> Eccl. 5:1-12
> M. Kelly
> March 30, 2013
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> Solomon's conclusion is that all is vanity. He has written as one experiencing it and as an observer.
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> God has sentenced man to a life of futility as we have seen in Romans 1. Man longs for meaning and knows there is meaning but he can't figure it out apart from God.
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> Solomon's under the sun perspective is not meant to lead us to despair, but rather to push us to an under heaven perspective.
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> We need to be weaned off the idea that this world is meant to give us happiness because it won't!
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> We can only live in reality as far as we live according to the truth of the Bible. God tells us the reality of the world in the Bible and we don't need to pursue worldly happiness.
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> 5:1 Worshipping God is listening to God. It's not so God can listen to our worship band or barbershop quartet.
> If we are being exalted, proud and haughty, then we are not worshipping.
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> John 17:17 Thy Word is Truth.
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> We are to be separated out of this world and unto God.
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> Being prepared to listen requires confession and mortification of sin. A prepared heart is contrite and humble in need of nourishment.
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> Christianity is personal. We are to watch our steps and our tongues. Finger pointing is the full time occupation of some people.
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> Solomon says don't be surprised by oppression against the poor. v. 8-9 he writes of one official being over another. We can only guess at what the interpretation of this is.
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> v. Solomon says there is an advantage in that there is a hierarchy and corruption within....it all works for good in the hands of God. Don't be surprised about it, it will still work for good. He isn't saying it is always the case but don't surprised when you see it. We see it everywhere in our society. It's not a perfect system but it is still an advantage.
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> 10-12 Solomon then shifts gears and moves on to the love of money and abundance. There is never enough. It brings many problems. It doesn't bring peace or security but rather many sleepless nights.
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> 1. What do we expect a fallen world to look like? We have a digestion problem. We need to digest the reality of a fallen world. We do not need to be shocked at the oppression of the poor. This is reality! Don't be surprised at corruption....we don't need to be surprised! We expect the world to be better than it is, but why should we be shocked at anything that is going on in our world? We live in a fallen world. That's the way it is. Only God's word gives us a correct perspective of our world. It's God centered, not man centered.
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> What can we think when we see corruption in our world? We can think about the fact that God's word is true. It has already told us that the world is this way!
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> The Bible gives us two perspectives...what should be and what is. "Sin not" and "when you do sin..." What should be and what is.
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> We are to be content in a sanctified sense with the way the world is. We can't do anything about it. This world is sentenced to futility and corruption and we can not change it. So let us find our happiness elsewhere in heaven!
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> 2. Godliness is not tied to being poor. 10-12
> Riches are not the issue! v.11 they are called good things. There is no evil in the thing...evil resides in the heart! He who loves money will not be satisfied with it. The sin is materialism. Having these things is not evil. It is the love of these things that is evil, Loving it over and above God. The love of money is "a" root not "the" root of evil. 1 Tim. 6:1-10.Prov. 3:16-17; Prov. 24:3-4; Riches are to be enjoyed with a heart toward God. Riches are a talent to be managed. Not a prize to be coveted. The heart is the issue!
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> 3. The love of money is insatiable. He who loves money will not be satisfied with money. The text (10) does not say money will not bring satisfaction. It does bring a kind of satisfaction. But it brings no lasting satisfaction. It is the love of money that is the issue! One who loves money will not be satisfied with what he has. He will always be looking for more. You can't get satisfaction out of the abundance of things. Coveting is it's own punishment! Luke 12...the rich fool.
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> Discontent and coveting go hand in hand. There is no coveting where there is no discontent. The discontent have a spiritual disease. They move from one thing of discontent to another. Discontent and coveting is it's own punishment.
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> God owns everything, but we want to own it all. We want to be like God. We want what He has and owns.
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> Where are we looking for our satisfaction?
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> 4. Increase is likely to cause problems. When abundance increases, those who consume them increase. Solomon had thousand of mouths to feed...when his abundance increased so did they. What is the advantage to the owners except to look on. When we have money and abundance then it is consumed. The more we make the more we spend. Things are designed to be used and consumed and we can become slaves to these things. Prov. 30:13 Others will begin to consume our abundance as it increases. Taxes are higher. Charities want hand outs. You buy more stuff. The more you have the more you consume.
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> Prov. 19:4 Wealth adds many friends. Friends who want to consume the wealth.
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> V. 12 Riches even cause problems of sleep! He is worried about making more money. He has bills to pay and many obligations!
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> Solomon continues his discourse on the futility of this world and the love of abundance. He is pointing us toward enjoying our abundance with a heart toward God. We need to look through our possessions and abundance to the Giver of those things instead of trying to get our happiness from those things.
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> 🐠🐟Marsha🐳🐬
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> He is the Α and Ω and everything in between. έστιν ό Α Ω. (Revelation 22:13)
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