Introduction: This week we begin the study of a new book of the Bible - Ecclesiastes! I am excited to be studying this book because it has so much practical and interesting advice for us. We realize that the Bible teaches us in different ways. Sometimes it lays before us the errors of others - not to give us an example, but rather to give us an illustration of what not to do. Other times, the Bible gives us direct advice on how to live. Our challenge in Ecclesiastes will be to separate what the Holy Spirit led Solomon, who had one of the greatest minds, to record as the depressed thoughts of a man who realizes that he has wasted part of his "God-potential," from those thoughts inspired to give us direct, positive advice for living. Let's jump right in!

1. The Author - the Bad
   
   
   1. Read Ecclesiastes 1:1. Who is the author of Ecclesiastes? (The book says it was written by the "Teacher" who is the son of David and the King in Jerusalem. That points us to King Solomon.)
      
      
   2. Read 1 Kings 2:1-4. What final charge does King David give Solomon?
      
      
   3. How faithful was King Solomon in following the charge given to him by King David?
      
      
      1. Read 1 Kings 3:1-3. What problem do we see starting in the life of Solomon? (That he compromises on the worship of other gods.)
         
         
      2. Read 1 Kings 11:1-6. Where does this compromise lead? (His heart was turned to other gods and he was not fully devoted to the Lord.)
         
         
2. The Author - the Good
   
   
   1. Read 1 Kings 3:5-14. What has God promised Solomon that is not conditioned on his future behavior? (Wisdom, to a greater degree than any other human. Honor and riches above every other king during his life. The length of his life depends on his faithfulness.)
      
      
   2. Read 1 Kings 4:29-34. What have we to learn from King Solomon? (A great deal!)
      
      
3. What We Can Learn from the Author
   
   
   1. Read Ecclesiastes 1:2. Why does Solomon repeat the word "meaningless?" (He does it to give it emphasis. Like the reference to the "holy of holies" in the temple it is an indication of degree. Everything is really meaningless.)
      
      
      1. If everything is meaningless, would that include the book of Ecclesiastes?

1. If so, what is the point of studying Ecclesiastes? Or, is this the author's way of telling us "Don't continue, turn away now?"
   
   
1. Read Ecclesiastes 12:8-10. We have jumped to the end of the book of Ecclesiastes, and we see the reference to the opening statement. Is it God's truth that everything is meaningless? Or, is this just the description of a bad attitude that we should avoid? (Ecclesiastes tells us that the Teacher (Solomon) was right in saying these words.)
   
   
   1. Why does Solomon say we should believe what is in the book of Ecclesiastes? (He is wise-something we earlier saw was a gift specifically given to him by God. He "pondered" (i.e., carefully considered), he researched, and organized what he wrote. He chose just the right words to convey truth. The Wycliffe Bible Commentary says that "just the right words" would be better translated "pleasing words," meaning that a teacher should make his teaching interesting without sacrificing the truth.)
      
      
2. Read Ecclesiastes 12:11. How do we learn from the words of Ecclesiastes?
   
   
   1. What is a "goad?" (It is a prod - a sharpened stick - that you would shove into the hide of a cow to get him to move in the correct direction. Compare Hebrews 4:12.)
      
      
   2. How are wise words like embedded nails? (They hold the truth in place in our mind. You assemble an understanding of truth that is not constantly changing shape.)
      
      
   3. Who is the "Shepherd," the source of the wisdom in Ecclesiastes? (See Psalms 23:1. Solomon says God is the source of these words.)
      
      
1. Overview of the Teacher's Truth
   
   
   1. We have this very strong endorsement of the importance and truth of the book of Ecclesiastes. Yet it begins and ends with "Meaningless! Meaningless! Everything is meaningless." How are these words like a goad? (They spur your thinking. My general conclusion is that about everything is important. This tells me just the opposite.)
      
      
   2. Read Ecclesiastes 12:11-12. How does this help to define what Solomon means by "everything" is meaningless?
      
      
      1. Are the words of God meaningless? (When Solomon says "everything" he is not including the words of God.)
         
         
      2. Read Deuteronomy 4:2. What does this text and Ecclesiastes 12:12 suggest about the GoBible lessons and the sermons you hear at church? Should they be ignored as meaningless? (The goal of every good Bible study, the goal of every good sermon, is to point the student to the Word of God. Human views are meaningless and wearisome. God's words are truth.)
         
         
   3. Read Ecclesiastes 12:13. We have further definition of what is meant by "everything is meaningless." Tell me what Solomon tells us is meaningful? (To fear God and keep His commandments.)

1. Is this a truth that survives the cross? Is this a message consistent with righteousness by faith? (Read John 14:15. Jesus tells us that if we love (fear) Him, we will obey Him. This is eternal wisdom and truth.)
   
   
1. Read Ecclesiastes 12:14. Is the judgment something that is meaningless? (No! In our meaningless world, what we should keep in mind is the judgment. The idea of judgment should drive our actions.)
   
   
   1. Is this wisdom, or scare tactics? (I just read a fabulous little article on which I am going to base my next sermon. It argues that if we are Christians because we think it will make our life more comfortable and more prosperous, then when things become less comfortable and prosperous we will leave. But, if we become Christians because it is the only way for us to hold on to life and avoid eternal death, then we will hold on to the gospel no matter what.)
      
      
   2. What is meant by our "hidden things" being brought into judgment? (Our actions are generally seen, but our thoughts are hidden. God judges both our actions and our thoughts. See Matthew 5:27-28.)
      
      
2. Friend, is life meaningless or worth living? Solomon tells us that a relationship with God makes life worth living. Will you determine today to give your heart to God and begin that relationship with Him?
   
   
1. Next week: Nothing New Under the Sun.

Introduction: My boss for the last 30 years continues to work even though he is over 80. I am confident he does not work because he loves or needs money. Instead, he works because that is his preference. Have you ever considered what activities in your life give you the most joy? For some time now, I have been giving thought to this and considering whether the choice my boss made is the right choice for me. One of the things that gives me the most joy is making a difference, being meaningful to others. Solomon wants to convince us that nothing in life is meaningful. Is he right or is he depressed? Let's dive into our study and decide!

1. Meaningless Work
   
   
   1. Read Ecclesiastes 1:1-2. Last week we looked at this text as part of our overview of the book of Ecclesiastes. After class, one of my class members came up to me and said that he had a quibble with the way the NIV translated the Hebrew word "hebel." Hebel is translated in most Bibles as "vanity," but is translated as "meaningless" by the NIV in this text. My class member said he thought it had the meaning of blowing dust out of the palm of your hand. Does this sense of hebel better fit the overall teaching of the Bible? (I think so. Breath, vapor, blowing is a widely accepted meaning of the word hebel. We all agree that life here on earth is transitory. It is harder to accept that it is meaningless!)
      
      
   2. Read Ecclesiastes 1:3. What is your best answer to this question?
      
      
      1. I have heard it said that no successful business person on their deathbed says, "I wish I would have spent more time at the office." Do you agree? Would Solomon agree?
         
         
      2. Move the clock backward. How many people facing retirement say, "I wish I would have spent more time at the office (or earning money)?" (What most of us think about gaining from our work is money.)
         
         
      3. What, besides money, can you gain from your work? (Supporting your family. Fame. Respect. Making life better for others. A spot in the history books.)
         
         
         1. Why is a spot in the history books important? (Because you are dead - which, I think is Solomon's point about our work being meaningless.)
            
            
2. Meaningless World
   
   
   1. Read Ecclesiastes 1:4-6. When you look at your life, do things change or remain the same?
      
      
      1. What about the place where you grew up? Has it changed or remained the same?
         
         
      2. What is Solomon suggesting about change? Do you agree with him? (Solomon says that the cycle of life, the cycle of the universe, and the weather patterns all remain the same. This is true, but this is not where most of us live. Our lives deal with the details, not the general movements of the earth and sky.)
         
         
      3. What positive truth can you find in Solomon's remark about the universe remaining the same? (That you and I are not really very important in the overall scheme of things. We come and go, but the earth remains the same.)
         
         
      4. Modern society pushes the idea of the importance of the individual. We try to build up self-worth. Is this a good idea? Is this a Biblical idea? (The world is full of self-important toads. At the same time, we have individuals who harm themselves because they think they have no importance. The remedy for both of these errors in thinking is that only our relationship to God gives us true importance. God's creation is much bigger than we are and it is pretty independent of human activities.)
         
         
   2. Read Ecclesiastes 1:7. Solomon is making an additional point beyond his argument in Ecclesiastes 1:4-6. What additional point do you see? (When he says that the sea never fills up, even though the rivers are continually dumping more water into it, he is saying that the earth is self- regulating (or God regulates it) without the need for any input from humans.)
      
      
      1. Do you agree? If so, what practical point for your life is Solomon making? (This reinforces the point that on the large scale my life is not very important.)
         
         
   3. When Solomon writes about the activity of the sun, the wind and the water, what similarity does he find with your work? (There is a lot of activity, but it never produces any change. Thus, Solomon says your work is meaningless and the activity of nature is also meaningless because nothing changes.)
      
      
3. Meaningless, Boring Life
   
   
   1. Read Ecclesiastes 1:8. If you never tire of hearing and seeing things, why would you get bored? (Solomon says that we are always interested in hearing and seeing new things, but they all turn out to be boring in the end.)
      
      
      1. Do you get bored with "new things?"
         
         
   2. Read Ecclesiastes 1:9-10. Is this true today? (I'm a "car guy." I was recently watching an auction of 30 year-old cars and I must admit that they are pretty much like the new cars. Some American car manufacturers specifically try to make their new cars look like cars they made 30 years ago. However, what Solomon says is not true about electronics. We did not have telephones or televisions a 100 years ago. We did not have copiers, scanners, faxes or the Internet 40 years ago. Now I have a telephone I carry around in my pocket which will access the Internet and receive copies of documents and pictures. That is new!)

1. Are there new ideas today about how to live?
   
   
1. Read Ecclesiastes 1:11. How far back can you trace your family? How much do you know about your grandparents? Your great-grandparents?
   
   
2. How would you summarize Solomon's argument so far in a sentence or two? (Your life makes no difference: you do not change the earth or its cycles, you do not create anything new, and pretty soon people will not even remember that you ever existed, much less did anything of importance.)
   
   
   1. Is this true for you?
      
      
      1. If so, how does that make you feel?
         
         
3. Read Ecclesiastes 1:12-15. What is the scope of Solomon's study? What is his perspective? (His scope is limited to "under heaven" and "under the sun." This suggests that he is looking at things only from a human point of view.)
   
