1. The Good Old Days
Ecclesiastes 5:10-20

2. Introduction Remember the “good old days?”
Reminisce, and remember, better times
Were they better days?
Want to go back? Will have no …
Washers and dryers
Air conditioning
Cable, computers, etc.

3. The Bible and The Good Old Days
Not what we expect to find
Don’t dwell on them (Ecclesiastes 7:10)
Israel’s mistake (Exodus 3:9; 16:2, 3)
Easy to repeat their mistake
Past wasn’t all good
Don’t ruin the present

4. These Are The Good Old Days
Search for man’s purpose
Life without God (Ecclesiastes 1:3; 2:3)
Bleak picture (Ecclesiastes 2:17)
Life has meaning only with God
Solomon’s word (Ecclesiastes 5:18-20)
Enjoy what God has given us

5. These Are The Good Old Days
Warnings
Danger of wealth (Ecclesiastes 5:10-17)
Misuse (1 Timothy 6:9, 10)
Leave it behind (Matthew 6:19-21)
The thought of leaving empty handed makes some people miserable

6. What Did God Intend For Man?
Enjoy the fruits of one’s labor
Ecclesiastes 5:18
See them as mere means to pleasure, or as gifts from God
Abuse is the fault of the receiver
Be thankful (1 Timothy 4:4, 5)

7. What Did God Intend For Man?
Good health and cheerful disposition
Ecclesiastes 5:19
Doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy life without them (Philippians 4:11-13)
Means we should enjoy them
God gives us these things out of His good will (Psalm 145:9-11; James 1:17)

8. What Did God Intend For Man?
Forget unfavorable things
Ecclesiastes 5:20)
No life is free of trouble
Don’t let trouble control us (Job 14:1)
Count our blessings and forget the bad things
Won’t have time to dwell on the past

9. Conclusion These are the good old days None of us know the future
Remember what God has prepared