SOLOMON

(Ecclesiastes 1)

Solomon was the son of David , a king of Israel.
The words of the Preacher , the son of David, king of
Jerusalem.
Solomon returned from the broken and empty cisterns of
the world , to God's fountain of living water. And Solomon
recorded his own folly and shame, the bitterness of his
frustrations and disappointments , and the lessons he
had learned.
What profit has a man of all his labor which
he takes under the sun? Without Christ ,
there is no meaning and purpose for all the
natural man's labor under the sun. It is all
done in vain . It is useless. For the
natural man it is vanity of vanities
For life under the son of God , there
is a meaning and a purposefor living .
He who has the Son has life . He who
has not the son of God has not life (1 John 5:12) What profit has a man of all his labour which he takes under the sun ? One generation passes away, another generation comess; but the earth abides for ever. The sun also arises , and the sun goes down, and hastes to his place where he arose. The wind goes toward the south, and turns about unto the north. It whirls about continually, and the wind returns again according to his circuits. All the rivers run into the sea , yet the sea is not full .The water returns to where rivers began , and starts all over again. All things are full of labour. Man cannot utter it. The eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing. Everything leads to weariness. And this weariness is too great for words. The thing that has been , it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done. And there is no new thing under the sun. Is the any thing whereof it may be said, see it is new ? It has been already of old time, which was before us. What has happened before will happen again. What has been done before will be done again. There is nothing new in the whole world. Vanity of vanities, said the preacher. Vanity of vanities. All is vanity. All is useless. Without Christ all is vanity. Without Christ all the labor is useless. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved is the power of God.(1 Corinthians 1:18) For the message about Christ's death on the cross is foolishness to those who are being lost ; but unto us who are being saved it is the power of God. The Holy spirit searches all things . The Holy Spirit shows us the deepest secrets of God. The Holy Spirit searches all things, even the deepest things of God's purpose for each man. No one can really know what anypne else is thinking or what he is really like, except that person himself/ For what man knows the things of man except the spirit of man which is in him ? It is only a person's spirit within him that knows all about him. In the same way only God's Holy Spirit knows all about God. Now we received , not the spirit of the world, but the Holy Spirit to tell us about the wonderful free gifts of love and blessings that God has given us. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. The natural man receives not the spiritual things of God because they are foolishnesss to the natural man Whosever does not have the Holy Spirit can not receive the gifts that come from the Holy spirit. The natural man really does not understand these spiritual gifts. They are foolishness to him because their values can only be judged on spiritual basis.(1 Cor 2:6-16) No person should deceive himself. If any person who thinks he is wise by this world's standard, he should get rid of his pride in order to be really wise in God's eyes. For what this world considers to be wisdom is nonsense in the sight of God. God takes the so-called clever people in their own cleverness and craftiness. God traps the worldlt clever people in their craftiness and cleverness. Our Lord knows that the thoughts of the worldly clever people are vain and useless. Vanity of vanities. Our Lord Jesus Christ is the wisdom and power of God. If you want to be wise, you must know the Lord. The Lord is the source of all wisdom.
Jesus said,
I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes unto the Father but by me. (John 14:6)
What is the meaning and purpose of life under the sun ? What profit has a man of all his labour which he takes under the sun ? Without Christ , there is no meaning and purpose for all the natural man's labour under the sun. It is all done in vain. It is useless. Vanity of vanities. Life is in the Son the God. Life in the Christ , there is a meaning and a purpose for living. He who has the Son has life. He who has not the Son of God has not life.(1 John 5:12)
This is what Solomon has to say. I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem. And I gave my jeart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under the heaven. This sore travail has God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith. I have seen all the works that are done under the sun. And all is vanity and vexation of spirit. That which is crooked can not be made straight. You can not count things that are not there. For the unbeliever everything done in this world is useless, The natural man is no better than wild beasts. For the natural man , it is like chasing after the wind. It is done in vain. Solomon told himself that he had become a great man. He had gotten more wisdom than all they that had been before him in Jerusalem. His heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge. And he gave his heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly ; and he perceived that this also was vexation of spirit. He was dtermined to learn the difference between wisdom and foolishness, wisdom and madness. Solomon found out that he might as well be chasing the wind, The worldly cleverness of the natural man is foolishness to God. For in much human cleverness is much grief. he that increases worldly knowledge increases sorrow, The wiser you are in the worldly ways, the more worries you have. If you don't know Christ , the more you know of the world, the more it hurts. I may be able to speak the languages of men and angels, but if I have no love , my speech is no more than a noisy gong or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy , and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge ; though I have faith so that I could move mountains, and have not love, I am nothing . And though I give all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not love; it profits me nothing.(1 Corinthians 13) Christ is the wisdom of God. And God is love. Let us learn to love and value our Lord Jesus Christ. Let us love in the way of our Lord , who is the way, the truth, and the life. Let us rest in the knowledge and wisdom of our Lord. Let us rest in the love and service of our Lord. All the natural man gets by his labour will not supply the wants of his soul, nor satisfy his desires. All the natural man's work and labour will not atone for his own sins . What profit will the riches of the world be to the soul who has perished ? Man , after his labour , will never find rest. Man can find rest only in the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus said,
Come unto me, all you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart ; and you shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:28-30)
The more Solomon saw of the works and the labour under the sun by the unbelievers, the more he saw their vanity and uselesssness. ANd the sight of this useless labour vexed the natural man's spirit. For by grace are you saved through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ ; and that not of yourselves. It is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God has before ordained that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:8-10) Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you shall be saved.(Acts 16:31) Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.(Acts 4:12) He who believes in the Son has everlasting life. And he who believs not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abides on him.(John 3:36)

