WHY YOU CAN HAVE EVERYTHING - AND NOTHING.
"Why You Can Have Everything - and Nothing" is
based on the N.I.V. translation of Ecclesiastes
written about 3000 years ago.You'll find chapter
& verse references and/or comments in brackets.
What's the use of working yourself to death?
What has been will be again and what has been
done will be done again. There is nothing new
under the sun.
What's the use of study and the getting of
wisdom? It's like chasing the wind, it can bring
sorrow and grief. Neither the wise man or the
fool is long remembered after death.
(Chapters 1 & 2:12-16)
What's the use of chasing after pleasure? You
can multiply houses, gardens, silver, gold,
harems, denying your eyes nothing they desire,
your heart no pleasure and you'll find it's
meaningless, a chasing after the wind.
What's the use of the toil and anxious striving
to make a fortune? You'll only leave it to
someone else when you die and he might waste it.
Happiness comes from seeing that everything
comes from God's hand. Then there is
satisfaction in working, eating and drinking and
God gives you wisdom and knowledge when you
please Him.
But to the unbelieving sinner life is
meaningless.
(Chapter 2)
There is a right time for everything, to be born
and to die. To plant and uproot. To kill and to
heal. To tear down and to build up. To weep and
to laugh. To mourn and to dance. To scatter and
to gather. To embrace and to refrain. To search
and to give up. To keep and to throw away. To
tear and to mend. To be silent and to speak. To
love and to hate. For war and for peace.
God has made everything beautiful in its time.
God has set eternity in your heart but you
cannot understand all He has done. God's gift is
for you to be happy and do good, finding
satisfaction in your work and in eating and
drinking. Only what God does endures forever,
you can't add to or take from that, and it
causes you to revere Him.
Finally God will judge everyone both the good
and the bad.
(Chapter 3)
You see sad things in this world. The tears of
the oppressed who have no comforter and the
power of the oppressors.
You see meaningless things in this world. Labour
and achievement caused by man's envy of his
neighbour. A man depriving himself of enjoyment
and toiling to create wealth that does not bring
contentment.
It's not good to be alone. Two are better than
one, if one falls down the other can help him
up.
It's better to be poor, young and wise than
rich, old and a fool.
(Chapter 4)
Avoid superficial religion - form without
substance. When you meet with other believers
(have church) listen and learn. God is in heaven
you are on earth so let your words be few. Stand
in awe of God and if you make a promise to Him -
keep it. (Don't let your mouth lead you into
sin).
If you love money you'll never be satisfied, no
matter how much you have. What's the use of it,
except to look at? The more you earn the more
people you have to support. The rich have
sleepless nights, a problem the honest labourer
doesn't have.
You're born with nothing and you won't be taking
money with you to the grave so don't eat in
darkness, frustration, affliction and anger,
toiling for the wind. You may end up with all
your heart desires but be unable to enjoy it.
On the other hand, when you believe in God and
He gives you wealth, He will enable you to enjoy
it and be happy in your work. God will keep you
occupied with gladness of heart.
(Chapter 5)
Keep your words short and to the point. The more
the words the less the meaning. (Just look at
any government correspondence or legislation).
(Chapter 6)
Here are a few "pearls of wisdom":
-A good name is valuable.
-One day you'll be dead so make the most of
to-day by using it as God directs.
-Listen to a wise man's rebuke, it's better
than the praise of fools.
-Extortion and bribery corrupts your heart and
makes you a fool.
-Patience is better than pride.
-Don't waste time longing for the "good old
days."
-Wisdom (from God) is good, it is a shelter
and preserves your life.
-When times are good, be happy, when bad,
remember both come from God.
-You may see a good man suffering unjustly and
a bad man prospering, but as for you, fear
God and live a balanced life that pleases
Him.
-(Apart from Jesus Christ) there never has
been a man on earth who always did right and
never sinned.
-Don't pay attention to everything people say.
-No matter how hard you try to understand,
investigate and search out wisdom and the
scheme of things, real knowledge has to be
revealed to you by God, you'll never get it
by your own efforts.
-Beware the woman who is a snare, she'll trap
the sinner, but if you please God you'll
escape her.
-Solomon said he found one upright man among
1000, but never an upright woman! (And he
had 700 wives and 300 concubines!!). (Ch.7).
-There is a proper time and a proper procedure
for every matter.
-You don't know the future nor the day you'll
die (so live God's way to-day).
-Wickedness will not release those who
practise it.
-If you lord it over others you'll be hurt.
-Wicked people go to church, get men's praise
and big church funerals (but God has the
last say).
-If punishment doesn't fit the crime, people
are encouraged to do wrong.
-A man may get away with crime for a long time
but life will not go well with him.
-Life goes better if you fear God and are
reverent before Him. (Ch. 8)
-Everyone faces the same destiny. (Death and
judgment - so live to-day to the fullest for
God). A live dog is better off than a dead
lion!
-(As a believer) eat and drink gladly. If you
are married enjoy life with your wife.
Whatever your work, do it with all your
might (as if you were working for the Lord).
-A "nobody" may save the nation by his wisdom
but soon no one will remember him.
-Heed the quiet words of the wise but ignore
the shouts of a ruler of fools.
-Wisdom is better than the weapons of war.
-The sinner can destroy much good. (Ch. 9)
And a little folly outweighs wisdom and
honour. (If you do 100 good things and one
bad, you can bet you'll be remembered for
the one bad thing).
-Stay calm, you can lay great errors to rest
this way.
-Don't be surprised if you see fools put in
high positions and the wise in low ones.
-Lay a trap for someone and you might be
caught in it yourself.
-You may not have the best of tools but skill
and strength may compensate.
-Fools multiply words.
-If you're lazy "the rafters will sag and the
roof leak."
-Don't think or secretly speak evil of anyone,
both have a way of becoming known. (Ch. 10)
-Be positive, generous and adventurous. Act
with what you have where you are. If you
wait 'til conditions are perfect you'll
NEVER start.
-You'll never fully understand the work of God
who runs the universe, but get on with what
He wants you to do. Be busy morning and
night - who knows which will succeed, or if
both will.
NOW TO SUM EVERYTHING UP:
-Enjoy the life God has given you and be happy
especially in your youth. By living God's way
you will not need to fear His verdict when
you are judged.
-Don't be anxious or troubled.
-Live each day to the full for God. Remember
old age comes so very quickly and many of
your activities will be curtailed. Too soon
"the dust returns to the ground it came from
and the spirit returns to God who gave it."
-God has revealed who He is and how He wants
you to live. It's all in the Bible. Beware
of additions to it and books about it. "Of
making many books there is no end and much
study wearies the body."
HERE IS THE CONCLUSION OF THE MATTER:
Fear God and keep His commandments for this is
the whole duty of man.
Remember that God will bring every deed into
judgment, including every hidden thing whether
good or evil.
(Chapters 11 & 12)
(For a more complete picture of who God is and
His plan for your life we suggest you read
John's Gospel).
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