Today as we conclude the series I am going to go back to the big picture of time as we talked about the Time of Your Life and we will be learning from the book of Ecclesiastes. Now, Ecclesiastes is not an easy book to read, and it was written by King Solomon, David’s son, the wisest man in history, who had a lot to say on the subject of time. What Solomon has to share might surprise you. Are you ready to walk through Solomon’s profound, life-changing words?

What Will You Do?
In Ecclesiastes, the wisest man who ever lived says that all things under the sun are meaningless – a chasing after the wind. It is difficult not to be caught up in the things of this world. What meaningless things are you pursuing? What can you do this week to respond to the eternity that God has set in your heart? What can you do to replace a meaningless pursuit with true purpose?

Discussion Questions

1. Think about the word “meaningless.” What comes to mind? Feel free to share anything from your least favorite TV show to that first date you had that went painfully wrong.

2. Read Ecclesiastes 1:2. What is your initial reaction when you read these words from Solomon? Is it possible that everything is meaningless? What are some things that you have a hard time describing as meaningless?

3. Read Ecclesiastes 9:11. How have you experienced the effects of “time and chance”? Does life’s randomness support the idea that everything “under the sun” is meaningless?

4. Read Ecclesiastes 3:11. What does it mean that God has made everything beautiful in its time? In what ways have you experienced this truth?

5. Ecclesiastes 3:11 also says that God has “set eternity in the human heart.” What does this mean? Specifically, how does this impact our search for purpose? Are you currently living for a purpose that is eternal or a purpose that is “under the sun”?

6. Read Ecclesiastes 12:13. What makes this difficult for us? What is one step you can take to move in the direction of fearing God and keeping his commandments?

Now today, I am going to talk about a time principle that is work related. If you are in the marketplace whether as an employer or an employee I hope you will find this principle extremely helpful. It has certainly helped me as I try to sort out what I need to focus on every day as a pastor. And if you are currently not in the marketplace working, don’t worry, I hope you will find it helpful too because maybe you will be working some day or you can apply this principle in talking with your spouse or your kids. So let’s find out why “Less is More.”

What Will You Do?
As a discovery exercise, develop the ideal job description with your current job in mind. Then, develop the ideal job description with your ideal job in mind. By investing your time in the areas where your strengths are fully exploited, you are working in sync with the way God designed you to work. In other words, you will be doing what you were created to do.

Discussion Questions

1. What do you do that is almost effortless for you but seems like a daunting task to others?

2. In what arenas do people consider you the “go to” person?

3. What facets of your job energize you?

4. What do you wish you could stop doing?

5. What organizational environments are you drawn to?

6. What environments do you avoid?