Everyone should have a favorite bible book and a favorite bible character.  I believe this makes it easier for us to relate to the bible and ultimately to God.  There are a couple of figures in the bible that stand out to me.  Two of my favorite figures are David and Peter.  David knew God and Peter knew Jesus intimately yet they still made mistakes in their lives… sometimes big mistakes.  Yet even as they each stumbled, they never lost sight of the goal and never lost faith.  God could see this in their character and I believe He found favor with them as a result.  I try to keep their examples in mind as I live my own life; knowing I will make mistakes but never losing focus on the goal of who I want to be.  In the same vein, I also look to the book of Ecclesiastes as a guide in my life.  It has been my favorite book for as long as I can remember.  I believe I relate to this book for a couple of reasons.  First, it was written by Solomon; the wisest man to ever live on the earth.  When the wisest man ever writes inspired of God, that’s got to be some good stuff!  The book also deals with some very real topics for us in our everyday lives.  It deals with the struggles of living life everyday on this earth and also provides some priceless insight as to how to do it successfully.  It is God’s very own guidebook on how to live a healthy, happy life. 

The most interesting thing to me is how this book ties with what I’ve come to learn over the past 6 years.  This book teaches that physical life is “vanity” and that we should live to “fear God and keep His commandments”.  In other words, it’s the spiritual realities that matter in our lives which has become so much clearer to me in our studies.  Solomon opens the book by introducing the notion that “all is vanity”. 

Eccl 1:1-11

1 The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem. 2 "Vanity of vanities," says the Preacher, "Vanity of vanities! All is vanity." 3 What advantage does man have in all his work Which he does under the sun? 4 A generation goes and a generation comes, but the earth remains forever. 5 Also, the sun rises and the sun sets; and hastening to its place it rises there {again.} 6 Blowing toward the south, then turning toward the north, the wind continues swirling along; and on its circular courses the wind returns. 7 All the rivers flow into the sea, yet the sea is not full. To the place where the rivers flow, there they flow again. 8 All things are wearisome; Man is not able to tell {it.} The eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor is the ear filled with hearing. 9 That which has been is that which will be, and that which has been done is that which will be done. So there is nothing new under the sun. 10 Is there anything of which one might say, "See this, it is new"? Already it has existed for ages which were before us. 11 There is no remembrance of earlier things; and also of the later things which will occur, there will be for them no remembrance among those who will come later {still.}

Solomon puts into words how insignificant man really is.  Nature itself is more powerful than us and beyond our comprehension for the most part.  He also introduces the ideas here that there can be nothing new and that no one will remember our accomplishments when we are gone no matter how great they may be.  Solomon being a wise man knows that we will not simply accept his word on this matter.  He continues his book by offering us proof of his opening statements.  We’re first offered proof in Solomon’s own experiences.  He attempts to attain fulfillment in his life through several common paths that most people today will also travel looking for that same fulfillment.  Solomon first looks to wisdom for his happiness.

Eccl 1:13-18

13 And I set my mind to seek and explore by wisdom concerning all that has been done under heaven. {It} is a grievous task {which} God has given to the sons of men to be afflicted with. 14 I have seen all the works which have been done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and striving after wind. 15 What is crooked cannot be straightened and what is lacking cannot be counted. 16 I said to myself, "Behold, I have magnified and increased wisdom more than all who were over Jerusalem before me; and my mind has observed a wealth of wisdom and knowledge." 17 And I set my mind to know wisdom and to know madness and folly; I realized that this also is striving after wind. 18 Because in much wisdom there is much grief, and increasing knowledge {results in} increasing pain.

He also chases after worldly pleasures…

Eccl 2:1-3

1 I said to myself, "Come now, I will test you with pleasure. So enjoy yourself." And behold, it too was futility. 2 I said of laughter, "It is madness," and of pleasure, "What does it accomplish?" 3  I explored with my mind {how} to stimulate my body with wine while my mind was guiding {me} wisely, and how to take hold of folly, until I could see what good there is for the sons of men to do under heaven the few years of their lives.

Solomon next endeavors to find pleasure through hard work and accomplishment.

