Nothing New Under the Sun
Vanity • Sermon • Submitted
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· 23 viewsDo you ever feel like your in the rat race of life. When the sun comes up it's just more of the same. We are doing what we did yesterday and the day before that. We lack the purpose and meaning in life that would bring real joy and fulfilment. Let's listen to the preacher, King Solomon, as he give us wisdom from his life and teaches us what is most important.
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Introduction: Defining the Pain
In times like these, you can’t help but to contemplate the meaning of life. When we come face to face with how fragile life is, it makes us stop and wonder, “What do I really want out of life?” and “What does it all mean anyway?”
What value does my life bring to the world?
What makes my life have meaning and purpose?
How do we find purpose in the chaos?
This is the point that Solomon had come to in his life. He was had wisdom, wealth, and women. He enjoyed the finer things in life. He had tasted all the pleasures the world had to offer. And yet his conclusion was simple “All is vanity.”
The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem. Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity.
This word vanity has the connotation of a mist or a vapor. There is no lasting effect. I have no idea what Solomon’s day consisted of and truthfully it makes no difference in the scheme of things.
Scripture: Defining the Passage
Purpose is not found in the toil of a Day.
Purpose is not found in the toil of a Day.
What does man gain by all the toil at which he toils under the sun? A generation goes, and a generation comes, but the earth remains forever.
God created the world to be repetitious.
God created the world to be repetitious.
It purposefully goes in cycles. The Earth has a master plan of replenishing itself for the next day.
The sun rises, and the sun goes down, and hastens to the place where it rises. The wind blows to the south and goes around to the north; around and around goes the wind, and on its circuits the wind returns.
All streams run to the sea, but the sea is not full; to the place where the streams flow, there they flow again. All things are full of weariness; a man cannot utter it; the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.
There are patterns and flows that replenish and repeat.
Nature is not the purpose of life but the canvas on which life is created.
“We were not created for the day but the day created for us.”
There is nothing new under the sun.
There is nothing new under the sun.
What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun. Is there a thing of which it is said, “See, this is new”? It has been already in the ages before us.
What new thing ever changed the responsibility of a person’s character?
No matter what we create it is still under the sun.
No matter what we create our purpose from the creator remains the same?
Love God with all your heart.
Love others as yourself.
From age to age God’s relationship remains the same.
He is God and we are not.
There is no remembrance of the daily toil.
There is no remembrance of the daily toil.
There is no remembrance of former things, nor will there be any remembrance of later things yet to be among those who come after.
What I do will not be remembered by people. I doubt any books will be written about me.
The only one keeping records is God.
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.
God is the only true rewarder of good and the avenger of evil.
God rewards those that partner with Him in building His kingdom
Purpose is not found in understanding or Wisdom.
Purpose is not found in understanding or Wisdom.
I the Preacher have been king over Israel in Jerusalem. And I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven. It is an unhappy business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with. I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind.
Why do people do what they do?
Why do people do what they do?
We don’t even understand ourselves much less someone else.
So why do we try.
We can’t fix people with our wisdom or understand.
We can’t fix people with our wisdom or understand.
What is crooked cannot be made straight, and what is lacking cannot be counted.
I have learned with people, the best I can do is set a clear path to get to God. If I can lead people to Jesus, He can apply the gospel to their crooked hearts. He can set the straight again.
The work of the Holy Spirit is want changes a life. Not me or my wisdom.
For in much wisdom is much vexation, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.
Transition: So if purpose is not found the the day to day toil of life, and it’s not found in the wisdom of this world: What makes life worth living? Where do we find purpose and meaning amidst the chaos?
Purpose is only found in labor for the Lord.
Purpose is only found in labor for the Lord.
Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
Laboring with God to build his kingdom through the lives of others is the purpose and meaning of life. Everything else is empty and weightless.
It is the one that’s not under the sun but above it. The everlasting God who has made us everlasting as well.
Though the world forget me, Jesus knows my name.
What matters is the everlasting impact I make on the people around me as I join God in building his kingdom.
Everything else is vanity of vanities. Gone like the wind.
When this bright world would tempt me sore,
When Satan would a victory score;
When self would seek to have its way,
Then help me Lord with joy to say;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.
Give me Father, a purpose deep,
In joy or sorrow Thy word to keep;
Faithful and true what e’er the strife,
Pleasing Thee in my daily life;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.
Oh let my love with fervor burn,
And from the world now let me turn;
Living for Thee, and Thee alone,
Bringing Thee pleasure on Thy throne;
Only one life, “twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.
C.T. Studd
Next Step: Defining the Process
I have an assignment for you this week. Some of you will do it and some will count it as vanity of vanities.
Evaluate your life activities in this light. What do I do in relationship with God? and What do I do outside of God?
Evaluate your life activities in this light. What do I do in relationship with God? and What do I do outside of God?
What activity can I do this week that will echo into eternity?
What activity can I do this week that will echo into eternity?
Share the true and love of Christ with someone.
Draw close to God through repentance and righteousness.
Allow the Holy Spirit to apply the gospel to your brokenness so that you can be whole with God.
Live life on purpose in the power of God.
Live life on purpose in the power of God.
Only one life, “twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.