Achievement and Wealth
Comments for Study 5
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I. In Awe of God (5:1-7)
* The drawing to the right titled "Jesus Drives Out the Money Changers from the Temple" was in The Holman Bible and is now in public domain.
>1. What should be our attitude when we approach God? (1)
* Ecclesiastes 5:1 "Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong."
* "Guard your steps when you go to the house of God."
* "Go near to listen"
* "rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools,"
* "who do not know that they do wrong."
*
>Why should we be hasty to speak before God?
* Ecclesiastes 5:2 "Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few."
* "Do not be quick with your mouth"
* "do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God"
* "God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few."
* Superficial religion is a substitute for fear and love of God for the self-justified while living under the sun. This is the theme in the first 7 verses of chapter 5. I need to guard and watch my actions before God (1). I need to think about what I do and say and examine my heart.
A foolish person puts on a shell of religion. Their heart and mind are not in it. They do not know what they are doing. They do not know that shell religion is evil in the eyes of God. They do not listen nor obey God (1).
The tongue can be more powerful than a ship's rutter. The tongue can be more destructive than a termite behind walls. I should not be in a hurry to speak before God (2). When I pray my words are to be precise and to the point. Jesus said, "Let your "yes" be yes and your "no" be no. I need to listen to God more than speak to him. Prayerful and grateful meditation is wise.
Dreams are mysterious and descriptive. A starving person will dream of a banquet. A thirsty person will dream of swimming in pools. A person of worry dreams often and their dreams are of endlessly trying to solve something they have little or no control over and also of bliss. Similar is the speech of a fool with many words. Rash words are spoken by fools (3).
>When is it hard to find what to pray for? (3; Romans 8:26-27)
* Ecclesiastes 5:3 "As a dream comes when there are many cares, so the speech of a fool when there are many words."
* Romans 8:26-27 "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will."
* "As a dream comes when there are many cares"
* "so the speech of a fool when there are many words."
*
*
>2. If we make a vow to God what is important? (4)
* Ecclesiastes 5:4 "When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow."
* Malachi 1:14 "Cursed is the cheat who has an acceptable male in his flock and vows to give it, but then sacrifices a blemished animal to the Lord. For I am a great king," says the LORD Almighty, "and my name is to be feared among the nations."
* "When you make a vow to God"
* "do not delay in fulfilling it... fulfill your vow"
* "He has no pleasure in fools"
*
>What can we learn about the Lord who keeps his vows and wants us to keep our vows? (5; Proverbs 20:25)
* Ecclesiastes 5:5 "It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it."
* Proverbs 20:25 "It is a trap for a man to dedicate something rashly and only later to consider his vows."
* "It is better not to vow"
* "than to make a vow and not fulfill it."
*
*
* The drawing to the right titled "Samuel Meets Saul" is in a book by Luiken, Jan (1649-1712) and quotes verse 6. Saul tears a piece from Samuel's robe. The Dutch artist Caspar Luiken (1672-1708) drew and etched this emblem, and his father, Johannes Luyken (1649-1712), wrote the accompanying poem. Courtesy of the Digital Image Archive, Pitts Theology Library, Candler School of Theology, Emory University: http://www.pitts.emory.edu.
>How does verse 6 reveal the importance of keeping vows? (6)
* Ecclesiastes 5:6 "Do not let your mouth lead you into sin. And do not protest to the [temple] messenger, "My vow was a mistake." Why should God be angry at what you say and destroy the work of your hands?"
* ""Do not let your mouth lead you into sin."
* "And do not protest to the [temple] messenger,"
* "Why should God be angry at what you say and destroy the work of your hands?"
* The concept of making a vow and promise often means little when living a life under the sun. We say, "I promise...", "By God, I am going to...", and "I vow that I will..." to assure and strengthen our resolve and will. And we say vows and promises to assure and comfort someone. And sometimes we say them as a sware. Yet, most of the time we have so little control of ourselves and the world that we really don't know if we can keep promises and vows.
The Bible does not forbid vows and promises. In fact, it has a lot to say about them (Num. 9:6, Deut. 23:21-23, Eccl. 5:4-7, Matt. 5:33-37). A fool in God's eyes is not someone who is not educated or intelligent. God says a fool is a person who does not learn, refuses to acknowledge the truth, has no moral or ethical integrity, and who makes a vow and does not or will not make every effort to keep the vow (4).
