KJV

KJV

Click to Change

Return to Top

Return to Top

Printer Icon

Print

Prior Book Prior Section Back to Commentaries Author Bio & Contents Next Section Next Book
The Blue Letter Bible

Chuck Smith :: Sermon Notes for Ecclesiastes 6:10-12

toggle collapse
Choose a new font size and typeface
"WHAT'S GOOD FOR YOU"
I. "NEITHER MAY HE CONTEND WITH HIM, THAT IS MIGHTIER THAN HE."
A. People often find themselves in the position of contending with God.
1. Often because of adverse circumstances.
a. Some tragedy, accident, robbery.
b. A great disappointment - someone less qualified got the promotion.
c. A sorrow, sickness, or death of a loved one.
2. Some people get angry at God.
a. They refuse to speak to Him.
b. They won't even acknowledge His presence.
c. They speak out bitterly against Him.
B. Contending with God has to be the height of folly.
1. It is surely a no win proposition.
2. Horribly pridefull assumption. I know better than God.
II. "FOR WHO KNOWETH WHAT IS GOOD FOR MAN IN THIS LIFE?"
A. Riches or poverty?
1. If God should grant me riches, would that make me a better Christian or worse?
a. Would my increased possessions take my eyes off Him?
b. Would I be snared in those diverse lusts that Paul warned against?
2. Does my poverty force me to greater trust in Him?
a. Would I miss the joys of seeing God's faithfulness in always coming through?
b. I would rather be the poorest man who ever lived, trusting God for every penny, than to be the richest and make my bed in hell.
B. Sickness or health.
1. Does God through my infirmity seek to develop a greater depth of character?
a. If God can get more glory through my infirmity, am I willing to suffer?
2. If I were healthy, would I have sought God?
3. I am only asking questions, I don't pretend to know the answers. Only God knows the answers.
4. I do know I would rather go through life plagued with sickness, God working His perfect character in me than.
C. We somehow feel that it would be best for us if we were healthy, happy, wealthy, and beautiful.
1. If I am not one of these things, then I often find myself contending with Him.
2. God, why did you put that ugly mole there?
III. WHAT WE DO KNOW, "THE DAYS OF THIS VAIN LIFE ARE SPENT AS A SHADOW."
A. Life is short, it is measured by days.
1. The older you get, the shorter life seems.
a. When you are young, it seems eternity between birthdays or Christmas.
b. As you grow older, the pace quickens.
c. When Jacob met the Pharaoh when he was 130 years old. "Few and evil have been the days of my life."
B. Life apart form Christ is empty. "His vain (empty) life."
1. The emptiness of education.
2. The emptiness of riches.
3. The emptiness of fame.
4. The emptiness of pleasure.
C. Life apart from Christ without real substance, "as a shadow."
Sermon Notes for Ecclesiastes 3:15 ← Prior Section
Sermon Notes for Ecclesiastes 8:11-13 Next Section →
Sermon Notes for Proverbs 1:7 ← Prior Book
Sermon Notes for Song of Solomon 1 Next Book →
BLB Searches
Search the Bible
KJV
 [?]

Advanced Options

Other Searches

Multi-Verse Retrieval
x
KJV

Daily Devotionals
x

Blue Letter Bible offers several daily devotional readings in order to help you refocus on Christ and the Gospel of His peace and righteousness.

Daily Bible Reading Plans
x

Recognizing the value of consistent reflection upon the Word of God in order to refocus one's mind and heart upon Christ and His Gospel of peace, we provide several reading plans designed to cover the entire Bible in a year.

One-Year Plans

Two-Year Plan

CONTENT DISCLAIMER:

The Blue Letter Bible ministry and the BLB Institute hold to the historical, conservative Christian faith, which includes a firm belief in the inerrancy of Scripture. Since the text and audio content provided by BLB represent a range of evangelical traditions, all of the ideas and principles conveyed in the resource materials are not necessarily affirmed, in total, by this ministry.