UNDER THE SUN

(ECCLESIASTES 2) Solomon decided to enjoyed himself and out what happiness is. He decided in his heart to enjoy pleasure. But he has found that it is useless, too. Behold , this is vanity. It is useless. Solomon has known the pleasures of the world, for he has almost unlimited wealth, enornous power, hundreds and hundreds , and great amount of worldly cleverness. Solomon had all that a man could dream of, yet he saw that trying o hold on to the things of the world is useless. This is vanity. Human reason can not find the truth concerning man. The natural man finds only emptiness of that which is under the sun. But the spiritual man finds the truth concerning man and his relationship in the world and his relationship with God. The spiritual man finds that Christ is the truth. Without Christ in a person, laughter is mad. For an unbeliever , laughter is foolsihness. Solomon sought in his heart to give himself unto wine, yet acquinting his heart with human wisdom; and to lay hold on folly, till he might see what was that good for the sons of men, which they should do under the heaven all the days of their life. Driven on by his desire for wisdom, solomon decided to cheer himself up with wine and have a good time. He thought this might be the best way people spend their short lives in the world. Seeing it was folly and foolish to give himself to wine, he next tried to work great works. Solomon made himself great works. He built houses for himself. Solomon planted vineyards. He made himself gardens and orchards, and he planted trees in them of all kinds of fruits. solomon made himself pools of water, to water therein the woods that brought forth trees. Solomon got himself aervants and maidens, and had servants born in his house. Also he had great possessions of great and small cattle above all people that were in Jerusalem before him. Solomon gathered himself also silver and gold, and peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces. He got himself men singers and women singers, and delights of the sons of men, as musical instruments, and that of all sorts. So Solomon was grat , and increased more than all that were befor him in Jerusalem. Also his wisdom remained with him. And whatsoever his eyes desired he kept not from them. He withheld not his heart from any joy ; for his heart rejoiced in all his labor. And this was his portion of his labor. Then solomon looked on all the works that his hands had wrought, and on the labor that he labored to do. And behold , all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun. The natural man finds only emptiness under the sun. The natural man yearns for something beyond himself. Man cries for a Savior. with the coming of Christ, man's cry was answered. The believers no longer find vanity. The spiritual man finds joy, peace, gladness, and love in the Lord Jesus Christ. In a world where everything passes away, it is useless to try to hang on to the things of the world. The things of the world can not satisfy you. If you look to the world to atisfy you, you will always be thirsty and hungry. the world can offer you only emptiness, disappointments, vanity and uselessness. For a natural man , the world is unending monotony. Even human wisdom is disappointing because it is really foolishness to God. Pursuits and pleasures are like striving after the wind. Jesus said,
whosoever deinks of the water that I shall give shall
never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be
in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
Jesus said,
I am the bread of life. He that comes to me shall never hunger ; and he that believes in me shall never thirst.(John 6:35)