   
   1. If you excluded God from the calculation, would you agree with Solomon that the defective cannot be remedied and all is like chasing after wind?
      
      
1. If You Were Smarter, You Would Be Discouraged
   
   
   1. Read Ecclesiastes 1:16. What is the benchmark for Solomon's wisdom? (Other rulers in Jerusalem. He says, "I'm the smartest guy who has ruled this kingdom. I know a lot, so I have an informed basis to tell you that nothing here really matters.)
      
      
   2. Read Ecclesiastes 1:17-18. Have you ever read the saying, "the more you know, the less you think you know?" Is that Solomon's point of view?
      
      
      1. I live in an area served by the Washington Post newspaper. From time to time the attitude of its reporters towards conservative Christians leaks out onto the printed page: Christians are uneducated, dumb and happy. If Christians knew more they would not be so certain about their politics or their faith. Would Solomon agree? (At least partially. He seems to say, "the more you know, the more problems you see.")
         
         
         1. Why would one of the smartest guys agree with the Washington Post? (Because they look at life from the perspective of everything under heaven, and not from the perspective of heaven. Compare what Paul says about this issue in 1 Corinthians 1:20-31.)
            
            
   3. Friend, would you prefer to be happy or sad? Would you prefer to think you live a meaningful or a meaningless life? Solomon reminds us that if we want peace, happiness, and a sense of meaning in our life, we must walk in God's way. Otherwise, it is all pretty meaningless.
      
      
2. Next week: "All That My Eyes Desired."

Introduction: Can you remember a time when you said to yourself, "I just want to have some fun?" If so, how did you go about finding fun? If you did not have fun, do you think being the richest fellow around would make having fun a little easier? What if you could have everything you desired? This week we follow King Solomon's thoughts as he describes what he did to have fun, and how it all turned out. Let's jump right into our study!

1. Laughter
   
   
   1. Read Ecclesiastes 2:1. Is Solomon saying that he decided that he would figure out how to have fun? (He says that he will "test" his heart with pleasure to see if it is good.)
      
      
   2. Read Ecclesiastes 2:2. What does Solomon try first to have some fun? (Laughter.)
      
      
      1. Is laughter something that you decide to do? Is it a planned activity, or is it the result of having fun?
         
         
      2. Do you agree with Solomon that laughter is foolish and accomplishes nothing?
         
         
   3. Let's look at some other texts in the Bible. Read Proverbs 17:22. Do you find that laughter makes your heart cheerful?
      
      
      1. Read and compare Proverbs 14:13. What principle do you find in comparing these two texts? (Laughter is an external that might not change the underlying condition of the heart. Your heart can still keep aching even if you laugh.)
         
         
      2. Read Ecclesiastes 7:3. In what way can a sad face be good for the heart?
         
         
         1. Or, is this text the direct opposite of Proverbs 17:22?
            
            
            1. If so, which one seems more correct? (Read Ecclesiastes 7:4. This adds more context to Solomon's statement about a sad face being "good for the heart." When you are sad, you are serious. You consider life more carefully. In that way a sad face can be good for the heart.)
               
               
      3. Read Ecclesiastes 7:6. What does this mean? Is Solomon saying laughter is good or bad in this text?
         
         
         1. How many of you know how to start a fire?
            
            
            1. Have you ever tried to start a fire with brush?

1. Imagine starting a fire with dried thorns. How long would such a fire last? (I think Solomon is saying that if you start your fire with light brush, it will burn, flare, and then burn out. Nothing in your pot will get cooked.)
   
   
2. So, what is his point about laughter? (That it is just a quick, temporary, insubstantial relief from the problems in your life.)
   
   
1. Read Luke 12:19-20. Are we foolish in God's eyes if we are merry (in a mood to laugh)? (Read Luke 12:15. Jesus' says the point of life is not what we own. The related truth is that the point of life is not just laughing and being merry.)
   
   
2. Read James 4:7-10. "Celebration" churches are controversial in some corners. I once read an article that said we should come to church to be sober about our sins and not to celebrate. I did not like that article very well, but is it supported by James?
   
   
3. Read Ecclesiastes 8:15. Has Solomon changed his mind? James 4:8 speaks about the "double-minded," is that Solomon with statements about laughter and gladness?
   
   
1. What would you say is the overall teaching of the Bible on laughter and being merry? (My daughter was commenting on some young people she knew who were working in dead-end jobs instead of going to school. Every weekend they would party. The "goal" of their lives seemed to be the weekend party. I think this is what Solomon and James are writing about. True joy comes from getting your heart and your life right. Once you have a right relationship with God, then you can have joy and laughter without the underlying heart ache. Laughter is no substitute for repentance. Then, when you come to church you had better celebrate what God has done to save you from your sins!)
   
   
1. Wine and Folly
   
   
   1. Read Ecclesiastes 2:3. What does Solomon try next to have fun? (Cheering himself with wine and embracing folly.)
      
      
   2. When he says that his mind was still being guided by wisdom, what do you think he means?
      
      
      1. Is he saying that he is not being foolish with his wine and his folly?
         
         
   3. Can you cheer yourself with wine and folly? (Solomon is making the same point here as he was with laughter. These are meaningless externals which cannot change the heart. The weekend party crowd ultimately realize that getting drunk and having fun for the moment is no substitute for a life built on a Biblical foundation.)
      
      
2. Building and Planting
   
   
   1. Read Ecclesiastes 2:4. How do you feel about building something?
      
      
      1. Does that give you pleasure?

1. How about planting, do you enjoy planting?
   
   
   1. If so, why?
      
      
1. Read Ecclesiastes 2:5-6. What does this involve, in addition to planting and building?(Planning.)
   
   
   1. Would you enjoy doing this?
      
      
2. Solomon could not find meaning in laughter, wine or folly. Should he be able to find meaning in building, planting and planning?
   
   
   1. Remember my example of the young people who live for the weekend party? What if they lived to have productive jobs? Lived to go to school and get good grades?
      
      
3. Let's skip ahead. Read Ecclesiastes 2:17-18. Do you agree that this is a problem with planting and building?
   
   
4. Read Ecclesiastes 2:19-21. When we think of leaving our work to others, we (I assume) generally think of how they will enjoy our work. What does Solomon think about those who will "enjoy" his work?
   
   
5. What do you think, is building, planning and planting on the same level of meaninglessness as partying? (Read Luke 12:29-34. Jesus tells us that eating, drinking, working, possessions are all temporary. Our focus in life should be the kingdom of God - if we make the kingdom our focus, then our treasure will be stored up in heaven - where it will be eternal.)
   
   
1. Wisdom
   
   
   1. Read Ecclesiastes 2:12-13. Is wisdom an advantage in life?
      
      
      1. If so, why? (Solomon says it is like being able to "see" your way in life. The wise can avoid the pitfalls of life.)
         
         
   2. Read Ecclesiastes 2:14-15. What is Solomon's argument that wisdom gives you no advantage in the end? (Solomon says both the wise and the fool die. So, what is the advantage of being wise?)
      
      
      1. How would you answer Solomon's argument? (He is focused on the future, not the present. Avoiding falling in a pit makes my life better now.)
         
         
   3. Read Ecclesiastes 2:24-26. After Solomon's argument about pleasure, planting, building, and wisdom, what conclusion does he reach? (God gives us the gift of eating, drinking and working - and we should enjoy those gifts while we can.)
      
      
   4. Friend, is Solomon's conclusion sufficient for you? You may agree with what Solomon says in Ecclesiastes 2:24-26, but the Bible teaches that we can do better. Do you want to create eternal possessions? Do you want to have genuine joy and laughter? Then turn your focus away from everything "under heaven" - which was the focus of Solomon for much of his life - and turn your focus to promoting heaven. Then you get these gifts, and you get them eternally!

1. Next week: Of Being and Time.

Introduction: My wife and the Holy Spirit sometimes seem to be partners! For example, when I drive to church to teach this lesson, I will be anxious to take as little time as possible. I leave my home on time, but I want to move right along. If two drivers slow me down by (for example) driving beside each other so no one can pass, this irritates me and I will have something important to say to improve their driving manners. If the traffic lights are not timed, I'll talk about that too. As my wife points out, only she gets to hear the lecture on driving manners, timed lights and the relative intelligence of other drivers - and she has heard the same lecture too many times to count! Why do I do this? As my wife points out, it makes no sense. What my wife and the Holy Spirit are working on is my misguided sense about time. Hurry up with everything! Our lesson this week is about time, so let's clock in!

1. Seasons
   
   
   1. Read Ecclesiastes 3:1. Do you like having seasons or would you just as soon cancel some seasons? (My wife loves the fall and early winter. She likes cooler temperatures, likes the beauty of fall, and loves the Thanksgiving-Christmas time of year. I like summer and dislike winter.)
      
      
      1. If you agree with me about cancelling winter, what would you do about some of the winter activities that you like? (Solomon is making that point. Certain seasons of our life allow us to do different things.)
         
         
      2. Would it be fair to compare your life to the seasons of the year? (We often see this, spring is when we are young, summer when we are 20-40 years of age. Fall is 40-60. Winter is 60-80.)
         
         
         1. Like the seasons of the year, are certain activities more appropriate to certain seasons of our life?
            
            
   2. Read Ecclesiastes 3:2-3. Do we really have any control over our time? (When I was talking about driving and time in the introduction, one major reason for my frustration is that I really have little control over my driving time. I cannot control other drivers or traffic lights. This text refers to other matters over which we have little control of the timing.)
      
      
   3. Read Ecclesiastes 3:4. Last week we studied laughter and whether it was good or bad. What does this text suggest about laughter? (Solomon reaches the conclusion we did - that laughter has its time and place. It is not a goal, it is the result of a life well lived.)
      
      
      1. The "activities" mentioned in this verse are emotions. How much control do we have over our emotions and the timing of them?
         
         
   4. Read Ecclesiastes 3:5-8. Some of these activities make me wonder. When is the correct time for scattering stones, or tearing or hating? (At least some of these words may be symbolic. The Wycliffe Bible Commentary says that "casting stones" is a Hebrew metaphor for the marriage act. "Tearing" is a reference to tearing your cloths because you are sad. Mending refers to the time when your grief has passed.)
      
      
      1. What control do we have over the time for these activities in our life?
         
         
      2. What about hating? Is there really a proper time for that?
         
         
         1. Read Proverbs 6:16-19. If God hates something, is it okay for us to hate it too? (Read Revelation 2:6. The answer seems to be yes.)
            
