FACING THE UNKNOWN WITH OPTIMISM (PART 1)

MAN DOES NOT KNOW GOD’S TREATMENT OF MAN

Ecclesiastes 9:1–6 NASB95

For I have taken all this to my heart and explain it that righteous men, wise men, and their deeds are in the hand of God. Man does not know whether it will be love or hatred; anything awaits him. It is the same for all. There is one fate for the righteous and for the wicked; for the good, for the clean and for the unclean; for the man who offers a sacrifice and for the one who does not sacrifice. As the good man is, so is the sinner; as the swearer is, so is the one who is afraid to swear. This is an evil in all that is done under the sun, that there is one fate for all men. Furthermore, the hearts of the sons of men are full of evil and insanity is in their hearts throughout their lives. Afterwards they go to the dead. For whoever is joined with all the living, there is hope; surely a live dog is better than a dead lion. For the living know they will die; but the dead do not know anything, nor have they any longer a reward, for their memory is forgotten. Indeed their love, their hate and their zeal have already perished, and they will no longer have a share in all that is done under the sun.

notice: the observations - commended 8:15, I saw 8:16,17, now I have taken

What God decides to do in an individual’s life is unknown.

Some passages promise God’s blessings Matthew 6:25–26 ““For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? “Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?” Mark 10:30 “but that he will receive a hundred times as much now in the present age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms, along with persecutions; and in the age to come, eternal life.” while others do not offer much comfort in this life ex. Lazarus Lk. 16:19-31; Romans 8:35–39 “Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Just as it is written, “For Your sake we are being put to death all day long; We were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Why do some get blessed with great wealth and others do not.

WE MUST TRUST GOD Job 1:21 “He said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked I shall return there. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.””

ALL WILL DIE! Hebrews 9:27 “And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment,”

If being righteous provides no advantage, why be righteous?

death is in the hands of the devil Hebrews 2:14 “Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,” and sin 1 Corinthians 15:53–57 “For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “Death is swallowed up in victory. “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Because all die, people often adopt two dangerous philosophies

some allow their hearts to become fully evil

some allow insanity to dwell in their hearts

some allow their hearts to become fully evil, they plunge themselves into sinful excess Ecclesiastes 7:29 ““Behold, I have found only this, that God made men upright, but they have sought out many devices.”” Ecclesiastes 8:11 “Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed quickly, therefore the hearts of the sons of men among them are given fully to do evil.” Genesis 6:5 “Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” Jeremiah 6:15 ““Were they ashamed because of the abomination they have done? They were not even ashamed at all; They did not even know how to blush. Therefore they shall fall among those who fall; At the time that I punish them, They shall be cast down,” says the Lord.” Rom. 1:24-32

Romans 1:24–32 NASB95

Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error. And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper, being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful; and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them.

others allow insanity to dwell in their hearts. illogical, unreasonable, and irrational behavior to do evil and never change

HOPE???

It remains while one is living, still has opportunity to do some good. (note: lions were normally exalted and dogs were viewed with disgust). Life offers a distinct advantage

the living have the advantage of knowing that they are going to die. It should give you a sense of urgency to so something positive with what is left.

The dead...

do not know anything (unconcerned about the whats going on on earth)

they no longer have a reward (no longer can profit)

their memory is forgotten (out of sight, out of mind)

their love, hate, zeal (what’s done is done) has already perished

no longer have a share in what is done under the sun (take advantage of being alive today)

Isaiah 55:6 “Seek the Lord while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near.”

2 Corinthians 6:1–2 “And working together with Him, we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain— for He says, “At the acceptable time I listened to you, And on the day of salvation I helped you.” Behold, now is “the acceptable time,” behold, now is “the day of salvation”—”

Hebrews 3:13 “But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called “Today,” so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.”

this section is not about the afterlife but the focus is on what a person does with the life they are given.

WITH GOD, MAN HAS ENJOYMENT (9:7-10)

Ecclesiastes 9:7–10 NASB95

Go then, eat your bread in happiness and drink your wine with a cheerful heart; for God has already approved your works. Let your clothes be white all the time, and let not oil be lacking on your head. Enjoy life with the woman whom you love all the days of your fleeting life which He has given to you under the sun; for this is your reward in life and in your toil in which you have labored under the sun. Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might; for there is no activity or planning or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol where you are going.

Since all die and this is the only opportunity we will receive, live life to the fullest.

5 things to enjoy

food - contentment

drink - contentment

clothes - comfort

medicine - comfort

marriage - companionship

labor

If you give your life fully to God, enjoy life you know what is right is already accepted by God.

life is good and enjoyable John 10:10 ““The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” 1 Timothy 6:17–19 “Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed.”

Marriage requires three actions.

the pursuit of happiness (enjoy life)

the giving of affection (whom you love)

a lifelong commitment (all the days of your fleeting life)

labor is good...(see 2:10, 24; 3:13, 22; 5:18-19. Man must work with a good attitude Colossians 3:23 “Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men,” Romans 12:11 “not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;”

We should be hard and cheerful workers. Instead of always wanting something better. in sheol it s too late

the deceased will not have 3 things

no activity

no planning

no wisdom

MAN DOES NOT KNOW THE POWER OF TIME AND CHANCE (9:11-12)

Ecclesiastes 9:11–12 NASB95

I again saw under the sun that the race is not to the swift and the battle is not to the warriors, and neither is bread to the wise nor wealth to the discerning nor favor to men of ability; for time and chance overtake them all. Moreover, man does not know his time: like fish caught in a treacherous net and birds trapped in a snare, so the sons of men are ensnared at an evil time when it suddenly falls on them.

The exhortation to work hard and enjoy life is also necessary because of another universal principle under the sun. Events do not always work out the way it seems they should. No guarantees in life.

5 examples that nothing is guaranteed in life

the race is not to the swift - being the fastest does not guarantee the win

the battle is not to the warriors - even the best fighters die

neither is bread to the wise - the wise still may not have food to the table

nor is wealth to the discerning - just because you make good judgments does not mean you will be rich

nor is favor to the men of ability - they many not be shown favor by rulers or employees

2 Things that upset all human plans

time

chance

The seasons of life have 3 characteristics v. 12.

Life is unpredictable (man does not know his time)

Life is inescapable (ensnared in time)

Life is abrupt (entrapment occurs suddenly)

MAN DOES NOT KNOW THE POWER OF ASTUTENESS (9:13-18)

Ecclesiastes 9:13–18 NASB95

Also this I came to see as wisdom under the sun, and it impressed me. There was a small city with few men in it and a great king came to it, surrounded it and constructed large siegeworks against it. But there was found in it a poor wise man and he delivered the city by his wisdom. Yet no one remembered that poor man. So I said, “Wisdom is better than strength.” But the wisdom of the poor man is despised and his words are not heeded. The words of the wise heard in quietness are better than the shouting of a ruler among fools. Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.

illustration small city with few men (David vs. Goliath)

the poor wise-man could have delivered the city by His wisdom 2 Samuel 20:22 “Then the woman wisely came to all the people. And they cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri and threw it to Joab. So he blew the trumpet, and they were dispersed from the city, each to his tent. Joab also returned to the king at Jerusalem.” The wise woman asked Joab why are you here? And all Joab wanted was one mans head so they cut off the head and threw it to Joab and the army dispersed.

no-one remembered him

wisdom of the poor man was despised and not heeded

APPLICATION

We must not measure God’s love for us based upon events that take place in our lives.

We should view life as a gift and time as an opportunity.

Attitude has great importance in our lives

God expects his children to be hard workers, using their time & talents for good.

Are we listening and learning (everyone has something to learn)

The dead

no use praying to the dead - unable to hear and cannot answer (know knowledge of what is happening)

no reward or share after you die so no use..

baptizing for the dead (man is accountable for his own deeds alone)

prayers and contributions to not change anything (death ends all opportunities to change one’s fate

reincarnation not possible - no more opportunities

Solomon taught that one should choose to be happy and content. We cannot blame others for our unhappiness. No person has the power to infiltrate another’s thinking. We control our minds. If external things pollute our thinking, it is because we let them affect us. We should choose happiness and contentment.