1 The Law of Unintended Consequences The fool laughs at consequences. (Ecc 7:4-6)

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The Law of Unintended Consequences


• The fool laughs at consequences.

(Ecc 7:4-6)

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• Ecclesiastes 7:4-6 - The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, But the heart of fools is in the house of mirth. 5 It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise Than for a man to hear the song of fools. 6 For like the crackling of thorns under a pot, So is the laughter of the fool. This also is vanity.

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(Ecc 7:4-6)– This world is filled with this wisdom!– Consider the “other side” of

the beer commercials?

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• One can have God centered goals and suffer.

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• One can have God centered goals and suffer.

• They may suffer because of a lack of wisdom. (Prov 10:21-25; Jas 1:5-6)

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• Proverbs 10:21-25 - The lips of the righteous feed many, But fools die for lack of wisdom. … 23 To do evil is like sport to a fool, But a man of understanding has wisdom.

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• 24 The fear of the wicked will come upon him, And the desire of the righteous will be granted. 25 When the whirlwind passes by, the wicked is no more, But the righteous has an everlasting foundation.

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• James 1:5 - If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

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• Our government has often demonstrated this principle!

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• What was welfare designed to do? What did we get?

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• What was welfare designed to do? What did we get?

• What was “no-fault” divorce designed to do? What did we get?

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• Consider David’s building a new ox cart to carry the Ark of the Covenant. (2 Sam 6:3-8; 1 Chron 15:12-13)

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• 3 So they set the ark of God on a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill; and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drove the new cart. 4 And they brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill, accompanying the ark of God; and Ahio went before the ark.

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• 5 Then David and all the house of Israel played music before the LORD on all kinds of instruments of fir wood, on harps, on stringed instruments, on tambourines, on sistrums, and on cymbals.

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• 6 And when they came to Nachon's threshing floor, Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled.

• 7 Then the anger of the LORD was aroused against Uzzah, and God struck him there for his error; and he died there by the ark of God.

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• 12 He said to them, "You are the heads of the fathers' houses of the Levites; sanctify yourselves, you and your brethren, that you may bring up the ark of the LORD God of Israel to the place I have prepared for it.

• 13 "For because you did not do it the first time, the LORD our God broke out against us, because we did not consult Him about the proper order."

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• Your goals may have been reasonable.

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• Your motives may be good.

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• Your motives may be good.• You may have been

encouraged by others.

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• Your motives may be good.• You may have been

encouraged by others.• This lesson is not a judge about

every specific consequence.

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Can We know the consequences?


• We cannot anticipate all consequences.

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• Did Solomon understand? (Ecc 1:17; 2:10-11)

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• Ecclesiastes 1:17 - And I set my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is grasping for the wind.

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• Ecclesiastes 2:10-11 - Whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure, For my heart rejoiced in all my labor; And this was my reward from all my labor. 11 Then I looked on all the works that my hands had done And on the labor in which I had toiled; And indeed all was vanity and grasping for the wind. There was no profit under the sun.

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• If he had known he would have taken another path! (1 Kings 11:4, 9, 11)

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• 1 Kings 11:4 - For it was so, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned his heart after other gods; and his heart was not loyal to the LORD his God, as was the heart of his father David

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• 1 Kings 11:9 - So the LORD became angry with Solomon, because his heart had turned from the LORD God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice,

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• 1 Kings 11:11 - Therefore the LORD said to Solomon, “Because you have done this, and have not kept My covenant and My statutes, which I have commanded you, I will surely tear the kingdom away from you and give it to your servant.

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• We can know what Solomon did not know!

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• We can know what Solomon did not know!

• How many exemplify this? Judas, Achan, 10 spies?

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• Satan can use our fear of consequence. (Heb 2:14-15)

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• Hebrews 2:14-15 - Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

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• What did the spies fear?

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• What did the spies fear?• What did the one talent man fear?

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• What did the spies fear?• What did the one talent man fear?• What did the Jews fear?

(John 11:48-50)

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• John 11:48-50 - If we let Him alone like this, everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and nation.” 49 And one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all, 50 nor do you consider that it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, and not that the whole nation should perish.”

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• What did the spies fear?• What did the one talent man fear?• What did the Jews fear?

(John 11:48-50)• God wants us to be

concerned. (Gal 6:7-8)

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• Galatians 6:7-8 - Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.

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• God does not tell us all possible consequences.

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• God does not tell us all possible consequences.

• He does however tell us the path to take! (Psa 37:23-25)

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• Psalm 37:23-25 - The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, And He delights in his way. 24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; For the LORD upholds him with His hand. 25 I have been young, and now am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his descendants begging bread.

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• How should we help members overcome

boredom?

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boredom?• Consider Pat Boone.

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– "Church services seem completely out of context with the world we live in the other six days "of the week." (p. 18).

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– "Church services seem completely out of context with the world we live in the other six days "of the week." (p. 18).

– "Sure, we'd go to church, but my children would have to punch me to keep me awake." (p. 19).

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– "When we sit down in a church service, we know somebody is going to preach a sermon. We know we're going to sing songs we've sung many times before. We've done this so many years that we can predict what the next move will be without opening our eyes." (p. 19).