            
2. Above the Sun
   
   
   1. Our criticism of Solomon so far deals with his focus on things here on earth, while rarely making any note of heavenly considerations. Read Ecclesiastes 3:9-11. What is man's burden, according to Solomon? (That a desire to live eternally, to know about matters beyond this world, exists in the human heart - but we cannot understand eternity.)
      
      
      1. How much do we need to understand eternity? How much do we "need to know?" (Solomon has been consistently arguing that everything here is meaningless. If that is your view, then eternity would be incredibly important to you.)
         
         
      2. Is there some other way you could interpret Solomon's statement that we are burdened by our inability to understand "what God has done from beginning to end?" (Some things in life simply do not make sense. I remember visiting a church where a lady invited me to her home to explain to an older couple why their parents and children were all killed in the same automobile accident. Needless to say, such an explanation was beyond me. It would be nice to understand God's workings from beginning to end, but we need to accept the "burden" of trusting God while we still live in a sinful world.)
         
         
   2. Read Ecclesiastes 3:12-14. Many people do not find satisfaction in their job. How important is job satisfaction? (Since Solomon says this is a gift from God, we should look for those gifts, pursue those gifts. This is where Luke 12:31 comes in, seek the kingdom of God first and these other gifts will come your way.)
      
      
      1. When Solomon says that "nothing can be added" to God's work or "taken from it," is he including the work of humans? We cannot add or detract from God's work?
         
         
         1. If you say, "no," tell me what we can add to the work of God? (Read Ecclesiastes 3:15. I think this gives the sense of Solomon's statement: that in the big scheme of things, humans do not change what God has done. In the details of life, however, I think we are God's partners to do His will.)
            
            
            1. The commentary, "Be Satisfied," notes that the last phrase of Ecclesiastes 3:15 ("and God will call the past to account") is literally translated "God seeks what hurries along." Is God part of the details of our life? (Yes. We may not be changing the "big picture," but God is part of our every day life.)
               
               
3. Judgment
   
   
   1. Read Ecclesiastes 3:16. What is wrong with our world? (That justice and judgment are displaced by wickedness.)
      
      
   2. Read Ecclesiastes 3:17. What is the cure for that problem? (That God will execute judgment and justice.)
      
      
      1. This gets us back to an old issue: would a loving God execute judgment on humans? What would be Solomon's answer to this question? (Yes! The implication is that judgment shows a loving God. It is not the opposite of love, it is part of love. A life without justice is simply unfair. Part of God's promise to humans is that He is fair - more than fair in fact.)
         
         
      2. If you agree that judgment is good (except, of course, when it is executed on you), what practical lesson can we learn from Solomon saying there is a "time" for judgment? (In Ecclesiastes 3:16 Solomon says that he finds wickedness in place of justice and judgment. Even though we may find that things are unfair right now, there will be a time for judgment. God will put things right.)
         
         
   3. A member of my class sent me a note commenting on the "time" issue and saying that Jesus came to earth in God's time. If you were Adam and Eve, would you have understood the delay?
      
      
      1. Are we better able to anticipate the time of God's Second Coming and final execution of judgment? (This is part of the "burden" of Ecclesiastes 3:10 - Jesus' life, death and resurrection give us certainty of His Second Coming, but we do not know when. We do not understand the entire plan in any detail. (If you think I'm wrong, consider how badly God's people misunderstood Jesus' first arrival.))
         
         
   4. Read Ecclesiastes 3:18-19. My dear dog (of 12 years) died a few months ago. Is this an object lesson for me?
      
      
      1. Solomon calls my "dog destination" a test. What am I being tested on? (Ecclesiastes 3:12 tells us to do good and be happy while we live. In one sense it is a test to know that your happy life will come to a not so happy conclusion. My dog had a miserable end. On the other hand, without God giving us eternal life, we have the exact same end as a dog. (By the way, since the Bible says there are animals in heaven, I'm hoping that my old dog has the same destination as me - heaven!))
         
         
   5. Read Ecclesiastes 3:19-21. I wanted you to look again at verse 19. Solomon says man has no advantage over the animal. Is that consistent with the rest of the Bible?

1. Put verse 21 together with verse 19. What is Solomon saying? (He first says there is no life after death, and then he softens that by saying, "Who knows?")
   
   
2. Read Ecclesiastes 9:5. A lot of people who believe that death is an unconscious sleep until the resurrection, base their belief on this text. Is Solomon a reliable guide for truth about the afterlife? (If you rely on Solomon for your views about life after death, you need to find a new source. Solomon teaches in this same text that there is "no further reward" after death. "Soul sleep" people do not believe that!)
   
   
1. Friend, read 1 Corinthians 15:12-22. What is our glorious hope? (Paul agrees with Solomon that without the hope of eternal life our faith is useless. Worse than useless, because it gives us the false hope that there is life after death. Because Jesus was raised from the dead, friend, you have the promise of eternal life if you determine to be "in Christ." Will you make that decision today?
   
   
1. Next week: More Life Under the Sun.

Introduction: Have you noticed in American politics that everyone - even those who have been at the seat of government power their entire life - like to run for office as if they were an "outsider?" "I promise to bring fresh air and a new perspective to the government!" How many times have you heard that? Well, proving that he is right that nothing is new, we hear that same thing from King Solomon! Let's plunge into our lesson and learn more!

1. The Nasty Oppressor
   
   
   1. Read Ecclesiastes 4:1. Solomon looked around and saw a lot of oppression. The government did nothing! Where do you think Solomon was looking since he was the King of all that he surveyed?
      
      
      1. Do you see oppression around you? (My job is to litigate against oppression. I fight the employer and union all the time. Often, the employer is the government at some level. However, the most my clients can lose is their job. Jobs are important, but they are not like losing your life! I'm sure some who read this live in a country with real oppression, but I suspect most readers do not face real oppression.)
         
         
   2. Read Ecclesiastes 4:2. What is the most severe form of oppression? (We might have a debate between torture and death. But, death is more final.)
      
      
      1. What is Solomon's solution to oppression? (Death! His argument makes no logical sense. If oppression brings death, he argues that we should just run right to the end game.)
         
         
   3. Read Ecclesiastes 4:3. What is the real solution to living an oppressed life? (Never being born.)
      
      
      1. For a fellow who has all the money, women and power he could ever use, Solomon seems like a real fun guy. A guy who squeezes every last drop of enjoyment out of life!
         
         
         1. What does this teach us about money, power and women? (You can have all of these and still blather on about how you wish you had never been born.)
            
            
         2. What is your opinion of Solomon? (I'm not a psychologist or a psychiatrist, but Solomon seems to present depression.)
            
            
            1. Why would God put this in the Bible? (To give encouragement to those who suffer from depression. The smartest, richest, most powerful fellow around was not immune to depression.)
               
               
      2. Do you agree with what Solomon says in Ecclesiastes 4:3? (No! Abortion is the worst sort of oppression. Solomon at least gets to choose, based on his perception of life. Someone who was never born never gets to choose. The most important choice, of course, is for eternal life.)
         
         
         1. Read Ecclesiastes 9:4. Does Solomon agree with Solomon on the "benefit" of being dead?
            
            
2. Adam Smith
   
   
   1. Read Ecclesiastes 4:4. What causes society to prosper? (Solomon says: Envy.)
      
      
      1. Do you agree?
         
         
      2. Adam Smith, a serious Christian, wrote the economic classic "The Wealth of Nations." His theory, in a nutshell, is that if government leaves people free to build, farm and trade, people will seek to maximize their own wealth. In this free market system, when all can maximize their own wealth without any central government planning, they end up maximizing the wealth of others. An example today is computers and the Internet. Some individuals have become extremely wealthy in a short time by unregulated computer development and the Internet. This enriched all of us through inexpensive computers, software and information on the Internet.)
         
         
         1. Would Solomon and Adam Smith agree? (Yes, except that Solomon puts a negative spin on the nature of our incentive for wealth.)
            
            
   2. Read Ecclesiastes 4:5-6. What does it mean to "fold your hands?" (Do nothing - or do very little.)
      
      
      1. How many approaches to work do you find in these two verses? (Three. There is the "fool" who does nothing or very little. There is the workaholic who has his two hands filled with toil. Then there is the middle of the road guy who works with one hand and creates tranquility with the other.)
         
         
         1. Which approach does Solomon endorse? (He says the middle of the road guy has the best life.)
            
            
3. Solitary Man
   
   
   1. Read Ecclesiastes 4:7-8. The commentary "Be Satisfied," quotes Socrates: "The unexamined life is not worth living." When this solitary man examines his life, what does he decide about his endless quest for more wealth? (He decides that he is working endlessly for no reason.)
      
      
      1. Have you examined your life? Your goals? Where is life taking you?
         
         
   2. Read Ecclesiastes 4:9-12. What do these verses suggest about marriage?
      
      
      1. What do they suggest about partnerships?
         
         
      2. What do they suggest about friendships?
         
         
      3. My late uncle was a minister. I asked him what change he saw in the church over his many years of ministry. He said that when he was young the church was the social center of the community. Members would get together with fellow members when they wanted to have something interesting to do. Today, my uncle said television is the social center of the community. People gather around their televisions. What would Solomon say about this change in the church? (We are becoming individuals, and not friends and partners. This weakens us.)
         
         
      4. What can you do in your life to become a "cord of three strands?"
         
         
4. Foolish Old King
   
   
   1. Read Ecclesiastes 4:13. Why would the foolish old king not take warning? (He thought he knew it all. This is a pattern that I have observed in my practice of law. Old, powerful lawyers are not as well prepared in court. I remember once arguing against the former attorney general of a state. The former attorney general was citing a case that had been reversed on appeal. He apparently did not take the time to check whether it had been reversed! Even when I pointed out in oral argument that his case had been reversed, he still continued to argue it! Just recently, I was arguing against a former state supreme court justice. His argument was mostly that it was not his fault that his client violated the law! As I get older, I hope not to fall into the pit of overconfidence and lack of preparation.)
      
      
   2. Read Ecclesiastes 4:14-15. What kind of background does the young competitor to the old king possess? (Prison or poverty!)
      
      
      1. Why is this good? (Solomon suggests that hardship makes you wise.)
         
         
         1. Is that true?
            
            
      2. Why did the people follow the youth instead of the old king? (The text is not clear, but it seems Solomon is saying that the young king learned from his past and put those lessons to work in his life. The old king no longer was willing to learn anything or listen to others.)
         
