Part VII: The Right StuffEcclesiastes 7:29

Introduction

• Ecclesiastes 7:4 (NLT)• Ecclesiastes 7:10 (NLT)• Ecclesiastes 7:28 (NLT)

I. God Created People Right

• Ecclesiastes 7:29 (NIV)

A. God is the author of our life.

• Psalm 139:14 (NKJV)• The word translated “mankind” here is the word

“adam”.• God made Adam to be

upright.• Doing what is good and

right was completelynatural to Adam.

I. God Created People Right

A. God is the author of our life.

• “God impressed it upon Adam’s soul and made him a law to himself.” – Thomas Boston

• Things changed and paradise was lost.

I. God Created People Right

B. God is not to blame for what goes wrong.

• Ecclesiastes 7:29 (NIV)• God did not burden Adam with sin.• In Babylonian myths, the gods are responsible for the

wickedness of men.

I. God Created People Right

B. God is not to blame for what goes wrong.

Biblical Truth:

1. There are not many gods. There is one God.2. All that He is is good, and all that He does is right.3. God made people upright, but we have gone in

search of many schemes.

II. People Wandered Away from God

• Ecclesiastes 7:29 (NIV)• Ecclesiastes 7:29 (NLT)

A. We walk away from God.

• Isaiah 53:6 (NIV)• Our lives can spiral downward in various ways.• The good news is

we can change direction.

II. People Wandered Away from God

B. We can change direction.

How can we live right?How can we avoid the downward spiral?

1. Consider Our Choices

Deuteronomy 30:19-20 (NIV)

a. Make good choices.b. Don’t make bad choices.

II. People Wandered Away from God

B. We can change direction.

1. Consider Our Choices

c. Make a choice.

• Consider the life of Lot, Abram’s nephew.– Choice to go with Abram Good– Choice to pitch tent

by Sodom Bad

II. People Wandered Away from God

B. We can change direction.

1. Consider Our Choices

c. Make a choice.

• Consider the life of Lot, Abram’s nephew.–Genesis 14:22-24 (NIV)– Choice to return to

Sodom Bad

II. People Wandered Away from God

B. We can change direction.

1. Consider Our Choices

c. Make a choice.

• Consider the life of Lot, Abram’s nephew.–Genesis 19:16-17 (NIV)–Hesitation to leave

Sodom Almost Deadly

II. People Wandered Away from God

B. We can change direction.

2. Check Our Peers

• 1 Corinthians 15:33-34 (NIV)• 1 Corinthians 15:34 (NLT)• 1 Kings 11:4 (NLT)• Our choices can mess up

our kids.• 1 Kings 12:1-11 (NLT)

II. People Wandered Away from God

B. We can change direction.

3. Come to Jesus

• Luke 19:1-10 (NLT)• Ecclesiastes 5:8 (NLT)

Scriptures

Ecclesiastes 7:4 (NLT)4 A wise person thinks a lot about death, while a fool thinks only about having a good time.

Ecclesiastes 7:10 (NLT)10 Don’t long for “the good old days.” This is not wise.

Ecclesiastes 7:28 (NLT)28 Though I have searched repeatedly, I have not found what I was looking for. Only one out of a thousand men is virtuous, but not one woman!

Ecclesiastes 7:29 (NIV)29 This only have I found: God created mankind upright, but they have gone in search of many schemes.”

Ecclesiastes 7:29 (NIV)29 This only have I found: God created mankind upright, but they have gone in search of many schemes.”

Psalm 139:14 (NKJV)14 I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully

made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.

Ecclesiastes 7:29 (NIV)29 This only have I found: God created mankind upright, but they have gone in search of many schemes.”

Ecclesiastes 7:29 (NLT)29 But I did find this: God created people to be virtuous, but they have each turned to follow their own downward path.”

Isaiah 53:6 (NIV)6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.

Deuteronomy 30:19-20 (NIV)19 This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live 20 and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to His voice, and hold fast to Him. For the Lord is your life, and He will give you many years in the land He swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Genesis 14:22-24 (NIV)22 But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “With raised hand I have sworn an oath to the Lord, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, 23 that I will accept nothing belonging to you, not even a thread or the strap of a sandal, so that you will never be able to say,‘I made Abram rich.’ 24 I will accept nothing but what my men have eaten and the share that belongs to the men who went with me—to Aner, Eshkol and Mamre.Let them have their share.”

Genesis 19:16-17 (NIV)16 When he hesitated, the men grasped his hand and the hands of his wife and of his two daughters and led them safely out of the city, for the Lord was merciful to them. 17 As soon as they had brought them out, one of them said, “Flee for your lives! Don’t look back, and don’t stop anywhere in the plain! Flee to the mountains or you will be swept away!”

1 Corinthians 15:33-34 (NIV)33 Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.” 34 Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God—I say this to your shame.

1 Corinthians 15:34 (NLT)34 Think carefully about what is right, and stop sinning. For to your shame I say that some of you don’t know God at all.

1 Kings 11:4 (NLT)4 In Solomon’s old age, they turned his heart to worship other gods instead of being completely faithful to the Lord his God, as his father, David, had been.

1 Kings 12:1-11 (NLT)1 Rehoboam went to Shechem, where all Israel had gathered to make him king. 2 When Jeroboam son of Nebat heard of this, he returned from Egypt, for he had fled to Egypt to escape from King Solomon. 3 The leaders of Israel summoned him, and Jeroboam and the whole assembly of Israel went to speak with Rehoboam. 4 “Your father was a hard master,” they said. “Lighten the harsh labourdemands and heavy taxesthat your father imposedon us. Then we will beyour loyal subjects.”

1 Kings 12:1-11 (NLT)5 Rehoboam replied, “Give me three days to think this over. Then come back for my answer.” So the people went away. 6 Then King Rehoboam discussed the matter with the older men who had counseled his father, Solomon. “What is your advice?” he asked. “How should I answer these people?” 7 The older counselors replied, “If you are willing to be a servant to these people today and give thema favourable answer,they will always beyour loyal subjects.”

1 Kings 12:1-11 (NLT)8 But Rehoboam rejected the advice of the older men and instead asked the opinion of the young men who had grown up with him and were now his advisers.9 “What is your advice?” he asked them. “How should I answer these people who want me to lighten the burdens imposed by my father?” 10 The young men replied, “This is what you should tell those complainers who want a lighter burden:‘My little finger is thickerthan my father’s waist!

1 Kings 12:1-11 (NLT)11 Yes, my father laid heavy burdens on you, but I’m going to make them even heavier! My father beat you with whips, but I will beat you with scorpions!’”

Luke 19:1-10 (NLT)1 Jesus entered Jericho and made His way through the town. 2 There was a man there named Zacchaeus. He was the chief tax collector in the region, and he had become very rich. 3 He tried to get a look at Jesus, but he was too short to see over the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree beside the road, for Jesus was going to pass that way.

Luke 19:1-10 (NLT)5 When Jesus came by, He looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. “Zacchaeus!” He said. “Quick, come down! I must be a guest in your home today.”6 Zacchaeus quickly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy. 7 But the people were displeased. “He has gone to be the guest of a notorious sinner,” they grumbled.

Luke 19:1-10 (NLT)8 Meanwhile, Zacchaeus stood before the Lord and said, “I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!” 9 Jesus responded, “Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a true son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.”

Ecclesiastes 5:8 (NLT)8 Don’t be surprised if you see a poor person being oppressed by the powerful and if justice is being miscarried throughout the land. For every official is under orders from higher up, and matters of justice get lost in red tape and bureaucracy.