God offers us a full life in an empty world. “The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.” - Ecclesiastes 1:1 Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity. - Ecclesiastes 1:2 What does man gain by all the toil at which he toils under the sun? - Ecclesiastes 1:3 Under the Sun = Things of this World // Non Spiritual Things A generation goes, and a generation comes, but the earth remains forever. 5 The sun rises, and the sun goes down, and hastens to the place where it rises. 6 The wind blows to the south and goes around to the north; around and around goes the wind, and on its circuits the wind returns. 7 All streams run to the sea, but the sea is not full; to the place where the streams flow, there they flow again. 8 All things are full of weariness; a man cannot utter it; the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing. 9 What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun. 10 Is there a thing of which it is said, “See, this is new”? It has been already in the ages before us. 11 There is no remembrance of former things, nor will there be any remembrance of later things yet to be among those who come after. - Ecclesiastes 1:4-11 If you live your life for this world and this world only, you will live a meaningless life. Existentialism = the philosophical belief we are each responsible for creating purpose or meaning in our own lives. Our individual purpose and meaning is not given to us by Gods, governments, teachers or other authorities. Hedonism says that pleasure (in the sense of the satisfaction of desires) is the highest good and proper aim of human life. ‘You do you…whatever that means to you.” “13 The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. - Ecclesiastes 12:13 When we Fear God, We Will Live a Meaningful Life. We Live a Meaningful Life When we Keep God’s Commands What is God speaking to you? How are you going to respond?