Wisdom excells folly as fas as light excells farks. The wise man's eyes are in his head ; the fool walks in darkness. And Solomon perceived also that one event happens to them all. Every one has to die. Man's days in the world is very short. Truly every man at his best is merely a breath. Surely every man walks in a vain show. Surely they are disquieted in vain. He heaped up riches , and knows not who shall gather them.(Psalm 39:6) The wise men die, likewisethe fool and the brutish person, and leave their wealth to others. Their inward thought is that their houses shall continue for ever, and their dwelling places shall continue to all generations. They call their lands after their own names> Nevertheless man being in honor abides not. The natural man is like wild beasts that perish. This their way is their folly ; yet after them men approve of their sayings.(Psalm 49:10-13) Man's heart hungry for something more that what is to be found in this temporary existence under the sun. Man hungers for the Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ. Those folks who have the Son shall be fulfilled . They shall never be thirsty. They shall never be hungry. The most learned of men , who know not Christ Jesus , will perish with the most foolish. An unbeliever's day under the sun is nothing but vanity, emptiness, futility, and meaningless. It is useless labor for the unbeliever. as it happenss to the fool so it happens even to the most learned person. For there is no remembrance of the clever person more than of the fool for ever ; seeing that which now is in the days to come shall be forgotten. And how dies the clever man ? He dies just as the fool. Therefore the unbeliever hated life ; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto the natural man; for the unbelievers all is vanity and vexation of spirit. Yea, the natural man hates his labor and toil which he has taken under the sun; because he shall leave it unto the man that shall be after him. And who knows whether the son shall be a clever man or a fool ? Yet the son shall have rule over all his father's labor wherein he labored, and wherein the father has showed himself wise under the sun. This is also vanity. Therefore the natural man goes about to cause his heart to despair of all the labor which he took under the sun. For there is a natural man whose labor is in human wisdom and in knowledge, and in equity; yet to a man that has not labored therein shall be leave it for his portion. This is vanity and a grat evil. For what has man of all his labor, wherein he has labored in the sun ? For the natural man's days are sorrows. His travail is grief. Yea, the unbeliever's heart takes not rest in the night. This is also vanity, useless, and meaninless. This is what Paul points out in 1 Corinthians 13. I may have the gift of inspired preaching; but if I have not love, I am nothing. I may have all knowledge, but if I have no love, I am nothing. I may have faith needed to move mountains; but if I have no love, it profits me nothing. I may give away everything I have, and even give my body to be burnt; but if I have no love , this does me no good. Jesus said,
A new command I give you. Love one another. As I have loved you so you must love one another. All men will know that you are my disciples if you love one another.(John 13:34-35)
Jesus is the pattern for us to love. Jesus is the way for to love. Jesus is the truth for us to love. Jesus fills our lives with love as we love one another. Jesus has shown us how much he has loved us. The greatest love a person can have for his friends is to give his life for them.(John 15:13) For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul to enjoy good in his labor. This also Solomon saw that it was from the hand of God. Enjoy what is given to you by God. God gives wisdom, knowledge , and happiness to those who pleases Him. But God makes the sinners work, earning and saving, so that what they get can be given to those folks who please Him> The unbeliever's labor and toil are useless to himself. The unbleiever's hard labor and toil is vanity. For God gives to the man that is good in His sight wisdom, knowledge, and joy ; but to the sinner He gives travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. This also to the unbeliever is vanity and vexation of spirit. It is like chasing the wind. The unbeliever can not hold on to what he has tried so hard to catch. happiness and joy does not come from situation in which we are placed. Material things can not give happiness and joy. Pleasures leave man unsatisfied as before. True blessedness can be attained only through the Lord Jesus Christ. True peace and joy comes from the Lord. To seek the love and blessings of Christ is the true satisfying enjoyment even in this present world.

