OVERVIEW 👀 In this message from the Life Under the Sun series in Ecclesiastes 9–10, Pastor Paul Durbin walks us through Solomon's honest look at life on planet earth—where no one escapes death, hard work doesn't always win the day, and a little folly can spoil a whole lot of good. Paul reminds us that life is hevel, a vapor we can't grasp, and the wisest thing we can do is trade what we can't keep for what we can never lose. Along the way, he shares the stories of Officer Eric Talley, Philip Henry, and Jim Elliot, and lands on three takeaways: work as an act of worship, live like purity is worth it, and move forward with a sharp ax. TOPICS wisdom, work & vocation, holiness, rest & sabbath, calling & purpose TIPS 📌 For the greatest impact, invite a few others to go through this study guide with you. You don't need to do every section and question—use what fits your group or season. Let the Spirit highlight where to slow down and engage. ICEBREAKER(S) 🧊 If you were given a brand new ax and told to chop wood all day, would you be the "swing harder" person or the "sharpen first" person? Be honest. What's the strangest food combo you've actually enjoyed? (Bonus points if it would make a Boulder Black Bear Breakfast Brownie jealous.) If someone put up a historical plaque about your life 100 years from now, what single sentence would you want on it? BIBLE PASSAGE(S) 📖 Ecclesiastes 9:1-18 Ecclesiastes 10:1-20 OBSERVATION 🔎 In Ecclesiastes 9:1-6, how does Solomon describe the shared destiny of all people, and what does he say sets the living apart from the dead? Ecclesiastes 9:7-10 shifts from the reality of death to instructions about how to live. What specific things does Solomon tell us to do, and what tone do you notice? In Ecclesiastes 10:1 and 10:10, Solomon uses two vivid pictures—dead flies in perfume and a dull ax. What point is he making with each image? APPLICATION 👋 Paul opened by sharing about Officer Eric Talley, saying that in the grand scheme of things, Eric didn't lose. Where in your life right now are you tempted to measure "winning" and "losing" the way the world does instead of the way Jesus does? Think about this quote: "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose." What's one thing you're gripping tightly that you honestly can't keep anyway? Paul said God actually takes pleasure in your pleasure—sunsets, carrot cake, marriage, color. Where have you believed the lie that enjoying life is somehow unspiritual? This isn't about ignoring God's boundaries; it's about receiving His good gifts with gratitude. Paul challenged the idea that giving Jesus your all must mean becoming a pastor or missionary. If God has called you to be a teacher, entrepreneur, parent, or tradesperson, how are you doing at seeing that work as worship? Many of us compartmentalize Sunday from Monday without realizing it. "As dead flies give perfume a bad smell, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor." What's the "scoop of scat" in your life right now—the small, hidden sin you've convinced yourself isn't a big deal? This question isn't meant to shame you; it's meant to free you. Paul said sometimes we can't discern God's will because we're holding onto something we won't lay down. Is there a decision you've been praying about where the clarity might come from surrender rather than more information? The older lumberjack won because he sharpened his ax. What does "sharpening your ax" need to look like in this season—rest, Sabbath, time with Jesus, time off, counseling, prayer? Many of us keep swinging a dull blade and calling it faithfulness. LIVE ON BELAY 🏔️ Pick one everyday task this week—answering emails, folding laundry, writing a report, driving carpool—and silently offer it to Jesus before you start. Notice what changes in how you do it. Reach out to someone in a "regular" job (teacher, nurse, tradesperson, barista) and encourage them that what they do matters to God and to the people they serve. Name one small compromise you've been carrying and confess it to a trusted Belay'er this week. Light kills what darkness feeds. Block out one real Sabbath window on your calendar in the next seven days—no work, no hustle. Use the time to pray, walk, rest, or simply enjoy what God has given you. Think of one person in your orbit who feels forgotten or unseen. Do something small and specific for them this week—a note, a coffee, a meal—just like the poor wise man who saved the city. PRAYER 🙏 Jesus, help me loosen my grip on what I can't keep so I can receive what I can never lose. Father, show me where I've been treating my work as drudgery instead of worship, and give me new eyes for it. Lord, surface the hidden things in my life. Give me courage to lay them down fully, not partially. Spirit, teach me how to sharpen my ax—how to rest, abide, and work from strength instead of fumes. Jesus, make me the kind of person who quietly makes a difference, even if no one remembers my name. WORSHIP 🙌 OUTLINE 📝 Main Idea: The wisest way to live under the sun is to trade what we cannot keep for what we cannot lose. Opening Stories Officer Eric Talley—faith, family, and a sacrifice that saved lives at King Soopers Philip Henry (300 years ago) and Jim Elliot (1949): "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose" The Hebrew word hevel—vapor, breath, smoke—we can't grasp it Peter's reminder that our inheritance can never perish, spoil, or fade (1 Peter 1:3-4) Setting the Context Life Under the Sun series in Ecclesiastes Solomon isn't describing how life should be, but how life actually is Reading through Ecclesiastes 9 and 10 together Observations from the Text Nobody escapes death—100% terminal But the living have hope—we can still choose, still surrender "God has already approved what you do"—God takes pleasure in your pleasure The race isn't always to the swift—God gives abilities, opens doors, goes before us The poor wise man who saved the city—our accomplishments are easily forgotten Dead flies in perfume—a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor Money "answers everything"—Solomon describing reality, not endorsing it Work as an Act of Worship We tend to split "spiritual life" from "work life" Ecclesiastes 9:10—whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might 2 Corinthians 5:9-10 and Colossians 3:17, 23-24 If God has called you to be a king, don't stoop to be a pastor Turn the world upside down in the realm God has placed you Live Like Purity Is Worth It Shared destiny can tempt us to shrug off holiness Dead flies in perfume—Boulder Black Bear Breakfast Brownies illustration Jesus never called us to partial surrender (Matthew 16:24-26) Romans 12:1-2—offer your bodies as a living sacrifice Clarity about God's will often follows surrender, not precedes it Move Forward with a Sharp Ax Ecclesiastes 10:10—skill brings success The lumberjack story—"I was sharpening my ax" Jesus withdrew to lonely places (Luke 5:16) Matthew 11:28-30—come to Me and I will give you rest Rest and reliance on Jesus are also acts of worship Takeaway: Give what you can't keep. Live pure. Keep your ax sharp. And trust Jesus with the rest.
