08/14 Small Group

A Handful of Quiet

Opening Question: What...

Ecclesiastes 4:4–16 (ESV)

Then I saw that all toil and all skill in work come from a man’s envy of his neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.

The fool folds his hands and eats his own flesh.

Better is a handful of quietness than two hands full of toil and a striving after wind.

Again, I saw vanity under the sun: one person who has no other, either son or brother, yet there is no end to all his toil, and his eyes are never satisfied with riches, so that he never asks, “For whom am I toiling and depriving myself of pleasure?” This also is vanity and an unhappy business.

Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

Better was a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who no longer knew how to take advice. For he went from prison to the throne, though in his own kingdom he had been born poor. I saw all the living who move about under the sun, along with that youth who was to stand in the king’s place. There was no end of all the people, all of whom he led. Yet those who come later will not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a striving after wind.

Pray

1) What was the purpose of the Soren Kierkegaard quote?

“A man’s life is wasted who lived on, so deceived by the joys of life or by its sorrows, that he never became eternally and decisively aware…that there is a God, and that he, himself…exists before this God.”

Life is wasted when we fail to recognize God’s existence. To live a life that counts we must grow to be more ware of God’s existence

2) How often are we really aware of God’s existence?

3) How do we becomore aware of God’s existence?

Marc’s answer: Despair

Despair and brokeness in our world reveals the problem of sin and the need for God. Marc in his sermon brought to attention four faults of man than can bring about our attention to the need for a savior: Envy, laziness, independence, and legacy.

The envious/industrious (v.4) man pursues wealth and personal gain. He either looks to what he has and wants more or looks to what others has and wants what they have.

The lazy man/idle man (v. 5-6) grows comfortable with himself and puts off everything in the world around him. He neither works or labors in his toil, instead he’s motivated by pleasure and getting his way in life. (verse 5 is expanded upon and comes from Prov. 18)

The indpendent man (v. 7-8) doesn’t see the fruit in relationships and has no one to assist him in his labor. Socrates quote - “The unexamined life is not worth living”.

The man in pursuit of legacy will come to find that no matter how hard he works, all will be forgotten.

3) What is one way to potentially recognize envy in your heart? (4:4) Envy

Answer: By asking friends questions. In doing so, you might grow aware that You desire the things they have.

Issue is not with the work itslef but is a matter of the heart, the industrious man pursues wealth and being better than the other, not serving to build up.

4) Where does the path of the lazy individual lead him? (4:5) Laziness

5) What is the independent man left with after pursuing the independent life? (4:7-8) Independence

Answer: Disappointment and loneliness; We were created for fellowship.

Independent Man (v.7-8) - “The industrious man was at least providing employment for people, and the idle man was enjoying some leisure, but the independent man was helping neither the economy nor himself.”

Ecc. 4:9-12: The more people the merrier; Joy is produced in fellowship.

6) No matter how great a legacy we live, what will happen over time? (4:13-16) Legacy

It will soon pass; example of Joseph from Genesis to Exodus.

Ecc. 4:13-4:16: Instability in political power (The old prideful king - Wise to Pride) vs. fickleness of popularity (prison/poor/popular to perishable), this is fitting to the “hero lives long enough to become the villain from the Dark Knight”.

7) Of all the that’s written in this chapter, what does our author tell us is the best attitude to have in life?

Ecclesiastes 4:6 (ESV)

Better is a handful of quietness than two hands full of toil and a striving after wind.

Integrated Man (v.6) - Life of balance; 1989 Harris survey showed that leisure time enjoyed regressed 37% for Americans, Americans are stuck in the hustle-culture.

BIG Takeaway - Reality: Problems and brokeness persist; Truth: God redeems all things and works everything for good. What we are left to do is to have eyes to see and hearts open to experience the joy that is produced by Him. With a view in light of God’s word, we can read Ecclesiastes with a joyful attitude in knowing how God operates and how only in Him we can experience the abundant life that does not cease.

My Outline of Eccl. 4:1-12 -

4:1-3

Oppressed vs. the dead; Best is the one who doesn’t know evil.

4:4

All work and skill is fuel by envy.

4:5

The fools digs his own grave.

4:6

Quietness/Peace is better than labor.

4:7-8

The lonely man is left to work and gain wealth, nothing else.

4:9-12

1 vs. 2; 2 is better than 1, they build up together and if one falls they have the other to pick them up. Better is it when there’s more!

4:13-16

Old King (Stubborn and lacked humility) vs. Youth (Poor and was/prison to the throne); People shall come and go as the the work of thing will be forgotten.

Marc’s Questions for discussion:

1. Read back through Eccl 4:4-16 together. What stands out you most? 2. Where do you see envy reveal itself most in your life? 3. How would you counsel a person who was obviously fueled by envy in their career pursuits? 4. Why is laziness no good answer to the temptation of overwork? 5. How do you fight against the tempation to independence?