Here are some questions based on last Sunday’s sermon text (Ecclesiastes 6), in case they’re helpful to you for personal growth or group discussion…

• [1-3] Sometimes God gives good gifts to a man but “does not give him power to enjoy them,” so “his soul is not satisfied with life’s good things.” Why would Ecclesiastes call this a “grievous evil” that “lies heavy on mankind”? Has it ever bothered you that God would allow people to continue to live dissatisfied lives? What could make a soul satisfied with life’s good things?

• [10-12] Ecclesiastes says that God is sovereign over everything that comes to pass, and that man is not able to dispute with God. When we argue against God’s actions, we’re saying our judgment is better than his. Have you ever told God you thought what he was doing was wrong? Do you sometimes think you know God’s job better than he does? What would be the result of really believing that your judgment was better than God’s? What would be the result of really believing that God’s judgment was better than yours?

• “Who knows what is good for man?” The Scriptures teach clearly that God alone is the true Judge who knows what is good for man, and that he has given his judgment to Jesus. Can you trust the Lord’s judgment when it comes to matters that “lie heavy on mankind”? Can you trust him to do what is good in scenarios you might tend to describe as “grievous evil”? Is it possible to feel very strongly that something is terrible, and at the same time confess that God is sovereign over it and trust him to do what is good? Can you find comfort, peace, relief in knowing that Jesus is the Judge and you are not?