24. Truly, Vanity Under the Sun

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Hymns: RHC 419 Take My Life and Let It Be 421 Have Thine Own Way, Lord! 420 I Surrender All

Study of the Book of Ecclesiastes

(Remember Now Thy Creator)

– Truly, Vanity Under the Sun

Ecclesiastes 6:7-12

7 All the labour of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled. 8 For what hath the wise more than the fool? what hath the poor, that knoweth to walk before the living? 9 Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this is also vanity and vexation of spirit. 10 That which hath been is named already, and it is known that it is man: neither may he contend with him that is mightier than he. 11 Seeing there be many things that increase vanity, what is man the better? 12 For who knoweth what is good for man in this life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?

 

OUTLINE

  • Man’s Appetite Unsatisfied (v7-9)
  • All Is Vanity Without God (v10-12)

 

INTRODUCTION

The search for meaning and purpose and fulfillment in life, this life under the sun, has reached its inevitable dead end. When a man is not connected with his Creator, he is tossed in the sea of life like a rudderless ship.

The labour to satisfy his physical appetite can only give him limited satisfaction. Matthew Henry said well, “… Meats are but for the belly and the belly for meats; there is nothing for the head and heart, nothing to nourish or enrich the soul. A little to sustain us comfortably and a great deal can do no more.”

Indeed, as Jesus said in “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” (Matt. 4:4) and “That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.” (Luke 4:4).

We have spoken at length concerning riches (5:10-6:6) and that man cannot find true satisfaction in life without God even if he has an abundance of possessions, wealth, children and long life. Having these blessings under the sun is still not good enough in the final analysis of life.

This discussion so far brings us to sit up and take stock of life for what it is, truthfully assessed, a great disappointment, a striving after the wind, no true gain to the man at the end.

The word for “man” is the Hebrew word “Adam”. It describes the descendants of the man who was made in the image of God but fell into sin, rebelled against his Creator and cast out of paradise. His world was cursed and he lived under that great judgment to come by the Creator Himself.

 

Two thoughts:

  • Man’s Appetite Unsatisfied (v7-9)
  • All Is Vanity Without God (v10-12)

 

(1) Man’s Appetite Unsatisfied (v7-9)

7 All the labour of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled.

 The fallen man driven by is appetite but that appetite is never truly satisfied – all the laour of man is for his mouth and yet the appetite is not filled. Why is this so? May I quote the insightful words of the Apostle John in 1 John 2:15-17 “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.”

 “The world” is this life under the sun that is lived without God, the carnal man’s life. Seek the true riches found in doing the will of God. The late pastor Adrian Rogers pointed out, “When the Bible says love not the world, it is not talking about the world of nature or the world of people, consider John 3:16, which says God so love the world that He gave His only begotten Son. When the Bible says we are not to love the world, He is telling about a system. The word for “world” means “cosmos”. It means an order. There is a system that is opposed to our God and His Christ. The Bible tells us don’t let this world squeeze us into its mold.”

And this world is driven by lust and the pursuit of this lust gives a man no satisfaction at the end. Wise up! The hours that you spend fulfilling your lust will lead you to disappointment.

 

8 For what hath the wise more than the fool? what hath the poor, that knoweth to walk before the living?

 The fool may not have this world’s wealth, may not know how to make money, not have any scholarly attainment but there is an equalizing at the end which Solomon will open up to discuss from 6:10-7:4, death comes to us all.

Ecclesiastes 2:12-17 “And I turned myself to behold wisdom, and madness, and folly: for what can the man do that cometh after the king? even that which hath been already done. 13 Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness. 14 The wise man’s eyes are in his head; but the fool walketh in darkness: and I myself perceived also that one event happeneth to them all. 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. 16 For there is no remembrance of the wise more than of the fool for ever; seeing that which now is in the days to come shall all be forgotten. And how dieth the wise man? as the fool. 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.”

A wise man may do better than the fool. But both cannot circumvent death that “zerolized” the wise man’s gain! Where is his advantage?

Charles Bridges said well, “Happy indeed are they, who labour in dependence upon Him who alone can bless their work. And thrice blessed are they, who are labouring for eternity, and who yet receive te reward of their labour as the free gift of their Divine Master.”

John 6:27 “Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.”

 John 6:32-40 “Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. 34 Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread. 35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. 36 But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not. 37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. 38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. 39 And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. 40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.”

 

9 Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this is also vanity and vexation of spirit.

The unsatisfied desires of the heart, that “lust” give him no present rest to his soul. Augustine said well, “The true good that a man can have in this life, is to enjoy that which he hath in peace and rest, and not to wander in the straying and unsatisfied desires after that which eh hath not.” Indeed, man is prone to wander.

It was that wandering of the desire that cause Adam and Eve to fall when tempted by the serpent.

Genesis 3:2-7 “And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: 3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. 4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: 5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. 6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. 7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.”

This is the final time Solomon will use this lamentable phrase “this is also vanity and vexation of spirit” (1:14, 17; 2:11, 17, 26; 4:4, 6, 16; 5:16). He shall from now on provide the way out. This phrase will bring to a close the first section of the book.

 

(2) All Is Vanity Without God

10 That which hath been is named already, and it is known that it is man: neither may he contend with him that is mightier than he.

Solomon now gives now the introduction that leads to the theme of his message “Remember Now Thy Creator” (Ecclesiastes. 12:1).

– “him that is mightier than he” is Solomon’s introduction to the living and true God who alone is the Source of wisdom and life and satisfaction.

 

11 Seeing there be many things that increase vanity, what is man the better? 12 For who knoweth what is good for man in this life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?

This world’s system that is against God will not prevail. And a man without the true knowledge of his Creator spends his life as it were, groping in the dark, and his life spent futilely.

Only God can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun.

Hebrews 9:27 “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.”

 The only one solution: Hebrews 9:28 “So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.”

 

CONCLUSION

  • Man’s Appetite Unsatisfied (v7-9)
  • All Is Vanity Without God (v10-12)

 

Amen.