The Futility of Life

The Futility of Life

Sermon by Pastor Brent Snook / May 18, 2025

Series: Living Life Backward

Text: Ecclesiastes 1:1-18

Only when you prepare to die can you really learn how to live

I. INTRODUCTION

Read Ecclesiastes 1:1-2

When you get where you’re going, where will you be?

Solomon wrote three books of the Bible

1. The Song of Solomon – written when he was young and in love
2. Proverbs – written in the middle years / when God was blessing that wisdom
3. Ecclesiastes – when he was old, confused and empty

Read 1 Kings 11:3-4

Vanities of vanities = ‘meaningless’

Ecclesiastes = EKKLESIA = Assembly

The Preacher = KOHLETH = Debating

II. INVESTIGATION

Read Ecclesiastes 1:3-7

The point of Solomon’s thesis:

1. Patterns in nature (Ecc 1:4)
2. He observed the heavens (Ecc 1:5)
3. The Wind (Ecc 1:6)
4. The Rivers (Ecc 1:7)

III. INSIGNIFICANCE

Read Ecclesiastes 1:8-17

Three Observations from Chapter 1

1. Time is marching on
2. Nothing is new
3. No one gets remembered

There are Two Possible Conclusions (Tim Keller)

1. EITHER there is a God above with a standard, who will judge as at the end based on that standard
2. OR life is totally meaningless

Solomon said: “Life is pointless“. God says: “Life is full of purpose.”