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The Book of EcclesiastesHow To View Life
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The Question
Eccl. 13 What profit has a man from all his
labor in which he toils under the sun?
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A Similar Question
Eccl. 23I searched in my heart till I might
see what was good for the sons of men to do under
heaven all the days of their lives.
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A Series Of Answers
Wisdom (113-18) in much wisdom is much grief,
and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.
Mirth and pleasure (21-3) I said of laughter
Madness! and of mirth, What does it
accomplish?
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A Series Of Answers
Accomplishments (24-10) (10) For my heart
rejoiced in all my labor and this was my reward
from all my labor. (11) Then I looked and
indeed all was vanity and grasping for the wind.
There was no profit under the sun.
No Lasting Fulfillment!
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The Answer
Eccl. 211 Then I looked on all the works that
my hands had done, and on the labor in which I
had toiled and indeed all was vanity and
grasping for the wind. There was no profit under
the sun.
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No Advantage Over The Wise?
215-17  Then I said in my heart, This also is
vanity. For there is no more remembrance of the
wise than of the fool forever, since all that
now is will be forgotten in the days to come. And
how does a wise man die? As the fool! Therefore
I hated life because the work that was done under
the sun was distressing to me, for all is vanity
and grasping for the wind.
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Is The Preacher Pessimistic?all is vanity and
a grasping after wind
Vanity occurs 37 times in the book. Hebrew
wind, breathMay mean empty, senseless, or it
may signify failure to find lasting fulfillment
in ones achievement.
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Or Is The Preacher Optimistic?
The word God occurs 40 times in the book,
emphasizing the presence, interest, and concern
of God, the creator and controller of lifes
affairs.
Eccl. 91 For I considered all this in my
heart that the righteous and the wise and their
works are in the hand of God.
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In the midst of a transitory world of trials,
problems and disappointments, all is in the hand
of God.
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Where Is The True Good?
(Notice God in this conclusion) 224-26
Nothing is better for a man than that he should
eat and drink, and that his soul should enjoy
good in his labor. This also, I saw, was from the
hand of God. For who can eat, or who can have
enjoyment, without Him? For God gives wisdom and
knowledge and joy to a man who is pleasing in His
sight
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God provides everything we need to enjoy life.
He provides the wisdom and knowledge we need
to get the most joy out of life.
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The Hand Of God In Life
31 To everything there is a season a time
for every purpose under heaven.
39-11 What PROFIT has the worker from that in
which he labors? I have seen the God-given task
with which the sons of men are to be occupied. He
has made everything beautiful in its time. Also
He has put eternity in their hearts, except that
no one can find out the work that God does from
beginning to end.
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There is PROFIT,And All ThingsDo Become
Beautiful,But We Dont KnowWhen, Why or How.
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We Want To Know HowGod Is Working In Our Lives.
But seasons, times and purposes are determined
by God. Therefore, in our searching we must
accept that we live and labor under a purpose and
providence which WE CANNOT KNOW OR CONTROL.
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What Then Is ThereFor Man To Do?
312-13 I know that nothing is better for them
than to rejoice, and to do good in their lives,
and also that every man should eat and drink and
enjoy the good of all his labor it is the gift
of God.
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We are to ACCEPTthat God is in control of our
lives, DO GOOD,REJOICE in our blessingseach
day, and be content to put our TRUST in Him.
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Each day we areto TRUST Godsprovidence and
314 I know that whatever God does, it shall
be final. Nothing can be added to it, and nothing
taken from it. God does it, that men should fear
before Him.
Reverence Him Who Is In Control
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But What AboutSorrow and Wickedness?
316 Moreover I saw under the sun In the
place of judgment, wickedness was there and in
the place of righteousness, iniquity was
there. 317 I said in my heart, God shall
judge the righteous and the wicked. For there is
a time for every purpose and for every work.
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But What AboutSorrow and Wickedness?
318-20 I said in my heart, concerning the
condition of the sons of men, God tests them,
that they may see that they themselves are like
animals... All go to one place. All are from the
dust, and all return to dust. 
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Consider The Work Of God!
713-14 For who can make straight what He has
made crooked? In the day of prosperity be joyful,
but in the day of adversity consider Surely
God has appointed the one as well as the other,
so that man can find out nothing that will come
after him.
