Simple Answers to a Complex Problem<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pastor Don Carpenter<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2021 Bible Reading Challenge \/ God’s Sovereignty; Eternity \/ Ecclesiastes 3:1\u201315<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Why does it seem so stinking hard to understand what in the world God is trying to do? We know God has promised to work all things together for good\u2026 but that good seems to be illusive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Romans 8:28 KJV<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We have learned from our study of Daniel that God indeed is in charge. The great preacher and author R.C. SPROUL said \u201cIf there is one single molecule in this universe running around loose, totally free of God\u2019s sovereignty, then we have no guarantee that a single promise of God will ever be fulfilled.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So there is the promise, but how does that work when we see the heartbreak of living in this sin cursed world? We know that in God\u2019s eternal mind it all has a perfect purpose, but how can we make sense of it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The wisest man besides Jesus to ever live grapples with this problem in our passage tonight. We will find that much of the lack of understanding is because of the concept of time. We are temporal, and God is eternal. So let us dig into the truth of this passage and find some simple answers to a very complex question\u2026 what is God doing and how can it be good?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
God\u2019s Plan and Timing Is Beautiful<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Even though man struggles to understand how.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Ecclesiastes 3:10<\/em> KJV<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Everything is By Design and Purpose<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Ecclesiastes 3:1<\/em> KJV<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Romans 8:28\u201329<\/em> KJV<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n God\u2019s Timing Is Perfect<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/em>Ecclesiastes 3:11<\/em> (KJV)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n He hath made every thing beautiful in his time…<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Galatians 6:9<\/em> KJV<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Psalm 145:15<\/em> KJV<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The eyes of all wait upon thee; And thou givest them their meat in due season.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n I heard Mike Reynolds, then the Director of Utah Missions, at a meeting in South Carolina telling about leading a Mormon to Christ the first time he witnessed to him. It was such an unusual experience for Mike that he began asking questions about others who had witnessed to the man. He then said, \u201cSomething like nineteen other people had witnessed to him before I did.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSomething like nineteen other people\u201d who had witnessed to him may not know he has professed faith in the Jesus of the Bible. \u201cSomething like nineteen other people\u201d may be frustrated because they have not seen the results of their efforts. The truth is, only God knows all the results of all our efforts.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Mankind Is Not Capable of Comprehending God\u2019s Entire Plan.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n God has given man a glimpse at the concept of eternity.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/em>Ecclesiastes 3:11<\/em> (KJV)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n … also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Man was created in the image of God, and was given dominion over creation (Gen. 1:26\u201328); therefore, he is different from the rest of creation. He has \u201ceternity [\u201cthe world,\u201d KJV] in his heart\u201d and is linked to heaven. This explains why nobody (including Solomon) can be satisfied with his or her endeavors and achievements, or is able to explain the enigmas of life (1:12\u20132:11). God accomplishes His purposes in His time, but it will not be until we enter eternity that we will begin to comprehend His total plan.1<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1 Warren W. Wiersbe, Be Satisfied, \u201cBe\u201d Commentary Series (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 47.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Man is still finite and his comprehension limited<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/em>Ecclesiastes 3:12<\/em> (KJV)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Isaiah 55:8\u201311<\/em> KJV<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n For my thoughts are not your thoughts, Neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are my ways higher than your ways, And my thoughts than your thoughts. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n For as the rain cometh down, And the snow from heaven, And returneth not thither, But watereth the earth, And maketh it bring forth and bud, That it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: It shall not return unto me void, But it shall accomplish that which I please, And it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n There may indeed be appropriate times for everything, and God does know these times, but, speaking of humans, no one can discover what God is doing. This expression does not arise from a flippant \u201cleave it to God\u201d attitude, but from an agony of desire to know what is going on. But such knowledge is inscrutable. There is nothing (from beginning to end) that human beings can truly fathom.1<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1 Tremper Longman, The Book of Ecclesiastes, The New International Commentary on the Old Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1998), 121.<\/p>\n\n\n\n MATT CHANDLER: \u201cTrying to figure out God is like trying to catch a fish in the Pacific Ocean with an inch of dental floss.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n God\u2019s Plans Are Anchored In Eternity<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Ecclesiastes 3:14<\/em> KJV<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n God Himself is not even bound by time.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Ecclesiastes 3:15<\/em> KJV<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Solution: Be A Good Steward of God\u2019s Gift of NOW<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ecclesiastes 3:12\u201313<\/em> KJV<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Enjoy life<\/p>\n\n\n\n Again Solomon indicated that this ability to enjoy life comes as a gift of God (cf. 2:25). Christian D. Ginsburg properly renders 3:13 as a conditional sentence: \u201cIf any man eats and drinks and finds V 1, p 985 satisfaction in all his toil, it is a gift of God\u201d (The Song of Songs and Coheleth, pp. 311\u20132).1<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1 Donald R. Glenn, \u201cEcclesiastes,\u201d in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 984\u2013985.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022\tEnjoy the fruit of your labor<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022\tRest in the truth that God works and lives in the eternal realm<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022\tRespect the fact that God\u2019s plan is right even though you cannot comprehend it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022\tRealize that we are finite and temporal, God is not and He is in charge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1 Peter 3:10\u201312<\/em> KJV<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Third, man\u2019s life can be enjoyable now (vv. 12\u201314). The Preacher hinted at this in 2:24 and was careful to say that this enjoyment of life is the gift of God (see 3:13, 6:2, and 1 Tim. 6:17). \u201cThe enjoyment of life\u201d is an important theme in Ecclesiastes and is mentioned in each of the four sections of chapters 3\u201310. (Review the outline.) Solomon is encouraging not pagan hedonism, but rather the practice of enjoying God\u2019s gifts as the fruit of one\u2019s labor, no matter how difficult life may be. Life appears to be transitory, but whatever God does is forever, so when we live for Him and let Him have His way, life is meaningful and manageable. Instead of complaining about what we don\u2019t have, let\u2019s enjoy what we do have and thank God for it.1<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1 Warren W. Wiersbe, Be Satisfied, \u201cBe\u201d Commentary Series (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 48.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ecclesiastes 12:13\u201314<\/em> KJV<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Proverbs 3:1\u20132<\/em> KJV<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n My son, forget not my law; But let thine heart keep my commandments: <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n For length of days, and long life, And peace, shall they add to thee.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis is God\u2019s universe, and God does things his way. You may have a better way, but you don\u2019t have a universe.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n J. VERNON MCGEE<\/p>\n\n\n\n Exported from Logos Bible Software, 7:22 PM July 27, 2021.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Simple Answers to a Complex Problem Pastor Don Carpenter 2021 Bible Reading Challenge \/ God’s Sovereignty; Eternity \/ Ecclesiastes 3:1\u201315 Why does it seem so stinking hard to understand what in the world God is trying to do? We know God has promised to work all things together for good\u2026 but that good seems to be … Continue reading Simple Answers to a Complex Problem<\/span>