May 28th
Greetings all. This Sunday, we’ll be looking at Ecclesiastes 2:1-11 in “The Gospel and Enjoyment”. For background, read and think about the following passages:
Skim the following: 1 Kings 5-7. How much time is spent building the temple? How much on Solomon’s house? Note the materials and care used in both. Where was more energy applied? As a contrast, look at 1 Kings 3 – Solomon’s prayer for wisdom. Then, 1 Kings 8:12-9:9. Solomon’s heart was clearly devoted to God, and he definitely seemed to enjoy the life he had. However, 1 Kings 10 and 11 show what happens to Solomon when he wasn’t careful to keep the Lord’s commands and allowed his heart to be turned.
Luke 12:13-34 is the Parable of the Rich Fool and following explanation. Read the passage, noting your dependence and trust. Is it predominantly on God, things or a bit of both? Our motives are mixed and we are imperfect. However, our trust should lie predominantly, ideally wholly, on God. We need to cultivate the proper perspective between our God and our things.
Finally, look at Romans 6. As we go through Ecclesiastes 2, we will see Solomon searching for a system, definition, identity. Here, in Romans 6, we have a great reminder in who we are, that we were “bought with a price”. We are also encouraged to live a life pleasing to God. In all we do, in enjoying what God has given, I pray we are always honoring God in those things.
Solo Deo Gloria,
Jason