Sermon Summary

As Solomon wraps up the book of Ecclesiastes, he draws some final conclusions that he has been hinting at throughout the book. God has blessed us with life, and there is a purpose and meaning to that. Since this is a gift from God, we should enjoy it, regardless of the things that come our way that cause sorrow, stress, and hardship. In doing so, we can learn to trust God, which then leads to a deeper level of obedience.

Solomon learned that the hard way. We can learn from his experiences and avoid some of the heartache he experienced as we seek true meaning and purpose and fulfillment and joy in our own lives. That requires some intentionality on our part. We must seek to chase those things deliberately. Everything we do is habit forming, so we must chase those things that truly matter; we must make sure what we do is exactly what we want to be doing.

And that begins by choosing Jesus. We choose to follow him. We choose to obey him. We choose to give him authority over our lives. Ultimately, that's what leads to true meaning.

Series Summary

Ecclesiastes is one of those books in the Old Testament that is often confusing and enigmatic, and yet filled with profound insights. Because it can be so hard to understand, many have never read it, or haven’t dug into it too deeply. Yet it offers a unique and often surprising perspective on the human quest for meaning and fulfillment.

This short book was likely written by King Solomon, “The Teacher,” the wisest man who ever lived, who possessed not only wisdom, but wealth and prosperity during his reign as King of Israel. Solomon’s life, filled with both spiritual success and failures, provides a fitting backdrop for the themes explored in this book.

As Solomon pursued the meaning of life, he examined a variety of possible solutions. One of the central themes of Ecclesiastes is the idea that many of our pursuits – whether wealth, pleasure, wisdom, or work – are ultimately “meaningless, a chasing after the wind” (Ecclesiastes 1:14). This book examines the transient nature of life and the vanity of striving for things that do not last. It confronts us with the sobering reality that death comes to all, regardless of status, wealth, or wisdom. It emphasizes the value of wisdom in navigating the complexities of life. And it encourages us to find joy and contentment in the simple, everyday pleasures we experience.

Ultimately, Ecclesiastes points us to the sovereignty of God. The Teacher concludes that our best option is to fear God and keep His commandments, recognizing that God alone holds the key to true meaning and fulfillment.

As we study this book, our hearts will be exposed to God’s timeless wisdom. We will be confronted with some of the tough questions about life’s meaning, and seek the deeper understanding that can only come from God, as we explore what it means to chase after true meaning in a world full of fleeting pursuits.

(CCLI Copyright License Number: 761678. CCLI Streaming License Number: 20517574)

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