A TIME FOR EVERYTHING

(ECCLESIASTES 3)
Everything that happens in this world happens at a time God chooses. Everything that happens in this world happens at God's appointed time. To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven. A time to be born, and time to die.
A time to plant , and a time to pluck up that which is planted.
A time to kill , and a time to heal. A time to break down, and a time to build up. A time to weap, and a time to laugh. A time to mourn, and a time to dance. A time to cast away stone, and a time to pick up stones. A time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing. A time to get, and a time to lose. A time to keep, and a time to cast away. A time to rend, and a time to sew. A time to keep silence, and a time to speak. A time to love, and a time to hate. A time of war, and a time of peace. Everything in heavens and in earths , including human activity, is part of a determined cycle appointed by God. To everything there is an appointed time to happen. Put not your trust in the things of this world, because it is a changing world. It is impossible to hang on to the world. It is impossible to hang on to the world. It is like grasping for the wind. You can not grab hold of the wind. As believers of Christ, we are in the world, but we not of the world. Trust the Lord Jesus Christ with all your heart, with all your soull, with all your mind, and with all your strength. In Christ you shall find peace and happiness. The world changes according to its appointed seasons. It is impossible to hold to any thing in the world. There is no rest for the natural man in the world where everything is constantly changing in its appointed seasons . For the believers, you will find rest and peace in Christ. What profit has he that works in that wherein he labors? What profits remains for the worker from his toil ? What do we gain from all our work ? Solomon has seen the travail, which God has given to the sons of men to be exercised in it. God has made everything beautiful in his time. And also he has set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God makes from beginning to end. Solomon knows there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and do good in his life. And slso that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labor. It is the gift of God. Whatever God does, it shall be for ever. Nothing can be put to it, nor anything taken from it . And God does it , that men should fear Him. For I have learned , in whatever state I am, therewith to be content.(Phillipians 4:11) Life is a gift of the Lord. Everything that the Lord gives must be used for His glory. All the riches and wealth are given to us so that we can give them to others according to God's will. Only then all labors and works have any meaning and purpose, because it is God's purpose. We must be content with what the Lord has given to us. Labor not for the meat that perishes, but for the meat that endures unto everlsting life. Christ Jesus is the Bread of life. Christ is the only food for for our soul . We shall never hunger when we eat the Bread of life, Christ Jesus. We have to be content with what the Lord has given to us. Whatever god does , it endures forever. Nothing can be added to it, nor any thing taken from it. God does it so that man will know that He is God. That which has been is now ; and that which is to be has already been. And God requires that which is past. And moreover Solomon saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there; and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there. God shall judge the righteous and the wicked; for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work. When the natural man , unbelievers , choose the world as their portion, they bring themselves to the level of the wild beasts. God manisfests their estate so that they might see that the unbelievers are beasts. This that which befalls the unbelievers befalls the wild beasts. As one dies , so dies the other. Yes they have one breath; so that a natural man has no pre-eminence above a beast; for all is vanity. The natural man is an unbeliever. They perish like the wild beasts. God has no use for unbelievers. The unbeliever and the wild beasts go unto one place. all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.. Without the Lord in their lives, the unbelievers are but vanity. They are useless. The spirit of men shall be judged, and then is fixed in a state of everlasting happiness or misery. The beasts goes downward and perish at death. Man has a choice. For those folks who have the Lord Jesus Christ, there is everlasting rejoicing. But the unbelievers shall perish , for that is their portion.

INJUSTICE IN THE WORLD

(ECCLESIASTES 4)
There are injustice in the world. There are oppressions that are done under the sun. There are tears of such as were oppressed, and they jad no comforter . And on the side of their oppressors there was power; but the oppressed folks had no comforter. No one wants to help them, because their oppressors had power on their side. They can not even ask God to help them because they are unbelievers. The suffering unbeliever praises the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive. The unbelievers envy those who are dead and gone. the unbeliever thinks that the dead are better than those suffering people who are still alive. The unbeliever thinks that it is better not to be born, because there is too much injustice in the world. Unbelievers hate and despise life because they can not understand themselves and the reasons for their existance. They don't understand that there is justice . God will judge all things. We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.(Romans 8:28) Many people work so hard because they envy their neighbors. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit. It is useless. It is like chasing the wind. The fool folds his hands together , and eats his flesh. Better is a handful with quietness, than both hands full with travail, toil, and vexation of spirit. It is better to have little, with a peace of mind, than to be busy all the time with both hands, striving for the wind. More vanity under the sun. Here is a natural man who lives alone. He has neither child nor brother ; yet there is no end of all his labor . Neither is his eyes satisfied with riches. For whom is the working so hard and denying himself any pleasure ? For whom does he labor, and bereave his soul of good ? This is also vanity , yea, it is a miserable way to live. It is emptiness and meaningless. It is painful effort and unhappy business. Selfishness is the cause of this misery. What profits man if he gains the world but lost his soul ? Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labor. for if they fall one will lift up his fellow ; but woe to him that is alone when he falls, because he has not another to help him up. Surely he has a better reward , who works hard to maintain those he loves, than the selfish miser who is alone in his toil. Union brings safety and success to God's people. we are united together in God's love. We warm each other's heart, while we praise the Lord. Let us love each other, as Christ has loved us. Better is poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished. For out of prison he comes to reign; whereas also he that is born in his kingdom becomes poor. There are many people in the world. Somewhere among them there is a young man who will take the king's place. When the king is gone, no one will be grateful for what he has done. even a king can not hold to the things of the world. It useless. It is vanity. It is like chasing after the wind. There are many people who walk under the sun. There is no end of all the people that the king has ruled over. Yet they that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this is vanity for the ungodly and vexation of his spirit. We will rejoice in the Lord. We will praise only the Lord Jesus Christ. Only Christ is worthy of our praise.

