Meaningless
"1How wonderful to be wise,
to analyze and interpret things.
Wisdom lights up a person’s face,
softening its harshness."
Ecclesiastes 8: 1 (NLT)
Submitting to Worldy Authority (vv. 2-8)
- Ecclesiastes 8:2-8
- Romans 13:1-7
- 1 Peter 2:13-17
Nero
- Set Rome on fire
- Killed:
- 1st wife
- 2nd wife
- Mother
- Married an adolescent boy
- Dressed him as his wife
- Persecuted Christians
- Thrown to the Beast
- Burned alive as human torches
- Crucified
"Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God."
Romans 13:1 (NLT)
"5 Those who obey him will not be punished. Those who are wise will find a time and a way to do what is right, 6 for there is a time and a way for everything, even when a person is in trouble."
Ecclesiastes 8:5-6 (NLT)
- Examples:
- Joseph
- Daniel
- Shadrach, Meshach, and Abendigo
- Nehemiah
- Peter & The Apostles
"29 But Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than any human authority."
Acts 5:29 (NLT)
"16 For you are free, yet you are God’s slaves, so don’t use your freedom as an excuse to do evil. 17 Respect everyone, and love the family of believers. Fear God, and respect the king."
1 Peter 2:16-17 (NLT)
"24 Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy."
Ephesian 4:24 (NLT)
The Injustice in the World (vv. 9-14)
Ecclesiastes 8:7-14
"8 None of us can hold back our spirit from departing. None of us has the power to prevent the day of our death. There is no escaping that obligation, that dark battle. And in the face of death, wickedness will certainly not rescue the wicked."
Ecclesiastes 8:8 (NLT)
"12 Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God. 13 So let’s stop condemning each other. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall."
Romans 14:12-13 (NLT)
Correct Living (v. 15)
"15 So I recommend having fun, because there is nothing better for people in this world than to eat, drink, and enjoy life. That way they will experience some happiness along with all the hard work God gives them under the sun."
Ecclesiastes 8:15 (NLT)
"22 A cheerful heart is good medicine,
but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength."
Proverbs 17:22 (NLT)
"16 In my search for wisdom and in my observation of people’s burdens here on earth, I discovered that there is ceaseless activity, day and night. 17 I realized that no one can discover everything God is doing under the sun. Not even the wisest people discover everything, no matter what they claim."
Ecclesiastes 8:16-17 (NLT)
Romans 8:31-39
Whose authority do you submit to,
God’s or Yours?
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