No Gain from All Our Toil

Trent Cornwell

Vision Baptist Church

Book of Ecclesiastes • Sermon • Submitted 4 months ago • Presented 4 months ago

Ecclesiastes 1:1–11

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Bible Reading

Bring Joy Wahl up for a moment and remind church of tonight’s special occasion

Story of Bro Lamar saying “I think we are going home.” Ecclesiastes brings the discussion of life to the ground level.

Principles for teaching the book of Ecclesiastes

Intentionally, simple communication.

Ecclesiastes surprises people. That’s partly because it says things you don’t expect to hear from the Bible.

Surprises people how it puts words to how they often feel.

Yes, it poetry but on the street level giving analogies that would be understandable to everyone.

Do not soften the vivid description of the dissatisfaction of life under the sun.

Chapter 2 gives us a catalog of all that he tried in his search for pleasure and meaning in life.

It’s a list meant to impress you with the uniqueness of his life.

Ecclesiastes 2:17 “17 Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit.”

Each week we must go to the knife’s edge.

Preach as a NT Preacher not as a Rabbi or Philosophy Teacher

Call to Moralism: Solomon describes the danger of living without an understanding

Philosophy Book: Read it and be warned of the worldview of the unbeliever.

Which means that no matter of my fear of you thinking I am being redundant or lack creativity.. I must call you to to “Remember our Creator” at the end of each of these 15 sermons.

Do all I can to encourage you to not allow me to be your limitation upon this fantastic Book.

If you leave here today or any day saying “I want to study that out more” I would be very happy.

Core Seminars on Wednesdays will be given to the themes of this book. To go further in out study.

Occasional, interviews with church members to hear their testimony of life before they saw life as they see it now.

Ecclesiastes 1:1–11 (KJV)

1 The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.

2 Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.

3 What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun?

4 One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever.

5 The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose.

6 The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it whirleth about continually, and the wind returneth again according to his circuits.

7 All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again.

8 All things are full of labour; man cannot utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.

9 The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.

10 Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us.

11 There is no remembrance of former things; neither shall there be any remembrance of things that are to come with those that shall come after.

Sermon Introduction

In Frank Capra’s classic film It’s a Wonderful Life, George Bailey struggles to believe that his hometown of Bedford Falls possesses enough within it to sustain him. He has big dreams, and those dreams suggest that Bedford Falls is too overlooked to provide the life of wonder he desires. Therefore, the idea of living in an old house, with one woman in long love, in a little place, with the same old job, the same old enemies, and seeking there the good of those local neighbors, causes George Bailey to fidget with the mundane, restless to leave it behind him. He wants to gain more for his life. “I couldn’t face being cooped up for the rest of my life in a shabby little office,” he declares to his pop. “I want to do something big, something important.”

This story has endured for so many years, because at least two assumptions live within George’s thoughts that we too recognize within our own.

George assumes that if importance is to be gained in this life, he must travel to a patch of earth somewhere other than where he presently resides in order to find it.

George believes that once he finds it, he will become a satisfied and happy man, content, experienced, honored, and fulfilled; no longer restless within himself or the world.

This is a good time to talk about this.

Last year you might have lack discipline in some area that effects your health, this year you plan to change.

Last year you lived rushed, so this year you plan to leave unrushed.

Last year you didn’t do something or other, so this year you will.

This is the year you have the break through financially, or in your golf game, or in a dozen of different areas.

I need you to know that all that is well in good, but in them alone you will not find the satisfaction you desire.

Nothing “under the sun” was designed to meet the needs that only life with the Son of God will meet.

Let’s try to slip into the room.

Ecclesiastes 1:1 “1 The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.”

Where are we? Jerusalem

Most likely somewhere in Jerusalem

Ecclesiastes relates to the word we use in the NT - Ekklesia. It is a gathering.

Could be in the Temple but I tend to lend toward his home. Ecclesiastes 5:1 “1 Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God..”

Who is speaking? Solomon

Superscription identifying the author as “the Preacher” (v. 1)

He is the king of Israel. Ecclesiastes 1:12“12 I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem.”

Accomplished many projects. Ecclesiastes 2:4“4 I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards:”

Solomon began to reign at age 20 and did so for about 40 years. So I would expect he is around 60.

Ch. 12 give a descriptive and humorous picture of what is is like to get old. / When the grinders cease because they are few.

