Sermons on Ecclesiastes 2:4-26:

Why Does Pleasure Never Seem To Last? Series

Contributed by Scott Chambers on Apr 8, 2013

This is the first message in a series from the book of Ecclesiastes that examines Solomon's wisdom in regard to the mistakes that he had made in his life. This message examines the pursuit of pleasure and how it can squeeze God out of our lives..

Dear Diary, “Why does pleasure never seem to last?” That question is at the heart of America’s relentless pursuit of pleasure. Americans are constantly moving from one thing to another in hope of finding something that will provide pleasure that doesn’t fade away. As I was ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 2:1-11

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Why Is The Pursuit Of Success So Empty? Series

Contributed by Scott Chambers on Apr 8, 2013

This is the second message in a series from the book of Ecclesiastes that examines Solomon's wisdom in regard to the mistakes that he had made in his life. This message examines the pursuit of success how it is always elusive and leaves one feeling empty.

Dear Diary, “I want to be a success but the harder I pursue success the more empty I feel.” As we begin I really feel that we must answer three extremely difficult questions. What drives you? What causes you to work the way you do? What happens to all you have worked for when you exit ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 2:17-23

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

When All You Have Ever Wanted Is Not Enough Series

Contributed by John Hamby on Mar 10, 2016

Dealing with people who live under the false hope of "I will be happy ....?

A study of the Book of Ecclesiastes Finding Satisfaction In Life Sermon # 3 ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 2:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

"I Hate Life" Series

Contributed by John Hamby on Mar 10, 2016

Searching for the answer to the age old question, "Is life worth living?"

A Study of the Book of Ecclesiastes: Finding Satisfaction In Life ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 2:12-26

Denomination: Baptist

Enjoy Your Ice Cream Cone - Ecclesiastes 1:1-3, 2:24-25 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Mar 11, 2025

No matter how wisely you live, you can’t control outcomes. The world calls it bad luck. Christians call it hard providence. Whatever you call it, this sermon will help you learn how to enjoy whatever moment of God’s perfect plan you are currently in.

Ecclesiastes 1:1 The words of the Preacher, son of David, king in Jerusalem. 2 "Absolute futility," says the Preacher. "Absolute futility. Everything is futile." 3 What does a man gain for all his efforts that he labors at under the sun? 2:24 There is nothing better for man ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 1:1-3, Ecclesiastes 2:24-25

Liking Life For The Love Of God - Ecclesiastes 2:24-26 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Mar 13, 2025

Is there any Biblical reason why we should ever watch a movie or a ball game? Or go on vacation or play a game or have some dessert? Or take $2000 that could feed a third world family for a year and spend it on a kitchen remodel? What's the right way to enjoy earthly pleasures?

Ecclesiastes 2:24 There is nothing better for man than to eat, drink, and enjoy his work. I have seen that even this is from God’s hand, 25 because who can eat and who can enjoy life apart from Him? 26 For to the man who is pleasing in His sight, He gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy, but to ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 2:24-26

The Search For Satisfaction Series

Contributed by Brian Bill on Jul 22, 2024

We will never find our purpose in life if we put the pursuit of our pleasures above God’s priorities.

The Search for Satisfaction Rev. Brian Bill Ecclesiastes 2:1-17 July 20-21, 2024 According to the 2024 World Happiness Report, the U.S. ranks 23rd on a global measure of happiness across 143 countries in the world. This is worse than last year, when we came in at number 15. Americans under 30 ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 2:1-17

Denomination: Baptist

You Can't Take It With You Series

Contributed by Brian Bill on Jul 29, 2024

We can’t find our worth in our work, but we can worship God by how we work.

You Can’t Take it With You Ecclesiastes 2:18-26 Rev. Brian Bill July 27-28, 2024 Billy Graham was fond of saying, “You’ll never see a hearse pulling a U-Haul.” That is, until now, because I came across a picture of one this week. As we continue to journey with Solomon in his search for ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 2:18-24

Denomination: Baptist

Lessons From The Cave (1 Samuel 22:1-4)

Contributed by Donald Whitchard on Sep 1, 2024

David was in the deepest time of his life. He lost his support network and on the run from Saul. He possessed nothing of material worth or value and all seemed lost. He hid in a cave, but it is in the cave where God prepared him for greater things.

In his film, "Johnny Cash: The Redemption of an American Icon", Pastor Greg Laurie described the time where Mr. Cash had reached the lowest point of his life and career. He had become addicted to pills, which lead to an erratic and hostile behavior that cost him his first marriage, a ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 61:1-2, 1 Samuel 22:1-4, Job 14:1, Ecclesiastes 2:17, Hebrews 13:5  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

You Can't Take It With You, But . . . Series

Contributed by James Wallace on Sep 20, 2025

How many of us follow the rich fool's lead and build bigger barns by finding new avenues for our investments, as though this life is all that matters? Jesus tells us to beware of all kinds of greed, including being greedy with our own possessions.

There are some Bible passages which will forever be associated with vivid personal experiences. And today, as we consider the Parable of the Rich Fool, we have encountered one of those passages. My experience with it dates from nearly 40 years ago. In the spring of 1986 I was preparing to ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:13-34, Ecclesiastes 2:4-10, 1 Timothy 6:10-19

Denomination: Bible Church

Leaving A Spiritual Legacy

Contributed by Alan Perkins on Oct 16, 2025

What will you leave behind when your life on earth is over? The Scriptures tell us that a spiritual legacy is far more valuable and lasting than any financial inheritance.

As I look back over the first 65 years of my life [65 years, two months, and two weeks, to be precise, tick tock], I’ve been thinking a bit more about what difference my life has made so far, what more I would like to accomplish, and what I will be leaving behind, when eventually I “shuffle off ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:1-5, Ecclesiastes 2:17-21, Matthew 6:19-21, Psalm 78:1-7, 1 Peter 1:3-5  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

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

"all Is Vanity"

Contributed by William Erhart on Jul 27, 2025

The crux of my message is that everything lived under the sun is indeed vain and meaningless, even wisdom, but that done in Christ is eternally valuable.

Now, I want to start today by asking you all some questions. I won't go on for too long, but I just want to make sure everyone is awake because I know what it is like to sit down for chapel in the morning. I will, however, ask that you please spare me your attention for these next few moments ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 2:17, Ecclesiastes 12:13, 1 Corinthians 15:58, Galatians 2:20, Philippians 1:21, Colossians 3:23-24, 1 Corinthians 10:31  (view more)  (view less)

Sorrow And Vanity Versus Life In Christ

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jul 30, 2025

We know what brings happiness, and it's not more and more "stuff."

Eighteenth Sunday in Course 2025 It’s always a challenge to interpret a public proclamation that begins with the word “If,” as today’s reading from St. Paul does. He tells the church at Colossae (and us) “If you were raised with Christ, seek what is above, where Christ is seated at the right hand ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:1-5, Colossians 3:9-11, Psalm 90:3-6, Psalm 90:12-17, Ecclesiastes 1:2, Ecclesiastes 2:21-23, Luke 12:13-21  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Catholic

Learning From The Mistakes Of Others

Contributed by Don Campbell on Dec 18, 2025

We all make mistakes, but we can avoid some by learning lessons from other people's mistakes.

LEARNING FROM THE MISTAKES OF OTHERS INTRODUCTION A. Puublilus Syrus (85-43 BC) said, “From the errors of others, a wise man corrects his own.” B. Confucius observed, “By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:13, Ecclesiastes 2:4-8

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