Ecclesiastes : The meaning of life and the pursuit of wisdom. The word, Ecclesiastes, means the preacher. King Solomon was an earnest thinker, a philosopher, telling of his search for happiness and his struggle with life's puzzles. He comes to a conclusion about life's meaning – that we are to remember our creator and honour God with our lives. Youth will pass away and old age and death will come. Only eternity will remain. So prepare for death and judgment. All that is under the sun is vanity - it will pass away. All that will remain is God the judge - and our eternal souls. Vanity of vanities saith the preacher …all is vanity. Vanity is used 37 times in the book. He's talking his life in the world - “under the sun” – it's vanity, as far as earthly things as a source for happiness. Life is fleeting - like a puff of wind. Human wisdom and philosophy cannot satisfy. Worldly pleasures and drink. Wealth, material things, and worldly lusts - all is vanity. There is a time for everything – the preacher relates how life unfolds in different seasons – God makes sense of time. We can find meaning and purpose in every stage of life. God makes everything beautiful in His time. God has timing and purpose. Ultimately our times are in His hand. In every phase of life, He'll see you through – not just your life and future, but in eternity. There is a time for every purpose and for every work. God's above time and space - He governs eternity. The preacher reflects on the certainty of death. Solomon says, There is not a just man upon earth that doeth good and sinneth not. Every man's a sinner, and we all face death and judgment. Apart from God, life is incomplete. It's missing that vital piece. Life with all of its experiences is emptiness - a striving after the wind - if God is missing. It is vain to seek happiness under the sun - just living for earthly things. We should fear God and remember him, our creator. He will bring every work into judgment. We should be conscious of our mortality - and make the most of our time - prioritise what really counts, with a view to the Eternal world. He sums it up: Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth… We are in the hands of our creator, like clay in the hands of the potter. There's no vanity to a life that is shaped by his hand. The preacher says let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. Fear God - revere, love, esteem, worship Him, obey His Commandments. Trust in the Lord with all your heart. True fulfillment is found in this. Our relationship with our Lord. The big question is not life “Under the Sun”, but getting ready for Life Beyond this life - this Earthly life. There's a judgment coming. After death, all men are going to stand before God. Let us seek the lasting fulfillment of relationship with God. Fear God. Let His wisdom guide your decisions and actions. Are you investing in things of Eternal value? The Book of Ecclesiastes shows us the absurdity of trying to find happiness without God - the most essential element. Solomon found that nothing - apart from God – made him truly happy. There's an emptiness in all this world has to offer. Living in Christ is not futile and empty. It's a life, purposeful, with true satisfaction and fulfillment. We can navigate life's complexities and know true joy. We've a wonderful relationship that is eternal with our heavenly father, our Creator God. Solomon had embarked on this quest. This search for meaning - navigating life's twists and turns, and seasons. He desperately wanted to find meaning and purpose - in a world of vanity at times. These are timeless truths. His search has application in our modern, materialistic world. It's driven by pleasure and hedonism - where people are occupied with feeding, without ever being full. We can know a meaningful life – we can seek after the eternal . There is life beyond the Sun. Ecclesiastes says it's all Vanity. Vanity of vanities, all is Vanity - Under the Sun. In that Earthly context it's vain. But he came to the conclusion that there is something Beyond. Beyond the life under the sun. All that we work for and earn is all just going to evaporate. Man's wisdom and learning can still leave an emptiness – with no peace in your heart. All the worldly pleasures… You might have everything money can buy - but you'll still want more. Worldly pleasures can't satisfy; worldly wealth, materialism, worldly lusts. The Word says, There's a time for everything. A time to be born, a time to die. Are we ready for that time? Another thing the Bible says is there's a time to be saved. Behold, now is the accepted time behold now is the day of salvation. There's a time and a purpose for everything. Are you saved? Life under the Sun is empty - it's vanity of vanities. But there is one who governs the sun – who governs Time and Eternity. The conclusion of the whole matter: Fear the Lord. ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJr-bbDm2Cw