God says, "It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it." (5) One of the often overlooked parts of the human soul is our will. Personal will is a desire and motivation within emotions and mind that I am going to do something. My will can lead to simple-to-achieve acts such as getting out of bed, eating, and walking. My will can lead to hard-to-achieve acts like winning an Olympic gold medal, creating something new and amazing, and raising accomplished and successful children.
A vow is verbalizing or writing our will. Words spoken have power over me and will lead to consequences. God warns, "Do not let your mouth lead you into sin." (6) If my will is totally set on accomplishing something, and I make a vow I lock it in my soul and forever sets consequences. Words spoken and written are eternally accountable. Never take them lightly.
What happens when I make a vow and for whatever reason, I did not keep it? I cannot make excuses as Saul did to Samuel the prophet and messenger of the temple (6). For when Saul did not keep his vow to Samuel he had an excuse and not a confession of sin. His life work was destroyed and the kingdom of Israel was taken from him and his descendants forever.
"Much dreaming and many words are meaningless. Therefore stand in awe of and fear God."
>What should be at the heart of worship; words, vows, or awe? (7)
* Ecclesiastes 5:7 "Much dreaming and many words are meaningless. Therefore stand in awe of God."
* "Much dreaming and many words are meaningless"
* "Therefore stand in awe of God."
*
II. Wealth Meaningless (5:8-20)
>3. What should all officials remember? (8)
* Ecclesiastes 5:8 "If you see the poor oppressed in a district, and justice and rights denied, do not be surprised at such things; for one official is eyed by a higher one, and over them both are others higher still."
* "If you see the poor oppressed in a district, and justice and rights denied"
* "do not be surprised at such things;"
* "for one official is eyed by a higher one, and over them both are others higher still."
*
>Does blessings affect only one person? (9)
* Ecclesiastes 5:9 "The increase from the land is taken by all; the king himself profits from the fields."
* "The increase from the land is taken by all"
* "the king himself profits from the fields."
*
>Why is it important to know we do not live alone? (Ephesians 4:29-32; and 1 Timothy 6:17-19)
* Ephesians 4:29-32 "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you."
* 1 Timothy 6:17-19 "Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life."
* Human society under the sun is made and maintained by flawed humans. The people who govern society obtain money and wealth from those they are meant to govern. The more layers of hierarchy the more finances are required and often demanded (8,9).
When the poor are oppressed, and justice and rights are denied we should not be surprised because this has been going on in every human society to one degree or another for thousands of years (8.). The government style and how people come to power do not suddenly change selfish human nature.
We believe that wealth will bring total peace, deep satisfaction, and contentment. When these do not come we do not suddenly realize that our belief in the healing powers of wealth is flawed. Rather we believe we have not achieved the goal of total peace, deep satisfaction, and contentment because we do not have enough wealth. Whoever loves money, therefore, never has money enough. Whoever loves wealth, therefore, is never satisfied with his income. They keep seeking more because "just a little bit more" surely will bring total peace, deep satisfaction, and contentment.
Many have unconditional love for wealth. Even though it never satisfies they want more of it.
Life under the sun is chasing after the wind.
>4. What is the problem of greed and love of money? (10)
* Ecclesiastes 5:10 "Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless."
* "Whoever loves money never has money enough"
* "whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income."
*
>What is the trap of materialism? (11)
* Ecclesiastes 5:11 "As goods increase, so do those who consume them. And what benefit are they to the owner except to feast his eyes on them?"
* "As goods increase, so do those who consume them."
* "And what benefit are they to the owner"
* " except to feast his eyes on them?"
* I am examining my room and the place where I live to see what I have chosen to own. I have consumed more than I know. Some of what I own has a purpose; a chair, a stove, a bed, and a shower. Yet much that is hanging and laying around is for ambiance; a picture, a statue, a hanging ceiling, and plants. Much of what is laying and hanging around is merely to look at (11).
It does not matter how much I have, when I move I realize that I have much more than what I had realized (11). Two years ago I accepted that much that I owned I hadn't looked at for a while. I have moved several times only to find I was lugging around things I really didn't need and no longer wanted. So I either gave them away, threw them away, or sold them at ridiculously low prices. As my goods increased and became financially acquirable, so I consumed them only later to throw them away.