VANITIES OF RICHES

(ECCLESIASTES 5)
Keep your foot when you go to the house of the Lord. Be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of the fools; for they consider not that they do evil. Behold , to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fats of rams.(1 Samuel15:22) Be careful about going to the house of the Lord. It is better to go there to learn than to offer sacrifices as foolish people do, because the fools don't know right from wrong. Be not rash with your mouth, and let not your heart be hasty to utter any thing before God; for God is in heaven, and you are upon the earth. Therefore let your words be few. For a dream comes through the multitudes of business; but a fool's voice is known by multitude of words. When you vow a vow unto God, defer not to pay it ; for God has no pleasure in fools. Pay that which you have vowed. Better is it that you should not vow, than that you should vow and not pay. Suffer not your mouth to cause your flesh to sin; neither say you before the angel, that it was an error. Why make God angry with you because you can't keep your promises.Why should God be angry at your voice; and destroy the work of your hand. For multitude of dreams and many words there are also many vanities; but fear God. Be careful what you say; you must stand in awe of the Lord. If you see the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter; because he is is higher than the highest regards. And there be higher than they. Morever the profit of the world os for all. He that lusts for silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that lusts for abundance with increase. This also is vanity. When goods increase, they are increased that eat them. And what good is there to the owners thereof, saving the beholding of them with their eyes ? The sleep of the laboring man is sweet, whether he eats little or much. But the abundance of the rich will not suffer him tl sleep. The rich people can not sleep becasue they worry about the abundance of their rich. There is a sore evil which Solomon has seen under the sun, namely, riches kept for the owners therof to their hurt. But those riches perish by evil work. When a child is born, he is born naked. He didn't bring anything with him into this world. As he came forth of his mother's womb, naked shall he return to go as he came. He shall take nothing of his labor. he can not carry away anything with his hand. And this is sore evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go. Naked he was born, naked shall he die. And what profit has he that has labored for the wind ? All his days also the natural man eats in darkness, and he has much sorrow and wrath with his sickness. The sleep of the diligent godly person is sweet, having spent his time wisely in the service of the Lord. But the foolish unbeliever who have much material possessions, can not find rest. He is too worried about the abundance of his riches. It is good for a person to eat and drink , and to enjoy the good of all his labor that he takes under the sun all the days of his life, which God has given to him; for it is his portion. every man also to whom God has given riches and wealth , and has given him power to eat therof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labor. This is the gift of God.

MORE VANITIES

(ECCLESIASTES 6)
There is an evil that Solomon has seen under the sun, and it is common among the unbelievers. A natural man to whom God has given wealth, riches, and honor, so that he wants nothing for his soul of all that he desires, yet God gives him not the power to eat it. The unbelievers may have everything he wants but God will not let him enjoy it. It is useless for the unbelievers. This is vanity for the unbelievers, and it is an evil disease. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and lose his own soul ? If a man begat a hundred children, and live many years, so that the days of his years be many. He has wasted his life if he doe not have the Lord Jesus Christ. For he comes in with vanity, and departs in darkness, and his name shall be covered with darkness, because he is an unbeliever. even though he lives a thousand years twice over, yet has seen no good and experienced no enjoyment. Eternal life is not just a long life. A long life can be a curse, if the person does not know the joy and the peace of the Lord Jesus Christ. Here is a man who has live over two thousand years; and yet he has found no peace and joy. There is no purpose in the natural man's life, if he knows not the Lord. Everlasting life is an eternal life, full of joy and peace in the Lord Jesus Christ. All the labor of a natural man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled. All the work of the unbeliever is selfishness, and yet his desire is not satisfied. For what advantage has the worldly clever over the fool ? Being worldly clever is no secret for ppeace and happiness. What advantage has the poor man who has learned to walk before the public? being poor does not bring you happiness and peace. Better is enjoyment of what is available to a person, than the cravings of wandering desire. The wandering desire of the natural man is a vexation of his spirit. He will never find satisfaction in the things of the world . Looking for the the thiings of the world to quiet the soul's desires is vanity and useless.It is like trying to hold to the wind. Only Christ can satisfy the thirsty heart and the hungry soul. christ Jesus is the bread of life. It is useless and vanity to chase after fame and honor. These things are what the unbelievers chase after. It is like chasing after the wind. Our days in the world is short . Let us not wste our time chasing after the wind. Let us put our trust in the Lord Jesus Christ to lead us to walk righteously.

