Caleb Drahosh \\ We are all created with the desire for approval. We tend to seek approval in places that cannot fully offer it: other people, our work, our selves. God is our only true and lasting source of approval, and the approval of God comes to us freely through Jesus Christ. The Preacher directs us to learn to live in light of God's approval by flourishing in approved activities: eating joyfully, drinking merrily, celebrating enthusiastically, loving undividedly, and working heartily.

Caleb Drahosh \\ God created us in His image; He gave us abilities of which to make use and we are called to use them well. But these abilities have limits; we exist under authority, injustice is a reality, and time ticks on death closes in on all of us. But God is not bound like we are. Wisdom acknowledges our creaturely limits, the limits of wisdom itself, and finds joy in God, the One who sustains us.

Caleb Drahosh \\ This world is full of paradoxes. Godly men and women may die young, while tyrants and dictators may live to a ripe old age. There's no secret formula to circumvent this reality. How should we live in light of this understanding? Recognize the paradoxes, reject super-righteous responses, and remain in awe of God.

Sermon audio begins at: 1:38:10

Caleb Drahosh \\ The Preacher asks, "What is good for man?" And while he's not able to answer the question in an ultimate sense, he does draw a specific conclusion: God has set the times of prosperity and the times of adversity; therefore, joy and good can be found in both. Finding joy and good in both times of prosperity and in times of adversity gives us the ability to see what is better here under the sun and then––ultimately––what is best beyond this life.

Mark Reeves \\ The Preacher urges the reader to find satisfaction in God, rather than in money and possessions. There is no satisfaction to be found "under the sun" apart from our relationship with Christ and the work of the cross in our lives, for in Christ alone "dwells all the fullness of Deity in bodily form, and we are complete in him." (Colossians 2:9)

Caleb Drahosh \\ The Preacher is a realist when it comes to church; he understands that people are sinful and they don't always approach congregational worship––and life in general––with the intentionality that it requires. Therefore, it is the responsibility of every believer to vigilantly guard his or her steps and his or her speech at all times. What motivates guarded speech and guarded steps? The fear of the Lord––knowing who He is, and knowing who we are in light of who He is.

Blaze Culliton \\ Rugged individualism, greed, discontent, pride, material wealth, and the pursuit of fame are foolish and futile. Companionship, community and humility are gifts of wisdom from the Lord. However, neither foolishness nor wisdom can prevent death and therefore are vanity. So we look to the giver in Christ Jesus and not the gift for our salvation and joy.

John Baumgartner \\ Solomon, when faced with the reality of Injustice and vanity, strengthens his heart by reflecting on the truth of God’s judgement, God’s purposes, and God’s gift. Injustice will not reign forever because one day God will judge the righteous and the wicked. Yet for now we should learn to be humble, because suffering and death happen to everyone. And as we humbly live in this world under the curse of sin, we must work rightly, and take joy in our work, for that is God’s gift.

Caleb Drahosh \\ Just as we observe seasons in a calendar year, so our lives have seasons. God gives us the ability to recognize the season we are in and has made beauty there (11). Often we are pushed to look beyond our current season, and long for a time past or a time future. The Preacher knows that eternity resides in our heart (11), yet we can fathom neither eternity past nor eternity future. The result is twofold: 1) we are joyfully content with what has been given in the current season (12-13); and 2) we stand in awe of the sheer magnitude of God (14).

Caleb Drahosh \\ The Preacher tests more things under the sun to find if they are examples of vanity. Despite taking wisdom and applying it properly, the Preacher recognizes that "the same event happens to all of them (2:14)": death. And despite being hard-working, everything the Preacher works for will be enjoyed by someone else once he dies. And so he draws the conclusion that we should enjoy gifts from God because "apart from [God] who can eat or who can have enjoyment? (2:25)"