WHO KNOWS?

 

WHO KNOWS?

picture taken from Goggle

BIBLE PASSAGE: Ecclesiastes 6:12; 7:13-14

THEME VERSE:

For who knoweth what is good for man in this life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?

INTRODUCTION:

Who knows what is good for man in this life?

As we become adults, we act like we’re good. In decisions, future plans, family issues, and everything. Let’s see and learn from the characters in the Bible and then let’s answer with our mind who really knows what is good for man in this life?

·         King Saul – He chased David in order to kill him. He made desperate measures to make his son, Jonathan, to be in throne. Normally, his son should be the successor but he saw that David was the great possibility because the hand of the Lord was in him. He wanted his son to be in throne which is what a king wanted to be but his will is different from God’s. 

·         King Rehoboam – He asked the two different opinions: the nation’s elders versus his childhood friends. This was regard to the kind of labor that would be given to the workers but he chose the wrong counsel- his childhood friends.

·         King David – When David committed sin (adultery), he solved the problem in his own way. Instead of repenting, he tried to cover it up by killing the husband of Bathshaba.

·         King Solomon – He was given the wisdom, wealth and fame but he came to a point in his life where his wives led him to the wrong way.

·         Ananias and Sapphira – They are married couple, sell a piece of property and promise to donate but they secretly hold back a portion. They chose to lie in the presence of God.

 

These are some of the adults in the bible who had wrong decisions and chose the wrong path. Most of them had higher positions and had higher status in life but these are not guarantee that you know how what is good in your life. Ecclesiastes 6:12 reminds us…

For who knoweth what is good for man in this life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?

LESSON POINTS:

1)   WHO KNOWS WHAT IS GOOD FOR A PERSON IN THIS LIFE?

There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

Proverbs 14:12 reminds us that we don’t know the right path. In fact, we don’t know the best for us that’s why we need Someone to guide us and that Someone is not our friends, parents and others- HE IS OUR CREATOR. Our friends, parents and others are used by God for our guidance but the greater SOURCE of wisdom is the Lord. Psalms 139: 1-4 mentioned that God knows all.

O lord, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether.

Ignoring God and make your own way is a great mistake. In 2 Kings 1:1-15, the king, Ahaziah, fell down from the lattice in his upper chamber and he got ill. With this, he sent messengers to inquire Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron if he would recover. God talked to Elijah and commanded to meet the messengers and reminded them if Israel has no great God to be inquired about and rather inquired to other god. The messengers hadn’t continued inquiring and they went back to the palace. Then the king sent captain with his fifty men to get Elijah in his place but God consumed them. The king sent another captain with his fifty but they were also consumed like the first group of men. For the third time, the king sent another captain with his fifty to get Elijah. This time the captain fell on his knees and begged Elijah to spare him and fifty men. Elijah went with them and told everything to the king what God had asked him to tell. Because he didn’t acknowledge the God of Israel, sad to say, he didn’t recover with this and died.

 

2)   WHO KNOWS WHO CAN MAKE A STRAIGHT LIFE INTO CROOKED?

Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked?

Ecclesiastes 7:13 reminds us to consider the work of God. In this life, God can make everything into place. He can make your life crooked for us to learn something and your crooked life can be straight depending on God’s will.

 

Let’s remember Naomi’s life. She had a better life in Israel but when famine comes, she moved to Moab. When they were in Moab, there were bad things happened in her life. Her husband died and her sons too; her two daughters-in-law left without husbands. Her daughter-in-law, Ruth, begged to come with her in going back to her country. Ruth and Naomi went back to Israel and this was she said when asked by the people, “I went out full, and the Lord brought me home again empty.” Personally, this caught my attention and truly, only GOD can make you full and empty. It’s not the place that gives you wealth and opportunities, it’s our CREATOR. He has the power to give you wealth. 

 

3)   WHO KNOWS WHAT THE FUTURE LIES AHEAD?

In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: God also hath set the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him.

Ecclesiastes 7:14 is a greatly reminder that everything happens for a reason. In prosperity be joyful and if other bad things happen consider God’s dealings.

One of my favorite characters in the Bible is Joseph. Though there are many bad things happened to him, we can see that God’s still in control. His brothers treated him badly, he was sold to a merchant, he was served in a place he was not comfortable, a different country and away from family. He was accused of being a rapist by the wife of his boss. He was in prison for years. Though we may see these things a bad luck or being unfortunate and we may not consider that the hands of the Lord are still there or still in control but the fact is all things happened for a reason. He was given by God the ability to interpret dreams. He helped one of the prisoners by interpreting his dreams but sad to say the prisoner forgot that someone in prison helped him and that was Joseph. Though he was forgotten by the prisoner, God would never forget him. He made a way for Joseph to be recognized by Potiphar.

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Romans 8:28 is the best verse for us to remember that whatever we face at this moment, God has better plans for us. Let’s consider God’s works and trust Him.

CONCLUSION:

In order for us to know God’s hands in the midst of trials and sufferings, let’s consider what Romans 12:2 says,

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

We need God’s wisdom for us to determine what is right from wrong and also to discern what is right and almost right. We can do this by renewing our minds and fill our minds with God’s words. Why fill our minds with God’s words? So it could help us with the implanted views we have by the world.