still better because foolishness has ever spreading, spoiling effects.

All of us have experienced some kind of unfairness at our jobs, whether it’s an undeserved promotion someone got or the maltreatment we have gotten or someone else has gotten recognition we deserved. The question is how have we responded to such unfairness? Given the unfairness of life, we don’t want to fall into foolishness because it has spoiling and ever spreading effects.

We have all kinds of “Christian,” formulas to guarantee favorable out comes. When they don’t work we become upset, angry, demanding, discouraged, not wanting to enter into the chaos and hurts of life. We may be ready to offer all kinds of advice but not enter the lives of others. As we live life to the fullest however, we are to always bow down to the judgments and acts of God and live by faith.