WISDOM

(Ecclesiastes 7)
A good man is better than precious ointment. It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to the house of feasting. In the house of feasting, a person is tempted to indulge the flesh. Sorrow is better than laughter; for sadness of the face the heart is made better. The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of senual pleasures. It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools. For the crackling of thorns under a pot, so the is the laughter of fools. This is also vanity. The laughter of a fool is soon gone. The songs of fools are meaningless and useless. When a clever man cheats someone , he is acting like a fool. If you take a bribe, you will ruin your character. The end of our trials and difficulties is better than its beginning. And patient in the spirit is better than the proud in spirit. When we walk in the Spirit , we will be patient. Patience is better than pride. Be not hasty in your spiirt to be angry; for angry rests in the bosom of fools. The fruit of the Spirit is self-control. Keep your temper under control. It is foolish to harbour a grudge. It is foolish to cry out upon wickedness of our time, when we should first cry out against the wickedness that is in our own hearts. Don't complain against God. Don't quarrel with God. The former days are not any better than these days. Wisdom is good with an inheritance. And by it there is profit to them that see the sun. For wisdom is a defence even as money is a defence. But the excellency of knowledge is that wisdom gives life to them that have it. Human cleverness is foolish that lead to death. But the wisdom of God leads to life. Consider the work of God. For who can make the straight, which He has made crooked ? In the day of prospeprity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider that God has made the one side with the the other, so that man may not find out anything that shall be afyer him. Don't be self-righteous. Do not be conceited in your abilities. Why should you destroy yourself ? Don't puff yourself up pretending to be overwise.Although all have sinned , you must not be willfully and overmuch wicked. why should you die before your time ? He who fears the Lord will come forth from them all.Wisdom strengthens the wise more than ten mighty men which are in the city. If we say we have not sinned we deceive ourselves. For all have sinned. and come short of the glory of God(Romans 3:23). For there is not a just man upon earth, that does good, and sins not. Every believer needs the mercy and forgiveness of the Lord. Take no heed unto all words that are spoken. If people say well of you, it will feed your pride. If they speak bad of you, it will stir up your passion. See that you get God's approval. Then you will not take heed of what others say about you. The wisdom of man is foolishness unto God. The wisdom of man leads to foolishness, wickedness and madness. The wisdom of man is vanity. But the wisdom of God leads to life, joy, love. Christ is the wisdom of God. Solomon found more bitter than death in the woman , whose heart is snares and nets. her hands are bands also ready to trap the next victim. Whatever pleases God shall escape from her, but the sinner shall be taken by her. Solomon was quilty of lusting after multitudes of women. (1 Kings 11:1) He had not found a upright and godly women , even though he had over a thousand women in his harem. Blessed is the man who has found a virtuous wife.

