August 14th & 18th
Anyone who is among the living has hope—even a live dog is better off than a dead lion!
—Ecclesiastes 9:4 NIV
The quiet words of the wise are more to be heeded than the shouts of a ruler of fools.
Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.
—Ecclesiastes 9:17-18 NIV
As dead flies cause even a bottle of perfume to stink, so a little foolishness spoils great wisdom and honor.
—Ecclesiastes 10:1 NLT
A wise person chooses the right road; a fool takes the wrong one.
You can identify fools just by the way they walk down the street!
If your boss is angry at you, don’t quit! A quiet spirit can overcome even great mistakes.
—Ecclesiastes 10:2-4 NLT
There is another evil I have seen under the sun…
—Ecclesiastes 10:5a NLT
1. FOOLS promote false answers and not real wisdom.
Kings and rulers make a grave mistake 6 when they give great authority to foolish people and low positions to people of proven worth. 7 I have even seen servants riding horseback like princes—and princes walking like servants!
—Ecclesiastes 10:5b-7 NLT
2. FOOLS live accidentally and act when it is too late.
8 When you dig a well, you might fall in. When you demolish an old wall, you could be bitten by a snake.
9 When you work in a quarry, stones might fall and crush you.
When you chop wood, there is danger with each stroke of your ax. 10 Using a dull ax requires great strength, so sharpen the blade.
That’s the value of wisdom; it helps you succeed. 11 If a snake bites before you charm it, what’s the use of being a snake charmer?
—Ecclesiastes 10:8-11 NLT
3. FOOLS undersell words and the power of their voice.
12 Wise words bring approval, but fools are destroyed by their own words.
13 Fools base their thoughts on foolish assumptions, so their conclusions will be wicked madness;
14 they chatter on and on. No one really knows what is going to happen; no one can predict the future.
—Ecclesiastes 10:12-14 NIV
Never make light of the king, even in your thoughts. And don’t make fun of the powerful, even in your own bedroom. For a little bird might deliver your message and tell them what you said.
—Ecclesiastes 10:20 NLT
4. FOOLS make excuses and make their choice.
15 Fools are so exhausted by a little work that they can’t even find their way home. 16 What sorrow for the land ruled by a servant, the land whose leaders feast in the morning. 17 Happy is the land whose king is a noble leader and whose leaders feast at the proper time to gain strength for their work, not to get drunk. 18 Laziness leads to a sagging roof; idleness leads to a leaky house. 19 A party gives laughter, wine gives happiness, and money gives everything!
—Ecclesiastes 10:15-19 NIV
FILL OUT YOUR CONNECTION CARD HERE
Next Steps:
1. Today, I make a decision to follow Jesus for the first time.
2. I will read Ecclesiastes Chapter 12 this week.
3. I will invite 5 people to the FALL KICKOFF on September 4/8th.
4. I need healing in my life so I am going to live wisely!