Ecclesiastes 1:1-18
A Life Worth Living
There are four questions we ask about life: Who am I? Where did I come from?
Why am I here? Where am I going? These questions are asked by everyone at some point. We want to know what our purpose for existence is.
Introduction – Life, What’s important
When I was 13, my dad owned his own business—a tiny shack where he sold chicken, ribs, hamburgers, hot dogs, and fries. One day the oil that the chicken was fried in caught fire. In a few minutes the whole place exploded in flames. My dad bolted from the store before the flames could engulf him.
Then my mom and I arrived on the scene, and we all stood outside watching the fire burn away my dad’s business. All of a sudden, my dad realized he had left his money in the metal cash register inside the building, and I watched in disbelief as he ran back into the inferno before anyone could stop him.
He tried to open the metal register, but the intense heat had already sealed the drawer shut. Knowing that every penny he had was locked in front of him about to go up into flames, he picked up the scalding metal box and carried it outside. When he threw the register on the ground, the skin on his arms and chest came with it. He had escaped the fire safely once, untouched. Then he voluntarily risked his life and was severely injured. The money was that important.
That was when I learned that money is obviously more important than life itself. From that point on, earning money—lots of money—not only became what drove me professionally, but also became my emotional priority. Suze Orman, 9 Steps to Financial Freedom (Random House, 2000), p. 3
The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem. “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher; “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.” I, the Preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem.
The Preacher and his Words 1:1-2, 12
What’s really important in your life? We are about to find out what Solomon thinks is important.
“And further, my son, be admonished by these. Of making many books there is no end and much study is wearisome to the flesh.” Ecclesiastes 12:12 Want proof?
Illustration – The Library of Congress
The collections of the Library of Congress include more than 32 million cataloged books and other print materials in 470 languages; more than 61 million manuscripts; the largest rare book collection in North America, including the rough draft of the Declaration of Independence, a Gutenberg Bible (one of only four perfect vellum copies known to exist); over 1 million US government publications; 1 million issues of world newspapers spanning the past three centuries; 33,000 bound newspaper volumes; 500,000 microfilm reels; over 6,000 comic book titles; films; 5.3 million maps; 6 million works of sheet music; 3 million sound recordings; more than 14.7 million prints and photographic images including fine and popular art pieces and architectural drawings; the Betts Stradivarius; and the Cassavetti Stradivarius.
Nearly 22,000 new items published in the U.S. arrive every business day at the Library. Contrary to popular belief, however, the Library does not retain all of these works in its permanent collection, although it does add an average of 10,000 items per day.
The Library of Congress states that its collection fills about 838 miles of bookshelves, while the British Library reports about 388 mi of shelves. The Library of Congress holds about 147 million items with 33 million books.
His Person 1
It appears that Solomon, the son of David, penned this book under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. He remains unnamed except to say that he was the son of David. The criteria he establishes fits for Solomon.
His Position 1,12
Notice that he was King of Jerusalem and King of Israel. He was the Qoheleth: a collector (of sentences), a preacher and a public speaker. He had a position of respect and power.
His Problem 2
But he had a problem. He uses the word Vanity repeatedly. It means emptiness; the futility of life and no purpose. It is used four times in this verse alone. It comes from the Hebrew word הבל hebel which means breath, vapor or breeze. I like using the term “poof” it’s gone! The word is used for Abel’s name in Genesis. Little did Adam and Eve know their son would be “poof” gone!
Illustration - Bubbles (object lesson)
I took a bottle of children’s bubbles in the pulpits and demonstrated the meaning of emptiness or vanity by blowing bubbles which lasted briefly and then was gone. “Poof!”
Interestingly, we often seek the vapor “hebel” things in life rather than the important things in life! We should seek Christ alone! “Seek first the Kingdom of God” Matthew 6
And I set my heart to seek and search out by wisdom (concerning all that is done under heaven); this burdensome (bad, evil work) task (occupation, task, job) God has given to the sons of man (adam), by which they may be exercised (to afflict, oppress, to be bowed down).
