DOES LIFE HAVE A PURPOSE Ecclesiastes 1 Purpose

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DOES LIFE HAVE A PURPOSE? Ecclesiastes 1

DOES LIFE HAVE A PURPOSE? Ecclesiastes 1

Purpose in life? ■ What is the meaning of life? ■ Why are we

Purpose in life? ■ What is the meaning of life? ■ Why are we here? ■ What are we looking for? ■ Why does it seem like satisfaction never comes? ■ What is our purpose? ■ Does anything in life hold any real significance? ■ Why are rich people amongst the saddest of people?

Outline ■ A look at the world around us ■ The book of Ecclesiastes

Outline ■ A look at the world around us ■ The book of Ecclesiastes ■ Life now as a probation ■ What the Bible says to aim for now? ■ Future hopes

The world around us

The world around us

The Book of Ecclesiastes ■ "Meaningless!. . . Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless" (Ecclesiastes

The Book of Ecclesiastes ■ "Meaningless!. . . Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless" (Ecclesiastes 1: 2 NIV). ■ "Also, he has put eternity into man's heart" (Ecclesiastes 3: 11)

Wandering in the wilderness And the LORD’s anger was kindled against Israel, and he

Wandering in the wilderness And the LORD’s anger was kindled against Israel, and he made them wander in the wilderness forty years, until all the generation that had done evil in the sight of the LORD was gone. (Numbers 32: 13)

The Bible affirms human purpose ■ general purposefulness about human life ■ individual purpose

The Bible affirms human purpose ■ general purposefulness about human life ■ individual purpose in life.

Knowing God Isaiah 43: 10 says, "'You are my witnesses, ' declares the LORD,

Knowing God Isaiah 43: 10 says, "'You are my witnesses, ' declares the LORD, 'and my servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after me. '"

Witness "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name

Witness "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age“ (Matthew 28: 19 -20).

Bear fruit "You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you

Bear fruit "You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another" (John 15: 16 -17).

Individual works Ephesians 2: 10 says, "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ

Individual works Ephesians 2: 10 says, "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. "

Talents “Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us

Talents “Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. ” (Romans 12: 6 -8)

Psalm 139 “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my

Psalm 139 “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. ” (Psalm 139: 13)

God’s plan for you ■ Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they

God’s plan for you ■ Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed. (Proverbs 15: 22) ■ The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice. (Proverbs 12: 15)

■ For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans

■ For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29: 11) ■ For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2: 10)

Garden of Eden Then the LORD God said, “It is not good that the

Garden of Eden Then the LORD God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him. ” Now out of the ground the LORD God had formed every beast of the field and every bird of the heavens and brought them to the man to see what he would call them. And whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name. The man gave names to all livestock and to the birds of the heavens and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper fit for him. So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. And the rib that the LORD God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. Then the man said, “This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. ” Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed. (Genesis 2: 18 -25);

Eden restored And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I lam

Eden restored And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I lam making all things new. ” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true. ” (Revelation 21: 7).

Jesus’ advise Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap

Jesus’ advise Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat? ’ or ‘What shall we drink? ’ or ‘What shall we wear? ’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (Matthew 6: 26 -33)

What should I do? ■ understand God through His Word ■ talk with God

What should I do? ■ understand God through His Word ■ talk with God in prayer ■ walk with God in obedience to His commands.