God Speaks
The Teacher Searches for the Meaning of Life
Verse of the Day: A person can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in their own toil. This too, I see,, is ffrom the hand of God, for without Him, who can eat or find enjoyment? To the person who pleases Him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner He gives the task of gathering and storing wealth to hand to the one who pleases God. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind. (Ecclesiates 2:24-26 NIV 2011)
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Watch TBR Day 170
We Respond
Reflection: Consider the following questions regarding Ecclesiastes 1-6:
1. What does this chapter tell me about God?
2. What does this chapter tell me about the human beings He created?
Here is one possible answer to each of these questions. Ask the Holy Spirit if there are any others for you personally to ponder.
Ecclesiastes 1
1. God and His ways are what give meaning to nature and to people’s lives.
2. Whatever people pursue apart from God–understanding, knowledge, wisdom–are all as meaningless as chasing the wind.
Ecclesiastes 2
1. A love relationship with God is the source of true pleasure and deep joy.
2. People who pursue pleasure, property, wealth, and possessions, come up as empty at their death as those who don’t.
Ecclesiastes 3
1. God has determined there to be a time for everything–birth/death, planting/harvesting, killing/healing, crying/laughing, grieving/dancing, etc.
2. The purpose of all people is to fear God, because in due season God will judge everyone, both good and bad for all their deeds.
Ecclesiastes 4
1. God wants people to live by quietly trusting in Him.
2. People are to work together for their mutual happiness, not going it alone or envying what others have.
Ecclesiastes 5
1. God knows whether or not you will keep your promises to Him.
2. People should say nothing rather than make a promise (especially to God) and not keep it.
Ecclesiastes 6
1. God is the one who determines the future.
2. The “Teacher’s” advice to people is, “Enjoy what you have rather than desiring what you don’t have.”
Prayer:
3. How might I pray regarding Ecclesiastes 1-6?
Dear LORD God, thank You for all the blessings You have given me. Help me to be continually thankful for the full and meaningful life You have for me. Help me to see things from Your perspective, because that is where I will find true meaning in life. As the “Teacher” observed, it is better to join with and serve others than to “go it alone.” Give me a quiet trust in and awe of You that brings meaning to this hopeless, chaotic world. Please help me to have an eternal perspective rather than focusing on the meaninglessness of things “under the sun.” LORD, I look to Your Holy Spirit to show me Your right times to bring about birth/cause death, plant/harvest, kill/heal, cry/laugh, grieve/dance, scatter/gather, embrace/turn away, search/quit searching, keep/throw away, tear/mend, be quiet/speak up, love/hate. Help me to be immediately obedient to whatever You say. This will not only bring meaning to my life but will bring You glory, LORD. AMEN
Action: (Ask God, the Holy Spirit, if He wants you to work on one of the suggestions below or something else more personal that He points out.)
4. What action does the LORD want me to take in response to Ecclesiastes 1-6? With the help of God’s Holy Spirit:
- I will thank God for all the meaningful things and relationships He has placed in my life.
- I will google “Turn! Turn! Turn!” by The Byrds, a song based on Ecclesiastes 3, and think about its meaning.
- I will determine to be happy and enjoy my life as long as I can.
- I will be careful to keep my promises or not make them.
Share: I plan to share what I’ve learned with __________.