The Illustration of Vanity
Sermon Purpose: To call the hearer to not become entrapped by the ceaseless cycle of labor that produces nothing permanent or satisfying.
Sermon Proposition: There are 3 illustrations given that picture the meaningless cycle of the labor of man.
Introduction: Ecclesiastes answers the question “What is the meaning of life?” The way of the Preacher/Teacher argued was to show at length the failure of the answers offered by those who live life “under the sun” that is, apart from revealed religion. Materialists find life’s object in the abundance of possessions or achievements. Generalists discover meaning in physical pleasure (food, sex, excitement, adventure). Scholars seek purpose through intellectual inquiry (wisdom). All these answers are “absolute futility” or “utterly meaningless.” Life’s meaning cannot be discovered; it is only revealed by God. Life is brief; judgment is coming; God is sovereign. The Book’s answer is that of divine revelation Ecclesiastes 12:13-14
Ecclesiastes focuses attention on the worldview categories of God first and humanity second. When the order is reversed, the result is “absolute futility.” No other Bible book does a better job of teaching that the meaning of life is found only outside of oneself and only in right relationship to God.
Solomon is warning us to avoid walking through life on the path of human wisdom; he exhorted them to live by the revealed wisdom of God (12:9-14). (I Corinthians 1:18-31; 2:13-16)
All earthly goals and ambitions when pursued as ends in themselves produce only emptiness. The only fulfilled life is one lived in proper recognition of God and service to Him. Any other kind of life is frustrating and pointless.
The word translated “vanity” is used in at least 3 ways. Man’s activity under the sun.
1. “fleeting” which has in view the vapor-like affect or transitory nature of life.
2. “futile” or “meaningless” which focuses on the cursed condition of the universe and the debilitating effects it has on man’s earthly experience.
3. “incomprehensible” or “enigmatic” which gives consideration to life’s unanswerable questions. The only lasting efforts are those designed to accomplish God’s purposes for eternity.
I. The illustration of the meaningless repetitive cycle of generations. V.4
Matthew 16:24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 25 "For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. 26 "For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?
1 Chronicles 16:7 On that day David first delivered this psalm into the hand of Asaph and his brethren, to thank the LORD: 8 Oh, give thanks to the LORD! Call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples! 9 Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him; Talk of all His wondrous works! 10 Glory in His holy name; Let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the LORD! 11 Seek the LORD and His strength; Seek His face evermore! 12 Remember His marvelous works which He has done, His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth, 13 O seed of Israel His servant, You children of Jacob, His chosen ones!
1 Chronicles 16:23 Sing to the LORD, all the earth; Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day. 24 Declare His glory among the nations, His wonders among all peoples. 25 For the LORD is great and greatly to be praised; He is also to be feared above all gods.
1 Chronicles 16:29 Give to the LORD the glory due His name; Bring an offering, and come before Him. Oh, worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness!
1 Chronicles 16:30 Tremble before Him, all the earth. The world also is firmly established, It shall not be moved.
Each one dreams that he will be enduring, How soon that one becomes the missing face!” – Will H. Houghton
II. The illustration of the meaningless repetitive cycle of nature. V.5-8
A. The ineffectiveness of man’s labor, demonstrated by nature’s ceaseless activity.
B. The mere activity in and of itself produces nothing of ultimate value.
1. The sun and wind are in constant motion but never arrive at any fixed goal or lasting rest.
2. All the activity of nature is monotonous without effecting any progress or reaching any fixed goal.
Psalm 19:1 To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork. 2 Day unto day utters speech, And night unto night reveals knowledge. 3 There is no speech nor language Where their voice is not heard. 4 Their line has gone out through all the earth, And their words to the end of the world. In them He has set a tabernacle for the sun, 5 Which is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, And rejoices like a strong man to run its race. 6 Its rising is from one end of heaven, And its circuit to the other end; And there is nothing hidden from its heat.
1 Chronicles 16:31 Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; And let them say among the nations, "The LORD reigns." 32 Let the sea roar, and all its fullness; Let the field rejoice, and all that is in it. 33 Then the trees of the woods shall rejoice before the LORD, For He is coming to judge the earth.
Seeing a woman crying at a bus stop, a Christian asked her if he could be of any help. “Oh,” she replied, “I’m just weary and bored. My husband is a hard worker, but he doesn’t earn as much as I want. So I went to work. I get up early every morning, fix breakfast for our four children, pack lunches, and take a bus to my job. Then I return home for more drudgery, a few hours of sleep, and another day just like the one before. I guess I’m just sic of the endless routine.”
III. The illustration of the meaningless repetitive cycle of history. V.9-11
A. Nothing that happens in history is really new. V.9
C. People do not remember former actions, events, and accomplishments. V.10b-11
It was H. L. Mencken who said: The basic fact about human experience is not that it is a tragedy, but that it is a bore. It is not that it is predominantly painful, but that it is lacking in any sense.”
Quote: “Solomon did not intend by this to deny human creativity but to deny the complete newness of people’s accomplishments. For example, man’s journey to the moon and the discovery of America, though different, were both explorations of distant places, involving adventure and risk. And the invention of dynamite and of the Atomic bomb shared the element of discovering an “explosive.” Thus what is true in the realm of nature – the constant repetition of previous accomplishments – is in essence true of the activity of people and is included in the observation that all things produce only indescribable weariness and lack of satisfaction. (The Bible Knowledge Commentary Old Testament, John F. Walvoord, Ray B. Zuck; pp. 980)