Solomon says only God knows the future

ECCLESIASTES CHAPTER 6


Solomon gives practical advice and notices tragedy all around him. God gives some men great wealth, but then doesn't give them the health to enjoy it and they die. Likewise, a man might have a hundred children and live to be very old, but if he finds no satisfaction in life and does not get a decent burial, he would be better off dead. Solomon tell those who will listen to enjoy what they have rather than desiring what they don't have.

Solomon says the future has already been decided long ago, so it does no good to argue with God about your destiny. The more words you speak, the less they mean. So why overdo it? In a few days of empty lives who knows how our days can best be spent? And who can tell what will happen in the future after we are gone?

BIBLE NOTES SHOW: In this chapter Solomon tries to show that having a good attitude about God can help us deal with injustices. He says that everyone dies, rich and poor and all end up in the grave.Yet some people spend little time or effort on their spiritual health.

HOW DOES THIS CHAPTER RELATE TO US TODAY? Many people work hard to prolong life and improve their physical condition. This was true then and it is true today. Look at the gyms full of people working out to be youthful. But how shortsighted it is for people to not take the time to prepare for eternity.

Do you know that God directs everything that happens to you? That he is in complete control over our lives even though at times it may not seem like it. Solomon states the profound truth when he says we cannot predict what the future holds. Don't let slick talking evangelists convince you that they can predict the future. Only God knows the future. Solomon argues against the notion that humans can take charge of their own destiny. Humans are wrong! We should always look to God, now and in the future.

Yours in Christ
Mary

Prayer Requests are needed for:
HEALTH: Pray for Gabe.
Pray for Janice Long’s parents, especially her mother who faces another round of chemotherapy and her father with Alzheimer’s and now her mother in law also with Alzheimer’s. Their family is feeling the strain both emotionally and financially. Pray for them. Update on this family: Her mother-in-law is being taken to Oklahoma to live with an aunt who will care for her.
Pray for Arlene’s nephew David and for my neighbor Al who is nearing the end of his life.
Pray for Carolyn’s brother Ronald who has cancer and for her sister Wanda’s soul which went to heaven.
Pray for our friend Michelle who was diagnosed with MS.
UPDATE on Barb who went in for back surgery and had a heart attack and stroke, she has her speech back and is home , but continues to have a problem with one arm and hand. Thanks to your prayers, she is able to hobble without a cane and has been granted disability. She still has surgery scheduled on her hand, but I saw her recently and her attitude is fantastic.
Pray for Robert Sargent who is quite ill with lung cancer.
Pray for Gary Summers, my friend from church, who has cancer.
Pray for Judy’s husband who was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer. Pray for her too, that she can deal with the side effects of his illness.
Pray too for Charly’s husband Robert who is undergoing chemo for his prostate cancer. Update on Robert: he has one more treatment and then three months of waiting for his psat test to come back clean.
Pray for John’s recovery from a heart attack and for the doctors who have difficulty diagnosing his other symptoms.
Pray for James’s sister Cynthia whose chemo has lost its effect as the cancer grows powerful.
Pray for another friend named Carolyn whose faith remains strong, but is lost and confused about where and how to spend her elder years.
SPIRITUAL UPLIFTING: Gail, Mary
RESTORATION OF FAITH: Al, John
LOVE AND SUPPORT: Claire, Hunter, Brian
SUPPORT: Haiti, Chile, survivors of Japan’s earthquake, survivors of the devastating tornadoes in our southernmost states and Joplin, Missouri. Pray too, for our country’s leaders and our military people who die each day for our freedom.