1. The Gift of Now
Ecclesiastes 2:24-26

2. The Gift of Now
Philippians 4:12-13 I know what it is to have little, and I know what it is to have plenty. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being well-fed and of going hungry, of having plenty and of being in need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

3. The Gift of Now Kingdom of God: -Righteous are blessed
-Wicked are punished
Psalm 1
Fallen World:
-Righteous people suffer
-Wicked people prosper
Psalm 3

4. The Gift of Now
הבל (Hebel) appears 36 times in Eccl. Most translations follow the vulgate and translate as “vanity”

5. 1. The Absurdity of Manipulating Joy
The Gift of Now
1. The Absurdity of Manipulating Joy

6. The Gift of Now
Ecclesiastes 2:1-2 I said in my heart, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy yourself.” But behold, this also was vanity. I said of laughter, “It is mad,” and of pleasure, “What use is it?”

7. The Absurdity of Manipulating Joy The Absurdity of Wisdom
The Gift of Now
The Absurdity of Manipulating Joy
The Absurdity of Wisdom

8. The Gift of Now
Ecclesiastes 2:12-14 I turned to consider wisdom and madness and folly; for what can the one do who comes after the king? Only what has already been done. Then I saw that wisdom excels folly as light excels darkness. The wise have eyes in their head, but fools walk in darkness.

9. The Gift of Now
Ecclesiastes 2:15-17 Then I said to myself, “What happens to the fool will happen to me also; why then have I been so very wise?” And I said to myself that this also is vanity. For there is no enduring remembrance of the wise or of fools, seeing that in the days to come all will have been long forgotten. How can the wise die just like fools?

10. The Gift of Now
Ecclesiastes 2:15-17 So I hated life, because what is done under the sun was grievous to me; for all is vanity and a chasing after wind.

11. The Absurdity of Manipulating Joy The Absurdity of Wisdom
The Gift of Now
The Absurdity of Manipulating Joy
The Absurdity of Wisdom
The Gift of Joy in the Now

12. The Gift of Now
Ecclesiastes 2:24-26 There is nothing better for mortals than to eat and drink, and find enjoyment in their toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God; apart from him who can eat or who can have enjoyment?

13. The Gift of Now Ecclesiastes 2:24-26
For to the one who pleases him God gives wisdom and knowledge and joy; but to the sinner he gives the work of gathering and heaping, only to give to one who pleases God. This also is vanity and a chasing after wind.

14. The Gift of Now
Ecclesiastes 3:11-13 He has made everything suitable for its time; moreover he has put a sense of past and future into their minds, yet they cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.

15. The Gift of Now Ecclesiastes 3:11-13
 I know that there is nothing better for them than to be happy and enjoy themselves as long as they live; moreover, it is God’s gift that all should eat and drink and take pleasure in all their toil.

16. The Gift of Now Ecclesiastes 11:7-10
Light is sweet, and it is pleasant for the eyes to see the sun.
Even those who live many years should rejoice in them all; yet let them remember that the days of darkness will be many. All that comes is vanity.

17. The Gift of Now Ecclesiastes 11:7-10
Rejoice, young man, while you are young, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Follow the inclination of your heart and the desire of your eyes, but know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment.
 Banish anxiety from your mind, and put away pain from your body; for youth and the dawn of life are vanity

18. The Gift of Now
Ecclesiastes 11:7-10 Rejoice, young man, while you are young, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Follow the inclination of your heart and the desire of your eyes, but know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment.

19. The Gift of Now Ecclesiastes 11:7-10
Banish anxiety from your mind, and put away pain from your body; for youth and the dawn of life are vanity

20. The Gift of Now Matthew 6:34
So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today.

21. The Gift of Now
Romans 8:18-21 I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us.

22. The Gift of Now Romans 8:18-21
For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God; for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.