Trinity Grace Church

Life Stinks Then You Die (Apart from the Lord), Ecclesiastes 6

As you may have heard, since 1999, the rate of death by suicide has risen by 30%...30%! That’s tragic! Blame and suggestions are being handed out by all the experts. The blame has included bad parenting, bullying, loneliness, lack of identity, among other things. Suggestions have included counseling, more freedom of expression, finding identity in one’s work, among other things. Listening to the world’s wisdom will get people nowhere- in fact, that effort is futile.

The preacher in Ecclesiastes has tried it all. He had all the means at his disposal to bring meaning and satisfaction to life - and yet he tries all this apart from the Lord. And the conclusion of it all- all is vanity.

Apart from the Lord, one might agree, life stinks and then you die. But God’s Word has the answer. Jesus satisfies. He has dealt with that one thing that plagues the human race- sin. And he’s the only One that has dealt with it.

Satisfaction Guaranteed (Ecclesiastes 5:8-20)

We are always pointing the finger "out there" in an attempt to deflect from our own hearts. Whether it's possessions, power, our work, or money - those have to be the problem! But the author of Ecclesiastes reminds us that money even isn't the problem - it's not a matter of a lack of money or plenty of money - it's a matter of the heart.

Our God is An Awesome God (Ecclesiastes 5:1-7)

The preacher in Ecclesiastes has, over and over again, spoken of the vanity of life apart from God. And this warning in worship seems almost not to fit in his train of thought - and yet, even worship, devoid of a proclamation of the Creator God who has revealed Himself in Jesus Christ, is vanity - it's empty.

Better If Never Born? (Ecclesiastes 4)

In Ecclesiastes 4, the Preacher gives four snapshots of loneliness; it is, indeed, a depressing picture apart from the Lord.  But it is meant to drive us to Jesus, the friend of sinners. 

There Has To Be More Than This (Ecclesiastes 3)

Solomon says there is a time for everything, and we can either see it as having no meaning or as a basis for rest.  It's all about perspective.

The Vanity of Toil (Ecclesiastes 2:10-12; 18-26)

There is a great deal of difference between striving under the sun and resting in the Son when it comes to our search for satisfaction, significance and justification.  The conclusion is this; it's not about us and what we do, but about Christ and what He has done for us that truly matters.

Having Everything, Yet Nothing (Ecclesiastes 2:1-11)

The Preacher of Ecclesiastes continues to explore life apart from the Lord. It’s God’s grace that there’s one who has already searched out fulfillment and found all things lacking - we don’t have to learn that hard truth ourselves. We’re pointed to Jesus- the only One who truly fulfills.

Man's Windy Wisdom (Ecclesiastes 1:12-18; 2:12-17)

Even the pursuit of wisdom apart from the Lord is an exercise in vanity.  At the end of it all, everything, whether possessions, power, money, and even wisdom, goes back in the box.

Restless Until We Rest in Thee (Ecclesiastes 1:4-11)

The Preacher in Ecclesiastes looks at the vanity of the world and the things in the world apart from the Lord driving us to look to Christ for fulfillment and satisfaction.  

What's It All For? (Ecclesiastes 1:1-3)

Vanity of vanities, life is vanity....when lived "under the sun."  The Book of Ecclesiastes is an incredibly relevant book for today's world and church.  Join us as we are encouraged to see the emptiness of life lived apart from the Lord and allow that drives us to the only One in whom there is satisfaction, contentment, joy, and life - Jesus Christ.  Study the Gospel According to Ecclesiastes with us.