Sermons on Ecclesiastes 2:4:

One Cul-De-Sac After Another Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Nov 13, 2017

If you had everything you wanted, your life would be meaningless. The answer is found in surrender to God and freedom to enjoy life’s simple pleasures.

One Cul-de-sac After Another (Ecclesiastes 2:1-26) 1. Human beings are different from animals in many ways. Animals don’t worry about purpose in life, leaving a permanent mark on society. The quest for meaning should lead us to God, but, unfortunately, we try to find meaning somewhere ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 2:1-26

Denomination: Independent/Bible

What's Your Pleasure? Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Jul 5, 2015

Solomon looked for pleasure in his achievements, his possessions and in his entertainment and yet finds it all to be empty and meaningless. Is there something wrong with seeking pleasure, or is there another problem?

OPEN: It was a 4th of July weekend and the family had gathered for a big meal together. In the kitchen was little 4 year old Johnny… and there on the edge of the cabinet sat the one thing he loved so much. It was a big, round, sure to be juicy, watermelon. He just couldn’t stop staring ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 2:1-11

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The God Of Pleasure Series

Contributed by Jim Kilson on Nov 7, 2014

Part 2 of 5 in a series on the false gods of this world (i.e. of our own creation) that vie to be the ultimate object of our worship.

INTRODUCTION: When our kids are little we take them to visit a pediatrician for “check-ups.” How are their eyes, their ears, and their growth rate? If anything is wrong with their physical health, we are glad to discover it, and move toward healing, though perhaps more infrequent, we ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 2:1-11

Denomination: Christian Church

Essential Equipment, Purpose

Contributed by David Radcliff on Nov 30, 2017

Do you know what your purpose is? What is it that drives you, what motivates you?

ESSENTIAL EQUIPMENT, PURPOSE Ecclesiastes 2:1 – 26 & Philippians 3:7-14 Do you know what your purpose is? What is it that drives you, what motivates you? Last week while Sara was at the quartet convention Jonathan was feeling sympathetic toward me and decided we’d get take out from either Wendy’s ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 2:1-26, Philippians 3:7-14

Denomination: Baptist

What Matters Most Sermon Ii: What Matters Least Relative To What Matters Most Series

Contributed by Charles Cunningham on Aug 5, 2020

True meaning in life is found by mature Christians after they learn to waste no time on useless pursuits.

PLEASURE AND POSSESSIONS MATTER LEAST - RELATIVE TO WHAT MATTERS MOST Pleasure and Possessions Are Okay Per Se If Pursued Responsibly And Used Rightly Several years ago, while prepping me for a court appearance as a witness in a custody case, ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 2:1-11

I Met Him At The Top Of My Game Series

Contributed by Gordon Pike on Feb 28, 2021

Jesus is my “treasure” in Heaven and He is my way to Heaven. I can only reach my treasure in Heaven by putting my full and complete trust in Him. It cannot be Christ plus something else. It can only be Christ plus nothing … period.

If you had to had to have surgery, who would you want to perform the operation? Some surgeon that you randomly picked out of the phone book or looked up on the internet? An intern fresh out of medical school? Or an experienced surgeon whose done this particular procedure a thousand ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:17-22, Ecclesiastes 2:4-10, Matthew 22:37-40, Matthew 6:33

Denomination: United Methodist

Taking Laughter Seriously

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 12, 2021

Solomon was right, for laughter is not enough to give life ultimate meaning. But it is, nevertheless, a vital part of the meaningful life. Solomon is himself one of the key authorities in the Bible for supporting the value of laughter.

Tom Mullen begins his book, Laughing Out Loud and Other Religious Experiences with this story. An engineer, a psychologist, and a theologian were hunting in the wilds of Northern Canada. They came across a isolated cabin, and decided to check it out. When no one answered their knocks, they tried ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 2:1-11

Taking Laughter Seriously Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 6, 2021

Drain your life of humor, and it is like draining your car of oil. You will not get far before you lose power and lock up the engine. Laughter keeps the engine of life running smooth. It allows us to keep making progress down the road to God's goals.

Tom Mullen begins his book, Laughing Out Loud and Other Religious Experiences with this story. An engineer, a psychologist, and a theologian were hunting in the wilds of Northern Canada. They came across a isolated cabin, and decided to check it out. When no one answered their knocks, they tried ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 2:1-11

Where Is Meaning? Series

Contributed by Brad Beaman on Jan 27, 2023

Today many are re-evaluating the lifestyle of seeking pleasure. The rich and famous are coming to the same conclusion of another rich and famous person Solomon, “meaningless”.

