Vanity of Vanities (Ecc 1:2)

Intro

Today we are doing something a little different. We are tag team preaching. This should be interesting and may be comical as we haven’t talked to each other about what the other is saying. With that said, I drew the short end of the stick and get to lead this parade with the bad news. I got the passage that is the most depressing out of the 3 you will be hearing today. But I am more than happy to bunt so that the other runners can score! I hope to set this ball and have them spike it!

Today out of these three passages you are going to hear a constant theme that centers around the most practical things in our lives. Namely, how we ought to think of our possessions, pleasures, desires, and money. What are the things that are a big waste of time and what are things that are of most value. You are going to hear from three different men but all who essentially pointing to the same conclusion. You are going to hear from an old school preacher who delivers to us an ancient wisdom- King Solomon. You are going to hear from wisdom himself- Jesus, and from one of the most influential theologians that helped advanced the early Church- Paul.

1. Resist the Urge.

But I need you guys to do something for us up here. I need you to try as hard as you can to not do these two things has you hear from God’s Word: 1) Don’t start by walking things back. There are going to be some things read and spoken to you this morning that you will need to resist the urge to walk things back. What I mean by walking back to focusing on what the text isn’t saying more than what it is saying. We often to do this when we are seeking to justify our current actions. Justifying is the second things I am asking you to not do. Do come out of the gate seeking to justify your actions when you hear challenging things from God’s word. We all do this and I am encouraging you this morning to resist the urge to walk things back or seek to justify things in your life. Instead, I want you to feel the weight of God’s word. God’s word can often feel heavy. After all we are told that God’s Word is the best at offering us correction and training to live a life like Christ. 2 Timothy 3:16

2 Timothy 3:16 NASB95

16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;

So as you listen this morning, let the Word wash over you and reprove and correct what needs to change and allow it to guide you into what you are to become in Christ. Dead people don’t feel weight. They don’t feel any heaviness and therefore find no reason to make a change to have their burdens lifted off. But those who are alive they are the ones who feel the weight on their heart and desire nothing more than to have it lifted off and the uneasiness removed.

2. Ancient Wisdom: Vanity of Vanities.

The Ancient wisdom is this: all is vanity [Ecc 1:2].” The pursuits of knowledge, possessions & treasures, folly & madness, and labor & legacy are all “vanity of vanities.”

Before we explore this ancient wisdom there is a few terms and idioms we need to understand:

A. The term- Vanity (Hêbel)

-Abel

-Vapor

-Idol

-breath

From the beginning there is such pursuits in life that are vain. They are unwise, short lived, extinguished, easily forfeit, and a fools errand.

B. The idiom “Vanity of Vanities.”

- “Lord of Lords” The end all be all The undisputed.

This is meant to communicate that there is not dispute or question about it. There is no argument against it. It is completely so. Jesus is the Lord of all Lords and godless work and accumulating wealth is the vainest of all thing vain.

C. “Preacher”

- associated with one who speaks and teaches in an assembly.

The significance of this is that this is wisdom passed along to people and meant to be shared. It is a word for the people from a man who is most wise. He is declaring it to others so that they might be guided in a right direction.

D. “Under the Sun.”

-The things that man has to pursue in all the world. Worldly pursuits and activity. ANE view above the earth, on the earth, below the earth.

Solomon is in pursuit to explore the world and all that it offers in search for wisdom and meaning. This refrain he uses over and over again helps us shape what his thesis is: Wisdom and Meaning cannot be found in anything man can perform or experience in all of life under the Sun. This should lead us to understand that there is nothing in this world can offer us and therefore we should explore the things that are other-worldly, above the Sun.

3. Chapter 2: A journey under the Sun.

The preacher begins his pursuit of seeking and exploring wisdom and meaning (1:13) and concludes that it is an affliction and ultimate vanity (1:14). Then he ventured to explore pleasures (2:3) and inexhaustible treasure (2:8-9) all that he laid his eyes on that seemed pleasing he acquired (2:10) and this led him to conclude none of it was of profitable but was ultimate vanity (2:11).

