Dive deeper into Ecclesiastes 1 as Pastor PJ Murillo explores the nine vanities of life "under the sun" and reveals why only our relationship with Christ provides true meaning and lasting satisfaction.
The Search For What Matters Part 2: The Vanity of Life Under the Sun
Based on Ecclesiastes 1:1-18
Welcome back to our continuing study in Ecclesiastes as we search for what truly matters in life. Tonight, we dive deeper into Solomon's profound observations about "life under the sun" and discover why so many pursuits leave us empty without God at the center.
Getting to Know Ecclesiastes
Before we explore the deep truths in this passage, let's establish some background about this remarkable book:
- 21st book in our Bible
- 12 chapters, 222 verses
- Approximately 5,584 words
- Author: The Lord, inspired through King Solomon
- Date: Between 970-930 BC (before the division of Israel under Rehoboam)
- Main Theme: "Life under the sun" (mentioned 29 times)
Solomon: The Qualified Preacher
"The words of the preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem." (Ecclesiastes 1:1)
Solomon perfectly fits the description given in verse 1:
He Was a Preacher
Solomon addressed congregations and made proclamations to God's people. In 1 Kings 8:1, he assembled the elders of Israel and proclaimed God's truth. In 2 Chronicles 1:2-3, he spoke to all Israel and led them in worship at the high place in Gibeon.
He Was the Son of David
This is clearly documented throughout Scripture (2 Samuel 12:24, 1 Kings 1:30-31, 1 Kings 3:3).
He Was King in Jerusalem
Solomon reigned as king over Israel from Jerusalem, making him uniquely qualified to speak about the vanity of earthly power and achievement.
The Central Declaration: All Is Vanity
"Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity." (Ecclesiastes 1:2)
Vanity means:
- Emptiness
- Fruitlessness
- Useless or worthless
- Like vapor—here one moment, gone the next
This declaration comes from someone who experienced everything this world has to offer. Solomon had all the power, fame, wealth, and pleasure anyone could dream of, yet his conclusion was that everything is vanity when you take God out of the picture.
Think about the residents at nursing homes—those in the winter of their lives. What do they remember? What matters to them? It's rarely their big houses or prestigious jobs. It's their relationships with family and, most importantly, their relationship with God. When you start singing hymns or reading Scripture to them, they remember what really matters.
Nine Vanities of Life Under the Sun
Throughout Ecclesiastes, Solomon identifies specific areas of life that become vain when pursued without God:
1. The Vanity of Work and Labor (2:18)
"Yea, I hated all my labour which I had taken under the sun: because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me."
Work itself isn't wrong—2 Thessalonians 3 commands us to work, and Proverbs 14:23 says "in all labour there is profit." But work becomes vain when done selfishly, just for accumulating wealth without God in mind.
Think about it: The labors of people who lived 100 years ago—who's benefiting from them now? Most of those workers are gone, leaving their labor behind for future generations or, sadly, for relatives who were "waiting for them to kick the bucket."
2. The Vanity of Worldly Wisdom (2:12-16)
There are three types of wisdom:
Godly Wisdom: Heavenly, from above
Fleshly Wisdom: From our old nature, always thinking we're right
Worldly Wisdom: What this world considers true and right
Worldly wisdom is usually anti-biblical. This world worships education—just because someone spent 10 years in university doesn't mean they're always right. The wisdom of this world is foolishness with God.
Consider evolution: When asked where everything came from, they say "the Big Bang." Where did life come from? "The Big Bang." Where did the Big Bang come from? The circular reasoning reveals the foolishness—it's more foolish to think there is no Creator.
3. The Vanity of the Sinner's Savings (2:26)
When sinners die, they lose everything, including their soul. Mark 8:36-37 asks: "For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?"
No wonder their focus is saving this planet—this is all they have. Their only hope is physical and material. But believers have a saved soul that will spend eternity with God in heaven.
4. The Vanity of Being Envied (4:4)
People want fame, recognition, to be envied by others. But we all came from the same lump of dirt. "For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away."
Especially for young people: No one really cares about you like you think they do. They're too busy thinking about themselves. Stop thinking about yourself and think about the Lord—think above the sun where God is.
