Bible Study - Wisdom (6) - Full Contentment - Ecclesaistes 11:7-10; 12:12-14

Bible Study – Wisdom (6) – Full Contentment – April 7, 2019

This is our sixth and final lesson in this series entitled “Finding Meaning: Wisdom from Ecclesiastes.”

Our focus scripture is Ecclesiastes 11:7-10; 12:12-14.

Obedience is the key to a full life.

Enjoy the life GOD has given you and the work GOD has given you. Life is a gift. That is why every person lives in the present. Every breathe and beat of the heart is a gift from GOD. GOD’s desire is for every person to live and enjoy life but every person will be held accountable how he or she enjoys it.

In Romans 1:20:

20 From the creation of the world His invisible attributes, that is, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what He has made. As a result, people are without excuse.

Let’s continue in Romans 1:21-32:

21 For though they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God or show gratitude. Instead, their thinking became nonsense, and their senseless minds were darkened.

22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools

23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man, birds, four-footed animals, and reptiles.

24 Therefore God delivered them over in the cravings of their hearts to sexual impurity, so that their bodies were degraded among themselves.

25 They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served something created instead of the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

From Idolatry to Depravity

26 This is why God delivered them over to degrading passions. For even their females exchanged natural sexual intercourse for what is unnatural.

27 The males in the same way also left natural sexual intercourse with females and were inflamed in their lust for one another. Males committed shameless acts with males and received in their own persons the appropriate penalty for their perversion.

28 And because they did not think it worthwhile to have God in their knowledge, God delivered them over to a worthless mind to do what is morally wrong.

29 They are filled with all unrighteousness, evil, greed, and wickedness. They are full of envy, murder, disputes, deceit, and malice. They are gossips,

30 slanderers, God-haters, arrogant, proud, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents,

31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, and unmerciful.

32 Although they know full well God's just sentence-that those who practice such things deserve to die-they not only do them, but even applaud others who practice them.

GOD has made it clear what happens when those who see HIS handiwork turn their backs on HIM and follow their own desires.

There is a wisdom of the world and a wisdom that only comes from GOD. Following the wisdom of the world leads to destruction and following the wisdom from GOD leads to eternal life.

Each person has a decision to make. My prayer is that you have made that decision and have chosen to accept JESUS as your Savior and to make HIM the LORD of your life; or that you will make that decision now. Some may say but I am old or have been so wicked. As long as you have breath, you have hope. Do you recall the last verse in 1 Corinthians 3:9-15:

9 For we are God's co-workers. You are God's field, God's building.

10 According to God's grace that was given to me, as a skilled master builder I have laid a foundation, and another builds on it. But each one must be careful how he builds on it,

11 because no one can lay any other foundation than what has been laid-that is, Jesus Christ.

12 If anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, or straw,

13 each one's work will become obvious, for the day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire; the fire will test the quality of each one's work.

14 If anyone's work that he has built survives, he will receive a reward.

15 If anyone's work is burned up, it will be lost, but he will be saved; yet it will be like an escape through fire.

It is never too late to become a Christian and build upon the foundation of JESUS The CHRIST and HIS righteousness. (2 Corinthians 5:21) It is Satan’s desire for you to delay not GOD’S. The length of time upon earth is not the issue. The issue is you making the decision to accept JESUS as your Savior. Choosing JESUS is wisdom.

King Solomon used light to describe wisdom. When the issues of life are exposed to the light of truth from GOD’S perspective and with HIS help, we can see a path forward. Having the right relationship with GOD is key.

Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.

Let’s explore!

Let’s read Ecclesiastes 11:7-10:

Remember Your Creator While Young

7 Light is sweet, and it pleases the eyes to see the sun.

8 However many years anyone may live, let them enjoy them all. But let them remember the days of darkness, for there will be many. Everything to come is meaningless.

9 You who are young, be happy while you are young, and let your heart give you joy in the days of your youth. Follow the ways of your heart and whatever your eyes see, but know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment.

