Solomon –A Portrait of a Futile Life Ecclesiastes 6
How to Avoid Life as a Dead End Street
Main Lesson: To have a fruitful and satisfying life
• God (Jesus) must be given first place
• God (Jesus) must be the center of our lives
• Major pursuit in life is knowing God (Jesus)
• Ultimate response to life is loving God (Jesus)
• Satisfaction comes only by vibrant relationship with
God (Jesus) Knowing God -Our Main Pursuit Jeremiah 9 (NET) 23
Paul boast Philippians 3 -7 (NKJV)
Galatians 6 -3
Loving God -Our Ultimate Response to Life
Deuteronomy 6 – 4 -9
Loving God -Our Ultimate Response to Life - Mark 12:30-31
A Portrait of Solomon’s Life - The Situation Ecclesiastes 6
Wealth without enjoyment
Common among the affluent
God is the giver of life and all gifts
Riches, wealth, honour, ability to enjoy them
The person in this story seemed to have it made
This verse brings us back to the overriding theme of the book
LIFE IS VANITY
A Portrait of Solomon’s Life Solomon’, Story 2 Chronicles 7- 12
Solomon’s Story
• Solomon made an unselfish request
• God granted him additional blessings –
riches and wealth and honour
• Solomon probably ignored God as a result
• God did not give him satisfaction
• God did not cause him to enjoy the benefits of riches and
wealth and honour
The Situation
6 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun and it is prevalent among
men—2 a man to whom God has given riches and wealth and honor so that his
soul lacks nothing of all that he desires; yet God has not empowered him to eat
from them, for a foreigner enjoys them. This is vanity and a severe affliction.
Foreigners may signify
An adversary
Sickness
Domestic conflict
Natural calamity, natural disaster
So ultimately, we must find our joy not in what God gives but who God has given
Philippians 4
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!
A few helpful details
Add more children (vs 3) (more wives)
Add more years (vs 6)
Add hard work (v7)
Add a bright mind, wisdom and a good education (v 8)
What the eyes see is better than what the soul desires. This too
is futility and a striving after wind
Solomon –A Portrait of a Futile Life
Solomon’s Observations
10 Whatever exists has already been named, and it is known what man is; for he cannot
dispute with him who is stronger than he is.
11 For there are many words which increase
futility. What then is the advantage to a man?
• God is sovereign
• Mankind is not sovereign
• Disputing with God is a waste of time and effort
A Look at Our Own Portrait
12 For who knows what is good for a man during his lifetime, during the few years of his
futile life? He will spend them like a shadow. For who can tell a man what will be after him
under the sun?
Question: Does life seem futile?
• If only I marry
• If only I have a big house
• If only I have a job
• If only …….
• None of this condition will gives us what we want
For who knows what is good for a man during his lifetime, during the few
years of his futile life? He will spend them like a shadow. For who can tell a
man what will be after him under the sun?
Question: Are you fearful about the future?
• Is your house on the rock or sand?
A Passage To Remember - Matthew 7 – 24 -28
If people want to boast, they should boast about this: They should boast that they understand and
know me.
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with
all your strength
But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ,
