Living in Balance: Insights from Ecclesiastes
Exploring the theme of balance in life through scriptural readings from Ecclesiastes, this content delves into the concept of the Golden Mean, the realities of righteous suffering, and the temptations of extremism. It highlights the importance of moderation, discernment, and avoiding the pitfalls of self-righteousness and conceit in seeking a balanced life.
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A BALANCED LIFE Scripture Reading: Ecclesiastes 7:13 Scripture Reading: Ecclesiastes 7:13- -18 18
Occupying Occupying the middle or the middle or intermediate intermediate position position between two between two extremes extremes Proverbs 25:16; 23:4-8 2
The Golden Mean Ecclesiastes 7:16-17 Not riding the fence (morally, religiously) Not riding the fence (morally, religiously) Not compromising with error and sin Not compromising with error and sin Not failing to be committed, Not failing to be committed, 1 Kings 18:21 1 Kings 18:21 Living in the balance of truth, not extremism Living in the balance of truth, not extremism 3
CONSIDER WHAT HAPPENS CONSIDER WHAT HAPPENS TO THE RIGHTEOUS TO THE RIGHTEOUS AND THE WICKED AND THE WICKED Ecclesiastes 7:15 4
Sometimes the Righteous Suffer and the Wicked Succeed on Earth Solomon observed this, Eccl. 8:14; 9:11-12 Jesus lived this, 1 Peter 2:21-22 Israel complained against God because of it, Malachi 3:13-15 God-fearers discern correctly about this, Malachi 3:16-18 (2 Thess. 1:4-7) 5
LIFES INEQUITIES TEMPT US LIFE S INEQUITIES TEMPT US TO OVERCOMPENSATE, TO OVERCOMPENSATE, DRIVING US TO EXTREMES DRIVING US TO EXTREMES Ecclesiastes 7:16-18 6
Overly Righteous (self-righteousness), Luke 18:9-14 Binding human traditions Binding human traditions, Mark 7:8-13 Establishing our own way of Establishing our own way of righteousness righteousness, Romans 10:2-3 7
Overly Wise (conceit of human wisdom), Romans 12:3 Becomes blind to truth Becomes blind to truth, Romans 1:22; 1 Corinthians 1:18-24 Becomes blind to its own limitations and Becomes blind to its own limitations and futility futility, Colossians 2:8, 21-23 (Eccl. 7:13) 8
Overly Wicked (deliberate, ignores God), Psalms 10:4, 11; 14:1 Presumptuous, willful sin Presumptuous, willful sin, Psalm 19:13; Hebrews 10:26-27 Unattended sin gets worse and worse Unattended sin gets worse and worse, 2 Timothy 3:13 9
Foolish Indifference (non-committal) Do not hate knowledge Do not hate knowledge, Prov. 1:22 (2:1-5) Avoid the complacency of irreverence Avoid the complacency of irreverence, Proverbs 1:29-33 Extremes are unwise and unfulfilling Extremes are unwise and unfulfilling, Ecclesiastes 7:16-17 10
FEARING GOD BRINGS FEARING GOD BRINGS BALANCE TO LIFE BALANCE TO LIFE 11
Living a Balanced Life Fear God to avoid the pitfalls of extremes Fear God to avoid the pitfalls of extremes, Ecclesiastes 7:18 Realistic and wise view of life on earth Focus on living with a fear of God Balanced life, Ecclesiastes 8:12-13, 14-9:1 12
Living a Balanced Life Fear and obey God Fear and obey God, Eccl. 12:13-14 Seek the righteousness God approves, Ephesians 4:20-24; 1 John 2:29; 3:7, 10 Rely on wisdom from above, James 3:13-18 13
Living a Balanced Life Fear and obey God Fear and obey God, Eccl. 12:13-14 Resist willful sin, 1 John 2:1; 1 Thess. 5:21-22 Do not be foolish about sin, 1 John 1:8-10; Hebrews 2:1-3 14
Living a Balanced Life Prosperity and adversity exist Prosperity and adversity exist, Eccl. 7:13-14 (3:1); Job 2:9-10 They exist so we will consider God, seek Him, and rely on Him instead of ourselves, Matthew 6:33-34 15
