Comparing Proverbs and Ecclesiastes, Part 2

- Last week we began a comparison of the book of Proverbs and the book of Ecclesiastes.

- we saw that both books are about priorities, but written from different perspectives…

- the book of Ecclesiastes illustrates the principle from the negative perspective…where Solomon in essence is saying…here’s examples of wrong priorities and where that approach to life leads..

- whereas the book of Proverbs speaks about the topic from the positive perspective…here’s what ones priorities ought to be…and if you live this way…here’s the result.

- one of the great things about Ecclesiastes is that it so powerfully illustrates the conditions in our day…

1. Ecclesiastes 1:12-18 – Wisdom

- in other words, trying to derive answers to the questions of life apart from a personal relationship with God.

- the NT might define this as “ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth”

- Solomon speaks about the vanity of such a pursuit.

- cf. v. 15 – “what is crooked cannot be straightened, and what is lacking cannot be counted.”

2. Ecclesiastes 2:1-11 – Pleasure

- the interesting thing about this section is, Solomon not only dreamed about pleasure, he had the financial wherewithal to make it happen.

- he built houses, gardens, parks, etc.

- cf. vv. 8-11

- how sad to conclude the discussion in verse 11 with “there was no profit under the sun”

3. Ecclesiastes 2:18-23 – Working for Wealth

- the emphasis here was on what happens to ones’ wealth after he is gone.

- who know if the person who inherits it will be wise or a fool.

- in other words, there is no lasting value to such pursuit.

- so he concludes this section with even more depressing words, “Because all his days his task is painful and grievous; even at night his mind does not rest. This too is vanity.”

- so the bottom line is, priorities that neglect God and biblical truth will always produce vanity, emptiness, despair, and ruin.

- But then Solomon comes around at the end of the book and draws this very important conclusion…Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 - The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.

- our goal now is to factor that information back into this discussion of priorities.

- you could summarize these two emphases with the words worship and obedience.

- fear [standing in awe of, having reverence for] God and keep His commandments.

- so when you look at our priorities, if what we’re doing does not fit under those headings, then they will lead to vanity.

- the beauty of this is, it provides the balance we so desperately need.

- let’s run a couple of ideas through this grid and see where it leads…

1. Cf. the man who is working 70-80 hours a week so he can climb the corporate ladder?

- and in so doing, is ignoring family responsibilities and opportunities, as well as opportunities at church, responsibilities to his own health, etc.

- how does this grid potentially help?

- needs to ask --- am I worshipping God, or worshipping work, prestige, money.

- need to ask, am I obeying God in fulfilling my responsibilities to my family, to my church, for my own physical health, etc.

- what about the guy who would say, but if I cut back on my hours, I might lose my job?

- that’s another place where this passage clearly helps us…

- it comes down to what we’re going to fear…value…prize.

2. Cf. the wife who is bitter and given up on working on the marriage.

- has stopped communicating…

- become cold and distant…

- she long ago stopped worshipping God…

- continuing to work on the marriage is a command from God…

- it is her act of spiritual service [cf. Rom. 12]

- this needs to be her priority whether she feels like it or not.

- in the time we have remaining, we’d like to chase these ideas of worship and obedience through several well-known passages of Scripture.

- the point is to show how prominent these ideas are in God’s Word.

- the goal is to help us evaluate our own priorities…so that we don’t use our lives in a way that causes us to conclude at the end, it was vanity.

B. The priorities examined

1. in the lives of Adam and Eve – Gen. 2-3.

- INPUT – What were Adam and Eve’s priorities?

- INPUT – How did pursuing these priorities lead to vanity?

- INPUT – Walk through this event, this time with them following the priorities of Eccles. 12:13-14 – How would things have been different?

[Marty – please handle #2 and #3 --- take as long as you wish]

2. in God’s instructions to His people –

Ex. 20; Lev. 26.

INPUT – How do the 10 Commandments illustrate the two principles we’re discussing?

[the first 4 are about worship, the last 6 are about obedience]

INPUT – How do we see these two ideas emphasized in the commandments to the priests in Leviticus 26?

3. in Moses’ rehearsal of the law –

Deut. 10:12.

- INPUT - How are the emphases apparent in this passage?

- INPUT – Why do you think the Lord kept “hammering away at these issues?

[With remaining time, chase the theme through as many of the points below as possible]

4. in God’s preparation of Joshua –

Josh. 1:8.

5. in the Psalms.

112:1 –

128:1 –

139:14, 23-24 –

141:2-4 –

6. in the Sermon on the Mount – Matt. 6:33.

7. in Jesus’ answer to a scribe –

Mk. 12:28-31.

8. in The Great Commission –

Matt. 28:19-20.

9. in Paul’s response to Christ –

Acts 22:1-10.

10. in Paul’s instruction to the church –

II Cor. 5:9-11; book of Ephesians.

Conclusion – Key Questions

Asking “What am I living for?” will reveal ones purpose.

Asking “What do I expend my time, energy, and money on?” will reveal ones priorities.