COMMENDATIONS OF WISDOM

(ECCLESIASTES 8)
Who is as the wise man ? And who knows the interpretation of a thing ? Only the spiritual man knows what things really mean. A spiritual man's wisdom makes his face to shine. And the boldness of his face shall be changed. God's wisdom makes a man smile and makes his frowns disappear. Keep the commandment of the Lord. Be not hasty to go out of His sight. Stand not in an evil thing. Whoever keeps the commandment of the Lord shall feel no evil thing. And a wise man's heart discerns both time and judgment. Because to every purpose there is time and judgment, the misery of man is great upon the unbeliever. For the natural man knows not that which shall be; for who can tell him when it shall be ? There is no man that has power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither has the power in the day of death. And there is no discharge in that war; neither shall wickedness deliver those that are given to it. No one can keep himself from dying. No one can put off the day of his death. But the Lord Jesus Christ has defeated death. Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures. The Lord Jesus has by His suffering and death made atonement for the whole world so that whoseover will may be saved. Of all the revelations of God , the resurrection of Christ is the most important. The Good News of Jesus Christ was promised long agao by God through His prophets, as written in the Scriptures. It is about His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who came as a human baby, born into king David's royal family line. And being raised from death, Christ Jesus proved to be the mighty Son of God. If our hope in Christ is good for this life only, then we are of all people most miserable But our hope is Christ who defeated death. Christ has been raised from death; and became the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. Christ has been raised from death as the guarantee that those who aleep in death will also be raised. All believers will be raised to life because their union with Christ. The resurrection of Christ from death is a promise that everything done in the behalf of the Lord Jesus Christ has important values towards eternity. What is mortal can not possess immortality. What is made of flesh and blood cannot share in God's kingdom. Jesus said,
I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me , though he dies, shall he live. And whossoever lives and believes in me shall never die.(John 11:25-26)
Death is swallowed up in victory. O death ,where is your sting ? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law . But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory over death through our Lord Jesus Christ. The unbeliever(the natural man) does not understand the spiritual things . The wisdom of this world cannot explain the spiritual things . The natural man can stay awake night and day and never be able to understand what God is doing. However hard as an unbeliever tries, he will never find out . World clever people may claim to know, but they don't know the truth. Whoever does not have the Holy Spirit can not receive the fifts that come form God. The natural man really does not understand these gifts. They are foolishness to him because their values can only be judged and understood on spiritual basis. The natural man can not know the gifts of God because they have to be spiritually discerned.

WISDOM IS BETTER THAN STRENGTH

(ECCLESIASTES 9)
The righteous, the wise, and their works , are in the hand of the Lord. God makes his sun to rise on the evil people and on the righteous people, and sends rain on the just and the unjust.(Matt 5:45)
All things come alike to all. There is one event to the righteous, and to the wicked ; to the righteous and to the clean, and to the unclean; to him that sacrifices, and to him that sacrifices not ; as is the righteous, so is the sinner; he that swears , as he that fears an oath. God established the physical laws of nature . Therefore the rain falls on the just and on the unjust. God also has established the spiritual laws. the righteous folks will recieve His blessings. The wicked people will be punished. The Lord is alive. The Lord knows what He is doing . he cares about us. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.(Romans 8:28)
As long as the sons of man are left to themselves, their hearts are full of evil and madness. The wicked seems to prosper in sin now, but there will come a judgment day when the wicked will receive their punishment. For him that is joined to all the living there is hope; for a living dog is better than a dead lion. for those folks who are joined with Christ there is hope. For the believers know that they shall be raised from the dead, and live for ever with their Lord Jesus Christ. But the dead unbelievers know not anything, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten. Also their lust, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun. Believers. Go your way. Eat your bread with joy, and drink your juice with a merry heart; for God now accepts your works. Let your garments be always white; and let your head lack no ointment. Let the righteousness of God be your white garment. Let your head be anointed with the Holy Spirit so that you will think straight according to the will of the Lord. Live joyfully with your wife who you love all the days of your life, which the Lord has given to you under the sun. Be content with what the Lord has given you, for that is your portion in this life. Whatever your hand find to do, do it with all your might. Our Lord has given talents to us according to our individual ability. Our Lord has left us to trade for Him and carry out His business. Our Lord will one day ask us to give an account of the talents which He has entrusted to us. Have we used His talents wisely to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ.(Matt 25:14-30) Our Lord shows us that it is our responsibilty to be prepared for His return. The parable of the wise and foolish virgins shows us that those who are not ready will be left out of the kingdom. The door into the kingdom of God will soon be closed. Therefore whatsoever the Lord calls you to do, you must do it with all your might. The race is not to the seift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the clever, nor yet riches to men of understanding. nor yet favor to men of skill. God has given us talents and abilities bur we must not trust in them.We must trust in them. Trust in God,the Giver of the gifts. Man knows not his time; as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the bird that are caught in a snare; so are the sons of men snared in evil time, when it falls suddenly upon them. Wisdom is better than strength. The words of wise men are heard in quiet more than the cry of him that rules among fools. Wisdom is better than weapons of war; but one sinner can undo and detroy a lot of good.

