Ecclesiastes 9

Text: Ecclesiastes 9:1-12
Title: Life Is Not Fair. What Are You Going To Do About It?

Introduction.
There was a man who was totally blessed, and prospered wherever he went on earth. He had wealth and health along with all the good things in life to be happy (i.e. family, friends, money, home, etc.) Then one day everything that he had in his life started to fade away and be taken. he lost his wealth and health, and lost all the good things in life to be happy.

You may think, "that is not fair!" That is exactly what happened to this man who's name is recorded in scipture as Job. As his life carried on he did not understand why everything was happening in his life. . Job lived a life that is similar to our text in Ecclesiastes 9. He tried to run from his trials and sought out answers from his friends instead of God. He tried to be strong and just bear his trials until they were done instead of relying on God.

However, there was one thing that was different about job. He was a believer. He was left with only one thing and that was His faith in God. Towards the end of the Book of Job, he recognizes that God, his Maker and Sovereign Lord, was in control of his life. This was Job's perspective he believed in, and we should too, "Naked I came in, naked I come out of the world. The Lord gives and takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord." Job 1:21

Here in Eccelsiastes 9, we will see Solomon express his consideration of death and life. he will continue his thought about death and how it is appointed for everyone to die once. However, he now gives three realities of death and how to live. Secondly, Solomon then explains that not only death is unavoidable, but life is unpredictable.

I. Dead Man Walking.
A. (v. 9:1-3) It is appointed for man to die once.
1. God is in control of your last day.
2. No one can avoid death.
3. There is no such thing as the Grim Reaper!

B. (v. 9:4-10) How to live with the knowledge of death.
There are two perspectives in this world about death. One is from a non-believer and the other a believer. The scriptures here can definitely show us that there is a difference between these two perspectives.

Non-Believer.
1. Runs from death (v. 9:3)
2. Resist the thoughts of death (v. 9:4-6)
3. Rejoice in life knowing your going to die (v. 9:7)

Believer.
1. Ready for death! (Philippians 1:21)
2. Remind yourself your going to heaven after death (Philippians 1:24-25)
3. Rejoice in the Lord always! (Philippians 4:4)

Christians have a true living hope unlike a non-believer. (1 Peter 1:3)

II. Life Is Not Fair Sometimes.
A. Everything happens for a reason. We may not know why it is happening, but we know that God is allowing to happen (v. 9:11-12)