People try all avenues to bring meaning and purpose to their life. I said to myself, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure to find out what is good.” But that also proved to be meaningless. (Ecclesiastes 2:1) You name any field, professional sports, business, politics and if you do just a ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 2:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

The Mystery Revealed

Contributed by Sam Mccormick on Jul 28, 2021

At the time Adam and Eve were sent out of the garden, a mystery was unleashed. God's words to the serpent, the woman, and the man answered some questions, but raised others that would not be answered for a very long time.

Note: I have developed a set of PowerPoint slides for use with this sermon. If you are interested in the slides I will send them to you by Email. Email your request to me at sam@srmccormick.net and be sure to enter "Easter Slides" in the subject line (otherwise I am likely to overlook ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 3:14-19, Ecclesiastes 6:3, 2 Chronicles 9:13-22, Ecclesiastes 5:10-15, Ecclesiastes 2:1-26, Galatians 3:27, Philippians 1:21, Ephesians 3:1-10, Matthew 28:18-20, Acts 2:9-11, Romans 8:1-3, Revelation 1:6, Hebrews 9:11-12, Hebrews 9:2-3, Hebrews 10:19-20, John 14:1-6, Hebrews 2:14-15, Mark 15:37-38, Acts 2:1-41, John 14:7-11, John 13:3-9, Acts 17:22-31, John 16:12-14, Mark 4:10-12, Matthew 1:18-21, Luke 1:26-33, Matthew 13:17, Ecclesiastes 12:13-14, Ecclesiastes 8:4-9, Ecclesiastes 6:6, Galatians 2:20, Matthew 5:14-16  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Limits Of Pleasure

Contributed by Michael Blitz on Jul 19, 2025

Ecclesiastes 2 shows us the limits of pleasure

Ecclesiastes 2 isn’t King Solomon suggesting there’s no joy or that we should just grab whatever pleasure we can. Instead, it’s about the limits of pleasure. The book of Ecclesiastes is what we call wisdom literature, and it’s crucial to understand that wisdom isn’t law. The law of gravity always ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 2:1-11

Denomination: Anglican

Feeling Kind Of Empty?

Contributed by Michael Bates on Dec 31, 2023

Feeling unhappy and empty inside? Trying to find ways to fill those empty voids? Material possessions and wealth brings only temporary happiness. God, though, will fill your emptiness with eternal joy, love, and pleasure.

Please open your Bibles to Ecclesiastes Chapter 2 and lets all read together: The Emptiness of Pleasure 1 I said to myself, “Go ahead, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy what is good.” But it turned out to be futile. 2 I said about laughter, “It is madness,” and about pleasure, “What does ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 2:1-11, Philippians 4:19

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Ecclesiastes Chapter Two Series

Contributed by Tom Shepard on Jan 4, 2025

What if there was no God - what would life be like? It would be meaningless - Meaningless.... The book of Ecclesiastes looks at life from the view that there in no God. This is a verse by verse look into chapter two of Ecclesiastes.

Ecclesiastes Chapter Two Ecclesiastes 2:1 (NASB) I said to myself, "Come now, I will test you with pleasure. So enjoy yourself." And behold, it too was futility. Solomon conducted his search for life's meaning as an experiment. He first tried pursuing pleasure. He undertook great ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 2:1-26

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Delighting The Senses Series

Contributed by Troy Borst on Jan 5, 2022

In chapter 2, he describes his quest for fulfillment in laughter, wine, self, wealth, and people. He dove headfirst into those things and found only an empty pool.

WISE LIVING: DELIGHTING THE SENSES Ecclesiastes 2:1-26 #wiseliving2022 READ ECCLESIASTES CHAPTER 2 [person from congregation] INTRODUCTION… Little Bit About Solomon As we get started this morning, I have two introductions. The first is about the author of the Book of Ecclesiastes because it is ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 2:1-26

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Four Marvelous Things We Have In The Lord

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Jan 14, 2022

One thing that we all have in common is that we all want the best this life has to offer.

What we do not have in common is the way we go about pursuing the best this life has to offer. For example, many believe their hope of enjoying the best life has to offer them can be found in: - Sports. Their lives are consumed by the pursuit of sports. - Wealth. Their lives are consumed by ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 2:1-11

Denomination: Baptist