Scripture: Proverbs 1:1-7; Ecclesiastes 1:1-5, 8-9, 11-13a, 17-18; 2:1, 4, 8a, 10-11, 14-15, 17-20a; 11:1, 5, 8-10; 12:1, 7, 11, 13-14; Colossians 3:1-2; Philippians 4:4-7

Proverbs 1:1 The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel: 2 For learning what wisdom and discipline are; for understanding insightful sayings; 3 for receiving wise instruction in righteousness, justice, and integrity; 4 for teaching shrewdness to the inexperienced, knowledge and discretion to a young man-- 5a wise man will listen and increase his learning, and a discerning man will obtain guidance-- 6 for understanding a proverb or a parable, the words of the wise, and their riddles. 7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and discipline.

Ecclesiastes 1:1 The words of the Teacher, son of David, king in Jerusalem. 2 "Absolute futility," says the Teacher. "Absolute futility. Everything is futile (hard to grasp, like trying to hold smoke or figure out a difficult puzzle)." 3 What does a man gain for all his efforts that he labors at under the sun? 4 A generation goes and a generation comes, but the earth remains forever. 5 The sun rises and the sun sets; panting, it returns to its place where it rises… 8 All things are wearisome; man is unable to speak. The eye is not satisfied by seeing or the ear filled with hearing. 9 What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done; there is nothing new under the sun… 11 There is no remembrance of those who came before; and of those who will come after there will also be no remembrance by those who follow them. 12 I, the Teacher, have been king over Israel in Jerusalem. 13a I applied my mind to seek and explore through wisdom all that is done under heaven… 17 I applied my mind to know wisdom and knowledge, (to know) madness and folly; I learned that this too is a pursuit of the wind. 18 For with much wisdom is much sorrow (grief); as knowledge increases, grief (pain) increases.

Ecclesiastes 2:1 I said to myself, “Go ahead, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy what is good.” But it turned out to be futile… 4 I increased my achievements. I built houses and planted vineyards for myself… 8a I also amassed silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and provinces… 10 All that my eyes desired, I did not deny them. I did not refuse myself any pleasure, for I took pleasure in all my struggles. This was my reward for all my struggles. 11 When I considered all that I had accomplished and what I had labored to achieve, I found everything to be futile and a pursuit of the wind. There was nothing to be gained under the sun… 14 The wise man has eyes in his head (he sees and understands), but the fool walks in darkness (lacking insight and understanding). Yet I also knew that one fate comes to them both. 15 So I said to myself, “What happens to the fool will also happen to me. Why then have I been overly wise?” And I said to myself that this is also futile… 17 Therefore, I hated life because the work that was done under the sun was distressing to me. For everything is futile and a pursuit of the wind. 18 I hated all my work that I labored at under the sun because I must leave it to the man who comes after me. 19 And who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will take over all my work that I labored at skillfully under the sun. This too is futile. 20a So I began to give myself over to despair…

Ecclesiastes 11:1 Send (cast) your bread on the surface of the waters (generously do good broadly, even if it seems foolish), for after many days you may find it (it’s possible that this grace may come back your way – Galatians 6:9 “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”)… 5 Just as you don't know the path of the wind, or how bones develop in the womb of a pregnant woman, so you don't know the work of God who makes everything… 8 Indeed, if a man lives many years, let him rejoice in them all, and let him remember the days of darkness, since they will be many. All that comes is futile (fleeting like smoke, and as puzzling as an enigma). 9 Rejoice, young man, while you are young, and let your heart be glad in the days of your youth. And walk (carefully and prayerfully) in the ways of your heart and in the sight of your eyes; but know that for all of these things God will bring you to judgment. 10 Remove sorrow from your heart, and put away pain from your flesh, because youth and the prime of life are fleeting.

Ecclesiastes 12:11 The sayings of the wise (wisdom literature / the Proverbs) are like goads (prodding us to do what is right and just)… 13 When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is: fear God and keep His commands, because this is for all humanity. 14 For God will bring every act to judgment, including every hidden thing, whether good or evil.

Colossians 3:1 So if you have been raised with the Messiah, seek what is above, where the Messiah is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on what is above, not on what is on the earth.

Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your graciousness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. 6 Don't worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.