More Wise Sayings 
 

Scripture Reading: Ecclesiastes 7:14-29.

Memory Verse: "Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall." (1 Cor. 10:12).

Introduction: Child of God! it was "according to the Scriptures" that Jesus Christ lived and died; it was "according to the Scriptures" that He was raised again: all that the Scriptures said He must do or suffer He was able to accomplish, because He knew and obeyed them. All that the Scriptures had promised that the Father should do for Him, the Father did.
  O give thyself up with an undivided heart to learn in the Scriptures what God says and seeks of thee. Let the Scriptures in which Jesus found every day the food of His life, be thy daily food and meditation. Go to God's Word each day with the joyful and confident expectation, that through the blessed Spirit, who dwells in us, the Word will indeed accomplish its divine purpose in thee.
  Every word of God is full of a divine life and power. Be assured that when thou dost seek to use the Scriptures as Christ used them, they will do for thee what they did for Him. God has marked out the plan of thy life in His Word; each day thou wilt find some portion of it there. Nothing makes a man more strong and courageous than the assurance that he is just living out the will of God. God Himself, who had thy image portrayed in the Scriptures, will see to it that the Scriptures are fulfilled in thee, if like His Son thou wilt but surrender thyself to this as the highest object of thy life. (written by Andrew Murray)
(Taken from Thomas Nelson, Inc. Heritage of Great Evangelical Teaching: Featuring the best of Martin Luther, John Wesley, Dwight L. Moody, C.H. Spurgeon and others [computer file], electronic ed., Logos Library System, (Nashville: Thomas Nelson) 1997, c1996.)

Lesson Questions:

1. What unusual observation does the preacher make concerning the longevity of the righteous and the wicked? Eccl. 7:14; Job 21:7-13; Ps. 73:1-9.

2. Discuss how a man can go to extremes and be "overly righteous." Eccl. 7:15,16; Matt. 7:6; 2 Thess. 3:10-12; Prov. 12:15; 2 Cor. 10:12; Matt. 23:23-33.
Note: There may be over-doing in well-being. Self-denial and mortification of the flesh are good; but if we prejudice our health by them, and unfit ourselves for the service of God, we are righteous overmuch. To reprove those that offend is good, but to cast that pearl before swine, who will turn again and rend us, is to be righteous overmuch. "Make not thyself over-wise. Be not opinionative, and conceited of thy own abilities. Set not up for a dictator, nor pretend to give law to, and give judgment upon, all about thee. Set not up for a critic, to find fault with every thing that is said and done, nor busy thyself in other men's matters, as if thou knewest every thing and couldst do any thing. Why shouldst thou destroy thyself, as fools often do by meddling with strife that belongs not to them? Why shouldst thou provoke authority, and run thyself into the briers, by needless contradictions, and by going out of thy sphere to correct what is amiss? Be wise as serpents; beware of men." (Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Bible, [Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers] 1997).

3. What is the promise to the man who truly fears God? Eccl. 7:18; Ps. 73:17-24; Ps. 37:23-27; 31:19; 103:13; Mal. 3:16; Acts 10:35.

4. What is the real value of wisdom to the wise? Eccl. 7:19; Prov. 3:13,14; 4:4-13.

5. Why do men desperately need God's wisdom? Eccl. 7:20; Jas. 3:2; Rom. 3:10-18; 1 John 1:5-9; Isa. 55:6-9; Jer. 23:16-22.

6. Why are we not to be personally hurt by what others say about us? Eccl. 7:21,22; Psa. 1:1-3; Mark 11:25; Eph. 4:32; Col. 3:13; Heb. 12:14,15.

7. When the preacher attempted to know wisdom, and to have an explanation and understanding of man's foolishness and wickedness, what did he discover? Eccl. 7:23-25; Job 28:12-28; Prov. 2:1-8.

8. Discuss the dangerous power that evil women have over men. Eccl. 7:26; Prov. 6:24-29; 7:6-27.

9. Although the preacher found one man in a thousand to be righteous, why could he not find a righteous woman from those around him? Eccl. 7:27, 28; 1 Kings 11:1-8.

10. What happens when men rely on their own creativity and inventiveness, and fail to honor the Lord? Eccl. 7:29; Gen. 11:1-9; Deut. 31:15-22; Ps. 64:6; 1 Cor. 3:20; Rom. 1:21,28; 8:7; Eph. 4:17.