Ecclesiastes 3: The Way of the World

“He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.”

Ecclesiastes 3:11

Sermon notes:

The Preacher further expounds upon the transition (vv.1-8), the travail (vv.9-17), and the termination (vv. 18-22) of the world to shew that without Divine revelation, direction, or reproof, man is no better than a beast.

• This most common chapter of all of Ecclesiastes is the most requoted, and the most misquoted.
• The truth of the whole book hinges on the King James Bible’s translation of this one phrase in the middle verse: “He hath set the world in their hearts.”

Why did God set the world, as opposed to eternity, in the hearts of men?

I. As a Warning of Their Temporary Station

“And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:”

Hebrews 9:27

A. In the seasons of life

B. In the searching for God

II. As a Sign of Their Current Condemnation

A. Because there is sin in every status

B. Because the soul has an eternal state

“He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

John 3:18

III. As a Landmark of Their Ready Restoration

The world has a chance to be restored, because in the world there is:

A. A Day for Reckoning

“(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation;” (2 Corinthians 6:2)

B. A Place of Reckoning

“And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there; and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there. I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every work.” (Ecclesiastes 3:16-17)

C. After the world, only fearful, unmerciful, irresistible, inalterable ETERNITY awaits.

Everything that a man does is motivated by his calendar, his job, and his funeral. That is the world. So God set the world into man’s heart, and then He sent His Son, and His Holy Spirit into the world.

1. To Reprove It

“And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

Of sin, because they believe not on me;

Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;

Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.”

John 16:8-11

2. To Save It

“This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.”

1 Timothy 1:15

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