Christian
“Living Life Backwards“ written by David Gibson
A BRIEF SUMMARY…
Living Life Backward (LLB) is a study of the Book of Ecclesiastes and outlines what it means to live life in light of our coming death.
The book breaks down every single chapter of Ecclesiastes. The author highlights Solomon’s teachings about materialism, spiritualism, pride, money, sex, and puts a strong emphasis on life’s true meaning and nature.
LLB is an incredible read, as its teachings are still relevant today, reflecting on how important the Book of Ecclesiastes thousands of years later.
The book also includes helpful discussion questions at the end of each chapter, either for personal reflection or a small group study. As part of the read, you will cover every verse of Ecclesiastes. Living Life Backwards is an excellent book to read and study with a community of like-minded believers.
SOME KEY INSIGHTS…
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Our life is a “wisp of smoke” over in an instant.
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True happiness and peace come from understanding the “short” nature of life. Living backward from the day of our death, so we do not arrive at the end broken and bitter but end joyful and glad for the life we have lived and the lives we have touched.
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Accepting the true nature of life on this earth, we can confidently set aside the material desires of our hearts, embracing the life God has purposed for us. The end of the book is profound and straightforward; the purpose of life is to, as Solomon says at the end of his writing, love God, fear God, do what he says (Eccl. 12:13-14). Jesus is even more succinct: “follow me…and I will make you fishers of people.” (Matthew 4:19).
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Love God, serve God, obey God. That is our solemn duty and the key to living a fulfilled, joyful life.
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God wants us to enjoy all aspects of the earth in the context of His Word (Genesis 1:28).
A FEW MEANINGFUL QUOTES…
“You gain nothing from grinding your fingers to the bone, because the world will go on impervious to what you’ve done, and it will not remember you anyway.”
“Death can radically enable us to enjoy life.”
“…we use our times to seek satisfaction rather than living in the times God has given and so receiving satisfaction from Him as a gift. Satisfaction comes when you know you are a time-bound creature and God is the eternal Creator.”
“Look forward to the day of your death and ask yourself, what kind of person should I be? For one day I will be dead.”
We believe that every person has inherent worth and value because they are created in the image of God, and yet that every person is a sinner by nature and by choice and unable to justify themselves before God based on their own deeds.
