Studies in Ecclesiastes – Is Life Vain?

1. Repetition isn’t always bad.

1) God has repeated his message of love for man over thousands of years.

2) We worship God each week as He has instructed. It is supposed to be repetitive, but not meaningless.

3) Psalm 30:4 “Sing unto the LORD, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.”

4) Luke 22:19 “And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.”

5) 1 Timothy 4:6 says, “If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.”

2. We don’t always do the same things over and over again.

1) Perhaps we do the same generic actions, but sometimes in a different way.

2) Like singing the same words to a different tune.

3) We learn new things every day.

4) Life is full of unexpected twists and surprises around every corner.

5) Psalm 40:3 says, “And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.”

6) Lamentations 3:22-23 says, “It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

3. The recurrence of new generations makes some repetition necessary.

1) God commanded parents to teach new generations of children His truths. Deuteronomy 6:6-7 “And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.”

2) Peter recognized this as well. 2 Peter 1:12-15 “Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth. Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance; Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me. Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance.”

1. There may not be anything new to mankind, but some things are new to different people.

2. We meet new people; go to new places, experience new and different things.

3. Not every single person has experienced every single thing in this world.

1) We can never get to the point where we can say we’ve done it all or that we know it all.

2) Philippians 1:9 “And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;”

3) 2 Peter 3:18 “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.”

4. If nothing is new, then change is impossible.

1) Consider Jesus command in John 13:34 “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.”

2) Hebrews 9:15 says, “And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament….”

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

4) Revelation 21:5 “And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.”

1. We do have opportunities to change things for the better.

1) We may change clothes, cars, houses.

2) We can change jobs and lifestyles.

3) We can change personal habits.

2. Individuals need to make changes in their lives to improve themselves and those around them.

1) This is the heart of what it means to repent: a change of mind that results in a reformation of life.

2) Acts 17:30 “And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:”

3) 2 Corinthians 7:10 “For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.”

4) Romans 12:1-2 says, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

3. We ought not to worry so much about changing others as changing ourselves.

1. Sometimes problems are caused by other people and we can’t control other people.

1) Paul had some problems. 2 Corinthians 11:24-28 “Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.”

2) Peter acknowledges such as well. 1 Peter 3:14 “But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;”

2. Not all of life’s problems are meant to be solved.

1) Some problems are there for us simply to endure. 2 Timothy 2:3 “Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.”

2) Some problems are the results of God’s chastening. Hebrews 12:7 says, “If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?”

3) Some problems we must endure because we are righteous. 1 Peter 2:19 “For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.”

4) Some problems are the result of our own sin. Galatians 6:7 says, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.”

5) Sometimes we apply God’s wisdom ineffectively.

3. Wisdom is a good thing for the purposes for which it is good.

1) It is an aid to help is get through life smoother; a tool to be used in appropriate situations.

2) Solomon was the wisest man on earth, yet wisdom didn’t solve all of his problems.

3) Jesus was the Son of God and had God’s wisdom, yet wisdom didn’t eliminate all of his problems and suffering.

4) Paul was inspired of God, but wisdom didn’t eliminate all of his problems.

4. Wisdom can’t solve some problems, but it can get us through them.

5. All sunshine makes a desert and you’ve got to have a little rain to make things grow.