the POINT

WEEK 15: December 17, 2017 / Ecclesiastes 11:7-12:7 / Bitter Sweet

QUESTION: What is the secret to enjoying life?

Ecclesiastes 11:7–10, — 7 Light is sweet, and it pleases the eyes to see the sun. 8 However many years a man may live, let him enjoy them all. But let him remember the days of darkness, for they will be many. Everything to come is meaningless. 9 Be happy, young man, while you are young, and let your heart give you joy in the days of your youth. Follow the ways of your heart and whatever your eyes see, but know that for all these things God will bring you to judgment. 10 So then, banish anxiety from your heart and cast off the troubles of your body, for youth and vigor are meaningless.

FIND JOY IN THE ______

Matthew 6:24–34, — 24 “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money. 25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? 28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

KEEP AN EYE ON THE ______

Philippians 4:6–9, — 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

  • Underline the three things the apostle Paul is asking them to do (vss. 6, 8, 9)
  • What does God promise? (vss. 7, 9)

Ecclesiastes 12:1–7, — 1 Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, “I find no pleasure in them”— 2 before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars grow dark, and the clouds return after the rain; [______] 3 when the keepers of the house tremble [______], and the strong men stoop [______], when the grinders cease because they are few [______], and those looking through the windows grow dim [______]; 4 when the doors to the street are closed [______] and the sound of grinding fades [______]; when men rise up at the sound of birds, but all their songs grow faint [HEARING]; 5 when men are afraid of heights and of dangers in the streets [______]; when the almond tree blossoms [______] and the grasshopper drags himself along and desire no longer is stirred [______]. Then man goes to his eternal home and mourners go about the streets. 6 Remember him—before the silver cord is severed, or the golden bowl is broken; before the pitcher is shattered at the spring, or the wheel broken at the well, 7 and the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.

______with God

2 Corinthians 7:1, Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.

For further study . . .

  1. Read Philippians 46-9.
  2. Discuss the implications of the following phrases in verse 6: “anxious about anything”, “in everything”, “with thanksgiving”.
  3. What is the promise that is made in Philippians 4: 7 and 9? Why is this such an encouragement?
  4. List a number of teachings of Jesus that are “true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, praiseworthy”.
  5. How did the apostle Paul “put these things into practice”?What are ways you can put this into practice?
  6. Compare Ecclesiastes 12:1-7 and Matthew 6:24-34.