         
         1. What is the lesson for your life?
            
            
         2. If you are a leader in your church, what is the lesson for your leadership? (Do not become too set in your ways. Listen to the advice of others and take it seriously.)
            
            
   3. Read Ecclesiastes 4:16. Who is the "them" in "all the people who came before them?" ("Them" refers to the old king and his young successor.)
      
      
      1. What happens to the young king? (This text is a warning. The old king and the new king ruled a large number of people. But a day came when most of the subjects were "new" - young people came on the scene and the old subjects died. The young king also aged and it seems that he had not learned the lesson to continue to take advice and continue to learn. Thus, he, too, was rejected by the new subjects.)
         
         
   4. Friend, Solomon tells us to make friends, take advice, and be diligent in our work. It is good advice, will you incorporate it into your life?
      
      
5. Next week: Rich Man, Poor Man.

Introduction: How do you like your job? How much would you like to get rich? Would you like to know just the right thing to say at all times? How much time do you spend thinking about the past and how you could have done things better? How do you retain your wealth? Let's work ourselves into our lesson this week because Solomon discusses these things and more!

1. Hasty Words
   
   
   1. Read Ecclesiastes 5:1. What is the relationship between listening and the sacrifice of fools? (They seem to be the opposite.)
      
      
      1. When Solomon advises us to listen, is he talking about hearing? (In part, I think he is talking about the difference between listening and speaking. But, the main point is obeying. The idea is that if you listen to what is said in God's house you will obey.)
         
         
   2. Read Ecclesiastes 5:2-3. The opposite of listening is talking. What does Solomon tell us about talking in church? (He suggests that we should be concerned about talking too much.)
      
      
      1. Just before the main prayer in our worship service, we have a time when people can share their praises and their prayer requests. Last week I taught this Bible class, told the children's story and preached the sermon. I get to talk (a lot) in church. That makes me a little hesitant to criticize others who speak during church - but the praise and prayer request time often gives me heartburn. Instead of giving a simple praise or prayer request, some people stand up so they can be seen (the first sign of trouble) and then proceed to deliver a mini-sermon on some topic or a travelogue about their life last week. I think the message is "look at me!" Do you agree? Do you think Ecclesiastes 5:2-3 speaks to this?
         
         
      2. When Solomon says in verse 3 that dreams come as a result of your worries, what is he saying comes with a lot of words? (Foolishness. If you hear a person who has a lot to say, chances are that person is a fool.)
         
         
      3. When Solomon calls someone a "fool," what is he saying? Does he use the term "fool" to mean "stupid?" (I don't think so. Generally, he is saying these are people who do not take God seriously. It does not have to do so much with intelligence as it does with wisdom - especially God's wisdom.)
         
         
      4. After discussing all of the above, what do you think is (Ecclesiastes 5:1) the "sacrifice of fools?" (Read Matthew 6:5. Insincere, shallow, "look at me," worship is the sacrifice of fools.)
         
         
   3. Read Ecclesiastes 5:4-7. Some pastors issue "calls" for people to promise to do certain things: contribute money to the church, attend meetings, read the Bible, or pray for something specific. How seriously should we take these invitations to promise God to do something specific?
      
      
      1. Will God let you renegotiate your vow?
         
         
2. Wealth and Justice
   
   
   1. Read Ecclesiastes 5:8-9. What problem is the focus of these verses? (Injustice.)
      
      
      1. What is the cause of the injustice? What does the Bible mean when it speaks of "one official is eyed by a higher one?" (The official's decision is not based on the facts of the case before him, but rather on the interest of other officials and his personal self-interest.)
         
         
      2. Could this kind of thing happen in the United States? (Direct bribery of judges seems very rare. But, in some states judges are elected. Some labor unions promote the election of judges by direct campaign contributions and the promotion of their judicial candidacy in union literature. Assume I bring a case before such a judge in which I am representing an employee who objects to his compulsory union "dues" being used for politics against his will. A ruling in favor of my client will reduce the fund of money from which the judge could obtain future campaign support. Will this judge consider only the facts before him?
         
         
      3. Notice that verse 9 says "the increase of the land is taken by all." Is this appropriate, or is this a conflict of interest? (Solomon may be speaking about taxes - in which case he says that taxes fund all levels of government - which is not a conflict of interest.)
         
         
   2. Read Ecclesiastes 5:10-11. Do rich people have more money to spare than poor people?
      
      
      1. The answer would seem to be obvious:"yes." But, how do you understand Ecclesiastes 5:11 "As goods increase, so do those who consume them?" Is Solomon saying that rich people are fat? (He is saying that rich people have more "needs." The old saying, "the more you earn the more you spend" is generally true. People who live in big, new homes and drive expensive cars are probably tied down with huge monthly house and car payments. They have no more "disposable" income then when they were a lot poorer.)
         
         
      2. What is the "real" benefit of having money? (According to Solomon, you are still working hard for more wealth, you have little disposable money because you spent it on more stuff, so your only benefit is to gaze with satisfaction on what you own.)
         
         
   3. Read Ecclesiastes 5:12. How does money affect your sleep? (Adversely.)
      
      
      1. Read Proverbs 10:15. Wouldn't you sleep better in a fortified city? (The commentary, "Be Satisfied" quotes boxing legend, Joe Louis, as saying, "I don't like money actually, but it quiets my nerves." There are three lines of thought here. First, the laborer sleeps well because he worked hard during the day. Second, the rich man sleeps poorly because he is not engaged in physical labor, instead he is awake worrying about keeping (or likely increasing) his money. Third, trusting in money is not as reassuring as trusting in God. Even the poor man can trust in God.)
         
         
   4. Read Ecclesiastes 5:13-14. Solomon sees a "grievous evil" in these two sets of facts. What do you see?
      
      
      1. What assumptions do you need to see evil in this? (Solomon's point is that money should benefit its owner. Unfortunately, money can end up harming its owner - and that is a great evil. Or, it can be lost by its owner, and that, too is difficult.)
         
         
   5. Read Ecclesiastes 5:15-17. What causes this fellow to be so frustrated that he eats in the dark and feels angry and frustrated? (That he cannot take his money into the next world.)
      
      
      1. If you were the financial advisor to this frustrated guy, what would you advise? (Read Luke 12:33.)
         
         
3. Conclusions on Life
   
   
   1. Read Ecclesiastes 5:18. Have you ever heard the expression "These were the cards that life dealt me?"
      
      
      1. Would Solomon agree with the idea behind that expression? (When Solomon says that he has concluded that we should eat, drink and find satisfaction with our work, he bases this on the fact that "this is [the person's God-given] lot." Solomon says God has assigned us this role, and we should accept it.)
         
         
   2. Read Ecclesiastes 5:19. Can everyone accept their lot in life? (No. To be able to accept your life and be happy in your work is a God-given gift.)
      
      
   3. Read Ecclesiastes 5:20. Last week we mentioned that Socrates proclaimed: "The unexamined life is not worth living." We agreed that it was good to examine our life. Is Solomon saying that it is not good to examine our life or reflect on our past? (If we enjoy our life today, we will not have to dwell in the past for our happiness. If our past was unhappy, we will not think about it too much if we enjoy joy and peace today.)
      
      
   4. Friend, would you like to be happy and satisfied? Solomon says this is a gift from God. Why not turn your heart to God today and seek that gift from Him?
      
      
4. Next week: "Striving After the Wind."

Introduction: What do you most enjoy in life? What, for you, makes life worth living? Do you enjoy your prosperity? King Solomon is again ranting about how sad life can be, but our goal this week is to consider what Solomon says and uncover what we can learn from it to improve our life and our outlook on life. Let's dive right into our lesson!

1. Enjoying Your Possessions
   
   
   1. Read Ecclesiastes 6:1-2. Solomon says that an evil exists, an evil which is depressing a lot of people. What is that evil? (God gives a person wealth, possessions and honor, but he is not able to enjoy them.)
      
      
      1. The text says a "stranger" enjoys them. How can a stranger enjoy your wealth, possessions and honor? (This person must not have any children. Perhaps another person takes over the company and enjoys the company's reputation and profits.)
         
         
      2. If this person is not lacking anything his heart desires, how can he not enjoy his blessings? (Death, illness, dementia.)
         
         
      3. Do you agree with Solomon that this is an evil?
         
         
         1. Is it one that is depressing you?
            
            
         2. If so, what answer to you have to avoid this depressing truth? (Eternal life.)
            
            
   2. Read Ecclesiastes 6:3. What significance do you find in this man not having a proper burial? (He has a hundred children, but they neither love nor care enough to make sure he is properly buried.)
      
      
      1. Whose fault is that? The father or the children? (Something must be amiss with "dad," if he cannot connect in a meaningful way with just one or two of his hundred children. How could you sire a hundred rotten children? When Solomon says a hundred children, he must be exaggerating to make a point.)
         
         
      2. Solomon uses this phrase, "enjoy your prosperity." What do you think Solomon means when he writes "enjoy your prosperity?"
         
         
         1. Is he talking about being content?
            
            
         2. Is he talking about taking time to "stop and smell the roses?"
            
            
         3. Is he talking about paying attention to what is important in life: i.e., your 100 children?

1. Is he talking about a personality which is satisfied?
   
   
2. Is he talking about a person who understands God's plan for life, and thus "gets" what life is about?
   
   
1. Read Ecclesiastes 6:4-6. How does this text describe a still-born (miscarried, aborted) child? (That child comes and goes in darkness. It never has an opportunity to have meaning in life. The reference to the name being covered in darkness is a reference to the Jewish practice of not naming miscarried babies on the assumption this allows parents to overcome grief more easily.)
   
   
   1. How is this unfortunate man and a "still-born" child the same?
      
      
   2. Solomon tells us the two have the same destination? You agree?
      
      
   3. Solomon even says (Ecclesiastes 6:3)the still-born child is better off? Do you agree? (Solomon says having no meaning in your life, or a negative meaning, is worse than never having lived. Never living gives you "rest." I would ask Solomon: "How much rest do you need? The person who is born has every opportunity to live a meaningful life.")
      
      
1. Advantages in Life
   
   
   1. Read Ecclesiastes 6:7. Is this true for you? (In some areas of the world the main point of work is to feed yourself. However, a small percentage of my earnings goes for food and that is true for many areas of the world.)
      
      
   2. Add your brain into Solomon's statement. "All man's efforts are for his mouth and his brain." Is that modified statement true for you? (All work is for self-gratification, and your self-gratification is never satisfied.)
      