Eccl 2:4, 5; 18-23

4 I enlarged my works: I built houses for myself, I planted vineyards for myself; 5 I made gardens and parks for myself and I planted in them all kinds of fruit trees...

18 Thus I hated all the fruit of my labor for which I had labored under the sun, for I must leave it to the man who will come after me. 19 And who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will have control over all the fruit of my labor for which I have labored by acting wisely under the sun. This too is vanity. 20 Therefore I completely despaired of all the fruit of my labor for which I had labored under the sun. 21 When there is a man who has labored with wisdom, knowledge and skill, then he gives his legacy to one who has not labored with them. This too is vanity and a great evil. 22 For what does a man get in all his labor and in his striving with which he labors under the sun? 23 Because all his days his task is painful and grievous; even at night his mind does not rest. This too is vanity.

Solomon devotes much time, money and energy to the same pursuits that haunt so many people in the world today.  He also had the resources to pursue them to their utmost, yet in the end, he sees there is no lasting peace in these things.  What is his conclusions from his own personal experiences?

Eccl 2:24-26

24 There is nothing better for a man {than} to eat and drink and tell himself that his labor is good. This also I have seen that it is from the hand of God. 25 For who can eat and who can have enjoyment without Him? 26 For to a person who is good in His sight He has given wisdom and knowledge and joy, while to the sinner He has given the task of gathering and collecting so that he may give to one who is good in God's sight. This too is vanity and striving after wind.

Solomon sees that we can have peace in our lives when we put God first.  To the “sinner”, their work is useless and without merit for their own soul.  This is the ultimate vanity!

Solomon again in his wisdom sees the hard headedness of humanity and realizes they will think “well, that was just HIS experience; of course it would work much better for me!”  So, he also proves his point that physical pursuits are vanity by watching the struggles of others as well. 

Eccl 4:1-4

1 Then I looked again at all the acts of oppression which were being done under the sun. And behold {I saw} the tears of the oppressed and {that} they had no one to comfort {them;} and on the side of their oppressors was power, but they had no one to comfort {them.} 2 So I congratulated the dead who are already dead more than the living who are still living. 3 But better {off} than both of them is the one who has never existed, who has never seen the evil activity that is done under the sun. 4  I have seen that every labor and every skill which is done is {the result of} rivalry between a man and his neighbor. This too is vanity and striving after wind.

We’ve all heard the saying “keeping up with the Jones’”.  Well, now you know where it comes from… and that it is pointless to even try.

Eccl 5:10-16

10 He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves abundance {with its} income. This too is vanity. 11 When good things increase, those who consume them increase. So what is the advantage to their owners except to look on? 12 The sleep of the working man is pleasant, whether he eats little or much; but the full stomach of the rich man does not allow him to sleep. 13 There is a grievous evil {which} I have seen under the sun: riches being hoarded by their owner to his hurt. 14 When those riches were lost through a bad investment and he had fathered a son, then there was nothing to support him. 15 As he had come naked from his mother's womb, so will he return as he came. He will take nothing from the fruit of his labor that he can carry in his hand. 16 This also is a grievous evil-- exactly as a man is born, thus will he die. So what is the advantage to him who toils for the wind?

This passage is Solomon’s view of others who lust for money.  Verse 12 says that the full stomach of the rich man does not allow him to sleep.  Even though he has all he needs, he cannot rest because it will never be enough.  The working man sleeps peacefully because he is content with his work… and probably tired!  In the end, we came into the world with nothing and we will leave with exactly that.  To spend your life toiling for riches is a worthless pursuit. 

Solomon turns his attention in the second half of the book to a tone of encouragement.  After making his point about all of the vanities of physical life, he begins to impart some of his wisdom on how to cope in this life.  These are some of my favorite passages in the bible… ones that we can truly use to attain to the peace in our lives that is only available through a relationship with God.  I’ve simply copied some of the scriptures that I find to be the most insightful.  Since Solomon is the wisest man to have ever lived and he spoke inspired from God, I won’t add too many comments to these passages.  Let’s simply take our time to read these passages slowly and carefully consider the things that Solomon has left for us to know.