Who is he speaking to? The People

Ecclesiastes 12:9“9 And moreover, because the preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yea, he gave good heed, and sought out, and set in order many proverbs.”

The Teacher of Ecclesiastes is addressing Israelites for whom a new day had dawned.

They no longer lived their quiet, agricultural existence—depending on the LORD to provide their daily bread.

They lived at the crossroads of a new, booming international trade between Egypt and Asia/Europe.

Fortunes could be made, and lost, overnight. The Israelites were scrambling to get rich.

But the Preacher begins his book by warning them: “Apart from God, people gain nothing from all their toil.”

At least part of the intended audience is young people who still have the opportunity to shape their lives in light of wisdom. Ecclesiastes 12:1“1 Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;”

Even I am writing the movie for this I am starting with a young Israelite man who rushing to get ready in the morning. As he has conversations with his famiies and from the different shots we see this is an ambitious oung man aspiring to take all the world has for him. He is excited to receive this invitation from the royal family. He is running through a marble hall and slides through the massive doors into a room that is starting to get quite as King Solomon is coming to address a room full of young people - the future of Israel.

What is he speaking about? (Well, we will need the 15 weeks to try to answer that.)

Solomon is reading words that he has written. Ecclesiastes 12:10 “10 The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth.”

The Preacher uses the term “under the sun” twenty-nine times.

“Under the sun” refers to living in this world without taking God into account

Very introspective. Ecclesiastes 1:16“16 I communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I am come to great estate, and have gotten more wisdom than all they that have been before me in Jerusalem: yea, my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.”

Encourage you this week to read through Ecc and underline statements like these.

Ecclesiastes 1:16 “16 I communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I am come to great estate..”

Ecclesiastes 2:1 “1 I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also is vanity.”

Ecclesiastes 2:15 “15 Then said I in my heart, As it happeneth to the fool, so it happeneth even to me; and why was I then more wise? Then I said in my heart, that this also is vanity.”

Ecclesiastes 2:20 “20 Therefore I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labour which I took under the sun.”

He wanted his words to be remember and echo throughout their lives. Ecclesiastes 12:11 “11 The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd.”

Transition: Solomon is claiming that this book and its contents are from God, and it's intended to sink into your mind and memory, and to goad you into action and to affect how you live.

Answer is given before the question.

Ecclesiastes 1:2 “2 Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.”

Jeopardy answers are questions like this: What gain do we have from all our labor?

What gain do we have from all our of our labor?

Ecclesiastes 1:3 “3 What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun?”

The Preacher wants us to let the reality of our death sink into our bones and lodge itself deep in our hearts. But that’s because he’s writing a book about what it means to live.

Confrontation of “truth for life”

1. Life is like a game of musical chairs

Ecclesiastes 1:4“4 One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever.”

Notice the way it says one passes then another comes.

In spite of constant changes, in reality nothing changes.

Sitting with Mark Coffey at Christmas time and him mentioning that the house will not be able to hold everyone in a few years. I reminded him that we will make room. My seat will soon be empty and ready for the next person. When the music stops, one generation loses the chair to the next.

2. Everything runs in circles

Ecclesiastes 1:5–7 “5 The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose. 6 The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it whirleth about continually, and the wind returneth again according to his circuits. 7 All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again.”

What a picture? The sun rises, runs to the high peak, then turns back to where it came.

Even the wind that seems to do whatever it runs, has a route that it runs.

Water flowing and flowing, always back to the same old place, but never full and always without rest.

These unchanging cycles expressed the unchanging monotony of life,

3. We will never be fully satisfied with life here

Ecclesiastes 1:8 “8 All things are full of labour; man cannot utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.”

The mouth cannot say enough about the wearisome repetition of futile cycles in nature. (but I am sure gonna try)

As all this activity in nature gains nothing, so all human activity of speaking, seeing, and hearing gains absolutely nothing.

4. There is nothing new under the sun

The question. Ecclesiastes 1:9–10“9 The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. 10 Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us.”

The Preacher anticipates an objection to his radical claim that there is nothing new under the sun.

A new baby is born. People say, “See, this is new.” The Teacher responds, “It has already been.” Babies were born also in the past

we are unsatisfied with the repetitions of our lives, it is because we are pretending that things should not be like this for us as human beings. To want infinite change—in other words, to “gain” something.

