Life Under the Sun

No Profit Under the Sun!
However, there is profit IN the Son!

Solomon vs Paul

(in the audio, there is a bit of review from the Cheer Up! sermon)

(This is just a general worksheet for the sermon - the details are really in the audio more than here.)

James 3:15-17 tells us that there are two kinds of wisdom:
1) pure, then peaceable
2) earthly, sensual, devilish

This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

If we seek pure, peaceable wisdom, we will not be distressed,
nor will we be grieved!

In other words, the more we know about life "under the sun," the more sorrowful we will get!
This sorrow will produce more grief if that is what we meditate and set our affection on! Colossians 3:1-3

What Paul knew about his people caused 'continual sorrow' as it should for us - but he was able to still rejoice... rejoice! Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.

Yes, the world is full of sorrow - pain - grief - unfairness - etc.

But there is the other side of the coin...
...the truth for today that many just don't seem to want!

Solomons "under the sun" wisdom versus wisdom from "in the SON!"

1:2 - Vanity of vanities, all is vanity versus I Cor 3:8,14; Col 3:24,25; I Tim 5:24,25 - every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour!
1:3 - What profit hath a man of all his labour versus I Cor 15:58; Prov 14:23; Ps 127:1; Gal 4:11; I Thess 3:5 - ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
1:13 - This sore travail hath God given to the sons of man versus II Cor 4:17; Romans 8:18 - our present light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.
1:15 - That which is wanting cannot be numbered versus II Cor 9:8 - my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus... that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.
1:18 - He that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow versus - Phil 3:7; Prov 24:5 - I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord... in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Solomon's approach to life is from an un-saved person's point of view!
It has nothing to do with Biblical Christianity!

It is written to lost folks trying to gain the whole world but lose their soul! Matthew 16:26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

You can't have both suns!
No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other;
or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
Matthew 6:24

Under the sun - Ecclesiastes 1:14 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.
Sun of Righteousness - Malachi 4:2 But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.

Also see Romans 6:11-23

Read Ecclesiastes 2:1-23
There is still wisdom FOR us, not TO us, in Ecclesiastes

for older folks - chapter 12
for young folks - chapter 11

All the philosophies of life "under the sun" are in Ecclesiastes
Materialism
Phenomenalism
Pessimism
Fatalism
Egotism
Pragmatism
Agnosticism
Theism
Naturalism
Pantheism
Paganism
Deism
Communism
Capitalism
Rationalism
Skepticism
Humanism
Modernism
Existentialism

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