Lessons From Ecclesiastes
Ecc 1 (9/3/14)
September 3, 2014 • Benham Brothers
Solomon asked for wisdom and got it - he could explain just about anything. I've always said he should have asked for what Elisha asked for - a double portion of the spirit. His wisdom began in the fear of the Lord but as he drifted from God so his wisdom changed as well. He learned that wisdom, apart from God, can only go so far. 1) Worldly wisdom - does not take God into account. Leads to a proper recognition that everything is meaningless. Without God in view Solomon is right! Worldly wisdom takes place in the mind only. 2) Godly wisdom - takes God into account. Leads to a proper recognition that everything has meaning. With God in view this is right! Godly wisdom not only takes place in the mind but also the heart, because where the mind ceases to comprehend the heart grasps in faith. When you get to the limit of what your mind can comprehend (worldly wisdom) then that's where Godly wisdom enters the picture. Without "faith" there is no hope. That's how the wisest man who ever lived could say things are meaningless - he had lost hope because he had lost faith, and he had lost faith because he stopped focusing on God. Without God everything is meaningless, but with God everything is laced with meaning. Ecc 2:18-20 - we see Solomon getting everything his heart desired through work, but WORK void of HOPE is meaningless!
Ecclesiastes 1:2 (8/24/17)
August 24, 2017 • Benham Brothers
* Solomon wrote this book through human eyes. * Only God can give us eyes to see as He sees. * When we have His eyes we see everything as beautiful and filled with meaning. * Two examples: * 1) The phone call I received from the police at 4AM. * 2) A visit I took to a prison where an inmate shocked me with a statement. * When you have eyes to see, everything is different although nothing has changed.
Ecclesiastes 1:13 (8/27/15)
Benham Brothers
Wisdom beneath the sun - worldly wisdom that doesn’t take God into account. It’s void of faith and hope - only believes what the mind can comprehend. Everything - even the BIG stuff - is meaningLESS. Wisdom above the sun - Godly wisdom which sees as God sees. It’s full of faith and hope - believes what the mind cannot comprehend. Everything, even the small stuff - is meaningFULL. The End of the Matter - Ecclesiastes 12:13. Wisdom under the sun points to wisdom above the sun: 1) Fear God - be inwardly and outwardly devoted to Him. 2) Keep His commandments - if you’re devoted to Him you’ll do what He says.
Ecclesiastes 2:10-11 (9/23/21)
September 23, 2021 • Benham Brothers • Ecclesiastes 2:10–11
* Taking the time to stop and consider is one of the most powerful things you can do. * To stop and “take it in” gives you energy to keep going. * Solomon (the wisest man who ever lived) shows us its power. * Ecclesiastes was written from a worldly perspective. * God is not involved. * There is no eternity - this is all there is. * When God IS NOT considered, nothing has meaning (not even the biggest thing). * When God IS considered, everything has meaning (even the smallest thing). * This is why Ecclesiastes was read at the Feast of Tabernacles where people thanked God for His abundant provision. * It reminded them to stop and consider God’s involvement. * Vs 10 - Solomon enjoyed the fruit of his labor, which is a good thing. * We should stop and consider our work and enjoy it’s completion. * This recharges you and gives you strength for the next thing. * By rewarding yourself in the moment, your brain elicits positive emotions. By doing this continuously, your brain will start to link pleasure to accomplishing the task or objective and move towards it in the future. * Cycle - Do Something Hard / Reward Yourself * EX: Matinee movie after a book is done. * Key - God wants you to ENJOY your life, but not find your ultimate “meaning” in the here and now. * Vs 11 - But he stopped to consider! * It’s a good practice to stop and consider. How? * 1) STOP what you’re doing (schedule in time to pause). * 2) LOOK up - take God into consideration. * 3) LOOK around - take in your present moment. * 4) LOOK back - look at your work and what you’ve accomplished. * 5) LOOK in - how do you feel? * ** Solomon skipped step two, and it caused despair.
