What Matters in this Life?

Vanity

Ecclesiastes 1:1–3 “The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem. Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity. What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun?”

Overview

Keywords

Vanity- used 38 times

Gk. “Hevel”- Meaningless, empty, like chasing bubbles.

Under The Sun- used 29 times

It is a horizontal view of life, not looking up. (There is no hope in this view.)

Psalm 121:1 “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, From whence cometh my help.”

Evil- used 31 times

God- used 40 times

Elohim, the Mighty God, the Glorious God of creation.

Truth Takeaways

Truth #1- Nothing in this world can satisfy the hear of man.

Truth #2- The answers to life are not found “under the sun”.

Truth #3- The hope of life must be found above the sun.

Truth #4- Man cannot make anything new, but God can

Ecclesiastes 1:9 “The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.”

God makes a New Creature

2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

God gives a New Song

Psalm 40:3 “And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: Many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord.”

God is preparing a New Jerusalem

Revelation 21:2 “And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.”

God will make a New Heaven and New Earth

Revelation 21:1 “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.”

God will make all things new

Revelation 21:5 “And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.”

Solomon’s Testimony

Solomon had it all, God gave him wisdom beyond compar

He was drawn away by his wives into a life of idolatry and witchcraft.

He had fortune, fame, the girl, kingdom, everything that the world would see as successful.

Yet, he wrote Ecclesiastes 1:2 “Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.”

If Solomon were here I think his message would be this

A life lived without the Lord is Dangerous- BE SAVED

a life without the Lord is empty and vain

a life without the Lord will end in the lake of fire

A life for the world is worthless- BE MINDFUL

wrong vision will lead to wrong values

strive for a good name and a godly testimony

A life lived for eternity is Victorious- BE FAITHFUL

Rejoice- Ecclesiastes 11:9 “Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment.”

Remove- Ecclesiastes 11:10 “Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity.”

Remember- Ecclesiastes 12:1 “Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;”