So then he explores the other side of the spectrum. If exploring wisdom concluded ultimate vanity, then exploring madness and folly what would he find (2:12b)? But in this he concludes that between wisdom and folly (both pursuits are ultimate vanity) but wisdom is the lesser of the two evils (2:13, 14b). Now he explores another thing- labor. The preacher reflects upon his labor in which he toils everyday and seeks to answer “what benefit does it offer him?” (2:22)

4. Focus on labor & Legacy. (Ecc. 2:18-23)

A. Most promising but no guarantee (v.18)

- will he be a fool or wise? (19a)

- There is no control over its benefit. (19b)

- Leads you to despair (20)

- The legacy he builds falls to another. This is a great evil (21)

- Leaves it to one who hasn’t obtained it. May not maintain it (21)

B. “No rest for the weary.”

-Even when it is rest time the mind dwells on the labor (2:23).

example: hay bails.

Summary: to the one who pursues a life of work. Who succeeds and accomplishes much from their work will only find it spoiled by another, will find their legacy short lived, and will welcome despair and restlessness. Labor and legacy offers what appears to be a promise of meaning and wisdom for our lives but they still fall short because they are not guaranteed and therefore He concludes that this too is Vanity.

So in reflecting upon this ancient wisdom many of you may find that what you have pursued in your life: what you have consumed, accomplished, and/or acquired may fall into the category of being vain, worthless, and a complete waste of your time and talent.

You may come to realize that the value you think you have built in your life only amounts to complete poverty. Thinking you’re rich and safe; you will find you are actually poor and endangered. This is what the first preacher reveals to us today. A sobering word that is haunting for those who work, toil, and play.

5. Conclusion: (1:2) All, Under the Sun, is vanity of vanities.

A. All is Vanity Under the Sun.

Which one of your bank accounts or IRAs can purchase the debt that you have accumulated with your sin? What work have you accomplished that will gain you access to the Kingdom of God? What pleasures can you enjoy that would satisfy your cravings without needing another dose? What knowledge can you acquire that will guide your life rightly and bring honor to God? What relationship can you engage that isn’t severed by death? These are the things that cannot do what you are wanting them to do for you. These are vanity of vanities.

B. Leaves us wanting and still exploring.

The Preacher’s aim is to share with you the true wisdom or the pursuit of a meaningful life and the first steps is to discredit what you find of value and to exchange it for something that is of greater value. You first must be convinced that what is often experienced in this life is ultimate vanity so that when the alternative is revealed you will seek after it and leave everything else behind.

The ancient wisdom that is preached to us is meant to created an appetite for something more than the present reality. To stir a desire for something more of value what we can reach for that will not lead us to what everyone else seems to be experiencing. It intentionally leaves us wanting and gasping for fresh air something that we haven’t experienced yet but hope to experience. What seems good and appealing to us isn’t enough. This wisdom states that what seems good is an utter waste of time. What is better are things that are not of this world; for this world and all that is in it will be cast into the fire and therefore it is logical to conclude that if this world be extinguished then all our pursuits in it will be extinguish and if we are to find anything of value it must be found in something outside of this world- say another life, another kingdom, in the things of Heaven.

Therefore, there is nothing under the Sun, but there is everything in the Son- Jesus.

C. Everything In the Son.

Which of Christ accomplishments does not give you what you are searching for?

-Jesus has purchased your debt accumulated by your sin,

-Jesus’ work on the cross has satisfied the penalty you deserve,

-His life has reveal the wisdom we need to live as we are meant to live,

-and he passes along his legacy, namely the power in which he lived his life, to us which is the Holy Spirit that guides and directs our lives.

-He is able to grant access into the presence of the Father and welcomes us into the Kingdom.

-In addition, he gives eternal life since he has defeated death.

In Jesus we have the meaning and wisdom that Solomon was seeking but never found in things under the sun. Only life in the Son can reveal to us the true meaning, purpose, and wisdom of our lives under the Sun.

This is where we now turn to wisdom himself- Jesus. What a man of wisdom could not find, we will find in the one who is wisdom himself- Jesus. Only he can provide us with the answers we are exploring to find.