Lesson 8 Meaningful Living

8/7/2019 Lesson 8 Meaningful Living

1/47

Why God Allows Bad Things ToHappen (Ecclesiastes 7:1-14)


2/47

Many have asked this question Why do bad things happen to

good people? If God is good how could this

happen? Where is God in this tragedy? If God exist why is there evil

in the world?


3/47

The fact of suffering undoubtedly

constitutes the single greatestchallenge to the Christian faith, Itsdistribution and degree appear tobe entirely random and therefore

unfair.John Stott,British Theologian


4/47

its impossible to believe that there

is any thing or person or being thatcould be described as a loving Godwho could allow what happens in

our world dailyCharles Templeton


5/47

its impossible to believe that there

is any thing or person or being thatcould be described as a loving Godwho could allow what happens in

our world dailyCharles Templeton


6/47

Either God wants to abolish evil,and cannot; or he can, but does notwant to; or he cannot and does not

want toEpicurus, philosopher


7/47

How do you answer the question?


8/47

Thoughts to consider Evil is the absence or corruption

of good. God is the standard of

righteousness and goodness We could not know evil without

first knowing God


9/47

What shall we say then? [Is] thelaw sin? God forbid. Nay, I had notknown sin, but by the law: for I had

not known lust, except the law hadsaid, Thou shalt not covet.

Romans 7:7


10/47

Therefore, the existence of Evildoes not disprove the existence ofGod. Instead, we would have not

known evil without first knowingGod.


11/47

The Correct Question.In a fallen world why is there so

much good?


12/47

Good Times are Deceitful (7:1-7)

God wants us to have a goodname, not just a good time.

Solomon is not advocating for alife of sadness and gloom.

Several times Solomon told us toenjoy life.


13/47


A merry heart doeth good [like] amedicine: but a broken spirit drieth

the bones.Proverbs 17:22


14/47


Laughter is good for us, but weneed sunshine and rain. Sometimes

we use parties and pleasure toignore the deep need of our soul.


15/47


Sorrow is better than laughter forby sadness of face the heart is

made glad.Ecc 7:3


16/47


During bad times we examine ourlives.

Bad Times Draw Bigger Crowds toChurches

New York Times(Dec 14, 2008)


17/47


In this you rejoice, though now fora little while, if necessary you have

been grieved by various trials1 Peter 1:6

Saved and unsaved alike have goodtimes and bad times in this life.


18/47


House of mourning= Wise personHouse of mirth= Foolish personThe wise person knows that life is

precious and has a purposeThe fool lives only for this moment,

the next party


19/47

Good Times are Deceitful (7:1-7)When we are in the house of

mourning we should pray like thepsalmist in Psalm 90:12.

So teach [us] to number our days,

that we may apply [our] hearts untowisdom.

Psalm 90:12


20/47


We all need times that cause usto examine ourselves. That'swhy Solomon says that it is

better to be rebuked by a wiseman than to hear the song of

fools.


21/47


Thats why Solomon wrote,Faithful are the wounds of a

friend; profuse are the kisses of

an enemy.Proverbs 27:6


22/47


Your best friend will tell youwhat you need to hear, not what

you want to hear.


23/47

Bad Times are helpful 7:8-10

Better is the end of a thing than itsbeginning vs.8


24/47


Hard times cause our faith to be putto the test.

Remember Job?


25/47


Job Lost his oxen and donkeys Job

1:14-15 Lost his sheep and servants vs

16 Lost his camels vs 17

Lost his sons and daughters vs

18-19


26/47


Job Lost his health (Job 2:7-8)

KeptHis faithShall we receive good from God,

and shall we not receive evil?(2:10)


27/47


JobFor I know that my Redeemer

lives and at the last he will

stand upon the earth.Job 19:25


28/47


JobAnd the Lord restored the

fortunes of Job, when he had

prayed for his friends.A

nd theLord gave Job twice as much as

he had before.Job 42:10


29/47


JobBetter is the end of a thing

than its beginning....

Ecclesiastes 7:8


30/47


James says that the testing of ourfaith produces patience. What doesJames say is the result of patience?And let steadfastness have its fulleffect, that you may be perfect and

complete lacking nothing.James 1:4


31/47


Being patient is better than beingproud. (vs8)

Pride is the root cause of mostanger


32/47


Pro 13:10 Only by pridecometh contention: but with the

well advised [is] wisdom.


33/47


Pro 16:18 Pride [goeth] beforedestruction, and an haughty

spirit before a fall.


34/47


What does Solomon say aboutanger that comes from pride in

verse 9?


35/47


Be not quick in your spirit tobecome angry, for anger lodges

in the bosom of fools


36/47


Bad times are helpful but don'task

Why were the former days

better than these? For it is notfrom wisdom that you ask this.vs 10


37/47


Better days are going to comein the future not by re-living the

past.


38/47


Phl 3:13 Brethren, I count notmyself to have apprehended:

but [this] one thing [I do],

forgetting those things whichare behind, and reaching forthunto those things which are

before


39/47

Good time and bad Times require

Wisdom 7:11-14Wisdom is good with an

inheritanceWisdom and Money can both bringsecurity. However, money can be

lost, while wisdom preserves.


40/47


Wisdom 7:11-14So we should remember what truth

found in proverbs 8:11?for wisdom is better than jewels,

and all that you may desire cannotcompare with her.


41/47


Wisdom 7:11-14Only one way to get wisdom

If any of you lack wisdom, let himask God, who gives generously to

all without reproach, and it will begiven him.

James 1:5


42/47


Wisdom 7:11-14In bad times and good times it iswisdom that helps us accept thatthere are some things we cannot

change.Consider the work of God: whocan make straight what he has

made crooked? (Ecc 7:13)


43/47


Wisdom 7:11-14In the day of prosperity be joyful,

and in the day of of adversityconsider God has made the one as

well as the other (Vs 14)Be submissive to God's

sovereignty!


44/47


Wisdom 7:11-14What did Job say after he lost

his possessions and children in

Job 1:21?The Lord gave and the Lord hastaken away; blessed be the name of

the Lord.


45/47


Wisdom 7:11-14The reality is we don't know

what tomorrow holds. Whether

good times or bad. Therefore weneed to remember what truthfound in Psalm 125:1?


46/47


Wisdom 7:11-14Psa 125:1 Those who trust inthe Lord are like Mount Zion,

which cannot be moved, butabides forever.


47/47

Closing

Why God allows Bad Things toHappen

To Teach us1. Good times are deceitful

2. Bad times are helpful3. Good and bad times both require

wisdom

Documents

Lesson 8 Meaningful Living