Lesson 12

Ecclesiastes 10:1-20

Working God's Way

Sing them over again to me,
wonderful words of life;
let me more of their beauty
see,
wonderful words of life;
words of life and beauty
teach me faith and duty.
Beautiful words, wonderful
words,
wonderful words of life.
Beautiful words, wonderful
words,
wonderful words of life.
Christ, the blessed one, gives to
all
wonderful words of life;
sinner, list to the loving call,
wonderful words of life;
all so freely given,
wooing us to heaven.
Beautiful words, wonderful
words,
wonderful words of life.
Beautiful words, wonderful
words,
wonderful words of life.
Sweetly echo the gospel call,
wonderful words of life;
offer pardon and peace to all,
wonderful words of life;
Jesus, only Savior,
sanctify forever.
Beautiful words, wonderful
words,
wonderful words of life.
Beautiful words, wonderful
words,
wonderful words of life.
 Lesson 12
Ecclesiastes 10:1-20

Working God's Way

 Working God's Way

God created man to work

“The Lord God took the man and put

him in the garden of Eden to work it
and keep it.”
Genesis 2:15
 Working God's Way

God created man to work

Work is a blessing and not a curse

because in work we find purpose
and meaning in life.

“Everyone needs to be needed- a

purpose to get out of bed for.”
 Working God's Way

“For even when we were with you,

this we commanded you, that if any
would not work, neither should he
eat.”
2 Thessalonians 3;10
 Working God's Way
Ecclesiastes 10:1-20

1. Work Wisely (10:1-3)

“Folly outweighs wisdom and
honor”

One foolish decision can ruin a good

reputation that took a lifetime to
build
 Working God's Way
Ecclesiastes 10:1-20

“A good name is to be chosen rather

than great riches, and favor is better
than silver or gold.”
Proverbs 22:1
 Working God's Way
Ecclesiastes 10:1-20

“A wise man's heart inclines him to

the right, but a fool's heart to the
left.” (10:2)

The right hand is a place of blessing

and strength. What do Moses and
the Israelites sing about God's
right hand in Exodus 15:6?
 Working God's Way
Ecclesiastes 10:1-20

“Thy right hand, O LORD, is become

glorious in power: thy right hand, O
LORD, hath dashed in pieces the
enemy.”
 Working God's Way
Ecclesiastes 10:1-20

We want to be in a place of God's

strength.

“And I give unto them eternal life;

and they shall never perish, neither
shall any [man] pluck them out of my
hand.” John 10:28
 Working God's Way
Ecclesiastes 10:1-20

To Work wisely means to dwell in the

place of Wisdom, Strength and
Blessing.
 Working God's Way
Ecclesiastes 10:1-20

2. Work Patiently (10:4-7)

“do not leave your place”- Don't

quit!

Never make a major decision when

you are hurt or angry.
 Working God's Way
Ecclesiastes 10:1-20

Doing the right thing will eventually

reward you. How does Psalm 37:7
express this principle?
 Working God's Way
Ecclesiastes 10:1-20

“Be still before the LORD and wait

patiently for him; fret not yourself
over the one who prospers in his
way, over the man who carries out
evil devices!”
 Working God's Way
Ecclesiastes 10:1-20

“Humble yourselves therefore under

the mighty hand of God, that he may
exalt you in due time:”
1 Peter 5:6
 Working God's Way
Ecclesiastes 10:1-20

3. Work Carefully (10:8-9)

Taking foolish chances is not

working God's way. We should
remember what fact found in
Proverbs 14:16?
 Working God's Way
Ecclesiastes 10:1-20

“The simple believes everything,

but the prudent gives thought to his
steps. One who is wise is cautious
and turns away from evil, but a fool
is reckless and careless”
Proverbs 14:15-16
 Working God's Way
Ecclesiastes 10:1-20

Jesus taught His disciples to work

carefully.
-Sent them out in groups of two
-Told them to not stay where they
were not welcomed
 Working God's Way
Ecclesiastes 10:1-20

4. Work Skillfully (10:10-11)

Great workers never stop learning.

“You can't draw water from a dry

well”
 Working God's Way
Ecclesiastes 10:1-20

Jesus taught his disciples to work

skillfully.

“Behold, I send you forth as sheep

in the midst of wolves: be ye
therefore wise as serpents, and
harmless as doves.”
Matthew 10:16
 Working God's Way
Ecclesiastes 10:1-20

How does Proverbs 10:14 express

this fact?
 Working God's Way
Ecclesiastes 10:1-20

“The wise lay up knowledge, but the

mouth of a fool brings ruin near.”
 Working God's Way
Ecclesiastes 10:1-20

5. Work graciously (10:12-15)

Wise words bring favor, foolish

words consume our reputations
 Working God's Way
Ecclesiastes 10:1-20

“Wherefore, my beloved brethren,

let every man be swift to hear, slow
to speak, slow to wrath::”

James 1:19
Working God's Way
Ecclesiastes 10:1-20

Proverbs 10:19
Proverbs 18:21
 Working God's Way
Ecclesiastes 10:1-20

When words are released they can't

be taken back. Therefore we should
remember what truth found in
Proverbs 12:18?
 Working God's Way
Ecclesiastes 10:1-20

“There is one whose rash words are

like sword thrusts, but the tongue of
the wise brings healing.”
 Working God's Way
Ecclesiastes 10:1-20

Fools are gossips who run people

down before they have all the facts.
How does Proverbs 18:2 express
this fact?
 Working God's Way
Ecclesiastes 10:1-20

“A fool takes no pleasure in

understanding but only in
expressing his opinion.”
 Working God's Way
Ecclesiastes 10:1-20

6. Work equitably (10:16-17)

Lazy, incompetent people cause an

organization to collapse. People who
work God's way will be blessed. This
is because of what promise in Psalm
128:4?
 Working God's Way
Ecclesiastes 10:1-20

“Behold,, thus shall the man be

blessed who fears the Lord.”
 Working God's Way
Ecclesiastes 10:1-20

7. Work enthusiastically (10:18-19)

Because of laziness the roof sinks

in. A lazy person does not maintain
his house or things at work.
However what does Proverbs 18:9
declare?
 Working God's Way
Ecclesiastes 10:1-20

“Whoever is slack in his work is a

brother to him who destroys”
 Working God's Way
Ecclesiastes 10:1-20

8. Work Submissively (10:20)

Colossians 3:22
 Working God's Way
Ecclesiastes 10:1-20

Therefore be wise-trust God and

work as he says. What does
Proverbs 4:6 promise as a result of
being wise?
 Working God's Way
Ecclesiastes 10:1-20

“Get wisdom; get insight; do not

forget, and do not turn away from
the words of my mouth. Do not
forsake her, and she will keep you;
love her, and she will guard you.”