Scripture:

Rom. 5:7-8　Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher; Vanity of vanities; all is vanity.

I. All things in the human life are vanity.

II. Knowledge is vanity: The more knowledge you have, the more grief you have; the people who commit suicide are mostly those who are intellectual.

III.  Worldly enjoyment is vanity: This includes all worldly enjoyment. Solomon was king in Jerusalem. He built palaces to live in. His clothing and his diet were the best. He enjoyed everything that the world had to offer, but at the very end he said, “Vanity of vanities” (Eccl. 1:2). This included his wives, concubines, children, and everything.

IV. Careers are vanity: Your career causes you to overwork and exhaust yourself, and it leaves you weary and sleepless during the night. And it will all be over when you die.

V. Position is vanity：Position includes a good reputation and honor

VI. Turn to the Lord while you are young: The book of Ecclesiastes was not written to old people, but it was written by an old man to young people. No elderly person needs to listen to a message about vanity, because all elderly ones have already known vanity. Only young people dream golden dreams. Therefore, the aged Solomon says, “Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth” (12:1) so that you will not be sorry when you get old. Now let us look at some of the pitiful conditions of an aged person. Use Ecclesiastes 12:1-8

  1. There is no pleasure. When a person is seventy or eighty years old, death is so close. There is no more pleasure.
  2. The sun, the light, the moon, and the stars are darkened. In man’s old age nothing is bright. Because the eyes of the aged are dimmed, they cannot see things clearly. The sun, the moon, and the stars are darkened to them.
  3. The clouds return after the rain. It is noisy while the rain is falling, but when the rain stops, it becomes quiet. Some people were very busy while they were managing a factory or serving as administrator of a school, but after all the troublesome work the clouds returned. The ones who have battled in the business world one day get old. The clouds return after the rain.
  4. The keepers of the house tremble. The body is the house referred to here, and the keepers of the house are the hands and feet. The hands and feet of an aged person tremble, and the older he gets, the worse the trembling becomes.
  5. The men of strength bow themselves. The loins become bent.
  6. Desire fails. They cannot have interest in anything.

VII. We must repent, confess our sins, and receive the Lord.