August 12, 2018 | Bob Bartlett
Passage: Ecclesiastes 7:1-29
Ecclesiastes 7.0 “A God(ly) Perspective on Life”
Vs 1:“A good name is better than fine perfume, and the day of death better than the day of birth.”
- A Perspective on life: to see and understand life through God’s eyes.
The Proper Perspective on Life--God’s:
Vs 1-4: “It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, for death is the destiny of every man; the living should take this to heart...”
A godly perspective on life begins by making p____________________ for death.
· Hebrews 9:27 “Just as man is destined to die once…”
Vs 1-4: “Sorrow is better than laughter...a sad face is good for the heart.”
A godly perspective on life begins by understanding God’s p___________________ for sorrow.
· Matthew 5:4 “Blessed are those who mourn…”
· The definitive word! 2 Corinthians 7:8-13
· Sorrow is good for the soul and the wandering heart. Psalm 119:67
Vs 5-7: “...better to heed a wise man’s rebuke than to listen to the song of fools.”
A godly perspective on life begins by w______________________ God’s discipline and reproof.
· Proverbs 14:9 “Fools mock at making amends for sin…”
· Your Christianity is at stake! Psalm 141:5
Vs 8-12: “The end of a matter is better than its beginning...Do not say why were the old days better...Wisdom is a shelter...wisdom preserves the life...”
A godly perspective on life begins by knowing God’s g_____ plan is never ending.
- Romans 8:28 Do you know (are you certain) He knows no other way!
- His process is a journey. Always keep the end goal of God in mind! Isaiah 64:8
Vs 13-19: “Consider what God has done...a man cannot discover anything about his future...It is good to grasp the one and not let go of the other. The man who fears God will avoid all extremes...”
A godly perspective on life begins by taking life only o______ day at a time.
- Matthew 6:34 “Do not worry about tomorrow…”
- Must we always have the answer? What room would that leave for faith?
Vs 20-29: “There is not a righteous man on earth...This only I have found: God made mankind upright, but men have gone in search of many schemes.”
A godly perspective on life begins by living a life of g__________ and t__________.
- Philippians 2:13 “It is God who works in you to will and to act…”
- Another beautiful beatitude! Matthew 5:7
The only perspective we need, should desire, and strive to live out, is God’s perspective on life.