Mar 22, 2020
Scripture Reading: Ecclesiastes 1:1-11
Ecclesiastes, although anonymous, was certainly written by Solomon, "son of David, king in Jerusalem" (Ecc 1:1). It presents a unique look at life "under the sun" from the standpoint of a diligent inquirer who contemplates meaning and order.
One conclusion that is repeated many times in Ecclesiastes is that life is 'vain'. We see the declaration in the second verse of the book (twice) … "Vanity of vanities; all is vanity." This refrain in Ecclesiastes does not mean that life has no meaning or purpose.
Solomon's point is that there is a futility to life, not in the sense that life is not worth living, but in the sense that life cannot be fully comprehended (cf. Ecc 3:11; 7:14). We have a lot of pieces to the puzzle, but they all don't fit together into a clear, coherent picture. Sometimes the turtles come in first and the rabbits come in last. The race is not always to the swift and the battle is not always to the strong (cf. Ecc 9:11).
This conclusion notwithstanding, life is to be enjoyed to the fullest extent in the realization that it is a gift from God (cf. Ecc 3:12,13; 5:18-20; 9:7-10). Further, the proper context through which to view life is trust in and obedience to the Creator and Sovereign of all (cf. Ecc 3:17; 12:13,14).
You can watch the sermon on YouTube at the Bethel Baptist Channel.