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ECCLESIASTES
The Meaning of Life
Chapter 4
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Read verses 1-3
“Again I looked…”
In the previous section (chapter 3, verses 16-22) Solomon opines that the best we can do in the face of
Injustice is to look out for ourselves. He revisits the theme again, this time with an eye on outrage and activism.
- vs1a. He is moved by the tears of the oppressed.
- vs1b. He is angry at the indifference of the powerful.
- vs2, 3 He is frustrated by the hopelessness of the situation.
What kinds of injustice move you? What kinds of injustice move you to action? How do you voice your
outrage/concern/involvement?
Read verses 4-8
And I saw that all labor and all achievement spring from man’s envy of his neighbor.
Read verse 4. Solomon returns here to the matter of Work. He says here that climbing the ladder to success may involve stepping on and over others on the way up. What are some dangers of
envy and ambition?
Read verse 5.
If “dog-eat-dog” just isn’t for you, why not go counter-culture and drop out? What are some dangers of laziness?
Read verse 6. Have you ever held a “handful of quietness”? What does it look like? Read Proverbs 15:16, 17.
Read verse 8. Is this dude going through his “mid-life crisis” or what?
Can “type A” go-getters ever really enjoy that for which they work so hard? Why/Why not? Read Luke 12:13-21. Have you learned how to relax and share God’s blessing with other people? Notice verse 21; how can you be rich
toward God?
Read verses 7-13
There was a man all alone; he had neither son nor brother…
Read verse 9. The theme here is Relationships. Where else (in different words) does the Bible
affirm our mutual need for each other?
Read verses 9-12. Write your own proverbs/cliché for these verses.
ie.) vs9- “two hands make the load lighter”
vs10- “together we stand, divided we fall”
vs11- “a friend in need is a friend indeed”
vs12- “there is strength in numbers”
Read verses 9-12.
Studies have revealed that you are only able to have 10 to 12 close friends over the course of your lifetime, and only 2 or 3 close friends at any given time. This is based on the emotional and mental energy needed to maintain a deep relationship. With this in mind, think of all the people, past & present, you could truly call a close friend. How many names come to mind?
Read verses 13-16.
Solomon warns us here about the dangers of having it all without having someone to share it with. We Americans “value” achievement and success (reaching the top). We also “value” independence and individualism (doing it your way). What happens when these 2 “values” coincide/collide? What are some better lessons
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