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TRUST REJOICE!
322 So I perceived that nothing is better than
that a man should rejoice in his own works, for
that is his heritage. For who can bring him to
see what will happen after him?
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Wealth Offers No Lasting Joy
46 Better a handful with quietness than both
hands full, together with toil and grasping for
the wind.
Whatever our lot in life,under Gods providence
we must learn the lesson ofCONTENTMENT and
TRUST.
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Other Lessons Under The Sun
47-13 Friends or Riches, But Usually
Not Both! 414-16 Even If You Get To The
Top, You Wont Stay
There. 51-7 Dont Offer Foolish Sacrifices
Listen To God! 58-9 Most Gain
Goes to the Rulers. 510-17 No Peace In Search
For Wealth.
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Again, What Is Good For Man?
518-20 Here is what I have seen It is good
and fitting for one to eat and drink, and to
enjoy the good of all his labor in which he toils
under the sun all the days of his life which God
gives him for it is his heritage For he will
not dwell unduly on the days of his life, because
God keeps him busy with the joy of his heart.
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How Sad for Man to Worry About Life When God Is
In Control!
612 For who knows what is good for man in
life, all the days of his vain life which he
passes like a shadow? Who can tell a man what
will happen after him under the sun?
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Since man does not know what is good for him,
what his life will be, or the consequences of his
choices
THE ONLY TRUE HAPPINESS MAN CAN HAVE COMES FROM
THE DAILY RELIANCE UPON GOD AND HIS PROVIDENCE.
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Dont Look Back!
710 Do not say, Why were the former days
better than these? For you do not inquire wisely
concerning this.
The past was not ALL greatand the future is not
ALL dark.
And You Are Not Looking ForGods Purposes In The
Present!
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Rejoice!
815 So I commended enjoyment, because a man
has nothing better under the sun than to eat,
drink, and be merry for this will remain with
him in his labor all the days of his life which
God gives him under the sun.
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Trust God!
816-91 When I applied my heart to know wisdom
and to see the business that is done on earth,
even though one sees no sleep day or night, I saw
all the work of God, that a man cannot find out
the work that is done under the sun. For I
considered all this in my heart, so that I could
declare it all that the righteous and the wise
and their works ARE IN THE HAND OF GOD.
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Having seen the providential control of God in
the life and destiny of man, the Preacher sets
forth his final conclusions about what is good
for man to do all the days of his life under the
sun
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The Happy Life
97 Go, eat your bread with joy, and
drink your wine with a merry heart. 98 Let
your garments always be white, and let
your head lack no oil. 99 Live joyfully with
the wife whom you love all the days of
your vain life. 910 Whatever your hand finds
to do, do it with your might.
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Rejoice each day, realizing that God givesall
that makes it lovely. Trust in Gods
providential control and direction of life,for
therein one finds thetrue good and happiness of
life under the sun.
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God Is Working In Our Lives!
115 As you do not know what is the way of the
wind, or how the bones grow in the womb of her
who is with child, so you do not know the works
of God who makes everything. 116 In the
morning sow your seed, and in the evening do not
withhold your hand for you do not know which
will prosper, either this or that, or whether
both alike will be good.
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I may not know HOWGod works, but I can believe
that He DOESand that my life andits direction
arein HIS hand.
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Trust Eliminates WorryAnd Produces PeaceAnd
Contentment
Phil. 46-7 Be anxious for nothing, but in
everything by prayer and supplication, with
thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to
God and the peace of God, which surpasses all
understanding, will guard your hearts and minds
through Christ Jesus. Phil. 411 I have
learned in whatever state I am, to be content 
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The Final And Eternal Good
1213-14 Let us hear the conclusion of the
whole matter Fear God and keep His
commandments, for this is the whole (duty) of
man. For God will bring every work into judgment,
including every secret thing, whether good or
evil.
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Will You Become A Christian?
Hear the Gospel (Rom. 1017) Believe that Jesus
is the Son of God (Mk. 1616) Repent of Your Sins
(Acts 1730) Confess Jesus as Lord (Rom.
109-10) Be Baptized for Forgiveness of Sins
(Acts 238) Live Faithfully until You Die (Rev.
210)