From the preacher and his words we move to…
The Preacher and his Wisdom 1:13
“And I set my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under heaven”
Solomon began the search for meaning in life. Who am I? Why am I here? Where did I come from and where am I going?
His personal search
We find his search began both as existential and experimental. He wanted to discover that meaning and purpose in life. But what was his beginning point? Was it going to start and end with God or secular humanism?
His personal skepticism
Solomon became cynical as he searches. It appears he blames God for the burdensome task he has begun. It’s God’s fault!
His personal sorrow
We ought to be getting more out of life. Life seems so vague! It’s just there. Solomon appears to be depressed and despondent.
Illustration – Eeyore is the pessimistic, gloomy, depressed, anhedonic, old grey stuffed donkey who is a friend of the title character, Winnie-the-Pooh. Solomon seems to be echoing the words of Eeyore. Ohhhh, what a boor life is!
What profit has a man from all his labor in which he toils under the sun?
("Under the sun," used 29 times in Ecclesiastes and nowhere else in the Old Testament, simply means "on the earth," that is, in terms of human existence.)
One generation passes away, and another generation comes; But the earth abides forever. The sun also rises, and the sun goes down, and hastens to the place where it arose. The wind goes toward the south, and turns around to the north; the wind whirls about continually, and comes again on its circuit. All the rivers run into the sea, yet the sea is not full; to the place from which the rivers come, there they return again.
All things are full of labor; Man cannot express it. The eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing. That which has been is what will be, that which is done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun. Is there anything of which it may be said, “See, this is new”? It has already been in ancient times before us. There is no remembrance of former things, nor will there be any remembrance of things that are to come by those who will come after.
I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and indeed, all is vanity and grasping for the wind. What is crooked cannot be made straight, and what is lacking cannot be numbered. I communed with my heart, saying, “Look, I have attained greatness, and have gained more wisdom than all who were before me in Jerusalem. My heart has understood great wisdom and knowledge.” And I set my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly (moral perversity). I perceived that this also is grasping for the wind. For in much wisdom is much grief, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow
As we move from the preacher and his wisdom we find…
The Preacher and his Worth 1:3-11; 14-18
Solomon begins his search and has already drawn the conclusion that life is difficult.
The World 3-7
It seems our relatives (earth dwellers), the sun, the wind, the rivers runs in full circles. We’re born, get smart, go to work, get old and then get dead! One generation after another continues this process. It never ends!
Today’s Work 8-11
But we find three things about our work. We have our toil. It’s continuous and unexplainable. One day is just like yesterday and tomorrow.
We also have our trials. Life is out of our control and there’s nothing new under the sun. And then there are our tears. We live a painfully fretful and forgotten life. It is always full of problems!
Recently, we had some member’s barn burn down. They lost everything in the barn. Then the wife severely cut her thumb which required several stitches. Coming out of the ER they noticed they had a flat tire. The next day the battery on their car died. I have learned never to ask, “Can it get any worse?” Because of life under the sun, it can get worse!
Total Wretchedness 14-18
All efforts are grasping for wind. Life is like water running through our fingers. It’s keeps slipping through with no way to stop it or control it!
Illustration – A husband gave his life jacket away
Nicole Servel, aged 61, was on the Costa Concordia luxury liner that ran aground.
Her children gave her the trip as a gift for her 60th birthday. Nicole survived the disaster, but her husband gave his life to save hers.
As the ship started to sink and everyone had to jump overboard, Nicole panicked because she can't swim. So her husband Francis gave her his lifejacket and then they both jumped.
According to Nicole, Francis' last words were, "Don't worry! I'll be all right." But the water was only eight degrees and she never saw him again. Nicole said, "I owe my life to my husband."
Life is worth living when one knows that Jesus gave His life for us. He died for us that we might live for Him. He is our life jacket!