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– "When we sit down in a church service, we know somebody is going to preach a sermon. We know we're going to sing songs we've sung many times before. We've done this so many years that we can predict what the next move will be without opening our eyes." (p. 19).

– "I had many friends who said, "I just don’t get anything out of church.'" (p. 19).

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boredom?• Consider Pat Boone.• Do we seek the root problem or

deal with the symptom?

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deal with the symptom?• What has been the effect of

“contemporary worship?” (Jn 4:24)

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• John 4:24 - God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

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deal with the symptom?• What has been the effect of

“contemporary worship?” (Jn 4:24)

• How do we reach the lost?

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• Some have decided to address the “symptom”

of numbers.

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of numbers.• What is lacking?

(2 Cor 5:10-11)

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• 2 Corinthians 5:10-11 - For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. 11 Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences.

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(2 Cor 5:10-11)• What have these “conversions”

brought?

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(2 Cor 5:10-11)• What have these “conversions”

brought?• How do we deal with problems

and possible division?

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• How do we deal with division?

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• Consider the solution of one leader:

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• Consider the solution of one leader: • “Heresy is better than schism, the

Episcopal bishop of Virginia said yesterday in a speech that gently chided church conservatives for imperiling the unity of the country's largest diocese over the consecration of the denomination's first homosexual bishop last November.

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• Consider the solution of one leader: • "If you must make a choice between

heresy and schism, always choose heresy," said the Rt. Rev. Peter J. Lee to 500 Episcopalians meeting for the annual diocesan council at the Hyatt Regency in Reston.” – Washington Times – 1/31/2004

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• Consider the solution of one leader: • What is the consequence of

heresy? (Gal 5:19-21)

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• Galatians 5:19-21 - Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

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• Consider the solution of one leader: • What is the consequence of

heresy? (Gal 5:19-21)• There is nothing humorous

about the word heretic or hell.

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• How do we build faith in our Children? (Prov 22:6)

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• Proverbs 22:6 - Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.

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• Did God want Israel to avoid ridicule?

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• Did God want Israel to avoid ridicule? He counted on it!

(Gen 46:31-34; Mt 5:11-12)

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• Genesis 46:31-34 - Then Joseph said to his brothers and to his father’s household, “I will go up and tell Pharaoh, and say to him, ‘My brothers and those of my father’s house, who were in the land of Canaan, have come to me. 32 And the men are shepherds, for their occupation has been to feed livestock; and they have brought their flocks, their herds, and all that they have.’

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• 33 So it shall be, when Pharaoh calls you and says, ‘What is your occupation?’ 34 that you shall say, ‘Your servants’ occupation has been with livestock from our youth even till now, both we and also our fathers,’ that you may dwell in the land of Goshen; for every shepherd is an abomination to the Egyptians.”

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• Matthew 5:11-12 - “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

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(Gen 46:31-34; Mt 5:11-12)• How do we Deal with

fellowship?

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(Gen 46:31-34; Mt 5:11-12)• How do we Deal with

fellowship?• Some seek a human catechism.

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(Gen 46:31-34; Mt 5:11-12)• How do we Deal with fellowship?• Some seek a human catechism. • Should we seeking peace at any

price? (Rom 16:17-18)

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• How do we deal with Fellowship? “Believers who are motivated by legalism are always anxious to know what is expected of them. They want to do only what is necessary to make themselves look respectable. They crave specific rules so they can know precisely how to behave. They plod along hoping that someday their efforts will pay off. According to the New Testament such people are legalists; they are using the law to establish their righteousness.”

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• Romans 16:17-18 - Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. 18 For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple.

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Can We avoid the consequences?


• Seek the wisdom of God! (Rom 8:28; Mt 11:28-29)

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• Romans 8:28 - And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

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• Matthew 11:28-29 - Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

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• Fight the temptation of pride. (1 Cor 1:26-31; 1 Cor 8:1-2)

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• 1 Corinthians 1:26-31 - For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. 27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty;

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• 28 and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, 29 that no flesh should glory in His presence. 30 But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption—31 that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.”

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• We need to watch our hearts when we look down on other churches and consider ourselves as the only ones who are “thinking.”

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• With more blessings come more temptations towards pride. (1 Cor 8:1-2)

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• 1 Corinthians 8:1-2 - Now concerning things offered to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies. 2 And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know.

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• Fight the temptation of pride. (1 Cor 1:26-31; 1 Cor 8:1-2) • When we trust in God and his

wisdom there will be blessed consequences.

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• Hebrews 13:5-6 - Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 6 So we may boldly say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”

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• “Will my children be hurt if they take a stand alone?” What does faith say?

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• God’s best work comes in our weaknesses if we will let Him. (2 Cor 12:7-10)

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• 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 - And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. 8 Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me.

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• 9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

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• Are you living in the peace of God or in the blindness of human wisdom?

1 The Law of Unintended Consequences The fool laughs at consequences. (Ecc 7:4-6)

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Transcript of 1 The Law of Unintended Consequences The fool laughs at consequences. (Ecc 7:4-6)