1. Man in search of Meaning in life MAKING SENSE OF THE BOOK OF ECCLESIASTES Through a viable interpretive strategy SCBC Adult Sunday school Class – Session Four Kenneth Lau March 17, 2013

2. Session Overview Objectives
Reading the text in accordance with the adopted interpretive strategy
Linking Qoheleth’s thoughts together
Drawing the conclusion
Developing our coping strategy

3. Unfolding the fourth Division Chapters - 10:1 - 12:14
Using the model used in the previous division
Identify the issues covered within this section?
What are some of the physical changes we all will face over age?
What has the text meant to you?
Are there any particular features evident to you?

4. More wisdom for practical living
Spoilers of wisdom - a metaphor (10:1, 2)
Drawing from observations of living
Everyday examples 10:3-4, 8-15,
The comedy of errors 10:5-7, 16-17
More truth 11:1-7
Words of advice before the troubled times 11:8-10
Be happy...banish anxiety...give joy...but know...judgement

5. The home stretch... The grim realities of aging and death
The declining body 12:2-5
Death comes 12:6-7
Act before the days of trouble
Remember your creator 12:1

6. The parting words of the narrator
A wise teacher 12:9
Impart knowledge that is upright and true 12:9-11
Beware endless pursuit of knowledge 12:12
Fear God an keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind...for he judges 12:13-14

7. Sharing what you have found in the Book of Ecclesiastes
What have you found about God?
What have you found about humanity?
What have you found about wisdom?
What have you found about life under the sun?

8. “Under the Sun” in a Postmodern world
Reject all claim absolute authority
Performance driven, highly competitive
Instant gratification
Information overload
Relativity in a desensitized moral culture
Interest based relationship
Seeking ... but lost in inexplicable loneliness, insecurity and confusion

9. What do all these mean to us?
Without realizing “Who we are?”, we will continue to seek meaning, purpose, value and enjoyment of life with the wrong frame of reference
Get stuck, feel unsatisfied, depressed and drifting through an apparent meaningless existence despite all efforts and good intentions

10. Qoheleth’s approach in dealing with unresolved issues
Recognition
Acceptance
Conviction and faith

11. Recognition
Man’s life is “hebel” when compared to the cycles of nature
We cannot know what holds for us and what comes after us
The externals will never satisfy the heart/eternal
Self referenced/sought wisdom is illusive and inadequate
There is order and timing in everything

12. Acceptance Toil “n” strife are part of life 1:3
All lives return to dust on death 3:20-21
We come to this world naked and so we leave 2:21
We do not know it all 6:1, 8:17, 11:5
God judges all and every deed 3:17,12:13
There is injustice in this fallen world 7:15

13. Faith based understanding reached
Human spirit returns to the Creator 12:7
It is good and proper to eat, drink and find satisfaction in our work 2:24, 3:11-12, 8:15, 9:7
God is the enabler for our enjoyment of life, a gift from His hand 2:24
Be happy, banish anxiety...follow the ways of your heart...but know that for all these things, God will bring you to judgement 11:8. Apply wisdom in life
Remember the creator in the days of your youth before the days of trouble 12:1

14. Reaffirming the Message
Crucial actions:
Acknowledge our creatureliness and embrace the unknown
Accept God’s gifts and enjoy our portion 2:24, 3:12-13, 22; 5:18-19, 8:15, 9:19
Refrain from being over-anxious and deprive yourself of joyful living while you capable
Remember that the creator will call into account on all you do - therefore fear God 12:3
We can transcend our struggled lived experience with joys of living and hope for eternity through faith and reverence to a sovereign God-creator
“Death is not the end but the impetus of living a “good” life

15. What a waste to have died without enjoying life and known what it was all about! Walter Kaiser