GOD'S WISDOM GIVES MEANING TO LIFE

(ECCLESIASTES 10)
Dead flies can make a whole bottle of perfume stink; so does a little foolish and stupidoty can cancel out the greatest wisdom and honor. A wise man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool's heart is at his left. A wise man obeys the commandment of the Lord. The fool disobeys the Lord. Tea also, when he that is a fool walks by the way, his wisdom fails him, and he tells every one that he is a fool. If the spirit of the ruler rise up against you, leave not your place; for yielding pacifies great offences. If your boss is angry with you, do not hand in your resignation. serious wrongs may be forgiven if you keep calm. Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low places. There are injustice caused by the foolish rulers. Stupid people are given positions of authority while wise men are ignored. He who digs a pit shall fall into it; and whoever breaks through a wall a erpent shall bite him. Whoever removes stones shall be hurt therewith. And he who cleaves wood shall be endangered thereby. if your axe is blunt , and you don't sharpen it , you have to work harder to use it. But wisdom is profitable to direct. Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment. And the babbler is no better. The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious ; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself. The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness. And the end of his talk is mischievous madness. A fool is full of words . A man can not tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him ? The labor of the foolish wearies every one , because he knows not how to go . The fool is always lost. A country is in trouble when its king is a child, and its leaders feast all night long. Blessed is the country when its king is a man of God, and its leaders eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness. By much slothfulness the building decays; and through idleness of the hands the house drops through. Money has no moral values. How we use maoney reveals the desires of our hearts . Do we use money for the glory of God ? Do we give money to help the poor ? Do we give money to the church ? Do we use our money for missions ? Do we use our money wisely to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ ? Some foolish people use their money for selfish reasons. They use their money to satisfy their lust and greed.

WHAT A WISE MAN DOES

(ECLESIASTES 11)
Cast your bread upon waters; for you find it after many days. Give a portion of seven, and also to eight; for you know not what evil shall be upon the earth. The rich people should cast their bread freely upon the multitudes of suffering hungry people. Give freely , though it may seem thrown away and lost in the waters of the rivers. If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth. And if trees fall toward the south ,or toward the north, in the place where the tree falls, there it shall be. The natural man needs to be born again spiritually to enable him to discern and understand spiritual meaning of life and death. He that observes the wind shall not sow; and he that regards the clouds shall not reap. The natural man can never understand the meaning of life with worldly knowledge and human cleverness. If you wait until the wind and weather are right, you will never sow anything and never harvest anything. God made everything. Therefore it is best to put your trust in the Lord. Truly light is sweet. Itis a pleasant thing for the eyes to behold the sun. It is great to be able to enjoy the pleasant light of the day. be grateful foor every day you live. No matter how long you live, you will physically die one day. For the natural man (the unbeliever) , all that comes is vanity. There is nothing for the unbeliever to look forward to. For the believer , he shall be resurrected from the dead, and live for ever with his Lord Jesus Christ. Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth, and walk in the ways of your heart, and in the sight of your eyes; but know, that for all these things God will bring you in judgment. Remember that the Lord is going to judge you for whatever you do. Therefore remove sorrow from your heart , and put away evil from your flesh; for childhold and youth are vanity. Sin is the casue of sorrow in your hearts. Put away the sin and the sorrow will disappear from your heart. It is good to give your heart to the Lord when you are young. The Lord will be able to use you in a mighty way when you are young. The young believer will live a joyful life of true happiness.

ADVICE TO YOUNG PEOPLE

(ECCLESIASTES 12)
Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, while evil days come not, nor years draw near, when you shall say, I have no pleasure in them.
Remember the Lord in your youth, before your sight is impaired, and before the sun and the light of the stars and the moon are darkened. Remember the Lord before the cloud of depressions and sadness return after the rain of tears. If a person dow not know Chris, his old age will be full of hardships and sufferings. The natural man will find no peace in his old age. The natural man will have no pleasure in the things of his youth. Their desires shall fail. If sin has not enter the world, these infirmities of old age would not have appeared. Vanity of Vanities, said the preacher Solomon. All is vanity.
And because the preacher was wise , he still taught the people knowledge. Yea, he gave good heed , and sought out, and set in order many proverbs. The preacher sought to find out acceptable words; and that which was written was upright, even words of truth. these words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd. The Lord Jesus Christ is the Good Shepherd. And further , by these , my son, be admonished; of making many books there is no end; and much study of worldly knowledge is a weariness of the flesh. But the knowledge of Christ is good before the eyes of God. We must grow in the knowledge of Christ because it will help us spiritually. Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter. fear God, and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be god , or whether it be evil. The natural man (the unbeliever) sees only vanity. To the natural man , all is vanities of vanity, uselessness of uselessness , meaningless of meaningless. Man is crying for a Saviour. When Christ came and saved the world, the vanity disappeared for the believer. Christ brings a meaning and a purpose to every believer. Christ brings us joy , peace, love, gladness,and hope.

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