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Vanity of the World and its Pleasures (Ecclesiastes: Ch. 1-2)

Discover the wisdom found in the books of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes, exploring various topics including the vanity of the world, the importance of attaining wisdom, wisdom in finances, marriage, parenting, and the difference between inner and outer joy.

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Vanity of the World and its Pleasures (Ecclesiastes: Ch. 1-2)

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  1. Vanity of the World and its Pleasures (Ecclesiastes: Ch. 1-2)

  2. Path to the Bridegroom • Proverbs: presented to the “toddlers” in faith: • The need to attain Wisdom (The Lord Jesus Christ) in this life, lest we go astray: “To know wisdom and instruction, to perceive the words of understanding, to receive the instruction of wisdom, Justice, judgment, and equity.” (Prov 1:2-3) • Ecclesiastes: after the believer seeks wisdom, he discovers the one single truth about the pettiness of the world: • “All is vanity and grasping for the wind.” (Ecc 1:14)

  3. Wisdom, The Principle Thing • To know wisdom and instruction • To perceive words of understanding • To receive instruction of wisdom, justice, judgment and equity, so that we know what is right • To give prudence to the simple, and knowledge and discretion to the young person • To deeply understand the words of the wise • Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge…

  4. The Road to Wisdom • Correction • 9:7-9 Do not correct a scoffer, lest he hate you; Rebuke a wise man, and he will love you. • Counsel • 19:20-21 Listen to counsel and receive instruction, that you may be wise in your latter days • Education • 23:12 Apply your heart to instruction,       And your ears to words of knowledge. • Perseverance • 24:16 A righteous man may fall seven times       And rise again

  5. Wisdom in Finances • Work and Don’t be Lazy • Don’t overwork • Avoid Debt • Honesty • Wisdom in Spending • Giving to the Poor • Righteousness is greater than Money • Contentment • Benefits of Poverty

  6. Wisdom in Marriage and Parenting • Wisdom in Marriage: • The character of the husband and the wife • 14:1 The wise woman builds her house, but the foolish pulls it down with her hands. • My son hear the instructions of your father and do not forsake the law of your mother (Proverbs 1:8) • His #1 need (to be respected and trusted), Her #1 need (to be loved and a source of delight) • The main purpose of marriage is to make us holy • Wisdom in Parenting: • A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children (13:21) • He who spares his rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him promptly. (13:24) • Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it. (22:6)

  7. Laughter and Mirth • Read - Ecclesiastes 1:12-18; 2:1-3 • “I said of laughter-"Madness!" and of mirth, "What does it accomplish?" " (Ecc 2:1-2) • "And I will say to my soul, `Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.' " (Lk 12:19) • Does true happiness come from laughter, parties, and celebrations? • Is joy accomplished by: eating, drinking, dancing, and playing? • What is the difference between inner joy, and outer joy?

  8. Inner Joy • Inner joy: a continuous smile, and inner peace • "If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love. "These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full." (Jn 15:10) • "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid" (Jn 14:27) • Inner joy • A sign of the presence of Christ • Establishes the Kingdom of God within the heart.

  9. Outer Joy • Outer joy: • A tranquilizer • Does not fulfill • Does not eliminate sadness norsolve problems • "Madness" • Drugs - Alcohol - Violence - Lust • Can not bring about true happiness • Only a "covering" for the problems • Adam’s covering of fig leaves • Does not bring a person closer to God, but rather further away • Adam and Eve were cast out – true sadness

  10. Outer Joy • "They sing to the tambourine and harp, And rejoice to the sound of the flute. They spend their days in wealth, And in a moment go down to the grave. Yet they say to God, `Depart from us, For we do not desire the knowledge of Your ways.’ " (Job 21:12- 14)

  11. Mirth (Amusement) • “…and of mirth, ‘What does it accomplish?’" • Much laughter does not sooth the heart. (Pro 25:20) • Tears and repentance are what accomplishes joy • Drinking For Joy • "I searched in my heart how to gratify my flesh with wine." (Ecc 2:3) • He tested wisdom in the drinking of wine, but found it: "And indeed all was vanity and grasping for the wind." (Ecc 2:11) • Why? • Wine is a mocker, Strong drink is a brawler,  And whoever is led astray by it is not wise.(Pro 20:1)