Eccl 7:1-6

1 A good name is better than a good ointment, and the day of {one's} death is better than the day of one's birth.

At first glance, this may seem like a negative comment.  I don’t think it is at all!  It’s not so much that life is that bad, but that the opportunities we have when we die are so much greater!

2 It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, because that is the end of every man, and the living takes {it} to heart. 3 Sorrow is better than laughter, for when a face is sad a heart may be happy. 4 The mind of the wise is in the house of mourning, while the mind of fools is in the house of pleasure. 5 It is better to listen to the rebuke of a wise man than for one to listen to the song of fools.

This may not always be an easy thing to do, but if we can apply this thought to our lives, we will be better for it.

6 For as the crackling of thorn bushes under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool; and this too is futility.

Eccl 7:13-15

13 Consider the work of God, for who is able to straighten what He has bent? 14 In the day of prosperity be happy, but in the day of adversity consider-- God has made the one as well as the other so that man will not discover anything {that will be} after him.

This passage is one that I feel is crucial in living a Christian life.  It’s easy to be happy when things are going your way.  A Christian shows their metal when things are not going so well.  How do we portray ourselves to others when things in our life may not be going so well?  This is where we have the chance to show the peace that is ours through Jesus Christ.  Give people a reason to ask you how you can still be “up” when things seem to be so “down” for you!

15  I have seen everything during my lifetime of futility; there is a righteous man who perishes in his righteousness and there is a wicked man who prolongs {his life} in his wickedness.

Eccl 8:11-14

11 Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed quickly, therefore the hearts of the sons of men among them are given fully to do evil. 12 Although a sinner does evil a hundred {times} and may lengthen his {life}  still I know that it will be well for those who fear God, who fear Him openly. 13 But it will not be well for the evil man and he will not lengthen his days like a shadow, because he does not fear God. 14 There is futility which is done on the earth, that is, there are righteous men to whom it happens according to the deeds of the wicked. On the other hand, there are evil men to whom it happens according to the deeds of the righteous. I say that this too is futility.

These passages to me address the “what is the meaning of life” question to some extent.  They also shed some light as to why bad things happen to good people.  The encouragement comes from verses 12-13.  At first glance, it appears the sinner can profit from his sin.  However, we see in vs. 13 that his “life” (spiritual” will not be lengthened like a shadow.  There will be an end to his evil deeds and the one who fears God will do well in the end.

Eccl 9:7-12

7 Go {then}  eat your bread in happiness and drink your wine with a cheerful heart; for God has already approved your works. 8 Let your clothes be white all the time, and let not oil be lacking on your head. 9 Enjoy life with the woman whom you love all the days of your fleeting life which He has given to you under the sun; for this is your reward in life and in your toil in which you have labored under the sun. 10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do {it} with {all} your might; for there is no activity or planning or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol where you are going.

Again, a charge for living a Christian life; whatever you choose to do, do it well and with all of your strength.

11 I again saw under the sun that the race is not to the swift and the battle is not to the warriors, and neither is bread to the wise nor wealth to the discerning nor favor to men of ability; for time and chance overtake them all. 12 Moreover, man does not know his time: like fish caught in a treacherous net and birds trapped in a snare, so the sons of men are ensnared at an evil time when it suddenly falls on them.

This seems to me to be some foreshadowing of the judgment to come.  Solomon touches on this again at the close of the book.  This is not a topic I’m attempting to inject into this lesson however. 

The next couple of passages deal again with living a Christian life.  I believe these show us at this congregation how we correctly dealt with some of our struggles recently at another group that we visited.  I think it is clear from the instruction here that we acted in a way that would make God proud.

Eccl 10:4-7

4 If the ruler's temper rises against you, do not abandon your position, because composure allays great offenses. 5 There is an evil I have seen under the sun, like an error which goes forth from the ruler-- 6 folly is set in many exalted places while rich men sit in humble places. 7  I have seen slaves {riding} on horses and princes walking like slaves on the land.

Just because people sit in a position of authority does not mean they are qualified!

