Ecclesiastes 8:1-8
Four Traits of a Growing Believer
Who am I? Where did I come from? Why am I here? Where am I going? What’s the reason for my existence?
1a Who is like a wise man? And who knows the interpretation of a thing?
bA man's wisdom makes his face shine, and the sternness of his face is changed.
2 I say, "Keep the king's commandment for the sake of your oath to God. 3 Do not be hasty to go from his presence. Do not take your stand for an evil thing, for he does whatever pleases him." 4 Where the word of a king is, there is power; and who may say to him, "What are you doing?"
5 He who keeps his command will experience nothing harmful; and a wise man's heart discerns both time and judgment, 6 because for every matter there is a time and judgment, though the misery of man increases greatly. 7 For he does not know what will happen; so who can tell him when it will occur? 8No one has power over the spirit to retain the spirit, and no one has power in the day of death. There is no release from that war, and wickedness will not deliver those who are given to it.
9 All this I have seen, and applied my heart to every work that is done under the sun: There is a time in which one man rules over another to his own hurt. 10 Then I saw the wicked buried, who had come and gone from the place of holiness, and they were forgotten in the city where they had so done. This also is vanity. 11 Because the sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil. 12 Though a sinner does evil a hundred times, and his days are prolonged, yet I surely know that it will be well with those who fear God, who fear before Him. 13 But it will not be well with the wicked; nor will he prolong his days, which are as a shadow, because he does not fear before God. 14 There is a vanity which occurs on earth, that there are just men to whom it happens according to the work of the wicked; again, there are wicked men to whom it happens according to the work of the righteous. I said that this also is vanity. 15 So I commended enjoyment, because a man has nothing better under the sun than to eat, drink, and be merry; for this will remain with him in his labor all the days of his life which God gives him under the sun. 16 When I applied my heart to know wisdom and to see the business that is done on earth, even though one sees no sleep day or night, 17 then I saw all the work of God, that a man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun. For though a man labors to discover it, yet he will not find it; moreover, though a wise man attempts to know it, he will not be able to find it.
Ecclesiastes 8:1-8
Four Traits of a Growing Believer
Introduction
This past spring, I had a problem with my tomatoes rotting before they ripened. I discovered a problem called Blossom End Rot. It seems that tomatoes don’t like having their “feet” wet all the time. Too much rain causes the fruit to rot before it ripens. Too often, our “fruit” rots because of too much of ourselves. Note what it takes for believers to show four growing traits.
First, there is…
Spiritual Maturity 1a
A wise man / Interpretation from God “PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP W JESUS” investing in the Word; (James 3:2, 8-17) watching your walk, your works and your words
*Not measurable by man’s standards OUTPUT (read Bible, Pray, Witness); God’s standard
**Evidence - Galatians 5:22 Fruit of the Spirit; INPUT Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control
Illustration –
Another feature of gardening is the need to hoe. The soil hardens and dries out the soil making it difficult for the plant to mature. The hardening of our hearts dries us up as well.
Joyful Personality 1b
20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself. Philippians 3:20-21
Wisdom which radiates from God
What is inward reflects outward
*How you react when under pressure
Mindful of Authority 2-4
(Romans 13:1-7)
Kings were absolute monarchs
Your oath to God is ultimate as he placed King on throne
Don’t forsake your place of employment
Don’t stand for unrighteousness
The King is sovereign. Who can question Him?
*Job, Gov’t, Rules (Traffic, Taxes and Trouble)
Thoughtful Clarity 5-8
Sovereignty of God / God is the ultimate King
We have no control over the events of life / you can’t restrain wind.
(Ecclesiastes 3:1-8)
You can never know when something will happen.
(birth and/or death)
