When Life is Hard

Some thoughts from this morning's sermon from Ecclesiastes 7:13-29 by Pastor Dave Tebbenkamp:

When life is hard, wisdom says, "Reflect" (v 13-14).

We can't change God's plans for our lives. And we can't know what His plans are for us.

When we prosper, we should rejoice. God has showered us with His blessing.  When we suffer, we should reflect.

Life is not all prosperity. Nor is it all adversity. And we don't know from one hour to the next which it will be. But in either case, life gives us opportunity to trust God.

When life is hard, wisdom says, "Reverence" (v 15-18).

The righteous perish and the wicked live longer in their wickedness. That doesn't make sense to us.

Do not be overly righteous, in trying to earn favor or blessings from God (v 16).

Do not be overly wicked and bring your life to an early end (v 17).

Instead, fear God. The one who fears God will prosper.

When life is hard, wisdom says, "Realize" (v 19-29).

When someone has sinned against you, realize that you also have sinned (v 20).

When someone speaks against you, realize that you have spoken evil against others (v 21-22).

When someone does something stupid, realize that you have done stupid things (v 23-26).

When someone schemes to your hurt or downfall, realize that you also are a schemer (v 27-29).

We can never blame God when someone does something against us. He created Adam and Eve without sin, but they chose sin. And ever since then, man has been choosing sin over righteousness.

When life is hard, trust God, fear God and never blame God.