Lesson 66 - SHALOM INTERNATIONAL OUTREACH

Lesson 66

ST. PAUL SCHOOL OF LEADERSHIP

"Be ye followers of me as I also am of Christ." (I Corinthians 11:1)

(With Frank Eiklor and Walter Contreras)

WINNERS AND LOSERS

THE BOOK OF ECCLESIASTES

LESSON 66

INTRODUCTION

Believe it or not, Ecclesiastes is one of my favorite books in the Bible. King Solomon wrote it. How sad, that he did not follow his own conclusion at the end: to reverence God and obey His Word. Hear the Holy Spirit's voice throughout these twelve brief chapters and you will never make getting more material things your goal in life. Instead you will seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and always keep obeying Jesus Christ as your number one priority in life. Let's now study this book and see for ourselves why earth's greatest treasures can never fill the place in our hearts that only God can satisfy.

ECCLESIASTES

1:2, 4, 8-11 Example-Only a view from the eternal perspective can give a right

perspective on what to pour our lives into.

2:17, 18 Example of the emptiness of materialism and human greatness.

3:1-8, 12, 19-21 Example-Those who live for God's purpose (compare verse one with

Romans 8:28) can understand and grow in the changes of times and

circumstances.

4:1, 4, 6, 8, 13, 14 Example-A vision of absolute stupidity and emptiness of a life that

lusts only for the world's riches and power.

SATISFACTION VERSUS UNFULFILLMENT

5:2, 10-12, 15-17, 20 Example-Why the simple life satisfies more than the selfish life that

only wants more and more.

7:1,2, 5, 8-10, 14, 15, Example-Another comparison between God's pull toward 18-22, 26, 28, 29 righteousness and the pull of evil toward sin.

8:5, 8, 11-14 Example-Comparing the apparent injustices of time to the certain

justice of eternity.

10:1 Example-A little stupidity or foolish act can dull the edge of the most

godly testimony.

11:9, 10; 12:1, 3, 5, 7, Example-Solomon's warning to youths-be smart enough to learn 12-14 critical lessons of life early.

12:1, 7, 8, 12-14 Example of the brevity of life-and life's most important priority.

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