Human Limitations Have Benefits

Ecclesiastes 7-9

God desires that our limitations in this fallen world would draw us to humility, dependency, and worship of Him.  The greatest benefit of our limitations is that we would trust His ways, His unlimited grace, and His Son, Jesus Christ for meaning and eternal life.  Solomon sought meaning and happiness in his wisdom and righteousness.  It came up short.

Ecc. 7:23-24 states wisdom’s limits.  “All this I have proved by wisdom.  I said, ‘I will be wise.’  But it was far from me.”  Ecc. 8:17 clarifies it with “Then I saw the work of God, that man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun.  For though a man labors to discover it, yet he will not find it.  More-over, though a wise man attempts to know it, he will not be able to find it.”

I.          Wisdom and Righteousness is Good, but we need to Accept the Limitations.

A.       The sin nature ended what God originally created us to be – upright (7:29).

Jeremiah 17:9 – so our desperately wicked heart seeks evil schemes & trusts   self instead of God & His ways.

B.      It is hard to grasp why a good person can die younger, and a wicked person  can live a long life here (7:15; 8:12-14).  What are God’s promises for long life?

C.     Wisdom & Righteousness does not inform us, or guarantee our future, length of life, nor power over death or time of death (8: 7-8).

D.     W & R impacts well, but does not guarantee outcomes even on earth (9:11-12).

II.       W & R is Good because of the Benefits (7:19).

A.       Strength & protection can come with wise choices.

B.       A bright, smiling face & a soft look can come with wisdom (8:1).

C.      Wisdom helps us obey, understand, and petition authority (8:2-6).

D.      Wisdom results in reverence before God, and doing well when we stand before God (8:12-14;  II Corinthians 5:9-11).

E.       The wise & righteous, & their works are in the hands of God (9:1).

III.      W & R Involves Joyful Acceptance of God’s Gifts TODAY, Rejecting Fatalism & Bitterness.

A.      Receive and use God’s temporary gifts with joy and praise (8:15;  (:7-10).

B.      Do your pre-ordained works for God (9:7).

C.     Clean up and dress up for times of celebration (9:8).

D.     View God’s grace-gifts as rewards; as small illustrations of eternal rewards (9:9).

E.      Work hard and diligently (9:10).