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This morning as we continue in our study through the book of Ecclesiastes, we consider Ecclesiastes 2:18-26. We see the vanity of work, the victory of Jesus' work, and how the victory of Jesus' work affects our vocation. The Preacher begins to give himself over to despair concerning all his work that he had labored at under the sun. He sees vanity in work as he considers the reward of a lifetime of work is leaving everything to be enjoyed by someone who did not toil for it. He asks, "For what does a person get with all his work and all his efforts that he labors at under the sun? For all his days are filled with grief, and his occupation is sorrowful; even at night, his mind does not rest. This too is futile" (Ecclesiastes 2:22-23).

The vanity of work points us to the victory of Jesus and His work. We want to follow Jesus in response to His work for our joy, as we work and toil for the joy of others. Our new work as disciples of Jesus is to make much of Him and make disciples of all nations. This vocation is not vanity. The work Jesus has given us is not futility, but eternally fulfilling.

This week as we continue in our study through the book of Ecclesiastes, the Preacher turns to consider wisdom and folly. He concludes wisdom is better than folly, yet wisdom and foolishness have the same end. Both those who live wisely and those who live foolishly die and are no longer remembered. Therefore, "I hated life, because what is done under the sun was grievous to me, for all is vanity and a striving after wind" (Ecclesiastes 2:17).

The Preacher undermines hope that we may falsely put into living wisely. As Doug O'Donnell writes in the Gospel Transformation Study Bible, "Ecclesiastes was written to depress us into dependence on our joyous God and his blessed will for our lives." May we along with the Preacher hate life in the sense that we love it less than we love our King and Redeemer, Jesus of Nazareth. Would God use His Word, and our study through Ecclesiastes, to draw out the rival hopes in our heart and call us to find hope, joy, and satisfaction in Jesus. May He become more and more the interpretive center of our perspective, posture, and action. May we look up in this life "under the sun", to find true meaning and hope in Jesus. If you put your trust in Him, He will raise you up from the dead and join you together with God in life everlasting.

This morning we continue in our study through the book of Ecclesiastes as we consider Ecclesiastes 2:1-11. In the text we see the Preacher/Teacher explore the vanity of pleasures. The Preacher considers comedy, wine, possessions, riches, and sexual fulfillment. "And whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I kept my heart from no pleasure, for my heart found pleasure in all my toil, and this was my reward for all my toil" (Ecclesiastes 2:10). The conclusion is the same as the pursuit of wisdom and knowledge, "Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after the wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun" (Ecclesiastes 2:11).

The end of pleasure is not the vanity of self-indulgence, but to point us toward ultimate satisfaction and fulfillment in Jesus Christ. To properly enjoy the pleasures of this world, we must first be satisfied in Jesus and align our hearts with His righteousness. We can be encouraged from our passage this morning that while a pursuit of self-indulgence and pleasure is "a striving after the wind", a pursuit of Jesus brings eternal satisfaction and everlasting joy in Him.

This morning we continue in our study through the book of Ecclesiastes as we consider Ecclesiastes 1:12-18. The Preacher describes how he applied his heart to seek and search out wisdom, to explore and examine through wisdom all that is done under heaven. His conclusion is that God has given people this miserable task to keep them occupied. In the words of the Preacher, "I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind" (Ecclesiastes 1:14). The Preacher describes how wisdom cannot change, fix, or mend what is wrong and fallen in the world that is. Wisdom cannot revise what is broken in the created order, it only reveals it. Increased wisdom also leads to increased sorrow. If you grow in knowledge you grow in grief.

The Preacher of Ecclesiastes calls us to see the futility and frustration of finding answers, fulfillment, or satisfaction in wisdom itself and points us towards the ultimate Son of David, the Everlasting King in Jerusalem, Jesus of Nazareth.

We pray as you hear this sermon that you would grow in your faith and trust in Jesus. He invites any who labor and are heavy laden to come to Him and find rest. We can take His yoke upon us and learn from Him for He is gentle and lowly in heart, and we will find rest for our souls.

This morning we begin a new study through the book of Ecclesiastes. The author introduces us to, "the words of the Preacher", a wise teacher who offers reflections on wisdom, work, pleasure, wealth, time, and death. The preacher opens with a statement of the theme of the book. The Preacher says, "Vanity of vanities, vanity of vanities! All is vanity!" (Ecclesiastes 1:2). These opening statements describe the seemingly monotonous rhythm of life using imagery from the sun, wind, and streams.

This opening poem cultivates humility and cultivates hope in a world beyond "life under the sun." The Preacher gives us a reality check that we are a mist or vapor. We are here but for a little moment and then gone. Instead of driving us into a kind of nihilist despair or hedonistic lifestyle, the Preacher of Ecclesiastes causes us to long for hope and look forward to the promises of Jesus in the gospel. Against the dark and bleak backdrop of Ecclesiastes, the promises of Jesus and the hope of the gospel shine bright. All is vanity and meaningless apart from Jesus, but if you are in Him, the call to love God and love others is eternally significant. It invites us to be present and attentive to those around us.

Happy Easter! This morning we conclude our study through the book of James as we consider James 5:19-20. James calls for followers of Jesus to seek after those who wander and stray from the truth. He encourages us that we will save their soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.

As a community of faith we pray that we don't respond in condemnation or callousness to others. We pray that we don't avoid those who wander or attack them. As we respond to and experience the grace of God, we desire to move towards those who are wandering in a gentle manner and heart of compassion. As we remember and celebrate Jesus' resurrection on Easter, we find in Jesus the manner, model, and means of restoration. May God give us grace as we seek to become more like Jesus and seek the restoration of others.