After reading the book of Ecclesiastes the following themes should have come through.
Meaninglessness: The term ‘meaningless’ refers to the brevity of existence. There are things, like breath, that come for a moment an then disappear. Compared with the permanence of God and His creation we are meaningless and appear for a moment until we are gone.
Wisdom: Wisdom is a useful tool for analysis, but it does not enable you to beat the system. All the stories of people who find the source of never-ending life are just stories. We should be wise enough to see that in the day-to-day living of this life wisdom is better than stupidity, however, we should not think that our fate is then different from anyone else’s. We all die.
Living in the Moment: Life is best lived when we are fully present and enjoy the things that we have in front of us right now. We should remember that there is a God and live our lives accordingly. Things like family, friends, food and fun are to be particularly enjoyed.
Questions
Scan Ecclesiastes as a review:
- What things does the author count as wise?
- In what verses does the author call life meaningless, vanity, or passing?
- In which verses does the author remind us to enjoy life?
- What things are in your life that you must take time to enjoy?
- What vain things draw your attention from God?
Plymothian 
1. The author counts light and seeing, enjoying life, and someone who can receive instruction as being wise.
2. Ecc. 2:17, 3:19,
3. Ecc. 5:18, 8:15
4. I need to take time to enjoy people, and to do art. My schedule is crazy and I need to just relax sometimes.
5. Homework always does. Many times stupid things like Facebook or the internet just suck my time away. I am learning to prioritize correctly.
1) At the end of chapter 2, in verses, 24-25, the author states that the wisest way to live our lives is to eat, drink, and find enjoyment/contenment in our work. He also goes on to say that it is only in Christ that we can find this enjoyment. I think these two passages help summarize the overall theme of this book, and show what the author truly considers in wise living.
2) 1:2, 2:11,17, 26, 3:19, 4:7,16, many more
3) 5:19, 2:24-25, 11:9
4) I need to take time to more fully enjoy my experience at Moody, spending time with friends and having fun, rather than constantly going from class, to work, to homework.
5) I often get so caught up in trying to suceed in my classes that I neglect to spend precious time in the Word, being reminded of his greatness.
1. The author counts as wise things like mourning, listening to rebuke, being patient, not quick to anger, being good with an inheritance, and being joyful in the good things that come in life.
2. The author calls life meaningless, vanity, or passing in 1:2, 14; 2:1, 11, 15, 17, 19-20, 23, 26, 3:19, 4:4.
3. The author reminds us to enjoy life in 3:12-13, 9:7-10.
4. Some things in my life that I must take time to enjoy are spending time with friends, resting from homework, and seeking after God.
5. Some vain things that draw my attention from God are Facebook, my phone, hanging out with people, and always doing homework.
1. What things does the author count as wise?
Enjoying life, not being too focused on the material aspects of life and a teachable person.
2. In what verses does the author call life meaningless, vanity, or passing?
1:2, 4, 2:1, 11, 15, 17
3. In which verses does the author remind us to enjoy life?
3:1-8, 7:14
4. What things are in your life that you must take time to enjoy?
Reading just for fun, going on walks to get fresh air and just having time to process things with good friends.
5. What vain things draw your attention from God?
Honestly, work and schoolwork can definitely draw my attention away from God because it takes so much time and effort.
1. The author counts wise stuff that includes living your life according to God.
2. The author calls life meaningless, vanity, or passing in 1:2, 1:14, 2:1, 2:11, 2:15, 2:17, 2:21. Those are a couple to name a few.
3. The author reminds us to enjoy life in verses 5:19, 11:9, and many more.
4. Some things in my life that I need to enjoy are school, church, and learning more about God to name a few.
5. Some vain things that draw my attention from God are the internet, shopping, being busy, and hanging with people.
1. mourning, rebuke, quiet words, enjoying life
2. 1:14, , 2:11, 17, 23, 3:19, 4:4
3. 8:15, 9:7-9, 11:8-9
4. I need to take time to enjoy the family and friends that the Lord has given to me, the beauty of creation around me and the spending time in the presence of God.
5. Some vain things that draw me away from God are facebook, texting, phone, and sometimes spending time with people when I should be doing something else.
1. He talks both about enjoying life as being wise and also heeding instruction as being wise.
2. 1:14, 2:11-17, 3:19 but theres a lot more
3. 5:19 and 11:9
4. Sleeping enough, reading my Bible, having time to myself but also have quality time with people, not just studying or running to and fro
5. Some vain things are: trying to make everyone happy, daydreaming too much, and sometimes trying to be healthy becomes vain.
1.What things does the author count as wise?
– The author counts enjoying life, not putting values on material things, and being afraid of God as wise.
2.In what verses does the author call life meaningless, vanity, or passing?
– 1:2,2:17,4:8, 5:18, 6:12,11:8,11:10, 12:8,
3.In which verses does the author remind us to enjoy life?
-3:12-13, 5:18, 11:9
4.What things are in your life that you must take time to enjoy?
– I think I must take time to enjoy nature, God gave me good food and to build beautiful relationship with people around me.
5.What vain things draw your attention from God?
– Worries about future, stress from various things have drawn my attention from God.
1. obeying authority, enjoying youth, remembering God as the Creator, planting whatever you have in more than one place, etc.
2. 1:2; 2:11; 4:4; 7:15; and MORE! these are just a few.
3. 5:18; 6:12; 10:19; 11:9 and more..
4. spending time with God, going to my small group, cooking, doing homework, working in the sdr, and much more.
5. for me, work and schoolwork.
1. Enjoying life with the perspective that God is to be feared.
2. 1:2, 2:11, 2:19, 4:4, 6:2, 12:8
3. 2:25, 3:12, 3:22, 5:19, 8:15,
4. My free time and spending some of it just being by myself, walking or reading or exercising.
5. I am drawn away from God by self-focus on my problems or on my outward appearance.
1.) The author counts enjoying life, obeying the commandments of God, casting away your anxieties all as wise things.
2.)The author calls life meaningless, vanity, or passing in verses 1:2, 1:14, 2:1, 2:11, 2:15, 2:17, 2:19, 2:21,2:23, 2:26, 3:19, 4:4, 4:7, 4:8, 4:16,5:7, 5:10, 6:2, 6:4, 6:9, 6:11, 7:6, 8:10, 8:14, 11:8, 11:10, and 12:8
3.) The author commends enjoyment of life in 2:24, 3:12, 3:22, 5:19, 8:14, 9:7, 9:9
4.) I must take time to enjoy my school work, my friends, my roommate, my family, and my four years here at Moody.
5.) Vain things such as my desire to be liked, or my desire to be successful can often distract me from the Lord.
1.What things does the author count as wise?
-enjoy the youth and present whatever the circumstance is.
2.In what verses does the author call life meaningless, vanity, or passing?
– 1:2,14; 3:19
3.In which verses does the author remind us to enjoy life?
– 11:8,9
4.What things are in your life that you must take time to enjoy?
– Quiet moments with God, every second, and food.
5.What vain things draw your attention from God?
– overwhelming school work.
1.What things does the author count as wise? enjoying the life,rejoicing during a childhood, fearing God, keeping His commandments…
2.In what verses does the author call life meaningless, vanity, or passing?1:2-11
4:7, 3:19…
3.In which verses does the author remind us to enjoy life?5:19-20,9:7-1011:7-10
4.What things are in your life that you must take time to enjoy? fellowship with Christian friends
5.What vain things draw your attention from God? anxiety
1. finding enjoyment in what is involved in our lives in the present.
2. 1:2, 2:17, 3:19, (just a couple)
3. 5:18-19
4. God honoring music as worship, friends
5. facebook!