Wednesday, August 21, 2013

THE MEANING OF LIFE: PART 9 OF 12

                          A CHAPTER BY CHAPTER STUDY OF THE BOOK OF                                                                      ECCLESIASTES......CHAPTER 9

                                          "THE END OF EVERY MAN"
The very second we are born, we commence our journey back to the Father, the God Who created us. The Father controls even the destinations of those who choose to live for the Son and those who do not. Solomon (whose real birth name is Jedidiah) addresses this truth about, well, life - that the end of all persons, is an appointment with death. As we see in our own sphere of influence, life is very fragile and we are just one breath away from eternity. So how does the King, who is now calling himself the preacher think we should live? Well, read on....

Ecclesiastes 9

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Men Are in the Hand of God

For I have taken all this to my heart and explain [a]it that righteous men, wise men, and their deeds are in the hand of God. Man does not know whether it will be love or hatred; anything [b]awaits him.
It is the same for all. There is one fate for the righteous and for the wicked; for the good, for the clean and for the unclean; for the man who offers a sacrifice and for the one who does not sacrifice. As the good man is, so is the sinner; as the swearer is, so is the one who [c]is afraid to swear. This is an evil in all that is done under the sun, that there isone fate for all men. Furthermore, the hearts of the sons of men are full of evil and insanity is in their hearts throughout their lives. Afterwards they go to the dead. For whoever is joined with all the living, there is hope; surely a live dog is better than a dead lion. For the living know they will die; but the dead do not know anything, nor have they any longer a reward, for their memory is forgotten. Indeed their love, their hate and their zeal have already perished, and they will no longer have a share in all that is done under the sun.
Go theneat your bread in happiness and drink your wine with a cheerful heart; for God has already approved your works. Let your clothes be white all the time, and let not oil be lacking on your head. Enjoy life with the woman whom you love all the days of your [d]fleeting life which He has given to you under the sun[e]; for this is your reward in life and in your toil in which you have labored under the sun.

No comments: