Why A Promise Is Better Than An Answer

Intro

A lot of times when tough things happen in life, we try and look for an answer as to “why” it happened.

What Do They Need To Know?

God doesn’t promise us all the answers, but he answers to all His promises!

Why Do They Need To Know?

God’s promises are available when life’s answer are unavailable.

What Do They Need To Do?

Stop prioritizing the answer and start prioritizing the promise.

God might withhold an answer, so that you will hold on to a promise.

Why Do They Need To Do It?

A rational answer won’t do for you what a radical promise will.

Faith in the promises of God will carry you to places that an answer never could.

Ecclesiastes

Theme - Is life really worth living?

Life is short and relatively insignificant in the vastness of history. Ecclesiastes 1:2-4

There is no way we can understand it all Ecclesiastes 1:14-18

Ecclesiastes 1:14–18 ESV

14 I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind. 15 What is crooked cannot be made straight, and what is lacking cannot be counted. 16 I said in my heart, “I have acquired great wisdom, surpassing all who were over Jerusalem before me, and my heart has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.” 17 And I applied my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is but a striving after wind. 18 For in much wisdom is much vexation, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.

Every human being want to find out and understand all the ways of God in the world, but he cannot, because he is not God. And yet the faithful do not despair but cling to God, who deserves their trust; they can leave it to him to make sense of it all, while they seek to learn what it means to “fear God and keep His commandments,” even when they cannot see what God is doing. This is true wisdom. (ESV Bible Commentary)

Ecclesiastes: An Introduction and Commentary ii. The Failure of Wisdom to Satisfy Secular Life (1:12–18)

The third conclusion explains why the ‘under the sun’ thinker is so frustrated. It is because there are twists (what is crooked) and gaps (what is lacking) in all thinking. No matter how the thinker ponders, he cannot straighten out life’s anomalies, nor reduce all he sees to a neat system. Thus he reiterates the age-old problem of the wise men of the ancient Near East: awareness of finitude and inability to discover unaided the truth about life. Frustration and perplexity surround the philosopher. His wisdom may help in some things, but it cannot solve the fundamental problem of life.

Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the Old Testament Introduction

It is true that man’s wisdom cannot fathom God’s plan, but God can give us wisdom to know and do His will. Simply because we cannot understand everything does not mean we should give up in despair. Trust God and do what He tells you to do.

Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the Old Testament Introduction

From the human point of view “under the sun,” it seems as if life is futile and empty; all is vanity. But when life is lived in the power of God for the glory of God, then life becomes meaningful.

Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the Old Testament Introduction

In the light of the NT, Ecclesiastes is not a “pessimistic” book that denies the joys of life. Rather, it proves that though there are many mysteries in life we cannot explain, we can live so as to enjoy God’s blessings and glorify God’s name.

Pleasures in life don’t satisfy Ecclesiastes 2:11

God has purposes we don’t understand Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

God enriches whoever He wills Ecclesiastes 8:14, Ecclesiastes 9:2-3

Ecclesiastes: An Introduction and Commentary vi. The Enigma of Life (8:16–9:1)

His conclusion is that we must be content not to know everything. Neither hard work (toil), persistent endeavour (seeking), skill or experience (wisdom) will unravel the mystery. Wise men may make excessive claims; they too will be baffled.

Sin is the root of it all Ecclesiastes 7:29

Faithlife Study Bible Chapter 7

God made mankind upright Probably a reference to the first chapters of Genesis (see 3:11 and note; and 3:20 and note). God created humanity “good,” but Adam and Eve sinned by seeking their own wisdom apart from God (Gen 3:5).

Ecclesiastes: An Introduction and Commentary viii. The Sinfulness of Man (7:25–29)

here is the grand total of his spiritual calculations. The blame for the rarity of wisdom is attributed to no-one but mankind himself. He was created neither sinful, nor neutral, but upright

Conclusion Ecclesiastes 12:12-14

Faithlife Study Bible Chapter 12

Fear God and obey his commandments In light of humanity’s limitation and God’s supremacy as seen throughout the book, the only proper attitude in life is one of trust and obedience to God.

Ecclesiastes: An Introduction and Commentary 4. Epilogue (12:9–14)

The fear of God is the realization of his unchanging power and justice (3:14).

Ecclesiastes: An Introduction and Commentary 4. Epilogue (12:9–14)

A knowledge of God leads to obedience; not vice versa.

ESV Themes

The tragic reality y of the fall

The vanity of life

sin and death

the joy and frustration of work

the grateful enjoyment of God’s good gifts

the fear of God

Apologetics Course

We are going to be doing an apologetics series.

70% of young people drop out of going to church when they go to college.

Small Group Questions:

What are some hard questions that seem like they don’t have answers?

Why do you think that we don’t always find answers to our questions?

Why would looking to a promise be more important than looking for an answer?

What are some of God’s promises that have been encouraging for you?