What is better? Buy many flower beds or work the ground, plant seeds and plants, to nurture them and admire the results of the labor? Which makes a person content and happy when they sleep? The sleep of a laborer is sweet, whether he eats little or much, but the abundance of a rich man permits him no sleep (12). A rich man worries about not having enough and losing what they have.
>How does material priorities affect a person's sleep? (12)
* Ecclesiastes 5:12 "The sleep of a laborer is sweet, whether he eats little or much, but the abundance of a rich man permits him no sleep."
* "The sleep of a laborer is sweet"
* "whether he eats little or much,"
* "the abundance of a rich man permits him no sleep."
*
>5. Is wealth dependable? (13-14)
* Ecclesiastes 5:13-14 "I have seen a grievous evil under the sun: wealth hoarded to the harm of its owner, or wealth lost through some misfortune, so that when he has a son there is nothing left for him."
* "grievous evil"
* "wealth hoarded to the harm of its owner"
* "wealth lost through some misfortune"
* "so that when he has a son there is nothing left for him."
* Wealth; most want it, most believe they don't have enough, most toil endlessly to obtain it, many fear losing it, and some hoard it to the harm of its owner (13). Scrooge comes to mind when thinking of this kind of person. Yet, what about my actions? How much and to what extent does obtaining wealth affect my feelings, thoughts, and actions?
Jesus taught, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." (Luke 12:15)
Jesus also said, "What good is it if a man gain's the whole world, yet forfeits his soul?" God is not impressed with my wealth and my possessions so much so that when I die I won't take any of them with me (16).
>What is a good approach to our work? (15)
* Ecclesiastes 5:15 "Naked a man comes from his mother's womb, and as he comes, so he departs. He takes nothing from his labor that he can carry in his hand."
* "Naked a man comes from his mother's womb"
* "He takes nothing from his labor that he can carry in his hand."
*
>Will any occupation bring complete satisfaction? (16-17)
* Ecclesiastes 5:16-17 "This too is a grievous evil: As a man comes, so he departs, and what does he gain, since he toils for the wind? All his days he eats in darkness, with great frustration, affliction and anger."
* "As a man comes, so he departs"
* "what does he gain"
* "since he toils for the wind?"
* "All his days he eats in darkness, with great frustration, affliction and anger."
*
>6. Should the troubles of working keep us from doing so? (18; and 2 Thess. 3:8-13)
* Ecclesiastes 5:18 "Then I realized that it is good and proper for a man to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in his toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given him--for this is his lot."
* 2 Thessalonians 3:8-13 "nor did we eat anyone's food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to make ourselves a model for you to follow. For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: "If a man will not work, he shall not eat." We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies. Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat. And as for you, brothers, never tire of doing what is right."
* "Then I realized that it is good and proper for a man"
* "to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in his toilsome labor"
* "under the sun during the few days of life God has given him--for this is his lot."
>Why should we be content in our labor? (19; Philippians 4:11-13; and 1 Timothy 6:6-10)
* Ecclesiastes 5:19 "Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work--this is a gift of God."
* Philippians 4:11-13 "I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength."
* 1 Timothy 6:6-10 "But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs."
* "when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them"
* "to accept his lot and be happy in his work--this is a gift of God."
* The theme of this book is repeated here a third time. Yet in each place, it is stated in a slightly different way (2:24-25; 3:12-13, 22; 5:18-20; 8:15; 9:7). Each person has a choice; accept that God exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
Life without God is meaningless toil to build wealth because we believe that will bring peace, satisfaction, and happiness. Yet no matter how much we obtain we die to find it was all chasing after the wind, meaning it is never obtained (16). The person who chooses to deny God eats (spends life) in darkness with great frustration, affliction, and anger (17).
Life with God is good and proper. We eat and drink, and find satisfaction in our toilsome labor (18). We know that when God gives wealth and possessions and enables us to enjoy them it is his gift (19). Such people won't give much thought to their brief lives because God keeps them occupied with the joy in their hearts (20).
Yes, it is possible to go through life with toilsome labor and yet have joy. "How much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ." (Roman 5:17) Through Jesus, the gift of God is more than the wealth of physical possession. The gifts of the Spirit are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, forbearance, goodness, and self-control.
>What does verse 20 say about worrying and peace? (20; Matthew 6:25-27; Philippians 4:4-7)
* Ecclesiastes 5:20 "He seldom reflects on the days of his life, because God keeps him occupied with gladness of heart."