10 So then, banish anxiety from your heart and cast off the troubles of your body, for youth and vigor are meaningless.

What was the first thing GOD created? Let’s read Genesis 1:1-5:

1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness covered the surface of the watery depths, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. [I love the word “hovering.” It means that GOD was checking every minute detail to make certain HIS next step was ready to be taken. All systems were flashing “GO” and GOD said ---]

3 Then God said, "Let there be light," and there was light.

4 God saw that the light was good, and God separated the light from the darkness.

5 God called the light "day," and He called the darkness "night." Evening came, and then morning: the first day.

Light is vital to sustain life upon earth and Spiritual light is vital to sustain eternal life for all who place their faith in JESUS.

Satan attempts to lure mankind into thinking that living life upon earth in obedience to GOD is boring and a waste of time. But it is far from it. Obediently following JESUS is the essence of life.

Light is sweet when we are in darkness but Spiritual light is even sweeter when we are in Spiritual darkness.

Our young son and I went spelunking or cave exploring with a guide with his scout troop years ago. The guide stressed that all needed at least two sources of light. The guide had three sources of light. Light was vital to our safety. Our first cave was, according to our guide, the closest to going into a wild cave. A wild cave is one that has not been explored and mapped. We went behind a man’s property where there was a rock formation with a reasonably narrow opening. We entered the cave and descended a makeshift ladder made from a pine tree.

We had to drive to the second cave. We spent the night in the second cave that we explored. In the second cave, we had to sign in and give a time when we were expecting to exit. If we failed to come out within that time period, a search team would be deployed, at our expense, to come find us. It was interesting and challenging. Glad, I did it then because no way today. I did learn the value in having a reliable light source. The same is true as we travel along the path of life. Let, JESUS be the eternal light who guides you as you journey through life.

GOD is constantly reaching out to all who are in Spiritual darkness and calling them into an intimate, loving, personal relationship with HIM through faith in HIS only Son, JESUS.

As Christians, JESUS tells us that we are the light of the world and the salt of the earth. We have the Holy Spirit dwelling within us. We are to share as GOD gives us opportunity.

Verse 8 reveals that we, as humans, are to enjoy life but we must keep in mind that there will be a time of darkness. There are two schools of thought (1) dark days while we are alive upon earth (2) we all will die. No person knows how long he or she will live upon earth so live every day to its fullest because you will be dead longer than you are alive.

But when you live life to its fullest, keep in mind, as written in verse 9 “but know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment.”

We are to enjoy life but remember there will be judgment day, so choose wisely what you do. What is the best and wisest thing to do with your time upon earth?

It is not exploring the things life has to offer because King Solomon had explored all of the things life upon earth had to offer and found them to be meaningless. But there was one thing all of his exploring led him to conclude -----

Let’s read Ecclesiastes 12:12-14:

12 Be warned, my son, of anything in addition to them. Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body.

13 Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind.

14 For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.

King Solomon gave his conclusion to all that he had studied:

-         Fear GOD (This is not to be afraid of GOD but to honor and respect GOD. Build the right relationship with GOD through faith in JESUS.)

-         Keep HIS commandments. Keeping HIS commandments is not earning your way to heaven but it is to be obedient to what GOD’S Word reveals to all – Faith in JESUS is ground zero.

Since the birth, life, death, resurrection, ascension and the coming of the Holy Spirit, those who have placed their faith in JESUS not only receive eternal life through the miracle of rebirth but in the words of JESUS as recorded in John 5:24:

19 Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.

20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, and he will show him even greater works than these, so that you will be amazed.

21 For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it.

22 Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son,

23 that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him.

24 “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.

JESUS relied upon HIS relationship with GOD HIS Father and as Christians we must rely upon our relationship with GOD our Father through faith in JESUS.

Do you know JESUS as your Savior? If not, ask HIM to forgive you for your sins believing that HE was and is the perfect sacrifice WHO willingly gave HIS life just for you because of your sins. HIS shed blood upon the cross, paid in full, for your sins and opened the path between you and GOD. Acknowledging JESUS as your Savior, through faith, results in the miracle of rebirth taking place in your life. Your faith in JESUS has made you whole. The Divine Sperm of GOD has united with your spirit and changed your natural dna to Spiritual DNA. Through faith you have been born into GOD’S Family with all the rights and privileges of being a Son or Daughter of GOD. It cost JESUS HIS sinless life but it costs you a decision. Is eternal life with GOD worth a YES to the call of JESUS to give your life to HIM through faith? The decision is yours to make. Choose wisely! Blessings!!!