      
      1. If all work is to satisfy your cravings - which are never satisfied, what is wrong with that? That makes you a productive citizen, right? (You never get to a point where you say, "It feels good to have accomplished my goal.)
         
         
   3. Read Ecclesiastes 6:8. What reason would you have to conduct yourself properly before cultured people? (You do not want to be embarrassed by seeming to lack something: class, education or culture. Even if you do lack these things, you don't want it to be obvious because that would cause others to look down on you.)
      
      
      1. Now answer Solomon's question: what do you gain by behaving in a socially correct way? (You get the approval of others and you avoid embarrassment.)
         
         
         1. So what? Why do you care about the approval of those who are your educational or social "superiors?" (I think Solomon's point is that if you are at peace with yourself and your "rank" in life, then you will not be striving to impress others of "higher" rank.)
            
            
   4. Read Ecclesiastes 6:9. Compare what you see with what you would like to see? (This is Solomon's version of the old saying "a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush." What you can see right now is better than what you would like to see.)
      
      
      1. Is this Solomon's answer to the questions in Ecclesiastes 6:8? (Yes. His message is to be content with what you have.)
         
         
      2. What is the difference between being lazy and having no goals, and being content? (I am at that point in my life when I am looking at the "end game." I could stop or coast right now and anyone would say that I had a productive, meaningful life. The problem is, I still have hopes, dreams and goals. Solomon may think this is a problem, and maybe I will agree with him one day. But, right now I'm glad my views have not changed since I was 25-years old.)
         
         
   5. Read Ecclesiastes 6:10. Solomon tells us that everything has been named. Was he right?
      
      
      1. What is Solomon's point? (That if you are out to explore and "name" things after you, it has already been done. Forget the idea that you will make a name for yourself.)
         
         
      2. Why does Solomon write about fighting against one who is stronger than you? (Again, this is counsel not to strive for big goals.)
         
         
      3. I read Solomon as saying "Don't try to change things. Accept things the way they are and be done with it." Do you agree? (I do not agree. If I'm rebelling against God's order of things, I would agree with Solomon. But, if I'm trying to make the world a better place, then Solomon's attitude is a waste of his life, money, power and brains. Ask me this question again when I'm about to die.)
         
         
2. Life Formula
   
   
   1. Read Ecclesiastes 6:11. Over my years of practicing law, I've noticed an unusual thing: courts seem to want to hear less and less from lawyers. In American federal courts, they have page limits for briefs that are getting shorter and shorter. Fewer motions are orally argued. It is possible to litigate a case to a conclusion and never even see the judge! Have the judges been reading Ecclesiastes 6:11? What do you think is the point Solomon is trying to make? Do you agree with it? (Being forced to shorten a brief makes you more careful about its organization. It takes more work to write something succinctly.)
      
      
   2. Read Ecclesiastes 6:12. The commentary, Be Satisfied, quotes British poet Joseph Addison as saying "The grand essentials to happiness in this life are something to do, someone to love, and something to hope for." Is the answer to Solomon's question: "Who knows what is good for a man in life?" "Mr. Addison!"
      
      
      1. What is the answer to the final question: "Who can tell him what will happen under the sun after he is gone?" (Since we recently studied the book of Daniel, the prophet Daniel is one answer.)
         
         
         1. Does it matter what happens on earth after you die? (If you leave behind people that you love, the answer is that just as you trusted God with your life, so you can trust God with the lives of those you love and leave behind.)
            
            
   3. Friend, Solomon's conclusion is to be content with your life. I suggest a little discontent, a hope for a better future, makes getting up in the morning more exciting. What do you say?
      
      
3. Next week: God Made Man Upright? What Happened?

Introduction: When is the last time you took a good, hard look at your life? I've just about finished a book about a middle-aged man who essentially looked at his life and tossed out a great deal of it. Funerals tend to make us look at our life. So does a series illness. Solomon invites us this week to look carefully at our life and consider what we see. Let's jump into our lesson!

1. A Good Name
   
   
   1. Read Ecclesiastes 7:1. What is good about perfume and a good name? (They attract people to you.)
      
      
      1. How easy is it to put on fine perfume?
         
         
      2. How easy is it to acquire a good name?
         
         
         1. Why is a good name better than fine perfume? (It is the work of a life-time.)
            
            
         2. How many sins (or mistakes) does it take to ruin your name?
            
            
   2. Let's skip down to Ecclesiastes 7:20 and read it. If everyone sins, how do you acquire and protect that good name?
      
      
   3. Read Ecclesiastes 7:2. What do you and Solomon notice about funerals? (When you are looking at your dead friend or relative, or when you are looking at the hole in the ground, it hits you that this is your destiny.)
      
      
      1. What is good about that? What is superior about the house of mourning than the house of feasting? (If you seriously consider your life, you are less likely to make the mistake that will ruin your life and your reputation.)
         
         
2. A Good Life
   
   
   1. Read Ecclesiastes 7:8. Would you rather be young or be old?
      
      
      1. If, as I expect, you answer "I'd rather be young," then how can Solomon be right in saying the end of a matter is better than its beginning? (At the end of your life, at the end of a story, you know how things worked out.)
         
         
      2. My father's death and funeral were a very sad time for me. It was the first time any close relative had died. I remember that amid all of that sadness, one thought gave me relief. I thought that now I could never disappoint my father. That had been a very big goal in my life, and now that the final bell on earth had rung, this challenge in my life was over.
         
         
      3. Why is patience better than pride? (Read Proverbs 13:10. Patience helps to get things done. Pride does not.)
         
         
   2. Read Ecclesiastes 7:10. I think of the saying that if we forget history, we are destined to repeat our old mistakes. Does this contradict Ecclesiastes 7:10?
      
      
      1. There was a time in my life, in the late 60's and early 70's when clearly the "old days" were better. Cars were better in the early 60's than the late 60's and early 70's. Interest rates were up in the late 70's. People who had central heating were going back to heating their homes with wood stoves. I know back then I thought and said things were better in the old days. What is wrong with that? (We need to be careful about making such statements. Time may have erased from our memories some of the difficulties of the past. Plus, how do such statements help us now?)
         
         
   3. Read Ecclesiastes 7:11-12. Would you like to inherit a lot of money?
      
      
      1. If so, why?
         
         
      2. Solomon equates wisdom with inheriting money. Why are they similar?
         
         
      3. Why would wisdom help protect your stuff and your life? (When I was a kid, I used to see a postcard that said, "If you're so smart, why ain't you rich?" The assumption is that being smart should help you to become rich. Solomon says that these are equivalent blessings. Just as money can protect you from some of the adversities of life, so can wisdom.)
         
         
      4. How are inheriting a lot of money and wisdom dissimilar? (You have little control over what you inherit. On the other hand, you can learn wisdom from the Bible.)
         
         
   4. Read Ecclesiastes 7:13-14. Is this trust or resignation?
      
      
   5. Read Ecclesiastes 7:15. Is there a connection between righteous living and living well? (Solomon says good and bad times arrive, the best thing to do is enjoy the good times when they come because your righteousness may not guarantee you a good life.)
      
      
      1. Would you agree with Solomon? At least, would you agree this side of heaven? (A consistent problem with Ecclesiastes is that Solomon appears to leave heaven out of the picture until he gets to the end of the book.)
         
         
      2. Read Romans 8:18. How does Paul see this issue?
         
         
   6. Read Ecclesiastes 7:16-18. Barry Goldwater (a prominent American politician) famously said, "Extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice." Can you be too righteous? Can you be too wise?
      
      
      1. When Solomon says "it is good to grasp the one and not let go of the other" does he mean it is good to grasp righteousness and not let go of wickedness?

1. If so, how would you reconcile that thought with Matthew 5:48 where Jesus tells us to be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect? (The commentary, Be Satisfied, interprets these verses in Ecclesiastes as warning us against self-righteousness and pride. Don't think you are too righteous or too wise.)
   
   
1. Read Ecclesiastes 7:21-22. Are you interested in what other people have to say about you?
   
   
   1. Have you overheard someone saying something bad about you?
      
      
   2. Do you ever say bad things about good people who you like?
      
      
      1. If you have, what is Solomon's advice to you? (You should shrug off some negative comment about you because you know you have made negative comments about other good people.)
         
         
2. Read Ecclesiastes 7:26. In what situation could a woman be a snare?
   
   
   1. What is the downside to such a relationship? (It hurts you more than death.)
      
      
   2. What does it mean that her hands are chains and her heart a trap? (Inappropriate love takes you places you do not want to go. It binds you.)
      
      
   3. What is the solution to this? (Escape!)
      
      
      1. How can you escape? (The sinner does not escape, but the person who desires to please God can escape.)
         
         
1. Gender Revolt
   
   
   1. Read Ecclesiastes 7:27-28 and tell me what the smartest man who ever lived discovered?
      
      
      1. Ladies, should we just burn this book? Or, is there a reasonable explanation for Solomon's statements?
         
         
      2. Guys, my bet is that there are less than a thousand men in your Bible study class, so I should hear some complaining from you too, right? (This lesson goes to about 26,000 people each week. If they were all men (they obviously are not all men), Solomon would say that about 26 are righteous. Pretty poor odds, if you ask me.)
         
         
      3. Is this just what you are likely to hear from a man with a 1,000 wives (1 Kings 11:3) who led him astray?
         
         
         1. Read what Solomon said about a wife in Proverbs 12:4. Was he just having a bad day when he wrote Ecclesiastes 7:27? (Solomon is telling us that very few people are righteous - regardless of gender.)
            
            
   2. Read Ecclesiastes 7:29. What is Solomon trying to teach us about our life? (Realize that you are not perfect. Only God has the ability to make us what we should be.)

1. Friend, have you examined your life? If you have, no doubt you have seen your character defects. Jesus offers to cover your imperfect character which His perfect character (see Hebrews 7:26-28). Isn't it about time you accepted that offer?
   
   
1. Next Week: Seeing Through a Glass Darkly.

Introduction: How smart are you? Smart enough, right? Are you smart enough to want to be wise? Smart enough to consider whether there is any benefit to wisdom? If so, what is the benefit wisdom? Would you agree that it helps us to live better lives: not only in keeping out of trouble, but in helping us to get through trouble when it comes? This week King Solomon gives us a peek into his view of the benefit wisdom. Let's wisely dive into our study!

1. Looking and Living Smart
   
   
   1. Read Ecclesiastes 8:1. What does it mean to be wise? (For one thing, it means that you can explain "things.")
      
      
      1. Can you spot a wise man or woman?
         
         
      2. If not, can you spot a foolish man or woman? (Solomon suggests that being wise is reflected in your face. He says it makes your face less hardened and more "bright." The New Bible Commentary says a "bright face" means a gracious demeanor.)
         
