Lord, show me Your awesomeness!

How has God shown You His awesomeness the past week?

What Is Better?
Don't Waste Your Life, Young One!
Ecclesiastes 7:1-14

What Is Better?
Don't Waste Your Life, Young One!
Ecclesiastes 7:1-14

Which Is Better?
Don't Waste Your Life, Young One!
Ecclesiastes 7:1-14

Ecclesiastes 7:1-14
Contains a list of proverbs or sayings. Proverb = A short saying in frequent and widespread use that expresses a basic truth or practical precept.

Better vs.

8 "Better" Things
1) v.1 2) v.2 3) vv.3-4 4) vv.5-6 5) v.7 6) vv.8-9 7) v.10 8) vv.11-12 vv.13-14 Conclusion:

The better is not always easier but it IS better.

Ecclesiastes 7:1
1 A good name is better than fine perfume, and the day of death better than the day of birth.

8 "Better" Things
1) v.1 Good name vs. Bad reputation 2) v.2 3) vv.3-4 4) vv.5-6 5) v.7 6) vv.8-9 7) v.10 8) vv.11-12 vv.13-14 Conclusion:

Good name vs. Bad reputation

vs.

What kind of legacy do you want to leave when you die?

Ecclesiastes 7:2
2 It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, for death is the destiny of every man; the living should take this to heart.

8 "Better" Things
1) v.1 Good name vs. Bad reputation 2) v.2 Long-term important things vs. Short-term happiness 3) vv.3-4 4) vv.5-6 5) v.7 6) vv.8-9 7) v.10 8) vv.11-12 vv.13-14 Conclusion:

Long-term important things vs. Short-term happiness

vs.

Are you driven by long-term important things or short-term happiness ?

The better is not always easier but it IS better.

Ecclesiastes 7:3-4
3 Sorrow is better than laughter, because a sad face is good for the heart. 4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of pleasure.

8 "Better" Things
1) v.1 Good name vs. Bad reputation 2) v.2 Long-term important things vs. Short-term happiness 3) vv.3-4 Growing through trials vs. Stagnant in pleasure 4) vv.5-6 5) v.7 6) vv.8-9 7) v.10 8) vv.11-12 vv.13-14 Conclusion:

Growing through trials vs. Stagnant in pleasure

vs.

"Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh." (Lk. 6:21b) "Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep." (Lk. 6:25b) - Jesus

Do you want to grow or do you want to remain stagnant?

Ecclesiastes 7:5-6
5 It is better to heed a wise man's rebuke than to listen to the song of fools. 6 Like the crackling of thorns under the pot, so is the laughter of fools. This too is meaningless.

8 "Better" Things
1) v.1 Good name vs. Bad reputation 2) v.2 Long-term important things vs. Short-term happiness 3) vv.3-4 Growing through trials vs. Stagnant in pleasure 4) vv.5-6 Our faults: Rebuked vs. Justified/Tolerated 5) v.7 6) vv.8-9 7) v.10 8) vv.11-12 vv.13-14 Conclusion:

Our faults: Rebuked vs. Justified/Tolerated

vs.

Are you shutting down the rebuke of others?

The better is not always easier but it IS better.

Ecclesiastes 7:7
7 Extortion turns a wise man into a fool, and a bribe corrupts the heart.

8 "Better" Things
1) v.1 Good name vs. Bad reputation 2) v.2 Long-term important things vs. Short-term happiness 3) vv.3-4 Growing through trials vs. Stagnant in pleasure 4) vv.5-6 Our faults: Rebuked vs. Justified/Tolerated 5) v.7 Righteousness vs. Corruption 6) vv.8-9 7) v.10 8) vv.11-12 vv.13-14 Conclusion:

Righteousness vs. Corruption

vs.

Will you choose righteousness over corruption?

Ecclesiastes 7:8-9
8 The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride. 9 Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools.