* Matthew 6:25-27 "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?"
* Philippians 4:4-7 "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
* "He seldom reflects on the days of his life"
* "because God keeps him occupied with gladness of heart."
*
III. The Time Man Walks on the Earth (6:1-12)
* The drawing to the right titled "Jesus Parable about The Rich Man Who Set Up Greater Barns" was in The Holman Bible and is now in public domain.
>7. What burden accompanies wealth, possessions, and honor? (1-2)
* Ecclesiastes 6:1-2 "I have seen another evil under the sun, and it weighs heavily on men: God gives a man wealth, possessions and honor, so that he lacks nothing his heart desires, but God does not enable him to enjoy them, and a stranger enjoys them instead. This is meaningless, a grievous evil."
* "I have seen another evil under the sun... This is meaningless, a grievous evil."
* "it weighs heavily on men"
* "God gives a man wealth, possessions and honor, so that he lacks nothing his heart desires"
* "but God does not enable him to enjoy them,
* What is it you want and desire? Why do you want and desire that? Search to the core. The fundamentals of all desires and wants are love, joy, peace, satisfaction, happiness, and contentment. So then, will that want and desire provide these fundamental core human needs?
Solomon has been considering wealth as a means to obtain the fundamental core human needs throughout the book of Ecclesiastes. A known truth is that the more wealth a person has the more access to the things of this world they have. Solomon had more wealth than any of his neighbors, peers, and generations before and after. Yet in the latter years of his life, he was left with hard questions to answer as he searched the core of his soul. The wisest man of his time came to some shocking realizations.
One realization is classified as evil (1) for it is a heavy weight on many souls. God gives many wealth, possessions, and honor. Yet, God does not let these have the power for people who obtained them to enjoy them. God does not allow nor give many people the power to enjoy the wealth, possessions, and honor he gives them. Instead, someone else enjoys the wealth, possession, and honor they were given (2). Solomon declares the conclusion, "This is pointless and a painful tragedy." It is a grievous evil.
Consider carefully what you want and desire. Will it satisfy core fundamental human needs? The ability to enjoy God's worldly blessings is a bonus, a gift of God, not a right or guarantee. God calls the person with wealth and possessions a fool if they haven't found the truth of how to be rich toward God.
Jesus said that God says too many, "'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?' This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God." (Luke 12:20-21)
>What does verse 3-6 say about the important of rest?
* Ecclesiastes 6:3-6 "A man may have a hundred children and live many years; yet no matter how long he lives, if he cannot enjoy his prosperity and does not receive proper burial, I say that a stillborn child is better off than he. It comes without meaning, it departs in darkness, and in darkness its name is shrouded. Though it never saw the sun or knew anything, it has more rest than does that man even if he lives a thousand years twice over but fails to enjoy his prosperity. Do not all go to the same place?"
* "A man may have a hundred children and live many years"
* "if he cannot enjoy his prosperity and does not receive proper burial"
* "it has more rest"
* "but fails to enjoy his prosperity."
* "Do not all go to the same place?"
* "I say that a stillborn child is better off than he. It comes without meaning, it departs in darkness, and in darkness its name is shrouded."
* God gives people gifts so that we can thank him and enjoy them. If all a person does is work hard labor to obtain more and thus does not enjoy the gifts of God and thank him, then it would be better if that person had not been born. Even if rich people live many years without experiencing anything good, don't they die worse than a stillborn who at least was in peace? This is the sum of verses 3 thru 6.
Yet what are gifts of God? Do we just work to eat? Everything we work hard for goes into our mouths and yet we are not satisfied (7). There are many short-lived rewards of life such as this. Satisfying the seven senses is ever-increasing labor when it is a person's sole goal. For the senses can never satisfy the soul with a dead spirit. The brain demands the senses to seek for more as it searches to awaken the dead spirit that its senses, yet does not comprehend. Short-lived rewards are not our chief end, though they are meant to be gifts.
"The gift (fruit) of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-25).
>How does the Sabbath day stress the need for rest in God? (Exodus 16:22-23; Jeremiah 17:22; John 5:16-18)
* Exodus 16:22-23 "On the sixth day, they gathered twice as much--two omers for each person--and the leaders of the community came and reported this to Moses. He said to them, "This is what the LORD commanded: 'Tomorrow is to be a day of rest, a holy Sabbath to the LORD. So bake what you want to bake and boil what you want to boil. Save whatever is left and keep it until morning.'"