  12. Mirth • St. Basil the great: • “Animals walk bowing their head towards the earth and concerned about their stomach and body. Humans walk with their heads upright, looking towards heaven and should be concerned about their spirit” • The more we are concerned about our bodies and its pleasures, the more we simulate animals • Fasting brings us closer to Angels and further from animals • “…seek those things which are above, where Christ is" (Col 3:1)

  13. Ultimate Pleasure • Read - Ecclesiastes 2:4-10 • Solomon enjoyed pleasure to the fullest • He pleasured in building and construction (v.4), (1Ki 9:15- 19) • He build first and foremost the House of God • this is good. But... • "I made my works great" • Was he doing it for his own glory? • He build a great house for God, but did he build a house for God within his own heart? • "I will not give sleep to my eyes or slumber to my eyelids, until I find a place for the Lord, A dwelling place for the Mighty One of Jacob."" (Ps 132:4-5) • “You have served the House of the Lord for so long… when will you serve the Lord of the House?” (Pope Shenouda)

  14. Ultimate Pleasure • He planted gardens and orchards (v.5) • First Garden planted was Eden • Had many trees for the bodily nourishment, and one tree for the spiritual nourishment • Man was more attentive to the bodily trees then the spiritual tree

  15. Ultimate Pleasure • He made water pools to water the trees (v.6) • Where is the water to water his soul? • The drink is offered free, but you must acquire it: • “Ho! Everyone who thirsts, Come to the waters;       And you who have no money,       Come, buy and eat.       Yes, come, buy wine and milk       Without money and without price.” (Isa 55:1) • Where is this water? • “And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life” (Rev 22:1-2)

  16. Ultimate Pleasure • He pleasured in all riches (v. 7-8), • “The king made silver as common in Jerusalem as stones” (1Ki 10:27) • Gold and Silver • Riches and money: are they evil in themselves? • Good to the good, and evil to the evil • The more important riches is the Word of God: • “And I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius,and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not harm the oil and the wine.” (Rev 6:6)

  17. Ultimate Pleasure • He indulged in all kinds of pleasures (v. 9-10) • He pleasured all his senses: Eyes, ears, taste, smell, touch. • “For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.” (1Jn 2:16)

  18. The Outcome • "Vanity of vanities," says the Preacher; "Vanity of vanities, all is vanity." (1:2) • "Then I looked on all the works that my hands had done And on the labor in which I had toiled; And indeed all was vanity and grasping for the wind. There was no profit under the sun." (2:11) • All under the “sun” is vain, so we need to look beyond that, to the Sun of Righteousness: • “Then I turned myself to consider Wisdom…” (v. 12)

  19. Vanity by Comparison • “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher, “all is vanity.” But if all created things are good, as being the handiwork of a good Creator, how comes it that all things are vanity? If the earth is vanity, are the heavens vanity too?—and the angels, the thrones, the dominations, the powers, and the rest of the virtues? No; if things which are good in themselves as being the handiwork of a good Creator are called vanity, it is because they are compared with things which are better still. For example, compared with a lamp, a lantern is good for nothing; compared with a star, a lamp does not shine at all; the brightest star pales before the moon; put the moon beside the sun, and it no longer looks bright; compare the sun with Christ, and it is darkness. (St. Jerome Letter XLVIII. To Pammachius.)

  20. Vanity of the World and its Pleasures • Laughter and mirth is vain • Inner joy: A sign of the presence of Christ • Outer joy: does not fulfill, just a cover • Mirth: The more we are concerned about our bodies and its pleasures, the more we simulate animals • Ultimate Pleasure: still is vain • “And indeed all was vanity and grasping for the wind. There was no profit under the sun." (2:11) • To see beyond the vanities, we need to look for the Sun (Christ)

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