Lesson 4

Choice 2: Ecclesiastes. Seeing Life Clearly

(a) Read the Bible Dictionary for “Ecclesiastes,” (pg. 659), and complete the following statements:

The book of Ecclesiastes consists of "reflections on some of the deepest problems of life...".
The author describes himself as "son of David, king in Jerusalem".
Ecclesiastes is written from the point of view of the "world".
Ecclesiastes should not be construed as theological pronouncements on the condition of the soul after death...".
(b) Read Ecclesiastes 1–2 and list five ways the author sought happiness but couldn’t find it. After each item on your list, write the reference of the verse where you found it. Laughing-2:2; Drinking-2:3; Made great works-2:4; Built houses-2:4; Planted vineyards-2:4.

(c) Read Ecclesiastes 3:1–8 and compare it with the principles that are taught in Mosiah 4:27; Doctrine and Covenants 10:4; 111:11; Luke 10:38–42. Write a paragraph describing why the timing and order of our activities are so important. Note some examples of how major events of life when done at the wrong time or out of order could seriously hurt an individual’s eternal progress. What do you think the Lord wants you to accomplish during this “time and season” of your life?

The order and timing of our activities is so important that if we go about them in the wrong order, our eternal progress comes to a bump and can take us off course if we are not careful. An seemingly obvious example of this is the wrong kind of intimacy before marriage. If we have that wrong kind of intimacy, we could very well lose our chance to go to the temple and lose those eternal blessings if we do not repent. The Lord wants us to become ready to be like Him in this "time and season" of our lives.

(d) As you read Ecclesiastes 4–5, choose two principles to incorporate into your life. Write about them. Anger management. It says "Better is an handful with quietness..." It says that we need to have peace in our hearts. Humility. It says to not be vain. We all need, I feel, a little more humility in our lives.

(e) Read Ecclesiastes 12:7, 13–14 and answer the following questions:

What happens to us when we die? Our bodies will return to the dust and our spirits to God.
What is “the whole duty of man”? To fear (respect) God and keep His commandments.
Why is this a good description of man’s purpose? Because God already knows us, better than we know ourselves. It seems a silly thing to not be willing to respect God, when he is the one who made us, the one who is the Omnipotent one.