* Jeremiah 17:22 "Do not bring a load out of your houses or do any work on the Sabbath, but keep the Sabbath day holy, as I commanded your forefathers."
* John 5:16-18 "So, because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jews persecuted him. Jesus said to them, "My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working." For this reason the Jews tried all the harder to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God."
*
>8. What is the pitfall of working for the stomach? (7; and 1 Corinthians 6:12-13; Philippians 3:19-21)
* Ecclesiastes 6:7 "All man's efforts are for his mouth, yet his appetite is never satisfied."
* 1 Corinthians 6:12-13 "Everything is permissible for me"--but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible for me"--but I will not be mastered by anything. "Food for the stomach and the stomach for food"--but God will destroy them both. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body."
* Philippians 3:19-21 "Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body."
* "All man's efforts are for his mouth"
* "yet his appetite is never satisfied."
>What are the answers and conclusion to the questions in verse 8?
* Ecclesiastes 6:8 "What advantage has a wise man over a fool? What does a poor man gain by knowing how to conduct himself before others?"
* "What advantage has a wise man over a fool?"
* "What does a poor man gain by knowing how to conduct himself before others?"
*
>What does verse 9 mean?
* Ecclesiastes 6:9 "Better what the eye sees than the roving of the appetite. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind."
* "Better what the eye sees than the roving of the appetite."
*
* The way we interact with others is important. Every society, social group, and personal socializing has rules of conduct. The rules (boundaries) are sometimes good and other times evil. These boundaries are known though unspoken, and often overstepped for a variety of reasons; some reasons are good, other reasons are evil.
Most human societies place a higher value on the wise and wealthy. These values are a part of establishing social boundaries. Though many foolish and poor people know how to conduct themselves before others they are usually overlooked and thus gain little if nothing in social settings (8,9). Solomon considered the complicity of these debatable and elusive rewards in life based on wealth and intelligence.
Often our damaged human nature deals with debatable and elusive rewards in human society with uncontrollable impulses and addictions. One such addiction is eating disorders (10). Many respond to social interactions by refusing to eat or by eating too much and/or unhealthy foods.
Eating disorders have a devastating effect on the body that only exasperates the problem. Solomon concludes, "This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind."
Recognizing our powerlessness to escape the trap of an eating disorder and calling upon the love, justice, and power of God can an eating disorder be overcome.
>9. If we cannot contend with someone stronger what can we do? (10)
* Ecclesiastes 6:10 "Whatever exists has already been named, and what man is has been known; no man can contend with one who is stronger than he."
* "Whatever exists has already been named"
* "what man is has been known"
* "no man can contend with one who is stronger than he."
*
>How is simple words often better than complicated words? (11)
* Ecclesiastes 6:11 "The more the words, the less the meaning, and how does that profit anyone?"
* "The more the words, the less the meaning"
* "how does that profit anyone?"
*
*
* Verses 10-12 consider God and humans. God has already named everything that has ever and will ever exist (10). God knows everything about every one of us (10). He knows who we are and why we do what we do; past, present, and future. Nothing takes God by surprise.
Humans individually and collectively are not stronger than God (10). No one can resist God. Yet God does not force himself on anyone. He lets us choose him or reject him. He lets us choose a life of his love or a life of hard frustration and meaningless; a chasing after the wind. The former has great rewards. The latter means death
Us humans speak so much to God and about God. The more words, the less the meaning (11). Some people chatter on and on. Jesus said, "And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for our Father knows what you need before you ask him." (Matthew 6:7-8) Many words do not profit mortals (11).
A famous writer once said in his latter years, "I spent most of my life making plans that never happened." A musician said something similar, "Life is what happens when you're busy making other plans." I do not know my future (12). God does. God seldom tells a person the events of the day as they awake. Better yet he gives me sound advice. "Love me and love my neighbor."
>10. Who should we see to see what is good in this life?
* Ecclesiastes 6:12 "For who knows what is good for a man in life, during the few and meaningless days he passes through like a shadow? Who can tell him what will happen under the sun after he is gone?"
* "For who knows what is good for a man in life"
* "during the few and meaningless days he passes through like a shadow?"
* "Who can tell him what will happen under the sun after he is gone?"
*
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