5. The Vanity of Selfish Living (4:7-8)
"There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches."
Life lived selfishly is a life lived in vain. True joy and contentment come when we live for God and help others. Even people who have everything this world offers still die miserable when they live only for themselves.
6. The Vanity of Loving Money (5:10)
"He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this also is vanity."
When John D. Rockefeller, the first billionaire in history, was asked "How much money is enough?" he answered: "Just a little bit more."
Money is neither good nor bad—it's a tool. The love of money is the root of all evil. It's never enough. The more money you get, the more you spend. Don't be obsessed with it, controlled by it, or use it for evil purposes.
7. The Vanity of Covetousness (6:9)
Covetousness is exceedingly desiring to possess something that's not yours. The eyes of man are never satisfied.
Think about technology: Who still has an iPhone 1? There's always something newer, always version 18, 19, 20 coming out. There's no end to this because it's in our nature that the eyes are never satisfied.
8. The Vanity of the Fool's Laughter (7:6)
9. The Vanity of Living Long (11:8)
Even living a long life is vain under the sun. The longer you live, the more dead people you know. The longer you live, the more chance you'll bury loved ones. Many elderly people have more friends on the other side than here on earth.
Prepare your heart—the longer you live, the more sorrowful you become and the more you labor.
The Cyclical Nature of Life (1:4-7)
Notice the scientific accuracy in these verses written thousands of years ago:
- Earth's rotation: "The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose"
- Wind circuits: "The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it whirleth about continually"
- Water cycle: "All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full: unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again"
These cycles are object lessons about vanity. Without God, you're just spinning your wheels in life—like being on a treadmill where you're not going anywhere.
Nothing New Under the Sun (1:9-11)
"The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun."
When people say "things are getting so bad," remember: It's always been bad. Read history! Since we got kicked out of the Garden, it's always been bad and will continue until the Lord comes back.
The only thing we learn from history is that we never learn from history. We make the same mistakes and bad decisions people made thousands of years ago.
A Quiz in Forgetfulness
Here's proof we quickly forget "important" things:
- Who won the 1915 World Series? (Philadelphia Phillies)
- Who won the Super Bowl in 1985? (49ers)
- Who was the 13th President? (Millard Fillmore)
- What happened September 2, 1945? (Japanese surrender)
- Who were Richard Thomson, Daniel Featley, Ralph Ravens? (King James Bible translators)
What's the name of your great-great-great-grandfather? See how quickly we forget! Things that seem so important today will be forgotten 100 years from now if they're just "under the sun."
The Pursuit of Knowledge and Its Consequences (1:12-18)
Solomon had the highest credentials to speak about vanity:
- King of Israel during its golden age
- Wisest man who ever lived (outside of Christ)
- Access to everything under the sun
Yet his conclusion after pursuing all knowledge: "For in much wisdom is much grief, and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow."
Remember what got Adam and Eve in trouble? Wanting to know more. They didn't even know they were naked—that's how innocent they were. But once they wanted more knowledge, they got in trouble.
You and I don't have to know everything under the sun. If you want to increase knowledge, increase in the knowledge of Christ.
The Search Is Over
You won't find the meaning of life on:
- TikTok
- ChatGPT
You'll find it in this Book—the Bible.
Paul understood this truth. In Philippians 3:7-11, he declares:
"But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ... That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection."
Paul had all the knowledge, fame, and achievement as a Pharisee, but he counted it all as dung compared to knowing Christ.
The Ultimate Truth
When this life is over, nothing will really matter but your relationship with your Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
The search is over. Don't focus on things under the sun because everything will be in vain. All is vanity unless you look over the sun where the Lord Jesus Christ is.
That's what really matters—your relationship with Him.
As we continue through Ecclesiastes, we'll discover that while everything under the sun may be vanity, everything done for God's glory has eternal significance. The question isn't whether life has meaning—it's where you're looking for that meaning.
Look beyond the sun to the Son, and you'll find what truly matters.
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This message was delivered on January 11, 2026, at Open Door Baptist Church in Lynnwood, WA, as part 2 of our "Searching for What Matters" series through Ecclesiastes.