         
         1. Do you know what Solomon is saying? Have you seen this "look" of wisdom? (I absolutely know what Solomon is writing about.)
            
            
2. Obedience to Earthly Masters
   
   
   1. Read Ecclesiastes 8:2. What oath did you give to the king? (As a lawyer, I took an oath to uphold the constitution of the United States. Office holders take oaths. Members of the military take oaths. People who become citizens of the United States(as opposed to being born citizens) take an oath of allegiance.)
      
      
      1. How important are these oaths? (Solomon says if you give your word, then for that reason alone obey the king.)
         
         
   2. Read Ecclesiastes 8:3-4. Would this advice apply to dealing with your boss? (It would apply to anyone who has absolute control over some portion of your life.)
      
      
      1. What does it mean to "not stand up for a bad cause?" (The context makes it appear that if you oppose the king (or your boss) that by definition is a "bad cause.")
         
         
         1. What about the idea of standing up for what is right? (Read Acts 5:29. We must obey God, rather than humans. However, Acts refers to matters in which obeying "the king" involves moral questions. You can give "the king" your point of view, but you should avoid being in rebellion against the king unless it is a matter of sin.)

1. What is the difference between being an innovator and a rebel in your job? (Sometimes this is a fine line. But, when you are directly opposing the person with the final authority you are being foolish.)
   
   
1. Read Ecclesiastes 8:5-6. If we are told that obedience to the "king" will cause us no harm, why does Solomon go on to refer to a "proper time and procedure?" (There is a proper time and procedure for suggesting that the king is going in the wrong direction. Queen Esther (Esther 7) is an example of this.)
   
   
   1. Why does Solomon, in this context, write about "misery" weighing heavily on a person? (You may not be enjoying yourself while you wait for the right time and proper procedure to get things changed with the king.)
      
      
1. Accepting What Cannot be Changed
   
   
   1. Read Ecclesiastes 8:7-8. In addition to the difficulty in controlling "the king," what other aspects of our life are out of our control? (We cannot really control future events in our life or the date of our death.)
      
      
      1. When King Solomon refers to "wickedness" not releasing us, what is he suggesting about our ability to control the future? (Some aspects of our future are just out of our hands. Other aspects of our future we have the power to influence - at least at some point in time. Avoiding wickedness keeps us out of the grasp of Satan - who only wants to harm us. Living intelligently (healthfully) gives us an advantage. However, if we enter into wickedness we unleash a series of events which we cannot control. If you want a more pleasant future, avoid doing evil.)
         
         
   2. Read Ecclesiastes 8:9-10. Will wickedness catch up with a person during this life? (Sometimes, sometimes not. Solomon points out the wicked man who attended church regularly and was praised at his funeral.)
      
      
2. Incentives to Right Living
   
   
   1. Read Ecclesiastes 8:11-13. In the United States, criminal sentences are rarely carried out quickly. Numerous appeals are allowed. Individuals sentenced to death for terrible murders sometime live for many years on "death row." How does that affect our crime rate, according to Solomon?
      
      
      1. Even if the wicked are not caught, or are not immediately punished, does crime pay? (Solomon affirms that a God-fearing person generally has a better life.)
         
         
   2. Read Ecclesiastes 8:14. How can Solomon say that getting the wrong reward in life is meaningless? If you are good, and you suffer like the wicked, doesn't that say something important about our God? ("Meaningless" is the Hebrew word "hebel" which can mean, among other things, "transitory." Thus, things may not turn out exactly right here on earth, but God will make them right in heaven.)
      
      
   3. Read Ecclesiastes 8:15. "Eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die." Does that about sum up King Solomon's philosophy? (Not exactly. He has already said that, in general, we live better if we obey God. Within the context of what Solomon is writing, I would paraphrase it, "Trust God, do what is right, eat, drink and take joy in the life and the opportunities God has given you, however long God has given you.")
      
      
   4. Read Ecclesiastes 8:16-17. What should you say if life does not make sense? What should you think about God if your life does not make sense? (A theme of the Bible is that God is God and we are mere humans - and don't forget it. Solomon says, "Look, even the smartest, wisest guy cannot explain all of life. Leave some things to God."
      
      
   5. Friend, God's wisdom makes your life better. Some of God's wisdom He shares with us. Some, is beyond us. Will you seek God's wisdom and be content to trust God even when wisdom is not enough to understand and solve all problems in life?
      
      
3. Next week: "Whatever Your Hand Finds to Do."

Introduction: Have you thought much about your own death? A few years ago, I had some medical reason to believe that I might die in the near future. Although the thought I would die shortly was not pleasant, it was a very valuable learning experience. This week Solomon directs us to a consideration of our own death. In my case it turned out I did not have a fatal medical condition, but we all have the "medical condition" that we are mortal. Let's dive into our study and see what we can learn about living by contemplating our death!

1. Death: A Common Destiny
   
   
   1. Read Ecclesiastes 9:1. When Solomon says that he "reflected on all this," he is referring to the end of last week's study: we cannot fully understand God's ways. What should we conclude from this inability on the part of humans and this ability on the part of God? (The smart thing is to trust God.)
      
      
      1. How will trusting God change your future? (Skim over Hebrews 11:32-40. The writer of Hebrews makes the point that none of us obtain the full measure of what God has promised us here on earth. Some of us fall very short of that mark. What actually happens in our life here on earth cannot be predicted. What can be predicted is how faith in God can affect our attitude about these things.)
         
         
   2. Read Ecclesiastes 9:2. Would you agree? Do the wicked and the righteous share a "common destiny?"
      
      
      1. How does Romans 6:23 fit into this picture? (The wicked and the righteous face a common near-term destiny: death. The difference is that the righteous have accepted a gift that alters their final destiny. This gift is eternal life based on repentance of sin and acceptance of Jesus' life and death on our behalf.)
         
         
   3. Read Ecclesiastes 9:3-4. Based on his statement about a common destiny, what is Solomon's attitude about life? (He calls it evil. Solomon is discouraged by the thought that all will die.)
      
      
      1. Does Solomon sound like a fellow who wants to die? (Read Ecclesiastes 6:3. Solomon is not consistent - which shows he is "thinking out loud" in his writing. At one point he says it would be better to have never lived than to die without dignity or without enjoying your prosperity. Then he reverses and says even a dog's life is better than death. I think he invites us to join in his philosophical "debate" about life and death.)
         
         
2. Life: Is it Worthwhile?

1. Would you agree that it is better to be a live dog than a dead lion?
   
   
2. Read Ecclesiastes 9:5-6. What is Solomon's argument for being a live dog rather than a dead lion? (You are aware when you are alive. You have emotions, you have hope.)
   
   
   1. Is it true that the dead have no further reward? (Read John 11:25-26. No, Solomon's statement is not true if it is understood in its ultimate sense. If it simply means that you have no more "reward," in the sense of continuing to enjoy this world, then it is true.)
      
      
      1. If Solomon is wrong in the ultimate sense, would that cause you to rethink whether it is better to be a live dog or a dead lion? (I vote for the dead lion. If Jesus gives you the hope and promise of eternal life, how much better to be a lion than a dog!)
         
         
3. Read Ecclesiastes 9:7-9. We have previously discussed some of these same sentiments of Solomon. What point do you think Solomon is making when he tells us to always wear white clothes and put oil on our heads? Most clergy that I know wear a lot of black and never use oil on their hair. (Various commentaries I reviewed had a somewhat different understanding of Solomon's comment about clothes. I would summarize the commentaries by saying: wear clothes that bring you joy, that are comfortable, that make you feel good. It appears that Solomon literally wore white, which explains why Jesus in Matthew 6:28-29 compared Solomon's clothing to those of the lilies.)
   
   
   1. Read Psalms 23:5-6. What does this suggest is the meaning of anointing your head with oil? (Again, this is part of the pleasure of a life well lived.)
      
      
   2. What practical counsel for living do you get from Ecclesiastes 9:7-9? (Enjoy your family, your spouse, your food, your clothes and your perfumes (oils). Find joy in the little things of life.)
      
      
4. Read Ecclesiastes 9:10. How is hard work consistent with enjoying life? (Solomon tells us that we have limited time on this earth. Squeeze as much joy and as much accomplishment as possible out of your time on earth.)
   
   
   1. Have you heard the saying from a work addict, "I'll rest when I die?" Is Solomon saying that here? (He seems to be saying something similar, but his prior comments about enjoying life show he is not a work addict. Solomon seems to work hard and play hard.)
      
      
5. Read Ecclesiastes 9:11-12. What additional line of argument does Solomon make to encourage us to enjoy each day as much as we can? (Future success on earth is not guaranteed and death comes unexpectedly.)
   
   
1. The Wise Man and the City
   
   
   1. Read Ecclesiastes 9:13-14. What are the city's chances of success against the invaders? (Poor.)
      
      
      1. On what basis did you measure the possibility for success? (On power - the number of fighters.)

1. Read Ecclesiastes 9:15-16. Have you ever played the game "Scissors, Paper and Rock?" What is more powerful than military power? (Wisdom.)
   
   
   1. What is more powerful than wisdom? (A poor memory!)
      
      
      1. What important point about this man have I left out of the discussion? (He was poor. Solomon is not explaining the power of forgetfulness, he is complaining about our perceptions. We admire power and wealth. This poor man, even though he had something more powerful than great military strength, was forgotten because he was poor.)
         
         
      2. What life lesson should we draw from this: if we are wise we should devote our wisdom to getting rich? (No. Remember again Solomon's complaint (Ecclesiastes 6:3) about the prosperous fellow whose children did not appreciate him and who could not enjoy his prosperity? Solomon is not arguing we should work to be rich, he is arguing that we should appreciate the talents of those who are not rich.)
         
         
2. Read Ecclesiastes 9:17-18. What does Solomon say about listening to the majority opinion? What would he say about the evening news? (The problem with the wise, poor man who saved the city is that the people did not sufficiently value his wisdom. Solomon suggests that wisdom does not come from shouting or power. Those things might get our attention (like the evening news), but we have an obligation to seek what out what is God's wisdom.)
   
   
   1. How powerful are the arguments of sinners? (They can do a lot of damage.)
      
      
3. Friend, death is unavoidable. Solomon suggests that living in the context of death should cause us to enjoy life while we have it. We should play hard, work hard and trust in God for our future. Will you determine to trust God whatever your circumstances?
   
