
Title: The Limitations of a Person
Text: Ecclesiastes 3
Date: August 20, 2023
Introduction: There is an attitude that pervades the culture in which we live… I am the master of my fate; I am the captain of my soul.” (William Ernest Henley) “…I am my own boss” …We live in an individualistic, independent culture. We want to feel like we are in charge of our own lives. When we succeed, we conclude that it is because of our hard work. Interestingly enough, when we fail, we usually blame everyone else. It is natural for us to want to feel like we are in control of our own lives. Solomon assessed this idea of independence and informs us that it is far from reality.
In Ecclesiastes 3, he saw something above us, a God who was in control of time and who balances all of our life’s experiences. Therefore, we live out our lives under certain restrictions or limitations. From before our birth to the moment of our death, God is accomplishing His divine purposes even though we may not always understand what He is doing.
In fourteen statements, Solomon affirmed that God is at work in our individual lives, seeking to accomplish His will. All of these events come from God and they are good in their time.
The inference is plain: If we cooperate with God’s timing, life will not be meaningless. How should we approach Ecclesiastes 3? What should we understand? There are two truths.
I. We have
II. We have a
Larry Gipson
First Baptist Church-Oneonta