Under the Sun / Week 2

                         

The Antidote to Vanity
Ecclesiastes 1:2-3; 12:8, 13-14

    July 10, 2022  

• Introduction: 
  1. My hope for this series in Ecclesiastes is that God would equip us to have souls that are well and centered on Jesus no matter what things come our way in life!
  2. Here is the problem that many of us face – we feel like something is missing in our life and what we are doing is meaningless.    The difficulties of our life and the unfairness and injustices of this world often leave us frustrated, discouraged and depressed rather than enjoying it.
  3. We learned last week that Solomon, like a scientist in a laboratory, tested all of man’s works and man’s wisdom to get an answer to what brings lasting value, meaning and meaningless to the life we live right here on earth.
     1. We summarized his finding in these takeaways: 
        1. First – lasting significance is found only in God, not in this world.  
        2. Second – life is not a puzzle to solve but a gift to enjoy!  
        3. Fear God, enjoy life! 

• Actually that sense that what we are doing is meaningless and useless and often leaves us frustrated is captured in this book with the word …

1. Vanity
   1. He uses it 22 times in the book and this book is enclosed within this bracket of vanity.    Read 1:2 and 12:8 
   2. The word for vanity in Hebrew means – a vapor or breath that disappears quickly.
      1. This idea of vanity is reinforced by the image he gives us nine times in this book “chasing after the wind,” indicating just how futile and frustrating vanity actually is.  
      2. Read 1:14, 17.
      3. So when all is said and done, 31 times in Ecclesiastes he is emphasizing how useless, worthless, meaningless, futile and frustrating man’s works and man’s wisdom can be in this world.
   3. A surface reading of this book and the repeated use of this word vanity would lead someone to think it is saying that their work and life is essentially meaningless and unsatisfying.  
      1. But when we consider the book as a whole and you let Scripture balance out Scripture within this book, we realize that he is speaking relatively.   By that, I mean he is looking at man’s works and man’s wisdom in relation to God’s works and God’s wisdom.
      2. So when I hold man’s works and man’s wisdom up against God’s works and God’s wisdom, God’s so overpowers man’s that man’s seems very insignificant.
      3. Example:
         1. If we had a 10-watt light bulb on right here and right behind it, we put a 1000-watt light; we would not even see the 10 watts of light because the 1000 watts would over power it making the 10 watts seem like nothing.
         2. We see this same example in the New Testament when Paul compares the old covenant that Moses gave to the new covenant.  Turn to 2 Corinthians 3:7-11 Read  
      4. Let me show you this in Ecclesiastes.  
         1. Read 1:13-14; 2:11,22-23  
            1. All man’s works are grievous and vain.
            2. So some would say – “there it is, case is closed all of man’s works are frustrating and futile – the Bible says so
         2. But now let’s read  2:24, 3:12-13
            1. Here it says it is a gift from God to see good in your work and it is a gift of God to enjoy life!
            2. So there is good in our work and there is joy in this broken world. – The Bible says so!
         3. So when we try to find meaning and joy from the things this world has to offer, a meaning and joy that is temporary and conditional at best; and when I compare it to the meaning and joy I get from the Lord it fails in comparison to that which one can get from the Lord! 
            1. The meaning and joy this world offers is like a vapor or breath that appears for a moment then quickly disappears.  
               1. Illustrate: breathe!
               2. That it, now we are on to the next one!

• Now let’s look at the 
• Antidote to vanity
  1. Turn to chapter 12.  He is telling us his conclusion when all of the facts are in on his experiment.  Read v13-14.  
     1. In a sense, man is allergic to sin and the world and the histamine they create, causes symptoms of vanity, emptiness, meaninglessness and joylessness.
     2. But God’s antidote, his ‘anti’-histamine that counteracts the symptoms of vanity, emptiness, meaninglessness and joylessness is to fear God and keep His commandments.
        1. A deep, deep, deep respect for Him, that changes the way we live our lives from my way to His way!
     3. This little phrase at the end of v13 gives us a world of insight into why we should fear God and keep His commandments.
        1. Read all of v13
        2. This last phrase here “because this applies to every person” – we learned last week straight out of the Hebrew.   “For this is the ‘whole’ of man.
        3. In other words, this is where a man or woman finds meaning, fulfillment and purpose in life.  This is what he or she was created for!  This is what will make them whole.
     4. Application
        • . The New Testament says it like this.  Read Colossians 1:16  
          1. We were made “by” Jesus and “for” Jesus.  Our relationship with Jesus Christ is our sweet spot - that is where we find love, peace, fulfillment, purpose, lasting value and meaning.
          2. The missing piece that you have been searching for to the puzzle of life is Jesus! 

1. If you do not know Jesus the place to begin to find the kind of joy and meaning that will last and is not conditioned upon my circumstances being good, is by coming into a relationship with Him.
   1. Brief gospel and invite
2. But there are many who do know Jesus, but if you are radically honest with yourself, your life feels more empty, like something is still missing and what you do feels meaningless and joyless.  If that is your case then let’s look at your life like it is a house
   1. Jesus has come into your life, your house and you had a great party when He first came.  You gave Him the special guest room and fed him the finest of food as you talked together about your life and future. He spoke to you through His word and you spoke to Him through prayer and He even helped you out with things around the house.
      1. In this case Jesus is not only in the house/life but He is a vital part of this life
      2. You were so filled with joy and a sense of meaning
         
         
         
         
         
   2. But with time, with the busyness of life and the daily grind of life you have forgotten He is there and actually, you put Him in a closet downstairs and no longer have discussions with Him.   You now are running the household all by yourself.
      1. In this case Jesus is still in your life but He no longer is a vital part of your life, everything you do is built around yourself and your desires
      2. Now you are feeling joyless and frustrated and everything you do seem so meaningless!
   3. Your great need is Romans 12:1. Turn & read  
      1. Not just going down and letting Jesus out of the closet and apologizing to Him, 
      2. It is not even letting Him move back into the guest room and talking to Him every day
      3. But the answer is to give Jesus the very title deed to your house/life where he becomes the owner and you become the guest.    He is the one who now calls the shots in your house/life; he now can remodel, redecorate or run things the way He wants rather than Him just helping you accomplish what you want with the house/life.  
   4. Prep for moment of silence
      • . Romans 12:1 comes after twelve chapters of talking about what Jesus has done for you when He died and rose for you and the very fact that He himself chose you to be His child.
        1. Romans 12:1 is the natural response to that.
        2. Would you consider where Jesus is in your house/life and do business with him this morning.
           1. Is He locked in a closet and no communications
           2. Is He as special guest in your house/life
           3. Is He the owner of your house and now your house/life is totally run by and oriented around Him and His wants?   It is now his house/life and you are the guest!