What’s the Use?

Text: Ecclesiastes 6:1-12

Introduction:

 Illustration: Murphy’s law and its various corollaries

 Solomon’s Biography (II Chron. 1:11-12)

Proposition: Don’t give up on life just because circumstances aren’t going your way

Transitional Sentence: Solomon records three reasons we are tempted to "throw in the towel" and give up.

  1. Deprivation: Quality doesn’t guarantee quality (6:1-2)
    1. Two things that are ultimately from God
      1. Riches are from God
      2. Enjoyment itself is from God
  1. Unappreciation: Position does not guarantee prestige (6:3-6)
  2. Frustration: Experience never matches expectation (6:7-12)

Conclusion: Purpose in life comes from finding your place in God’s plan. Only as we find our ultimate purpose can we have the drive and motivation to keep on going.

Illustration: Example of those who died after their purpose was gone.