8 "Better" Things
1) v.1 Good name vs. Bad reputation 2) v.2 Long-term important things vs. Short-term happiness 3) vv.3-4 Growing through trials vs. Stagnant in pleasure 4) vv.5-6 Our faults: Rebuked vs. Justified/Tolerated 5) v.7 Righteousness vs. Corruption 6) vv.8-9 Patience vs. Pride 7) v.10 8) vv.11-12 vv.13-14 Conclusion:

Patience vs. Pride

vs.

"For where there is humility there will be patience." - Matthew Henry

How patient were you this past week?

The better is not always easier but it IS better.

Ecclesiastes 7:10
10 Do not say, "Why were the old days better than these?" For it is not wise to ask such questions.

8 "Better" Things
1) v.1 Good name vs. Bad reputation 2) v.2 Long-term important things vs. Short-term happiness 3) vv.3-4 Growing through trials vs. Stagnant in pleasure 4) vv.5-6 Our faults: Rebuked vs. Justified/Tolerated 5) v.7 Righteousness vs. Corruption 6) vv.8-9 Patience vs. Pride 7) v.10 Moving forward vs. Stuck in the past 8) vv.11-12 vv.13-14 Conclusion:

Moving forward vs. Stuck in the past

vs.

Are you moving forward or are you stuck in the past?

Ecclesiastes 7:11-12
11 Wisdom, like an inheritance, is a good thing and benefits those who see the sun. 12 Wisdom is a shelter as money is a shelter, but the advantage of knowledge is this: that wisdom preserves the life of its possessor.

8 "Better" Things
1) v.1 Good name vs. Bad reputation 2) v.2 Long-term important things vs. Short-term happiness 3) vv.3-4 Growing through trials vs. Stagnant in pleasure 4) vv.5-6 Our faults: Rebuked vs. Justified/Tolerated 5) v.7 Righteousness vs. Corruption 6) vv.8-9 Patience vs. Pride 7) v.10 Moving forward vs. Stuck in the past 8) vv.11-12 Wisdom vs. Wealth vv.13-14 Conclusion:

Wisdom vs. Wealth

vs.

Are you seeking wisdom or are you seeking wealth?

The better is not always easier but it IS better.

Which of the 8 things is most meaningful for you right now?

(Choose 1)

8 "Better" Things
1) v.1 Good name vs. Bad reputation 2) v.2 Long-term important things vs. Short-term happiness 3) vv.3-4 Growing through trials vs. Stagnant in pleasure 4) vv.5-6 Our faults: Rebuked vs. Justified/Tolerated 5) v.7 Righteousness vs. Corruption 6) vv.8-9 Patience vs. Pride 7) v.10 Moving forward vs. Stuck in the past 8) vv.11-12 Wisdom vs. Wealth vv.13-14 Conclusion:

Options:
1) Skit 2) Radio show 3) Pantomime 4) Drawing 5) Poem 6) Song

Ecclesiastes 7:13-14
13 Consider what God has done: Who can straighten what he has made crooked? 14 When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider: God has made the one as well as the other. Therefore, a man cannot discover anything about his future.

8 "Better" Things
1) v.1 Good name vs. Bad reputation 2) v.2 Long-term important things vs. Short-term happiness 3) vv.3-4 Growing through trials vs. Stagnant in pleasure 4) vv.5-6 Our faults: Rebuked vs. Justified/Tolerated 5) v.7 Righteousness vs. Corruption 6) vv.8-9 Patience vs. Pride 7) v.10 Moving forward vs. Stuck in the past 8) vv.11-12 Wisdom vs. Wealth vv.13-14 Conclusion: In good times and in bad, be contented and praise God.

In good times and in bad, be contented and praise God.

In life, sometimes we win, sometimes we lose.

(Tic tac toe story)

God will not give you a challenge that you cannot overcome.

Don't waste your life, Young One!

The better is not always easier but it IS better.

Which Is Better?
Don't Waste Your Life, Young One!
Ecclesiastes 7:1-14