Eccl 10:10-14

10 If the axe is dull and he does not sharpen {its} edge, then he must exert more strength. Wisdom has the advantage of giving success. 11 If the serpent bites before being charmed, there is no profit for the charmer. 12 Words from the mouth of a wise man are gracious, while the lips of a fool consume him; 13 the beginning of his talking is folly and the end of it is wicked madness. 14 Yet the fool multiplies words.

I think this passage contrasts perfectly the way in which we approached the situation vs. how we were basically yelled at without recourse.  If we rage and spout endless words to try and overcome someone, we will surely be bitten before the snake is charmed.  However, when we speak with a sharpened axe with gracious words, we will find success with those who’s heart is right with God.

Eccl 10:20

20  Furthermore, in your bedchamber do not curse a king, and in your sleeping rooms do not curse a rich man, for a bird of the heavens will carry the sound and the winged creature will make the matter known.

In other words, NEVER say something you would regret as there is no guarantee those words will not be repeated.  Your speech should be above reproach even if you think that no one will ever hear what you say.

Eccl 11:1-10

1 Cast your bread on the surface of the waters, for you will find it after many days. 2  Divide your portion to seven, or even to eight, for you do not know what misfortune may occur on the earth.

This teaches not to put “all of your eggs in one basket”.  If we are generous with our money, time, love, etc. it will come back to us.

6 Sow your seed in the morning and do not be idle in the evening, for you do not know whether morning or evening sowing will succeed, or whether both of them alike will be good. 7 The light is pleasant, and {it is} good for the eyes to see the sun. 8 Indeed, if a man should live many years, let him rejoice in them all, and let him remember the days of darkness, for they will be many. Everything that is to come {will be} futility. 9 Rejoice, young man, during your childhood, and let your heart be pleasant during the days of young manhood. And follow the impulses of your heart and the desires of your eyes. Yet know that God will bring you to judgment for all these things. 10 So, remove grief and anger from your heart and put away pain from your body, because childhood and the prime of life are fleeting.

These last few verses are some that I wish could some how be imparted to young people.  Unfortunately, these things are not understood until we are older and then realize what we had when we were younger.  Enjoy the days of your youth as they are fleeting indeed!

Eccl 12:6-7

6 {Remember Him} before the silver cord is broken and the golden bowl is crushed, the pitcher by the well is shattered and the wheel at the cistern is crushed; 7 then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it.

These verses teach the opposite of our common practices today.  Learn to appreciate the people you have around you that are important while they are still here… not after they’ve left.  What good does it do to mourn a spirit who has returned to God?  Aren’t they to be envied and not mourned over?  Remember that Solomon says “the day of one’s death is better than that of his birth”.

Eccl 12:11-14

11 The words of wise men are like goads, and masters of {these} collections are like well-driven nails; they are given by one Shepherd.

When a person speaks with wisdom, that wisdom has come from “one Shepherd”.  The wisdom of men is foolishness while the wisdom of God is wisdom indeed.

12 But beyond this, my son, be warned: the writing of many books is endless, and excessive devotion {to books} is wearying to the body. 13 The conclusion, when all has been heard, {is:} fear God and keep His commandments, because this {applies to} every person. 14 For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.

So Solomon in all his experience and wisdom sums up his conclusion, his “meaning to life” in one simple phrase… fear God and keep His commandments.  Whatever we pursue in this life, no matter how good or noble or successful has ultimately been judged by God as either useful or useless.  As Solomon says, basically no matter what you have in life, if you have not enjoyed the “good things”, that is the things of God, then your life is vanity.  From our eschatological study of the scriptures over the past six years and our look at the book of Ecclesiastes this morning, I hope we can see very clearly how the spiritual things of God are so superior to anything we can consider in our life on this earth.  There is nothing in life that so important that does not pale in comparison to the spiritual blessings and reality of life we have in Jesus Christ.  As we each become more mature as Christians and better able to live our lives with this focus in mind, we will become more grounded in our faith and more content in our peace.  It is truly a joy to see and understand the nature of God and the love He has shown for us in the sacrifice of His own Son.  What could be more important?