Life apart from God

Overview of Ecclesiastes

When we live with the proper perspective, it makes a difference. Are you a glass half full or a glass half empty kind of person? How do you see life? Are you reasonably optimistic or pessimistic?

Our perspective can cloud our minds and our judgment. It can affect how we view life and the world around us. It can look pretty bleak when you look at life purely from a human perspective without God.

This is the perspective of the book of Ecclesiastes. “Everything is meaningless,” says the Teacher, “completely meaningless!” Ecclesiastes 1:2 NLT

I like the outline of the Book by Ray Stedman in his Adventuring through the Bible: A Comprehensive Guide to the Entire Bible (1997, Rev 2012),

Opening Declaration: Everything is meaningless (1:1-11)
Introduction 1:1-3
Illustrations of Human meaninglessness 1:4-11

Demonstrations of the meaninglessness of life apart from God (1:12-6:12)
Thesis of meaninglessness proved from Scripture (1:12-2:26)
Thesis of meaninglessness proved from nature, human society,
and human behavior 3-6

Counsel and conclusion: “Fear the Lord” 7-12
Fearing God in a wicked, unjust world 7-9
Trusting God in an uncertain, unpredictable world 10:1-12:8
Conclusion: The key to meaning is the fear of, and obedience to,
the Lord 12:9-14

The Book of Ecclesiastes presents us with a human perspective on the situations and circumstances of life. If you have only looked at your situation without putting God in the picture, you can become pretty depressed.

This is what you have to understand. “People often quote from this book (Ecclesiastes) without realizing that it represents life from a human, not divine, point of view. Although Ecclesiastes is inspired by God, it is designed to show the futility of life from a purely human perspective” (1997, Rev 2012)

Life is fruitless and meaningless when we try to live apart from God. Nonbelievers may seem to live well outwardly, but inward it’s a battle.

Part of living life as a believer is to make Christ the Lord of our lives. This means we include God in every aspect of our lives.

That’s the whole story. “….Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty.” Ecclesiastes 12:13 NLT


Reference
Adventuring through the Bible: A Comprehensive Guide to the Entire Bible.(1997, Rev 2012) Ray.C Stedman