The pleasure of novelty is by its very nature more subject than any other to the law of diminishing returns. Ecclesiastes 5:11 “11 When goods increase, they are increased that eat them: and what good is there to the owners thereof, saving the beholding of them with their eyes?”

The Preacher is going to show us what we should, and should not, expect out of life. He is not just saying there’s no gain after we’ve chased the wind; he will insist there’s no need for the chase in the first place.

No matter how much we consumer we cannot be satisfied. Ecclesiastes 1:8 “8 All things are full of labour; man cannot utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.”

Remember the last time you saw a beautiful scene and decided you were done seeing. Or the time you heard the most beautifu songs and thought I am now complete I have no more need for hearing. — Even with the new sound canceling, Ipod Pros.

We long for change in a world of permanent repetition, and we dream of how to interrupt it.

Most of our lives are lived playing pretend.

Recently went to a “Bargain Bin” store. I told the boys if you see something you need it will probably be priced right to buy but if you see something you want you didn’t know you wanted until you saw it then think twice. For about 10 minutes we ran around like we had found a treasure chest. But left with only a few things but we realized we didn’t need or even really want most of the things there. But some people just kep on pretending and filling up their carts.

Let’s pretend that if we get the promotion, or see our business grow, or bring up good children, we’ll feel significant and leave a lasting legacy behind us.

Let’s pretend that if we change jobs we won’t experience the boring ordinariness of life.

Let’s pretend that if we move to a new house, we’ll be happier and will never want to move again.

Let’s pretend that if we end one relationship and start a new one, we won’t ever feel trapped.

Let’s pretend that if we were married, or weren’t married, we would be content.

Let’s pretend that if we had more money, we would be satisfied.

Let’s pretend that if we get through this week’s pile of laundry and shopping lists and school events and busy evenings, next week will be quieter.

Let’s pretend that time is always on our side to do the things we want to do and become the people we want to be.

Let’s pretend we can break the cycle of repetition and finally arrive in a world free from weariness.

We are entering into the most depressed time in America. The end of December tells us we want more, the start of the New Year gives us the dream that we can get those things, and the middle of January tells us that getting one thing means giving up another and that we can’t have it all. So let’s not pretend.

Doesn’t this make you long for more in life? Coach Pat Riley as coach of the Lakers gave a motivational speech to his team at halftime. He stuck his head underwater and held it there for almost 3 minutes. He came up gasping for air. He said when you want to win as much as I wanted to breath we will be unstoppable.

Ask Kristen to come as we look at this question.

As we enter a new year, we ask ourselves how do we get the most out of life.

Recognize the limitations that this world has to satisfy you.

This should direct you, and not depress you.

"Remember this whenever you get frustrated, sad, angry or disappointed with everything in life that is getting broken, falling apart, and going wrong. Remember this when you feel overwhelmed and are tempted to wonder why you should even bother—with your work, with a relationship, with your faith. You were made for a new and better world."

Listen to the words of Jesus. Matthew 16:26 “26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”

Yes, a word to the unbeliever to not lose your soul.

Reminder to the the believer, if you gained the whole world you would still have nothing.

Realize accepting death is the first step in learning to live.

If our labor is not “in the Lord,” if our work is apart from God, we gain nothing. Therefore Jesus warns us, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth …; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven” (Matt 6:19–20)

Live for the world to come.

Keep your head above the sun.

No philosophy, no thought, no human action can do what God can do for my heart, and Jesus makes relationship with this One possible.

The world is an agreement with us concerning the empty, repetitive nature of this world. 2 Peter 3:3–4 “3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, 4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.”

Peter tell’s us when these actions come, when we feel the realness of the emptiness of this world. Turn our eyes upon Jesus.

Find something that is better than life.

Here is a good place to look. Psalm 63:3 “3 Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee.”

There may be nothing new under the sun; but thankfully the followers of Jesus – those born again by God’s Spirit – don’t live under the sun in that sense. Their life is filled with new things.

A new name Revelation 2:17

A new community Ephesians 2:14

A new commandment John 13:34

A new covenant Matthew 26:28

A new nature Ephesians 4:24

A new creation in Jesus Christ 2 Corinthians 5:17

All things become new! 2 Corinthians 5:17 “17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

Let sing this song together.

O soul are you weary and troubled No light in the darkness you see There's light for a look at the Savior And life more abundant and free

Turn your eyes upon Jesus Look full in his wonderful face And the things of earth will grow strangely dim In the light of his glory and grace

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