Solomon –A Portrait of a Futile Life Ecclesiastes 6 Main Lesson: To have a fruitful and satisfying life God (Jesus) must be given first place God (Jesus) must be the center of our lives Major pursuit in life is knowing God (Jesus) Ultimate response to life is loving God (Jesus) Satisfaction comes only by vibrant relationship with God (Jesus) Knowing God -Our Main Pursuit Jeremiah 9 (NET) 23 The Lord says, “Wise people should not boast that they are wise. Powerful people should not boast that they are powerful. Rich people should not boast that they are rich. 24 If people want to boast, they should boast about this: They should boast that they understand and know me. They should boast that they know and understand that I, the Lord, act out of faithfulness, fairness, and justice in the earth and that I desire people to do these things,” Paul boast Philippians 3 (NKJV) 7 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord

Galatians 6 14 But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom he world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. Loving God -Our Ultimate Response to Life 4 “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one! 5 You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. 6 “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. The Situation Ecclesiastes 6 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun and it is prevalent 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 enjoys them. This is vanity and a severe affliction.

Wealth without enjoyment Common among the affluent God is the giver of life and all gifts Riches, wealth, honour, ability to enjoy them The person in this story seemed to have it made This verse brings us back to the overriding theme of the book LIFE IS VANITY Solomon’s Story Solomon made an unselfish request God granted him additional blessings – riches and wealth and honour Solomon probably ignored God as a result God did not give him satisfaction God did not cause him to enjoy the benefits of riches and wealth and honour The Situation 6 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun and it is prevalent 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 enjoys them. This is vanity and a severe affliction.

Foreigners may signify An adversary Sickness Domestic conflict Natural calamity, natural disaster …….. So ultimately, we must find our joy not in what God gives but who God has given

Philippians 4 4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Solomon’s Observations 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? 

God is sovereign Mankind is not sovereign Disputing with God is a waste of time and effort 12 For who knows what is good for a man during his lifetime, during the few years of his futile life? He will spend them like a shadow. For who can tell a man what will be after him under the sun?