The Search for Meaning Under the Sun: Tyler Stricklan January 12th, 2025 The Four Pivotal Questions Origin - “Where did I come from?” Meaning - “Why am I here?” Morality - “How should I live?” Destiny - “Where am I going?” Typical Theme Verse: 2 “Absolute futility. Everything is futile.” 3 What does a person gain for all his efforts that he labors at under the sun?” — Ecclesiastes 1:2 hevel הֶבֶל - Used as futility or Vanity… vapor or smoke. Ecclesiastes 1:1-14 1 The words of the Teacher, son of David, king in Jerusalem. 2 “Absolute futility,” says the Teacher. “Absolute futility. Everything is futile.” 3 What does a person gain for all his efforts that he labors at under the sun? 4 A generation goes and a generation comes, but the earth remains forever. 5 The sun rises and the sun sets; panting, it hurries back to the place where it rises. 6 Gusting to the south, turning to the north, turning, turning, goes the wind, and the wind returns in its cycles. 7 All the streams flow to the sea, yet the sea is never full; to the place where the streams flow, there they flow again. 8 All things are wearisome, more than anyone can say. The eye is not satisfied by seeing or the ear filled with hearing. 9 What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done; there is nothing new under the sun. 10 Can one say about anything, “Look, this is new”? It has already existed in the ages before us. 11 There is no remembrance of those who came before; and of those who will come after there will also be no remembrance by those who follow them. 12 I, the Teacher, have been king over Israel in Jerusalem. 13 I applied my mind to examine and explore through wisdom all that is done under heaven. God has given people this miserable task to keep them occupied. 14 I have seen all the things that are done under the sun and have found everything to be futile, a pursuit of the wind. The words of the Teacher, son of David, king in Jerusalem. 2 “Absolute futility,” says the Teacher. “Absolute futility. Everything is futile.” 3 What does a person gain for all his efforts that he labors at under the sun? Q: Is there any purpose to what we do? Any gain we can make? A:Everything we do is like trying to catch vapor, it's gone quickly with no memory of us. 7 All the streams flow to the sea, yet the sea is never full; to the place where the streams flow, there they flow again. 8 All things are wearisome, more than anyone can say. The eye is not satisfied by seeing or the ear filled with hearing. Q: Is there anything that truly satisfies or fulfills us? A: We can consume it all and still lust for more, it is an endless cycle of pursuit. 10 Can one say about anything, “Look, this is new”? It has already existed in the ages before us. … God has given people this miserable task to keep them occupied. 14 I have seen all the things that are done under the sun and have found everything to be futile, a pursuit of the wind. Recap: Everything is hevel, futile, chasing the wind. Everyone is born and dies and then a different generation takes our place. All things are wearisome. We are never satisfied. Nothing is new. Just like sand through the hourglass, so are the days of our lives… Q: Why would God inflict us with the misery and futility of chasing vapor? A: It’s in the next chapter. Our Theme Verse: "There is nothing better for a person than to eat, drink, and enjoy his work. I have seen that even this is from God’s hand, because who can eat and who can enjoy life apart from him?" — Ecclesiastes 2:24-25 Series Tagline: Discovering what is meaningful, by determining what is meaningless. There is nothing better for a person than to eat, drink, and enjoy his work. I have seen that even this is from God’s hand, because who can eat and who can enjoy life apart from him?" — Ecclesiastes 2:24-25 Next Steps: Reassess what you find meaning in: title, career, family, zipcode, networth Spend extra time on the meaningful: Read the bible with someone, commit to an act of generosity, and share the Gospel with the person God has put in front of you. Next week: Possessions, Pleasures, and Joy