Here’s how the study works: Read the chapters mentioned in the heading during the week and share any words, thoughts, verses that stood out to you. Having a week for several chapters creates the opportunity to revisit them and make additional comments as you feel inclined as well as make comments on other people’s insights.
Ecclesiastes 1-5
1:8 All things are wearisome, more than one can say. The eye never has enough of seeing, nor the ear its fill of hearing.
Things of earth are never going to satisfy. We will never have enough. The flesh always wants more. Therefore don’t set your heart on earthly pleasures, even good ones.
1:8 All things are wearisome, more than one can say. The eye never has enough of seeing, nor the ear its fill of hearing.
Things of earth are never going to satisfy. We will never have enough. The flesh always wants more. Therefore don’t set your heart on earthly pleasures, even good ones.
2:24-26 A person can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in their own toil. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment? To the person who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God.
Find satisfaction in toil—this is from God—only in him can we find enjoyment. God gives happiness to the one who pleases him. The sinner has the task of gathering and storing wealth for someone else.
2:24-26 A person can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in their own toil. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment? To the person who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God.
Find satisfaction in toil—this is from God—only in him can we find enjoyment. God gives happiness to the one who pleases him. The sinner has the task of gathering and storing wealth for someone else.
3:12-13 I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God.
Do good, eat and drink, find satisfaction in the small domestic happenings of daily life.
3:12-13 I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God.
Do good, eat and drink, find satisfaction in the small domestic happenings of daily life.
4:4 And I saw that all toil and all achievement spring from one person’s envy of another. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.
Much of what we do is to impress others and this is pointless, very pointless.
4:4 And I saw that all toil and all achievement spring from one person’s envy of another. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.
Much of what we do is to impress others and this is pointless, very pointless.
5:18-20 This is what I have observed to be good: that it is appropriate for a person to eat, to drink and to find satisfaction in their toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given them—for this is their lot. Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept their lot and be happy in their toil—this is a gift of God. They seldom reflect on the days of their life, because God keeps them occupied with gladness of heart.
“God keeps him occupied and focused on the joy of his heart [and the tranquility of God indwells him]” (v. 20).
Focus on being content with simple pleasures and the peace that God gives.
5:18-20 This is what I have observed to be good: that it is appropriate for a person to eat, to drink and to find satisfaction in their toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given them—for this is their lot. Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept their lot and be happy in their toil—this is a gift of God. They seldom reflect on the days of their life, because God keeps them occupied with gladness of heart.
“God keeps him occupied and focused on the joy of his heart [and the tranquility of God indwells him]” (v. 20).
Focus on being content with simple pleasures and the peace that God gives.