Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for August 15, 2021

The Sacrifice of Fools

Ecclesiastes 5:1-20

I. Review

• God places everything in its place according to His perfect perspective. 3:1-15
• Answering theoretical objections to sovereignty 3:16-4:16
• Focus: practical obstacles that hinder the understanding of sovereignty
• Two key considerations: how you think about God and how you live before God

II. Vertical Insights (1-7)

• fools at worship 1-3
• fools and thoughtless vows 4-7
• applications

♦ Draw near and listen well.
♦ Be quiet and stay calm.
♦ Make a commitment and keep it

III. Horizontal Obstacles (8-17)

• being naive 8-9
• being greedy 10-11
• being anxious 12-17

IV. Gifts to Claim (18-20)

• two key phrases
• capacity to enjoy 18
• fulfillment of work 19
• contentment of heart 20

V. So What?

• Because God gives the power for enjoyment, you can thrive under the sun!
• connection to Christ: 2 Cor. 1:20
• “Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever…The Word of God, which is contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, is the only rule to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy Him.” (Westminster Shorter Catechism, 1647)
• “…And when, in scenes of glory, I sing the new, new song, ‘twill be the old, old story that I have loved so long.” (Hankey)