Waverly Church of Christ

As we read these words of Solomon, it is very tempting to come away with a discouraged, pessimistic attitude. Please notice that Solomon is speaking to us about life “under the sun.” The sun serves as a marker of time — sunrise, sunset — the here and now. It is his way of saying that “as long as the earth lasts, in this period of time, this is how things are.” We do the same things over and over again. Millions of people are trying to find satisfaction in the materialistic world. They keep expecting that somewhere behind the obvious benefits of material things they will find some hidden greater joy. The truth is that those who have limited themselves to a life “under the sun” will be caught up in a cycle that never allows them to be content or satisfied. For those of us who are Christians here tonight, the apostle Paul encourages us to be “steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58).