ECCLESIASTES: ADVICE FOR EVERYONE! (AN OVERVIEW OF THE BOOK OF ECCLESIASTES)

THE AUTHOR OF ECCLESIASTES: SOLOMON! “THE WORDS OF THE PREACHER, THE SON OF DAVID, KING IN JERUSALEM.” Ecclesiastes 1:1

THE MESSAGE OF ECCLESIASTES: LIVE LIFE TO THE FULLEST! LIVING LIFE WITHOUT GOD IS EMPTY AND FUTILE! BUT LIVING LIFE WITH GOD IS FULFILLING AND MEANINGFUL!

THE KEYS TO UNDERSTANDING ECCLESIASTES: THE KEY THEME: THE MEANING OF LIFE THE KEY WORD: “VANITY” (EMPTY) (USED 35 TIMES IN 29 VERSES) THE KEY PHRASE: “UNDER THE SUN” (USED 29 TIMES IN 27 VERSES) THE KEY CHAPTER: CHAPTER 12

WHAT DOES THE WORD MEAN?? Hebrew word: “Qoheleth” - “to assemble” Greek word: “Ecclesiastes” - “to gather, assemble” Ecclesiastes is an assembled list of facts and advice about life! (the past, present, future, priorities, work, success, listening, investing, enjoyment, attitude, contentment, God)

#1: ADVICE ABOUT PRIORITIES ADVICE: YOU CAN GAIN THE WHOLE WORLD- BUT EVEN THE WHOLE WORLD WILL NOT FILL OR SATISFY THE EMPTINESS OF THE HEART! Ecclesiastes 2:1-11 “I explored, I enlarged, I built, I planted, I made, I bought, I collected, I provided for myself, I became great…” “all that my eyes desired, I did not refuse them” vs.10

#2: ADVICE ABOUT THE PAST ADVICE: DON’T HANG ON TO THE PAST TOO TIGHTLY FOR WE MUST ALL LET IT GO SOMETIME – AND WHEN WE DO, WE HAVE NO CONTROL OVER WHAT HAPPENS TO IT NEXT! “That which I had labored for… I must leave it to the man who comes after me; and who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will have control over all the fruit of my labor.” Ecclesiastes 2:18,19

#3: ADVICE ABOUT THE PRESENT ADVICE: RECOGNIZE AND HONOR THE IMPORTANCE AND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE MOMENT – FOR EVERY MOMENT IS A GOD – ORDAINED PART OF LIFE! “There is an appointed time for everything and there is a time for every event under heaven.” Ecclesiastes 3:1

“THERE IS A TIME FOR EVERYTHING!” Ecclesiastes 3:2-9 To give birth – to die; to plant – to harvest To tear down –to build to weep – to laugh To mourn – to dance to embrace – not embrace To keep – to dispose to be silent – to speak To love – to hate to war – to be at peace “God has made everything appropriate for its time” Ecclesiastes 3:11

#4: ADVICE ABOUT THE FUTURE (ETERNITY) ADVICE: PREPARE FOR ETERNITY FOR WE WERE ALL MADE TO LIVE WITH GOD FOREVER! “God has set eternity in their heart…” Ecclesiastes 3:11

#5: ADVICE ABOUT WORK ADVICE: WHATEVER YOU DO, MAKE THE MOST OF IT BY PUTTING YOUR ALL INTO IT! BE A GIMPER! “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for you only live once.” Ecclesiastes 9:10

#6: ADVICE ABOUT HUMILITY ADVICE: PRIDE WILL LIMIT YOU PARTICIPATION AND CONTRIBUTION IN LIFE – BUT, HUMILITY WILL ENABLE YOU TO DO WHATEVER NEEDS TO BE DONE! “After all, a king who cultivates the field is an advantage to the land.” Ecclesiastes 5:9

#7: ADVICE ABOUT ENJOYING LIFE ADVICE: CELEBRATE LIFE BY HAVING FUN! LAUGH! SMILE! ENJOY LIFE! FOR GOD MADE LIFE TO BE ENJOYED! “Go then, eat your bread with happiness, and drink you wine with a cheerful heart…let oil not be lacking on your head. Enjoy life with the woman whom you love all the days of your life.” Ecclesiastes 9:7-9

#8: ADVICE ABOUT INVESTING ADVICE: DIVERSIFY YOUR ASSETS TO PREPARE FOR THE UNKOWN AND UNCERTAIN FUTURE AND WHATEVER IT HOLDS! “Divide your portion to seven, or even to eight, for you do not know what misfortune may occur on earth.” Ecclesiastes 11:2

#9: ADVICE ABOUT GOD ADVICE: MAKE GOD A PART OF YOUR LIFE AS SOON AS YOU CAN AND DON’T DELAY IT OR PUT IT OFF – FOR AS ONE GETS OLDER, THE OPPORTUNITIES TO INCLUDE GOD GET LESS AND LESS! “Remember KNOW your Creator in the days of your youth, before the difficult days come and the years draw close, when you say, ‘I have no delight in them.’” Ecclesiastes 12:1

#10: ADVICE ABOUT A SUCCESSFUL LIFE ADVICE: LIFE IS A GIFT FROM GOD SO LIVE LIFE GOD’S WAY BY FOLLOWING HIS DIRECTIONS AND LAWS, RECOGNIZING THAT IN THE END WE WILL ALL GIVE AN ACCOUNT FOR HOW WE CHOSE TO LIVE OUR LIVES? “The CONCLUSIONIS THIS, WHEN ALL HAS BEEN HEARD : Fear God and keep His commandments, for this applies to every person. For God will bring every act to judgment… whether is good or evil.” Ecclesiastes 12:13,14