Wisdom is a Shelter
Steve McKenzie June 9, 2019
Ecclesiastes 7:1-14
WISDOM IS A SHELTER

 

A Good Name

  • Character vs Appearance
  • Some try to cover up their exhaustion without paying attention to the development of their character.

 

Death is a Teacher

  • “Day of death better than the day of birth (7:1)
  • “house of mourning is better than the house of feasting” (7:2)
  • “for this [death] is the end of all mankind” (7:2)
  • “the living lay this to heart” (7:2)

 

Distracted by Folly

7 Follies trying to distract us from wisdom

  1. Flattery (7:5)
  2. Deflection (7:6)
  3. Power (7:7)
  4. Money (7:7)
  5. Pride (7:8)
  6. Anger (7:9)
  7. Perspective (7:10)

 

God is Inevitable

  • “Accept the way God does things” (7:13)
  • Content in God: “I have learned to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do all things through Christ, who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:11-13).

 

The Gospel Connection

  • LIFE IS UNCERTAIN: James 4:14 “ How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog – it’s here a little while, then it’s gone.”
  • JUDGEMENT FOLLOWS DEATH: Hebrews 9:27 “And just as each person is destined to die and once and after comes judgement, so also Christ was offered once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people.”
  • JESUS IS LIFE: John 11: 25-26 “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never die.”

 

 

Questions for Reflection

  1. What does it look like for you to step off the treadmill of life and listen to wisdom?
  2. How does a healthy perspective of death lead to wisdom?
  3. Which of the ‘7 Fools’ are trying to distract you?
  4. How can you actively surrender to Jesus through this process?