   
1. Next week: "Dead Flies and Snake Charmers: More Life Under the Sun."

Introduction: Last week, we ended our study with the story of the man who saved the city against a great military power. The people of the city forgot the man because he was poor. His wisdom was not valued by them. This week, Solomon continues to urge us to consider the importance of wisdom in our words and in our work. Let's wisely dive into our study!

1. Dead Flies and Democrats
   
   
   1. Read Ecclesiastes 10:1. Picture dead flies in an open jar of perfume. Would you pick the flies out and use the perfume?
      
      
      1. If you say "no," wouldn't the stink of the flies be gone once you scooped them out of the perfume?
         
         
      2. Wouldn't it be the "green" thing to do to save all that perfume? (You put perfume on your body. The idea of rubbing dead fly juice on you is just revolting. Besides, someone might be able to smell just a hint of "dead fly" on you.)
         
         
      3. Now that you have focused on this problem, how careful will you be in the future to keep the top on your jar of perfume?
         
         
      4. How careful should you be to avoid a little folly in your life? (You have all of this good perfume in the jar and you have all of these good and honorable things in your life. It seems irrational to waste all the perfume because of a few dead flies, but the sad fact is that you can ruin your life by a few (maybe even one) foolish deed.)
         
         
   2. Read Ecclesiastes 10:2. Just when you thought Solomon was writing for another time and place, American Republicans realize his words are for our time, right?
      
      
      1. Seriously, Solomon has just told us how much a little foolishness can ruin our life. How do you understand his advice to avoid foolishness? How do we get our hearts to lean right? Should we literally bend to the right? (The commentary, Be Satisfied, explains "in the ancient world the right hand was the place of power and honor, while the left hand represented weakness and rejection." If you are wise, your mind is set on what is morally right and that will tend towards power and honor. If you are foolish, you will gravitate towards what is wrong and that will get you in trouble.)
         
         
   3. Read Ecclesiastes 10:3. Are foolish people obvious? (Solomon tells us that even in simple tasks - like driving the car - you can tell if a person lacks wisdom.)

1. Practical Advice for Would Be Fools
   
   
   1. Read Ecclesiastes 10:4. Have you ever seen someone stomp out of a meeting in anger? Have you ever seen someone quit their job in a huff? (I know a fellow who quit a job he otherwise liked because he became angry in a moment. The next day he changed his mind and his boss told him he had already quit. My impression is that his working life was never again as good. Solomon says "When your boss gets angry, stay calm, keep working, explain your position and you can clear up your boss's misconceptions.")
      
      
   2. Read Ecclesiastes 10:5-7. Can you depend on your boss not to be a fool? (No. Rulers make mistakes and promote fools to positions of authority. When that happens, take it calmly and do your best in your work.)
      
      
   3. Read Ecclesiastes 10:8-9. If you work hard and smart, is there any guarantee that you will succeed?(Solomon's message is that being wise and hard-working, being inclined to do what is right, is not a sure-fire method for success. Because of poor judgment, some fools may have authority over you. Sometimes, your hard work ends up injuring you. Life here on earth is not absolutely predictable.)
      
      
   4. Read Ecclesiastes 10:10. What should you do if you are working under the authority of a fool? Does a dull ax have anything to do with this?(Solomon says that even if you have to work under poor conditions (working with a dull ax), if you work hard and skillfully, you can overcome the difficult conditions. The message seems to be that life is unpredictable, life presents challenges, but in general terms being wise and skillful will bring success.)
      
      
   5. Read Ecclesiastes 10:11. What if you are doing what Solomon suggests in Ecclesiastes 10:10, and your "dull ax" boss bites you before you have been able to show the results of your hard, skillful work? (In that case, you are not going to profit from your hard work.)
      
      
      1. Would being "bitten" by your boss be your fault? After all, in this story you are the "snake charmer." Has the snake charmer failed in being "charming?" (Compare Proverbs 22:11.)
         
         
      2. Is there some other point that you think Solomon is making here? (Solomon seems quite worried about snakes. He mentions being bitten in this verse and in Ecclesiastes 10:8. Snake charming on its face is a dangerous profession. His point may be that if you engage in high risk work or high risk investments, you may get bitten.)
         
         
   6. Read Ecclesiastes 10:12. What is a gracious word? (Read Proverbs 25:11. I like this mental picture. You appreciate gracious words. You are uplifted by gracious words. I remember a diligent church worker who created all sorts of problems with her words. She knew that her words offended, but that did not change her behavior. I remember her (often) saying, "I'm going to be direct, because that is just the way I am." Then she would rip off your ears with her "direct" criticism. We are by nature sinners, but that is no justification to continue sinning! Consider your words!)
      
      
      1. Another interesting mental picture is found in Ecclesiastes 10:12: a fool is consumed by his own lips. Imagine your lips eating you! What does this mean? (Your words destroy the quality of your life. See, Proverbs 10:21.)
         
         
   7. Read Ecclesiastes 10:13-14. How is folly different from madness? Why would a fool start out with words which are folly and end up with words which are madness? (All of us can remember times when we foolishly said something. If you are wise, you will learn from this and not repeat it. However, if you are a fool, you learn nothing and you continue to pour out nonsense, expecting a different result. A contemporary saying is that the definition of insanity is repeating the same action and expecting a different result.)
      
      
      1. Why does this text end with a comment about the future? What do foolish words have to do with predicting the future? (Read Proverbs 27:1. We want to boast about our hopes and dreams. But, this, too, is foolish for we do not know the future. The future is in God's hands.)
         
         
   8. Read Ecclesiastes 10:15. Why would a fool get more tired from his work than a wise person? (The fool is talking so much, he is not paying attention to what is going on. That requires him to waste time doing unnecessary things. The commentary, Be Satisfied, had the interesting comment that the fool is talking so much he misses the sign pointing out the way to the town. I must confess that I've been talking while driving and missed the sign marking the exit to my destination.)
      
      
      1. "He can't find his way to the courthouse," is an old saying about incompetent lawyers. Since I always seem to be litigating in a new court, I'm often trying to find the courthouse. Would this expression apply to me? (What Solomon and this expression tell us is that if you cannot find the place where you are supposed to be working, you obviously cannot do the work. If work is in town, and you cannot find the way to town, you are in trouble.)
         
         
      2. Would it be fair to understand "the town" (city) to refer to the New Jerusalem?
         
         
   9. Let's skip down and read Ecclesiastes 10:18. Yesterday, I was contemplating my life and I saw what I thought was a deficiency. Nothing around my house gets fixed unless I fix it. The guys at my office don't know how to do the "practical" things I do, so they pay other people to do those things. Does the fact that I am working while others are paying to have things fixed disprove what Solomon says? (Others work to earn money to pay workers to do what they cannot do. In one way or another, the guys at my office "work" to keep the roof from leaking or the rafters from sagging. The goal, which I am missing, is to employ other workers to make money for you!)
      
      
   10. Read Ecclesiastes 10:19. Do you agree? If so, how is this true? (Since Solomon was just writing about laziness, he may be suggesting that bribes are the "answer" when you are a foolish, lazy ruler.)
       
       
   11. Read Ecclesiastes 10:20. What is a "bird of the air?" If you are an employee, do you follow this wise advice? (You remember all of the discussion about foolish, "dull-ax," bosses? If you think you have one, you should keep that to yourself. Even thinking about your complaints about your boss does you no good.)
       
       
       1. In what situations other than employment would this advice apply?
          
          
   12. Friend, life here on earth is not entirely predictable. If you want to improve the odds of success, Solomon counsels to focus on what is right, pay attention to your words, and show wisdom in everything you do.
       
       
2. Next week: The Way of the Wind.

Introduction: If you look at the "self-help" shelf in the bookstore you will find books on getting along with your co-workers, living well and getting rich. Solomon has been giving us advice on being good workers and getting along with others. Would God also give us directions on how to get rich - given Jesus' comment in Matthew 19:24 that it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into heaven? Surprise! This week Solomon seems to be giving us rules for getting rich. Let's dive into our study of the Bible and see if you agree!

1. Investing
   
   
   1. Read Ecclesiastes 11:1. Is Solomon talking about throwing food in the water?
      
      
      1. Have you ever thrown real bread into the water? (I've done it when feeding ducks. I can tell you it does not float for long.)
         
         
      2. If Solomon is not talking about food, what do you think is meant by "bread?" Why would he call it "bread" if he means something else? (Bread is essential for life. When I was a young man, "bread" was another name for money. I think Solomon is saying that you should cast out something valuable, something that you need to live.)
         
         
      3. Why would you be casting something essential into the water?
         
         
         1. Read Revelation 17:15. Does this text help us to understand the meaning of "water" as used by Solomon?(We are all familiar with the idea of throwing something that floats into the water and seeing it eventually float back our way. Solomon may be painting a word picture to help us understand the process that he is advocating. At a deeper level, I think Solomon intends to use water to mean "people, multitudes.")
            
            
      4. Let's put our conclusions together. "Give to people what is essential for life and after many days it will return to you." What do you think this means?
         
         
         1. Is it business advice? If so, do you think it is true?
            
            
         2. Is it advice for charitable giving? If so, do you think it is true?
            
            
         3. Is it advice for interpersonal relationships? If so, do you think it is true? (I think it is all of the above. I see all of this advice being proven to be true in each of these circumstances.)
            
            
         4. How helpful is it to be selfish, if you want to get ahead in life?
            
            
   2. Read Ecclesiastes 11:2. Is this a continuation of the thoughts in Ecclesiastes 11:1?
      
      
      1. If yes, how would you apply this to business? ("Casting your bread" would be to invest. Solomon suggests that investing your money in different ways ("diversifying your portfolio") helps you to avoid disaster.)
         
         
         1. Explain how you understand that to be true? (Solomon has been arguing that we cannot tell the future. If that is true, then you need to invest in all sorts of different things because you cannot predict which will be successful next year or the next decade. When I was young, because of my feeling about "end times" coming soon, I invested only in gold. This was a very poor practice. When gold did well, I did well. When disaster struck gold, it struck me too.)
            
            
      2. Would this advice apply to helping others? (If you help lots of other people, you may find at some point they are in a position to help you.)
         
         
      3. Why would Solomon choose to use the numbers seven and eight? (Seven is often used as the perfect or complete number in the Bible. Solomon suggests be diligent in completely diversifying. Go beyond "perfect" diversity - if that is possible.)
         
