Solomon: The Meaning of Life

Lesson for April 29, 2018

Ecclesiastes 1:1-11, 4:1-2,13, 12:9-14

What are the most important inventions of all time?
the wheel
the printing press
the light bulb
the telephone
penicillin
integrated circuits
the internet
?

The printing press changed the world, but as technology advances, printed documents are less and less necessary in our lives.  This year's innovations will soon be discarded in America's landfills.  The shelf life of every great advancement for mankind gets shorter and shorter.

But... we look for ways to leave a meaningful legacy.

Solomon was the same way. He concluded that everything that is about making this life on earth more pleasant, is ultimately meaningless.  Life is NOT meaningless, but living for THIS life is vanity.

Take a breath and hold it as long as you can.  While you are holding your breath, do whatever you want.

1. Your life is like that breath
2. Some can hang on longer than others, but none can last long
3. After that breath is gone, whatever you did is probably meaningless because now you need another breath.
4. Psalm 144:4 says about humans, "They are like a breath;
       their days are like a fleeting shadow."

 Read Ecclesiastes 1:1-11

How do you feel about Solomon's view of life in Ecclesiastes 1?

Solomon wrote Ecclesiastes later in life.  He had already experienced just about everything that a person could want.

• wisdom, scientific understanding, recognition and glory for being so smart
• accomplishments like building the temple, palaces, beautiful gardens, he lived for his work
• fabulous riches of gold, silver, chariots, animals, slaves, etc
• parties, pleasures, wine, women, and song
• he experienced a relationship with the true God, and worshiped many others too

If Solomon had everything a person could want, why did he say life was meaningless?

Read Ecclesiastes 4:1-2,13

In light of the suffering that faces both the righteous and the wicked, what should be our purpose in life?

“Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable,
always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your
labor is not in vain” (1 Cor. 15:58).

When everything else in life is vanity, meaningless, or even chasing after wind, serving the Lord by serving others is not in vain.

Read Ecclesiastes 12:9-14

After all the mistakes Solomon made in life, God gave him the wisdom in the end to say, "Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind."

How do you decide if your activities are meaningless or meaningful?

 Homework assignment:  Identify ten things you spend a lot of time doing, for each, rank it from 1 to 5 where 1 is totally meaningLESS and 5 is totally meaningFULL.  How can we make the ordinary daily stuff we do have ETERNAL value?

 

The Foolishness of Chasing Other gods

Lesson for April 22, 2018

1 Kings 11:1-13, Luke 11:31, Deuteronomy 17:14-17

The wisest man in the world, Solomon, still had human weaknesses such as lust, greed, an unhealthy pursuit of pleasure, and allowing idolatry to be an everyday part of his life.

Wisdom is putting God first and loving others as Jesus loves.  Foolishness is placing our own happiness above the needs of others.

What did Solomon do right to begin his reign as king?

• He asked God for wisdom to rule rather than long life, riches, or victory over enemies
• He wisely judged his people such as when the two prostitutes argued over a baby
• He wrote down the wisdom God gave him in the books of Proverbs, Psalms, and Song of Solomon.
• He completed a temple for God's glory and sought God's blessings.

When King David named Solomon as heir to his throne, he gave him some very important instructions:  1 Kings 2:2-4  “I am about to go the way of all the earth. Be strong, and show yourself a man,  and keep the charge of the Lord your God, walking in his ways and keeping his statutes, his commandments, his rules, and his testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn,  that the Lord may establish his word that he spoke concerning me, saying, ‘If your sons pay close attention to their way, to walk before me in faithfulness with all their heart and with all their soul, you shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.’

Read  1 Kings 11:1-13

What were the consequences of Solomon's sin?
Why do you think Solomon turned from following God with all his heart?
What similar things, relationships, and pursuits affect our hearts and love of God?

Solomon made all the mistakes that God warned about in the time of Moses.
Read  Deuteronomy 17:14-17

How would these warnings apply to us today?

If God gave Solomon more wisdom and blessings than any other person in HUMAN history, what can we do?

Read  Luke 11:31

 God fulfilled his promise to David about a forever king when Jesus came to earth, and more importantly, when He returns as ruler over everything.

Like Solomon, we will be tempted to chase after other gods.  Putting anything in front of God is idolatry, even when God blesses us with those things.

Jesus is the only one worthy of our worship and adoration.

 

The Wisdom of Proverbs

Lesson for April 08, 2018

Proverbs 1:1-7, 3:1-8, 22:1-10

When you make a choice, what do you base your decision on?

After you make your choice, do you follow up and do it?

What characteristics do you want from those that give you advice for your choices?

Three points

1. God inspired Solomon to write Proverbs so we could gain understanding, receive instruction in prudence, and to acquire knowledge and discretion.  Proverbs 1:1-7
2. Seeking wisdom and making wise choices is rewarding.  Proverbs 3:1-8
3. The book of Proverbs gives practical help on just about any topic. Proverbs 22:1-10

Point 1: Why were the Proverbs written?
Read Proverbs 1:1-7
Who would you go to for advice on:
- a class at school
- how to make money
- how to get better at sports
- how to get the attention of a hot girl at school?

Can the proverbs written by Solomon help with any of those topics?  Think about the life and experiences of Solomon.  Consider that his teachings were inspired by God.  Have you ever read God's Word to help you with a decision?  What are God's credentials?

V. 7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,
    but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

When we don't respect someone, we tend to ignore their advice.  If we respect a person, we may follow their advice even when it is bad.  The ultimate test of how much we love and respect God, how much we REVERE God, is determined by how we seek His counsel and do what He says.

Because God is omniscient and completely knows our past, present, and future, we can count on God to have the best advice for us in every area of life.  Most the time, he reveals insights when we read His Word.

Point 2: Wisdom's rewards
Read Proverbs 3:1-8

List the blessings of seeking wisdom and obeying God's teachings:
 - peace for all the years of your life
- favor and a good reputation with God and people
- straight paths
- good health

What are the conditions for these rewards of wisdom?

What is a blessing you have experienced when you made a choice that you knew God would be happy with?

Point 3: Practical advice
Read Proverbs 22:1-10

For each verse, what is the practical help?  How can you apply it in your own situation? 

What are some areas of your life where you seek the counsel of the UN-Godly?

No matter how old we are, we will be influenced by immoral people (at school, television, music), greedy people (get rich quick sellers), humanistic people (universities, intellectuals), worldly people (anyone whose only focus is  on this life, YOLO), and others that distract us from God's teaching.

When we truly fear the Lord (and submit to HIM), then we are able to make right choices with eternal benefits.  Even with all of the God-given wisdom that Solomon had, he still made a lot of wrong choices and failed to live wholeheartedly for God.

Only by experiencing the salvation that comes from faith in Jesus can we overcome the penalty of all the wrong choices we have made, are making, and will make in the future.