What do all these people have in common- Julius Caesar, George Washington, Betty White, and Steve Jobs? They’re all dead. Each of them was wealthy, successful, and powerful, but all of them died. Last week we looked at the vanity of pleasure. We concluded that the things of this world can never bring true satisfaction because they don’t last, and they don’t fix our problem with death. Death is the problem we all face in this world and Solomon is wrestling with the question: “Can life have meaning?” Today we’ll look at the rest of Ecclesiastes 2 and discover that the meaning of life cannot be found in this world, but it can be found in God. As Solomon examines the vanity of this world in Ecclesiastes 2, he gives three facts about life.

The first fact is found in verses 12-17, where Solomon says that living for this world is vanity because death comes to all. Solomon considered wisdom and foolishness and discovered that wisdom is more profitable. Walking in light is better than walking in darkness. Wisdom will get you money and success. Foolishness will get you in prison or killed. So, wisdom is better but ultimately death comes to all. 

It doesn’t matter how smart you are, or how rich or poor, you will die someday. Death comes to all by age, tragedy, or disease. Death is no respecter of persons. Therefore, no amount of success in this world will give you satisfaction and meaning because it won’t help in the end. Both the wise and the fool will be forgotten. Most people that live on this earth are forgotten when they die. Those that are remembered are only ideas or statues, not living people. A life spent on the vanity of this world is miserable because life without God is meaningless.

The second fact is, living for this world is vanity because everything you work for will be given away (Eccl. 2:18-23). Everything you earn will be given to someone else when you die. You don’t know what they’ll do with your possessions because you’ll be dead. They might waste your riches or invest them, but it doesn’t matter because you’ll be gone. Possessions and wealth are vanity because they don’t last forever. No matter how hard you work for something, you can’t take it with you when you die. This world can only offer sorrow and frustration. We work all our days only to reap sorrow. We toil day and night to find rest only to be frustrated.  

The third fact is, living for God brings true joy and satisfaction (Eccl. 2:24-26). Finally, we have some good news. Solomon shifts to the answer to our problem. Instead of giving up on life and being completely hopeless, Solomon turns to God for the answer. The truth is, we can enjoy life and work if we live for God. God is the ultimate source of joy and satisfaction. There’s nothing better for a person than a relationship with God. We can enjoy life, work, and success when we are living for God.

God will bless those that please Him and curse those that reject Him. Why is God the only One that can satisfy your soul? Because He created it! Those who seek to worship and serve their Creator will find wisdom, knowledge, and joy. God blesses those that please Him. But those who reject God and continue in their sin will be cursed to a life of misery and vanity. Here’s the cold hard truth- if you live for this world, your life will be meaningless! But if you live for God and seek His glory, your life will have eternal value.

Death is our problem in life. The Bible tells us that we all die because of sin. Sins separates us from God, and the penalty for sin is death. This is why we can’t find meaning and purpose in this world. Nothing this world can offer will save you. We must look to God for salvation. Only God can satisfy your soul because He created you. He made you to worship and enjoy Him forever. True joy can only be found in God. 

Thankfully, we can have a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. If you confess Christ as your Lord and Savior, believing in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved (Rom. 10:9). God offers salvation through His Son. So don’t fall into the trap of trying to replace God with the worthless things of this world. Don’t worship the creation over the Creator. Seek God’s glory above all and you’ll find true meaning and joy.