         
   3. Read Ecclesiastes 11:3. What kind of advice is King Solomon now giving us? Is this weather advice? Logging advice? Or, is he still on the topic of investing and helping others? (He is still on the same topic. When "investing" your money in business or in other persons, pay attention to the obvious. Just as a cloud filled with water alerts even the slowest person that it will rain, so investing in an obviously terrible business, or creating a dependancy in a person, is something that we should be smart enough to figure out on our own. We cannot predict the future, but we can tell the obvious.)
      
      
      1. What message is Solomon giving us when he talks about a tree falling where it wants? (You can diversify to avoid total disaster. You can use wisdom and common sense in investing or in helping others. But, some (bad) things may happen regardless of your best efforts. You cannot control everything.)
         
         
2. Planting
   
   
   1. Read Ecclesiastes 11:4. Is it possible to be too cautious in investing our money and investing in others? (Apparently. Solomon teaches us that if we are going to get too concerned about the wind and the clouds we will never get our fields planted. We will never invest our money or invest in others. Pay attention to those clouds filled with rain (Ecclesiastes 11:3), but don't be so focused on the potential bad things that might happen that you are paralyzed into inaction based on your fears.)
      
      
   2. Read Ecclesiastes 11:5. Should we try to predict the wind when it comes to planting? (No. This continues Solomon's theme about being overcautious. Since you are human and not God, you are going to plan for the future with less than perfect knowledge. Don't be overconfident about the future and don't be overcautious by refusing to move forward until every uncertainty is resolved.)
      
      
   3. Read Ecclesiastes 11:6. Solomon has been telling us to enjoy our life and our family. (Ecclesiastes 9:7-9) Why is he now telling us to work day and night? (This is a continuation of the warning not to invest in just one place. We are wise to invest our time in more than one activity because we cannot know which activity will best succeed. Invest your time like you invest your money.)
      
      
3. Living
   
   
   1. Read Ecclesiastes 11:7-8. What advantage does Solomon find in difficult times? (Dark days make you better appreciate sunny days. Difficult times can teach us important lessons, one of which is how great it is when we are not facing difficult times.)
      
      
   2. Read Ecclesiastes 11:9. A popular pagan saying of a few years ago was "Just do it." Is this what Solomon advises when he writes "follow the ways of your heart and whatever your eyes see?" (Years ago, I gave a graduation weekend talk to a group of seniors. I told them that when it came to their future they should do what they enjoyed doing. Most likely, you enjoy working in the area in which God has given you natural and spiritual gifts. God has thousands of ways in which He can use and bless our work. Unless God has given you explicit direction for your future, follow your heart.)
      
      
      1. What limit, if any, does Solomon place on his "follow your heart" advice? (Solomon is not embracing a "just do it" philosophy of life. He warns us that God will bring our life into His judgment. Therefore, in following our heart we should follow our heart in a way consistent with God's instructions for living.)
         
         
   3. Read Ecclesiastes 11:10. If we follow Solomon's advice for living, what place should worry have in our life? (If we follow God's laws for living, if we understand that we cannot control the future, if we realize that the future is in God's hands, then we can banish our worries and throw away our troubles. We should not spend our time wishing we could go back to a time when we were young and worry-free. We can have that attitude of life now.)
      
      
   4. Friend, would you like to live a life free from worry about the future? Follow God's advice for investing, working and living. Will you commit to doing that today?
      
      
4. Next week: The Conclusion of the Matter.

Introduction: So many times in this series of studies we have worried that Solomon's advice was not exactly right because he seemed to leave God and eternal life out of the picture. This week, in the concluding chapter, King Solomon strongly appeals to us to remember to put God in the center of our thinking and planning. Let's dive right into our study!

1. Remember Your Creator
   
   
   1. Read Ecclesiastes 12:1. Presumably you have more trouble with your memory when you are old. What does Solomon mean when he tells us to "remember" God when we are young? (Solomon is telling us to make God part of our planning from the very beginning.)
      
      
      1. Do you recall the story of the farmer and the laborers that came at different times of the day (Matthew 20:1-15)? All of the workers received the same pay whether they started work in the morning or started just before quitting time. If you knew about this payment plan, when would you start work? (You all answer, "Just before quitting time!")
         
         
      2. The story of the farmer and the laborers is a parable about salvation. Given your answer as to when you would show up for work, why should we determine that we will "remember" (work for God) beginning in our youth? (King Solomon is now towards the end of his life and he realizes how much better his life would have been had he walked in God's ways the entire time.)
         
         
   2. Almost everyone I know (who is not retired)speaks fondly of retiring and the "golden years." Look at the last half of Ecclesiastes 12:1, how does Solomon describe the "golden years?" (He calls them "days of trouble" in which he finds "no pleasure.")
      
      
   3. Read Ecclesiastes 12:2. Solomon begins his explanation of the reasons why he calls the "golden years" "days of trouble." Will a time come when the sun, moon and stars grow dark? Will they fail at some point? (Solomon is not talking about the sun burning out, he is talking about our eyesight growing dim with age.)
      
      
   4. Read Ecclesiastes 12:3. What aspects of old age is Solomon describing here? (You shake and tremble with age. You stoop and you cannot do the kind of heavy work you used to be able to do.)
      
      
      1. I had a great-uncle who was remarkably powerful. I recall that when he was 75 he had huge wrists and powerful arms. Except for losing his hair, he seemed to defy age. Finally age and illness closed in and he, too, became frail and weak.
         
         
      2. "Do you use a paste that's past? Are your choppers at half-mast? Use the paste that lets you grin. Gumbo keeps your grinders in." This little limerick raises an issue about what Solomon means. When Solomon speaks about the few "grinders," is he referring to our teeth?
         
         
      3. When he refers to those "looking through the windows," is he referring to our eyesight?
         
         
   5. Read Ecclesiastes 12:4. Why would you close your doors just because you are aging? (Solomon may be describing a couple of things. He may be saying that you close the doors because you feel vulnerable as you get older. More likely, he is talking about the loss of hearing. Have you ever noticed how the "street sounds" dim when you close the door to your house? Since Solomon says the sounds of work and the songs of the birds grow dim with time, I think he is talking about the loss of hearing that comes with old age.)
      
      
      1. Why would old people get up with the birds, even though they cannot hear them very well? (They get up early because they cannot sleep.)
         
         
   6. Read Ecclesiastes 12:5. What else departs with old age? (We become fearful of falling, we are afraid of things that did not previously cause us fear. We lose our ability to jump around ("grasshopper drags") and our sex drive drives off ("desire is no longer stirred"). No wonder Solomon says about this time of life, (Ecclesiastes 12:1)"I find no pleasure in them.")
      
      
      1. Why is Solomon writing about almond trees blossoming? (Almond blossoms are white - which is the color of your hair. Which you have, if you are lucky.)
         
         
      2. What is the final stage of life described in Ecclesiastes 12:5. (You die and people mourn as they take you to the graveyard.)
         
         
   7. At this point, has Solomon whetted your appetite for those "golden years?"
      
      
      1. If you are "wishing your life away," you should stop it and enjoy life now!
         
         
   8. Other than discouraging us about getting old, what is Solomon's point? (When we are young, we have the time, strength and mental ability to prepare for a life of service to God and others. How many young people waste their youth, putting pleasure before everything else, and before they know it they are old and unqualified?)
      
      
2. The End of Your Time
   
   
   1. Read Ecclesiastes 12:6. What is all of this talk about severed silver cords, broken golden bowls, shattered pitchers and broken well wheels? (Solomon is writing about our death. Have you ever noticed how people avoid saying that someone died? They will use phrases like "passed away." One of my favorites is used in the Salvation Army. They say, "promoted to glory." Solomon uses some of the most beautiful euphemisms for death.)
      
      
      1. What does Solomon want us to do before we die? (Remember our Creator.)
         
         
         1. What does this suggest to someone who has wasted their youth? (That it is never too late to turn to God. Solomon starts out (Ecclesiastes 12:1) by telling us to "remember" our Creator when we are young. But, if we fail to do that, at least "remember" Him before you die.)
            
            
   2. Let's add Ecclesiastes 12:7 to verse 6 and read them together. What two components does Solomon suggest make up our being? (Our body returns to dirt and our breath returns to God.)
      
      
      1. Does this description of our "disassembly" at death remind you of another text in the Bible? (Read Genesis 2:7. The Bible clearly teaches that the body is nothing without the breath of God to make it come alive.)
         
         
3. What Lesson to Learn?
   
   
   1. Read Ecclesiastes 12:8. Why does Solomon wind up his book the same way he started (Ecclesiastes 1:2)? (He hasn't changed his mind about everything being "hebel" (temporary, a breath), since he just ended on the note of our death.)
      
      
   2. Read Ecclesiastes 12:9-10. This sounds to me like the teacher died and someone else is making an endorsement of what he wrote. However, none of the commentaries I consulted agreed with me. Why should we listen to the teacher, Solomon? (He was wise, he researched and considered his teachings, people learned from him, he tried to write in an interesting, attractive way, and what he wrote was true.)
      
      
   3. Read Ecclesiastes 12:11. Do you like to step on a nail? Do you like to be prodded? Do you enjoy a stick in your eye? Why does Solomon compare his words to those things? (Hearing wisdom, hearing the truth persuasively presented, should prod us into action. Once we know the truth and understand wisdom, we can assemble our life with it (like nails). Wisdom helps hold us together in tough times.)
      
      
      1. What does Solomon mean by his reference to "one Shepherd?" (God. Solomon claims divine inspiration for his words.)
         
         
   4. Read Ecclesiastes 12:12. After telling us that he did all of this research before writing his book, how can Solomon sound so anti-intellectual? Is he telling us not to read and study? (No. He is telling us to beware of wisdom that does not come from God. There is God-inspired wisdom and then there is everything else. Don't get tired studying everything else.)
      
      
   5. Read Ecclesiastes 12:13-14. Is this a summary of the entire book of Ecclesiastes? (Solomon says it is.)
      
      
      1. What is the conclusion? (Acknowledge God and obey Him.)
         
         
         1. Why? (A judgment is coming.)
            
            
         2. How is this a summary of Ecclesiastes when so much of it seemed to ignore anything beyond life here? (Solomon's point is that life is temporary. It is not always logical. Bad things happen to good people sometimes. Good things happen to bad people sometimes. During our brief time here we should obey God for He has an ultimate judgment. Ultimate judgment would make no sense without an ultimate reward!)
            
            
   6. Friend, will you accept the advice of Solomon? Will you agree today to acknowledge and obey God?
      
      
4. Next week: "The Voice From Heaven." We start a new series about the Bible itself.