Sermons on Eclesiastes 2:5:

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

The Search For Meaning Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Feb 23, 2023

In your pursuit of meaning in life, look beyond your own hands; look beyond your own head; and look beyond your own heart. Look beyond the sun to the Lord, who died for you and rose again.

Since its founding in 1995, people have used eBay to sell billions of items. They include some odd products and occasionally something priceless. For example… In 1954, the great physicist Albert Einstein penned a personal letter to philosopher Erik Gutkind in which he defended his views on ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 1:12-18, Ecclesiastes 2:1-17, John 10:10

Denomination: Evangelical Free

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

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

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