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SERIES: “LIFE UNDER THE SUN” -- #12 – LEAVING A LEGACY -- ECCLESIASTES 7:1-12
The final verses of Ecclesiastes chapter 6 are connected to chapter 7. In 6:10 Solomon says that man is unable to contend (strive; debate) with God because God is mightier (more powerful) than man. (Job declared that in Job 9:2-4.) Then he asks 3 questions: 1) Vs. 11 – Since there are many things in this life “under the sun” which are vanity, “what (how) is man the better?” 2) Vs. 12a – Who knows what is good for man in this life? 3) Vs. 12b – “. . . who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?” The answer to the last two questions is obvious. Only God truly knows what is good for us in this life. (He shows us in His Word.) And only God knows what our future holds and what will come after us. In part (at least) these verses of our text are the answer to question number one, Vs. 11 – “What (how) is man the better (off)?” Note that word “better” in this verse. In the first 10 verses of chapter 7 “better” is used 8 times. Who knows what is good, even better, for man in this world? God does, and He is about to tell us through Solomon what is “better.” It is important to note that chapters 7 and 8 of Ecclesiastes are in what is called the “Wsdom Section” of the book. The title of this message is “Leaving A Legacy.” A "legacy” is something received from a predecessor. We might also call this message “Leaving Behind A Good Reputation.” Leaving a legacy is what Solomon is talking about in vs. 1 of chapter 7. Remember that Ecclesiastes was probably written during Solomon’s latter years. As we get older we start to think about leaving a legacy, what we are going to leave to our children and our grandchildren. How will we be known once we are gone? We don’t want to end up like the man in 6:3 who didn’t even get a decent burial. I believe most folks would like to be fondly remembered and missed once they leave this life. Solomon, too, may be considering the legacy he will leave. His father, David, had left a good reputation and a wonderful legacy for him. What would he leave for Rehoboam and his other children? In order to leave a legacy that matters there needs to be wisdom cultivated in one’s heart. Verses 1-10 give us 7 things that will help us leave a legacy that matters.
I. THE BENEFIT OF REPUTATION – VS. 1a.
II. THE BLESSING OF “REALITY” – VS. 1b.
III. THE BENEFIT OF (A) REMINDER – VS. 2.
IV. THE BENEFIT OF OUR REFINING – VV. 3-4.
V. THE BENEFIT OF REBUKE – VV. 5-6.
VI. THE BENEFIT OF (END) RESULTS -- VV. 7-9.
VII. THE BENEFIT OF REMEMBERING RIGHTLY – VS. 10.
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By JWHThe final verses of Ecclesiastes chapter 6 are connected to chapter 7. In 6:10 Solomon says that man is unable to contend (strive; debate) with God because God is mightier (more powerful) than man. (Job declared that in Job 9:2-4.) Then he asks 3 questions: 1) Vs. 11 – Since there are many things in this life “under the sun” which are vanity, “what (how) is man the better?” 2) Vs. 12a – Who knows what is good for man in this life? 3) Vs. 12b – “. . . who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?” The answer to the last two questions is obvious. Only God truly knows what is good for us in this life. (He shows us in His Word.) And only God knows what our future holds and what will come after us. In part (at least) these verses of our text are the answer to question number one, Vs. 11 – “What (how) is man the better (off)?” Note that word “better” in this verse. In the first 10 verses of chapter 7 “better” is used 8 times. Who knows what is good, even better, for man in this world? God does, and He is about to tell us through Solomon what is “better.” It is important to note that chapters 7 and 8 of Ecclesiastes are in what is called the “Wsdom Section” of the book. The title of this message is “Leaving A Legacy.” A "legacy” is something received from a predecessor. We might also call this message “Leaving Behind A Good Reputation.” Leaving a legacy is what Solomon is talking about in vs. 1 of chapter 7. Remember that Ecclesiastes was probably written during Solomon’s latter years. As we get older we start to think about leaving a legacy, what we are going to leave to our children and our grandchildren. How will we be known once we are gone? We don’t want to end up like the man in 6:3 who didn’t even get a decent burial. I believe most folks would like to be fondly remembered and missed once they leave this life. Solomon, too, may be considering the legacy he will leave. His father, David, had left a good reputation and a wonderful legacy for him. What would he leave for Rehoboam and his other children? In order to leave a legacy that matters there needs to be wisdom cultivated in one’s heart. Verses 1-10 give us 7 things that will help us leave a legacy that matters.
I. THE BENEFIT OF REPUTATION – VS. 1a.
II. THE BLESSING OF “REALITY” – VS. 1b.
III. THE BENEFIT OF (A) REMINDER – VS. 2.
IV. THE BENEFIT OF OUR REFINING – VV. 3-4.
V. THE BENEFIT OF REBUKE – VV. 5-6.
VI. THE BENEFIT OF (END) RESULTS -- VV. 7-9.
VII. THE BENEFIT OF REMEMBERING RIGHTLY – VS. 10.