Ecc 2:18-20 (8/29/13)
August 29, 2013 • Benham Brothers
vs 1 & 12 - Was he a preacher or a king? BOTH! He didn't allow his "vocation" to determine his identity vs 13 & 14 - Wisdom "beneath the sun" is wisdom without "faith" Faith brings HOPE into the equation When there's wisdom only beneath the sun NOTHING has meaning, but with wisdom above the sun EVERYTHING has meaning! Work void of God's purpose is meaningless The GIFTS of Work are 1) God gets glory 2) We get rest - the KEY to opening the treasure chest is COMPLETION! Work without God forces you to focus on the RESULTS / Work with God forces you to focus on the WORK! John 17:1 - Jesus said He had completed it - the key to work is the completion of it! COMPLETE Ecc 5:12 - REST - riches without rest ROTS / riches with rest ROCKS Ecc 4:6 - A fistful of work and a fistful or rest - two fistfulls of either is bad
Ecclesiastes 3:1 (8/25/16)
August 25, 2016 • Benham Brothers
• The right thing done at the wrong time is wrong. • Solomon teaches us that there’s a proper time for everything, and wisdom knows when that is. • When it’s summer you can rest assured winter is on the way, so don’t get too comfortable. • When it’s winter you know summer is on the way, so don’t get too gloomy. • Understanding “time” is key to living a balanced life - you don’t tip over one side or the other. • The inference Solomon is making is PAIN. • We need to understand God brings beauty out of pain. • Ecclesiastes 7:2 - Painful experiences teaches us more than joyful ones. • True wisdom understands that the times you grow the most are the toughest times you go through. • This is why Lamentations 3:27 says, “it’s good for a man to bear the yoke when he’s young.” • Pain makes powerful if you understand there’s a time for everything. • Knowing there’s a time for everything is also key to understanding the times in which you live (1 Chron 12:32 - Men of Issachar).
Ecc 4:6 (9/3/14)
September 3, 2014 • Benham Brothers
The reward for the working man is rest. Work has two pitfalls - laziness on the one side and striving on the other - both of which cannot rest. 4:6 - the proper balance is a fistful of work and a fistful of rest. If you strive for two fistfulls of either you don't get to rest nor do you get to enjoy the fruit of your labor. The way you know you're on one side or the other is your consistent longing for something more - you are discontent. The secret is in contentment - you're content with just one handful. 5:12 - no sleep is sweeter than on the pillow of a clean conscience. This is rest not just for your body but for your soul - you know you've kept the proper balance. How do you keep the balance? You have to see work as worship - as your offering back to God. (Ecc 9:10) Three aspects of WORK: 1) The Requirement of work is Faithfulness. 2) The Reward of work is Rest and Fruitfulness. 3) The Result of work is God gets glory and others get to eat your Fruit!
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (9/3/17)
September 3, 2017 • Benham Brothers
•God has created us for oneness - three levels: •1) God, 2) Spouse, 3) Others (family, community, church) •It's easier to love God than people - He doesn't stink, say the wrong thing, etc. •Without God - 1+1=2. With God - 1+1+1=1. The Holy Spirit is the bonding agent. •John 17:20-24 - “Father make them one as we are one.” They are Three. •Cookie dough - individual ingredients mixed together make a new substance. •The Holy Spirit is the eggs (bonding), the world is the mixing bowl (battle). •Battle - God puts us in the context of battle so we’ll gel together - Gladiator: “As One!” •Oneness means intimacy - “in-to-me-see” - fully known and fully accepted. •** ACCEPTANCE is the key to oneness. LOVE is the key to acceptance.** •ECC 4:9-10 - Dixie Stampede - when you’re one, you exert less effort but get more result. •** THREE things you need to experience oneness (intimacy): •1) CLOSENESS (Ecc 4:11) - God made us to be close - body heat (Cold Bed!) •The result of Closeness is Comfort. But it often takes time. Two aspects: •a)Two cold people (both hurting). •b) One cold & one warm (one hurting and the other healthy) - the healthy needs to be patient. •Temporary pain always leads to permanent gain. •How do we stay close? Two aspects: •ECC 4:12a - know you need each other (you’re in a battle) - the devil seeks to distract, deceive, divide. •ECC 4:12b - invite a third person into the mix - God! •*** Picture of Intimacy - Song of Solomon - a picture of marriage: •SoS 1:2-4 - Kissing can’t happen unless you are willing to get close! (the girl chased him!!!) •SoS 1:6 - Intimacy reveals our insecurities - vulnerability often makes people want to HIDE! •Acceptance is the answer. Two facets to acceptance: •a) Be accepting - Revelation 3:20 is our example. •b) Be acceptable - if can change it, do it. But if not, accept yourself as God created you. *** Don't accept the things you can change, and accept the things you can't. •note - she was insecure about the thing her husband loved (vs 8-10 & 15 prove it). •2) CONCENTRATION (Sos 4:1-16) - proactively think positive thoughts about others. •When dating we think of what’s Right w/our spouse, but in marriage we think of what’s Wrong. •This is why we have to take thoughts captive. •Positive thinking about a person bonds you to that person. (where your treasure is....) •In marriage, Concentration leads to Captivation - SoS shows us a captivated man. *** When you are captivated, the things you used to criticize become cute. •3) COMPLETENESS (1 Cor 13:4-7) - before oneness you need twoness. •Two complete individuals - spiritually mature - LOVE is the mark of maturity. •The characteristics of love in 1 Cor show up in the fruit of the Spirit Paul lists in Galatians 5:22-23. •KEY - Love releases the power of the Spirit in our relationships - love for God and for others. •Conflict - it is easy to love someone when nothing is wrong. •Two things always manifest when conflict takes place: •1) the issue itself •2) the ability of the person to handle the issue. ** If #1 is good #2 will take care of itself. ** Two types of people: •** those who welcome feedback and are willing to own their problem. •** those who don’t welcome feedback and will not own their problem. •Conflict is resolved and Closeness maintained when: •a) ACCEPT - both parties willingly accept their part •b) LOVE - both parties operate in LOVE.
