• Introduction

    • Ecclesiastes 1:1

    • Writer = Solomon

    • Tone = Brutally realistic

    • Vanity (37 times)

    • Under the sun (30 times)

      • Ecclesiastes 4:3-4

  • Contrast with Proverbs:

Proverbs Ecclesiastes
Living according to God’s will tends to lead to a happier, healthier life … … but not always!
The rules The exceptions
Proverbs 14:23 Ecclesiastes 2:18
Proverbs 2:10 Ecclesiastes 1:18

  • Solomon has done the experimenting for us.

    • Ecclesiastes 1:13-14

    • Life?

      • Ecclesiastes 1:3-11

      • Life is repetitive.

    • Pleasure?

      • Ecclesiastes 2:1-11

      • It was all striving after wind!

    • Wisdom?

      • Ecclesiastes 2:12-15

      • Ecclesiastes 2:12

      • Ecclesiastes 9:13-16

      • Wisdom can only help you so much!

    • Work?

      • Ecclesiastes 2:22-23; 5:10-16

    • No lasting joy in pursuits under the sun.

  • Enjoy the moments you have because eternity is coming.

    • Ecclesiastes 11:9

    • Two universal truths

      • Time and chance overtake us all (Ecclesiastes 9:11)
        • Ecclesiastes 7:15
      • We all return to the dust (Ecclesiastes 3:19-22)

    • And so … Ecclesiastes 2:24; 3:11-13; 5:1-2, 6-7, 18-20; 8:15; 11:8-10; 12:1, 13-14

    • Ecclesiastes is better understood in the context of the whole Bible.

      • We learn how wonderful it is to look beyond the sun.

        • Matthew 6:19-20

        • Romans 8:18

  • Application:

    • If you spend your life looking for lasting joy and fulfillment under the sun, you’ll be miserable.

    • Eternity is everything!