Unlike his letters to the Corinthians or the Galatians, Paul isn't addressing some great dysfunction or dangerous heresy that is prevalent in the church. He's writing to encourage them to continue to grow in spiritual maturity so that they continue to be a spiritually healthy church.

The Bible tells us that joy, not misery, is to be the hallmark of the Christian life, and Solomon is telling us here that it's basically our duty to enjoy life and be happy!

God calls us to be careful to walk wisely, redeeming the time for the purposes of God. None of us are perfect, and thank God for His abundant forgiveness when we mess up, but a careless act of foolishness can damage our witness for Christ.

Wisdom has been called the ability to live life skillfully. Life is complicated and unpredictable and there is no formula that, if you plug in, makes every problem go away, every relationship wonderful, and every dream come true.

Wisdom isn't the same thing as intelligence or education. A person can be uneducated and yet very wise. And a person can be highly educated and still be a fool. Wisdom is, as one person put it, the art of living skillfully. It's living well.

There is something wrong in this world. God has given principles and laws but there is a glitch in the system, a fly in the ointment, a flaw that affects everything. With the beginning of verse 15, Solomon seems to be taking this to a more personal level than he has up to now.

Easter - The Power of the Risen Christ

Good Friday - Nothing reveals more truly what's in our hearts than the tremendous heat of suffering or pressure or hardship. Consider for a moment just some of heat that Jesus was enduring as he was crucified.

People do a lot for money. People ignore their families and work long hours just to "get ahead" - which means make more money. People cheat and lie to make money. People do a lot for money and wealth because it promises to give us everything we want. But does money deliver on the good life it promises?

What is the meaning and purpose of life when analyzed from a totally earthbound perspective where you pretty much leave God out of the picture?