Ecclesiastes 5:18-19 (8/31/17)
August 31, 2017 • Benham Brothers
* It is good for someone to find satisfaction and enjoyment in their work and wealth. * This is a gift from God, Solomon says. * This gift is available for everyone, but not everyone is willing to receive it. * Therein lies the secret to contentment. * If you focus on the Giver you’ll accept the gift, but if you reject the Giver you reject the gift. * Also, if you focus on the blessing you have rather than the One who gave it to you you’ll miss the gift that’s supposed to come along with it (contentment). * You’ll discover “want” enters the picture. * Contentment is only found when we keep our eyes on God and experience gratitude for what He’s put into our hand. * 6:9 - The secret to happiness and fulfillment is not having what you want but wanting what you have. * And that’s only possible when you keep your eyes on the one who gave it to you.
Ecclesiastes 7:2-4 (8/31/17)
August 31, 2017 • Benham Brothers
* Solomon reveals a powerful truth - you learn more through times of sorrow than you do through times of peace. * Everyone loves to have a good time, but you don’t really learn much during those times. * The times you grow the most are when you hit the tough times. * This is why Lamentations 3:27 says, “It’s good for a man to bear the yoke while he’s young.” * Going through difficult situations is what equips you for life. * Funerals teach people a lot more than birthday parties. * A practice I’ve had for a long time - I attend my own funeral.
Ecc 7:16-18 (9/11/14)
September 11, 2014 • Benham Brothers
When the pendulum has swung really far to one side it's easy to swing all the way to the other. Human nature naturally runs to extremes. If you grab a heavy kettlebell in one hand your whole body is out of balance. Ecc 4:6 - Solomon talked about this balance - a fistful of work and a fistful of rest. The goal should be to remain at the midpoint of biblical tension - the is the balance of two truths that only the Holy Spirit can discern. Ex: Answer a fool / Don't answer a fool - both are right, at separate times. Only the leading of the Holy Spirit can make the right choice. Zeal without knowledge is foolishness.
Ecclesiastes 7:21-22 (8/29/19)
August 29, 2019 • Benham Brothers
* Solomon is encouraging people to not take criticism seriously. * Why? Because they know they’ve criticized before as well. * Where did he get this idea? * His dad showed him in 2 Samuel 16 when Shimei publicly ridiculed him. * When one of David’s men asked if he could kill him, David said no. * Maybe young Solomon saw this and remembered it. * David was a good dad in this regard.
Ecclesiastes 7:26 (8/29/19)
August 29, 2019 • Benham Brothers
* If you desire sin in your heart then an opportunity to give into it will appear. * If you desire to honor God in your heart then when temptation comes you’ll discover a way of escape. * 1 Corinthians 10:13 - God will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. * There will always be an escape route. * Proverbs 22:14 - He in whom the Lord is angry will fall into her trap. * If you operate by lust you anger the Lord and He will allow you to fulfill the lust in your heart. * He does this to draw you back to Him.
Ecclesiastes 10:10 (2/7/24)
February 7, 2024 • Benham Brothers • Ecclesiastes 10:10
* When it comes to work, God’s favor gets you in the door but excellence will keep you there. * God provides opportunities. * We provide results. * The better the results, the more opportunities we’ll have. * If you want excellence in your work, then make your work worship. * Attempt to make God smile with your effort. * vs 10 - “If the ax is dull and its edge unsharpened, more strength is needed, but skill will bring success.” * Imagine trying to cut down a tree w/a dull blade. * You work much harder, but not smarter. * But if you sharpen the blade, you get more done in much less time. * This is working smarter, not harder. * Abe Lincoln - “Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.” * How do we stay sharp? * We hone our skills. * Hone = “to smooth and sharpen; refine or perfect over a period of time.” * vs 10b - “…skill will bring success." * A talent is something you’re born with. * A skill is something you learn. * Honing your skills will make you valuable. * Question - what skills do you have that you can sharpen? * Some of the best skills to have in the workplace: * Be a good CONNECTOR. * Learn how to be good w/people. * Connect w/them - emotional intelligence. * Be a good COMMUNICATOR. * It starts w/listening to God - tuning in to hear His voice. * Then, be a “fast” communicator w/your clients. * Over-communicate with your customers. * Be a good CUTTER. * Always think in terms of what you can automate, eliminate, or delegate. * This will allow you to scale your efforts and do more work in less time. * EX: Minimize Mouse Clicks.