Teaching Outline

GPnaz Teaching Outline November 6, 2022
 Breadcrumbs: Adages – Ecclesiastes 1:3-9
 
What we learn from Ecclesiastes…
There is nothing new under the sun. Eccles. 1:8
There is a time for everything. Eccles. 3:1-8
Two is better than one Eccles. 4:12

The teacher opens and closes his portion of the book with some uplifting and encouraging words. “Meaningless, meaningless, everything is meaningless.”

• Apart from God, everything is meaningless.

Eccles. 3:20, “All go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all return.”
 

• He looks for meaning and wisdom. 

Eccles. 1:17-18, Then I applied myself to the understanding of wisdom, and also of madness and folly, but I learned that this, too, is a chasing after the wind. For with much wisdom comes much sorrow; the more knowledge, the more grief.”

• He seeks meaning and pleasure. 

Eccles. 2:10-11,” I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my labor, and this was the reward for all my toil. Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.”

• He seeks meaning and advancements.

Eccles. 4:13,” Better a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to heed a warning.

But if those things have no meaning? What does?

Eccles. 8:15,” So I commend the enjoyment of life, because there is nothing better for a person under the sun than to eat and drink and be glad. Then joy will accompany them in their toil all the days of the life God has given them under the sun.”

The Author Concludes the Book with a Summary:
Eccles. 12:13-14,” Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter:
Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.

Everything is meaningless…under the sun.
Above the sun in heaven, our God is bringing meaning to our lives.  
And with God our daily tasks can take on meaning…