What Is Your Life If Not Lived For The Lord? (Part 20)
INTRODUCTION:
Solomon addresses himself as “the Preacher”. He is the one that will proclaim the spritiual truths of God to those in his nation and to Christians throughout time.
Keep in mind, Solomon learned these truths by trying to find the meaning to life through experiencing all this world has to offer. Solomon was uniquely suited to learn these lessons and share these truths with the people of God…
First of all, very few men possess sufficient wealth and power to be able to sample all this world has to offer (1 Kings 10:23).
Secondly, only Solomon and a few others throughout time, have been universally respected causing his teachings to be taken very seriously and thoughtfully by all (1 Kings 4:30-34). (Keep in mind, even Christ Himself and His teachings were rejected by many of those around Him.)
Solomon was God’s man, in God’s place, at God’s time, by God’s grace, to learn this most important truth and proclaim it with authority to those he loved. May we all listen carefully as Solomon reveals to us the true meaning to life and answer the question… “What Is Our Life If Not Lived for The Lord ?”.
TODAY’S TEXT:
Eccl 6:11-12
Seeing there be many things that increase vanity, what is man the better? For who knoweth what is good for man in this life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?
TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL:
Seeing there be many things that increase vanity, what is man the better?
In this study, so far, we have seen many many things that Solomon has identified as “vain”.
Ranging from pleasing our carnal desires to accumulating physical possessions to possessing worldly wisdom, Solomon came to understand that ANYTHING that exists “under the sun” (i.e. in this physical world in which we live) is short-lived and of no lasting value…
Ecc 1:2 – “Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.”
If we understand that all found under the sun is vain, then we can also come to understand that these things do not benefit man in any lasting ways. Man is no better after accumulating and partaking of the things of this world, as he was when he was first born into this world.
For who knoweth what is good for man in this life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?
From an earthly standpoint, with no concern given to God and His Word, who in this fallen world can know what will profit man in this earthy existence on a fallen, sinful world? The implied answer is “no one” because none of this world’s offerings benefit man.
Man’s life on earth is like a shadow, constantly changing and lasting for only a brief period of time. (Psa 144:4)
Man’s life on earth is fluctuating, always shifting… because of this, no man can tell us what lies on the morrow.
PRACTICAL APPLICATION:
Solomon reminds us that everything we find “under the sun” is of no value to us in the eternal things of God. May we continue to seek out the Lord’s will for our lives, seeing the importance of seeking the eternal things of God compared to the temporal things that this world has to offer us.
Solomon’s pursuit of the meaning of life included:
| 1. | 2:1-3 | The pursuit of carnal desires (the base pleasures found in a fallen world) |
| 2. | 2:4-11 | The pursuit of material possessions through human labors |
| 3. | 2:12-17 | The pursuit of worldly wisdom, madness and folly |
| 4. | 2:18-23 | The pursuit of responsible (frugal & wise) living to retain worldly goods Prt #1 |
| 5. | 2:24-26 | The pursuit of responsible (frugal & wise) living to retain worldly goods Prt #2 |
| 6. | 3:1-8 | A recognition of the Lord’s sovereign control over all life events Prt #1 |
| 7. | 3:9-15 | A recognition of the Lord’s sovereign control over all life events Prt #2 |
| 8. | 3:16-22 | A recognition of our need of Christ to see the nature and purpose of our life. |
| 9. | 4:1-3 | A recognition that never being born is better than the sufferings of this life. |
| 10. | 4:4-16 | The pursuit of earthly wisdom, diligence and living responsibly |
| 11. | 5:1-7 | The pursuit of worldly vows, contracts, and promises |
| 12. | 5:8-17 | The pursuit of worldly riches |
| 13. | 5:18-20 | A recognition that enjoyment of this earthly life is God’s gracious gift to man |
| 14. | 6:1-2 | A recognition of man’s inability to enjoy that which God has given to him. |
| 15. | 6:3-10 | A recognition of man’s sinfulness, mortality and need of humility before God |
| 16. | 6:11-12 | A recognition of the vanity of all that lies under the sun. |
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