Solomon’s Advice
Eccl. 3:12-15
Introduction
Eternity was put in our hearts by the Lord and people cannot know the works of God. Indeed, we cannot understand all the mysteries of life but God has revealed to us everything we need to know about salvation, godliness, and fruitful Christian living. Solomon now is advising his readers on what
to do as they live their life under the sun.
I. Godly Advice (Eccl. 3:12a)
A. Rejoice
1. The word rejoice here means to cheer up, be glad, be merry.
2. What Solomon is teaching here is, we should enjoy the fruits of our labours
3. Life is short and life is hard but we can still enjoy things we have gained due to hard work.
4. In the NT rejoice means to be joyful; to exult in God (Lev. 23:40; Mt. 5:12).
Rejoicing, in the Bible, most frequently has to do with rejoicing in God, in His power and glory, in His protection, in His graciousness, in His provision (Deut. 12:12; 26:11; 1Sam. 2:1; Ps. 9:2; 31:7; 32:11; Isa. 41:16; Ph. 4:4).
5. We can rejoice even in the midst of trials, difficulties, sufferings, etc., knowing that He is with us and will never leave or forsake us. (Heb. 13:5)
6. We rejoice because He will never put us into shame and all things will eventually work together for good. (Rom. 8:28).
B. Do good
1. Whether in the OT or in the NT we are all commanded to do good. (Ps. 34:14, Ps.37:3, Lk. 6:35, Heb. 13:16, Jas. 4:17)
2. We must do good or make use of God’s blessings not only on ourselves but also to others.
3. By our good works we become lights in this world and by our good works we may be able to bring others to Christ.
C. Eat
1. Eating good food with family and friends is one of the good things in this life.
2. Eating healthy foods makes us strong and healthy
3. One thing we must remember is to eat in moderation and don’t forget to share your food to others specially to the poor and hungry.
D. Drink
1. Solomon is not teaching excessive drinking of alcoholic wine here. He knows very well the negative or evil results of being drunk and he wrote many things about it in the Book of Proverbs.
2. The results of drunkenness as written in the Bible:
a. Immorality (Pr. 23:33),
b. Cursing (Pr. 23:33),
c. Recklessness (Pr. 23:34),
d. Dizziness (Pr. 23:34),
e. Fighting and injury (Pr. 23:35),
f. Bondage (Pr. 23:35; 5:22-23; Jn. 8:34; Rom. 6:16),
g. Sorrow (Pr. 23:29)
h. Poverty (Pr. 23:21)
3. Drinking alcoholic beverages should be avoided by the Christian at all cost.
E. Enjoy the good of his labour
1. Take comfort of what he has been working for and see his children inherit whatever material things he has accumulated.
F. All of the above is simple, routine, daily, but wonderful things from God. They are God’s gift and we must be thankful about it.
II. God’s works (Eccl. 3:14)
A. God’s works are always done in a permanent fashion unless we are explicitly told otherwise. This verse has excellent applications to the word of God itself – i.e. it is perfect and nothing can be added to or taken from it.
B. Revelation 22:18-19 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
1. There are more than 6,000 changes made in the “New Translations” changing important Biblical doctrine. These changes cause confusion and in most cases totally misleading and contrary to the intended meaning.
2. The KJV is the best and in my experience as a Bible Student, I really don’t need to study Greek and Hebrew to really understand it.
3. The verse also has a good application in regards to our salvation which is also permanent once given to us by God Almighty.
4. Salvation is by grace through faith only, you cannot add works.
5. Other things:
a. Man should always be man. You cannot turn him into a woman. A woman will always be a woman, you cannot turn her into a man.
b. God created only man and woman. No gay no lesbian, no LGBT.
C. Why God acts this way?
1. God doeth it that men should fear before Him – Eccl. 3:14 c
2. That is to reverence God, and therefore seek to please Him – Acts 17:26-27 God has made man an inquisitive creature He has also made life such that we are always seeking better, or for some
purpose. Hopefully we will keep seeking until we find Him.
III. God Never Forgets (Eccl. 3:15)
A. God requireth that which is past.
1. God never forgets. Just because a deed is past and forgotten by other men, it does not mean that God has forgotten.
2. Always remember that “every one of us shall give account of himself to God. (Rom. 14:12).
3. God knows our secret sins. Our life is an open book to Him. “Your sin will find you out” (Num. 32:23)
Illustration: Christ Saviour & Judge
In Warren Wiersbe’s Meet Yourself in the Psalms, he tells about a frontier town where a horse bolted and ran away with a wagon carrying a little boy. Seeing the child in danger, a young man risked his life to catch the horse and stop the wagon. The child who was saved grew up to become a lawless man, and one day he stood before a judge to be sentenced for a serious crime. The prisoner recognized the judge as the man who, years before had saved his life; so he pled for mercy on the basis of that experience. But the words from the bench silenced his plea:
“Young man, then I was your saviour; today I am your judge, and I must sentence you to be hanged.”
One day Jesus Christ will say to rebellious sinners, “During that long day of grace, I was the Saviour, and I would have forgiven you. But today I am your Judge. Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire!”
IV. Conclusion:
We should rejoice and enjoy God’s blessings while we are still living it’s God’s gift and we must always be thankful about it. His works are permanent and we cannot add anything to it that men should fear Him. Fear God and come to Christ. Receive Him as your personal Saviour now. Tomorrow may be too late.
