THE MEANING OF LIFE: PART 6 OF 12

                         A CHAPTER BY CHAPTER STUDY OF THE BOOK OF

                                       ECCLESIASTES......CHAPTER 6
                                                    "Robbing God"

How do we rob God? This is one of the more unique themes I gleaned from studying Chapter 6 (see below). Robbing God stems from the wrong view of the Life He gave us and disobeying His statutes. Robbing God stems from the incorrect classification of the "futility of life"; work; temporal possessions etc.

Check out both the entire chapter 6 here, and then watch the brief teaching on it!

Ecclesiastes 6

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

The Futility of Life

6 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun and it is prevalent [a]among men— 2 a man to whom God has given riches and wealth and honor so that his soul lacks nothing of all that he desires; yet God has not empowered him to eat from them, for a foreigner [b]enjoys them. This is [c]vanity and a severe affliction. 3 If a man fathers a hundred children and lives many years, however many [d]they be, but his soul is not satisfied with good things and he does not even have a proper burial, then I say, “Better the miscarriage than he, 4 for it comes in futility and goes into obscurity; and its name is covered in obscurity. 5 It never sees the sun and it never knows anything; [e]it is better off than he.6 Even if the other man lives a thousand years twice and does not [f]enjoy good things—do not all go to one place?”

7 All a man’s labor is for his mouth and yet the [g]appetite is not [h]satisfied. 8 For what advantage does the wise man have over the fool? What advantage does the poor man have, knowing how to walk before the living? 9 What the eyes see is better than what the soul [i]desires. This too is futility and a striving after wind.

10 Whatever exists has already been named, and it is known what man is; for he cannot dispute with him who is stronger than he is. 11 For there are many words which increase futility. What then is the advantage to a man? 12 For who knows what is good for a man during his lifetime, during the few [j]years of his futile life? He will [k]spend them like a shadow. For who can tell a man what will be after him under the sun?

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation

THE MEANING OF LIFE: PART 4 OF 12

                           A CHAPTER BY CHAPTER STUDY OF THE BOOK OF

                                         ECCLESIASTES......CHAPTER 4
                                             "Live, Love, Fellowship"

From time immemorial, man has always tried to oppress and conquer other men, causing pain and havoc in his wake. This is so, even though every single oppressor - from Pharoah to Genghis Khan to Mary, Queen of Scots to Stalin, Mao, Hitler and Castro all go the way of the unredeemed - a place of eternal separation. 

So how does a person live under a such a system? What should your worldview be? Even in a country - America, which is no longer the land of the free and the home of the brave - how are we to persevere in these times? I suggest reading this entire chapter 4 (below) and then watch the message below it to assist in understanding it.  Also, a critical part of persevering in oppressive and stressful times is fellowship or as verse 9 says "two is better than one". We were not meant to be an island but to live and love and reach out and touch others....even in times like these!

Ecclesiastes 4

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

The Evils of Oppression

4 Then I looked again at all the acts of oppression which were being done under the sun. And behold I saw the tears of the oppressed and that they had no one to comfort them; and on the side of their oppressors was power, but they had no one to comfort them. 2 So I congratulated the dead who are already dead more than the living who are still living. 3 But better off than both of them is the one who has never existed, who has never seen the evil activity that is done under the sun.

4 I have seen that every labor and every skill which is done is the result of rivalry between a man and his neighbor. This too is [a]vanity and striving after wind. 5 The fool folds his hands and consumes his own flesh. 6 One hand full of rest is better than two fists full of labor and striving after wind.
7 Then I looked again at vanity under the sun. 8 There was a certain man without a [b]dependent, having neither a son nor a brother, yet there was no end to all his labor. Indeed, his eyes were not satisfied with riches and he never asked, “And for whom am I laboring and depriving myself of pleasure?” This too is vanity and it is a grievous task.

9 Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. 10 For if [c]either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not [d]another to lift him up. 11 Furthermore, if two lie down together they [e]keep warm, but how can one be warm alone? 12 And if [f]one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart.

13 A poor yet wise lad is better than an old and foolish king who no longer knows how to receive [g]instruction. 14 For he has come out of prison to become king, even though he was born poor in his kingdom. 15 I have seen all the living under the sun throng to the side of the second lad who [h]replaces him. 16 There is no end to all the people, to all who were before them, and even the ones who will come later will not be happy with him, for this too is vanity and striving after wind.

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation