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Dr. Tony Evans

Tony Evans - Changing Vanity Into Victory

August 31, 2025 | S1 E1543 | 28:40

Tony Evans - Changing Vanity Into Victory
Dr. Tony Evans is known as a relevant expositor and is a pastor of pastors and a father in the faith.
#inActive #Victory #SelfImage #Pride #SeekGod #SpiritualGrowth #Bible

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Dr. Tony Evans | Tony Evans - Changing Vanity Into Victory | August 31, 2025
  • ...
  • 00:00:00.633 --> 00:00:01.053
  • Tony evans: you are living in the land of the dying
  • 00:00:01.520 --> 00:00:04.189
  • On your way to the land of the living.
  • 00:00:04.322 --> 00:00:06.525
  • So, if you think this is it,
  • 00:00:06.658 --> 00:00:08.560
  • You're gonna live like this is it.
  • 00:00:08.693 --> 00:00:09.327
  • If you know this is not it,
  • 00:00:10.762 --> 00:00:12.898
  • Then you will live as though it's not it,
  • 00:00:12.898 --> 00:00:15.067
  • And you will find life in that approach.
  • 00:00:15.067 --> 00:00:18.403
  • And so to make that eternal connection
  • 00:00:18.403 --> 00:00:21.006
  • Is god's answer to the question of purpose, meaning.
  • 00:00:21.006 --> 00:00:24.576
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:00:24.576 --> 00:00:31.149
  • Tony: the man's name is solomon.
  • 00:00:34.820 --> 00:00:38.924
  • The book god gave him the right was ecclesiastes.
  • 00:00:38.924 --> 00:00:45.130
  • If anyone is qualified to tell you about life,
  • 00:00:45.130 --> 00:00:50.502
  • It's solomon.
  • 00:00:50.502 --> 00:00:52.637
  • I mean, here is a man who was born
  • 00:00:52.637 --> 00:00:54.573
  • With a silver spoon in his mouth.
  • 00:00:54.573 --> 00:00:57.375
  • He was the son of a king.
  • 00:00:57.375 --> 00:00:59.845
  • In ecclesiastes, chapter 1, the first three verses says,
  • 00:00:59.845 --> 00:01:06.251
  • "the words of the preacher, the son of david,
  • 00:01:06.251 --> 00:01:08.887
  • King in jerusalem.
  • 00:01:08.887 --> 00:01:10.255
  • Vanity of vanity, says the preacher.
  • 00:01:10.255 --> 00:01:13.158
  • Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.
  • 00:01:13.158 --> 00:01:16.862
  • What advantage does man have in all his work
  • 00:01:16.862 --> 00:01:20.298
  • Which he does under the sun?"
  • 00:01:20.298 --> 00:01:24.136
  • Solomon opens up his book, and he tells you,
  • 00:01:24.136 --> 00:01:26.938
  • When he opens the book,
  • 00:01:26.938 --> 00:01:28.573
  • "i don't have anything to talk about."
  • 00:01:28.573 --> 00:01:31.643
  • The word "vanity" means emptiness, worthlessness,
  • 00:01:31.643 --> 00:01:37.415
  • That which is without purpose.
  • 00:01:37.415 --> 00:01:42.120
  • He opens up his book talking about his emptiness.
  • 00:01:42.120 --> 00:01:47.225
  • If any man shouldn't have been empty,
  • 00:01:47.225 --> 00:01:49.895
  • It should have been solomon.
  • 00:01:49.895 --> 00:01:52.497
  • He had everything you and i dream for, long for,
  • 00:01:52.497 --> 00:01:55.433
  • And go after.
  • 00:01:55.433 --> 00:01:57.936
  • And yet his first words is
  • 00:01:57.936 --> 00:02:01.673
  • "vanity of vanity, saith the preacher.
  • 00:02:01.673 --> 00:02:04.342
  • All of life is vanity."
  • 00:02:04.342 --> 00:02:08.747
  • Emptiness, purposelessness.
  • 00:02:08.747 --> 00:02:14.586
  • And that's why we spend so much time to give us
  • 00:02:14.586 --> 00:02:18.323
  • A sense of worth, significance, and well-being.
  • 00:02:18.323 --> 00:02:23.828
  • But wouldn't you know it?
  • 00:02:23.828 --> 00:02:25.897
  • As soon as you look like you found it, you lose it.
  • 00:02:25.897 --> 00:02:30.368
  • It's like when you score a touchdown in life,
  • 00:02:30.368 --> 00:02:34.239
  • Something crosses the goal line and you feel like, "yeah!"
  • 00:02:34.239 --> 00:02:40.278
  • Looks like as soon as that happens,
  • 00:02:40.278 --> 00:02:42.147
  • Somebody blows a whistle and calls the play back.
  • 00:02:42.147 --> 00:02:46.017
  • Or like the fourth of july
  • 00:02:46.017 --> 00:02:48.420
  • When the firecracker goes up in the air
  • 00:02:48.420 --> 00:02:52.224
  • And you get this explosion of lights
  • 00:02:52.224 --> 00:02:55.994
  • And you're excited for a minute,
  • 00:02:55.994 --> 00:02:57.395
  • But then after a moment, things get dark again.
  • 00:02:57.395 --> 00:03:02.567
  • Because we long for that thing that will give us
  • 00:03:02.567 --> 00:03:07.172
  • A sense of substance, significance, and worth--
  • 00:03:07.172 --> 00:03:12.744
  • Something that will give you value.
  • 00:03:12.744 --> 00:03:15.413
  • For so many people, life is like poking your finger
  • 00:03:15.413 --> 00:03:21.086
  • Into a glass of water, lifting it up,
  • 00:03:21.086 --> 00:03:23.255
  • And watching the hole you don't leave behind.
  • 00:03:23.255 --> 00:03:28.059
  • 'cause as soon as you impact it, boom, it's gone.
  • 00:03:28.059 --> 00:03:31.963
  • The hole is filled up.
  • 00:03:31.963 --> 00:03:35.700
  • So, purposelessness is what solomon
  • 00:03:35.700 --> 00:03:39.070
  • Wants to talk to you and me about.
  • 00:03:39.070 --> 00:03:41.439
  • You know, people spend so much time
  • 00:03:41.439 --> 00:03:45.243
  • Trying to fake it to make it
  • 00:03:45.243 --> 00:03:48.346
  • In order to at least give the impression
  • 00:03:48.346 --> 00:03:51.016
  • "i know who i am and what i'm doing."
  • 00:03:51.016 --> 00:03:54.386
  • It's like the man who had a "beware of dog" sign
  • 00:03:54.386 --> 00:03:56.821
  • When there was no dog.
  • 00:03:56.821 --> 00:03:59.324
  • We put on clothes to give the sign "i am somebody."
  • 00:03:59.324 --> 00:04:03.194
  • We drive cars to give the sign "i am significant."
  • 00:04:03.194 --> 00:04:06.998
  • We hang out with folk who will give others
  • 00:04:06.998 --> 00:04:09.634
  • The impression, "i am somebody because i hang out with them"--
  • 00:04:09.634 --> 00:04:14.673
  • Anything that will give us the sense of non-vanity,
  • 00:04:14.673 --> 00:04:20.045
  • The sense of lack of meaning and purpose,
  • 00:04:20.045 --> 00:04:24.316
  • The sense of emptiness that engulfs us.
  • 00:04:24.316 --> 00:04:31.323
  • Solomon's message is very simple.
  • 00:04:31.323 --> 00:04:35.226
  • If you forget everything i say in the next few moments,
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  • Remember this-- because if you remember this,
  • 00:04:38.163 --> 00:04:41.333
  • You will have remembered everything:
  • 00:04:41.333 --> 00:04:44.636
  • Solomon's point is that
  • 00:04:44.636 --> 00:04:46.671
  • When life gets disconnected from god and eternity,
  • 00:04:46.671 --> 00:04:53.211
  • It inevitably becomes meaningless.
  • 00:04:53.211 --> 00:04:57.082
  • Let me say it another way.
  • 00:04:57.082 --> 00:04:58.483
  • Life becomes meaningless and without purpose
  • 00:04:58.483 --> 00:05:03.154
  • When it gets disconnected from god and eternity.
  • 00:05:03.154 --> 00:05:08.393
  • The whole 12 chapters of the book of ecclesiastes
  • 00:05:08.393 --> 00:05:13.665
  • Is about life under the sun.
  • 00:05:13.665 --> 00:05:17.736
  • "under the sun" means on earth-- in time and space--
  • 00:05:17.736 --> 00:05:22.807
  • Where men live, work, play, raise families.
  • 00:05:22.807 --> 00:05:25.977
  • That's life under the sun-- where humanity operates.
  • 00:05:25.977 --> 00:05:31.216
  • He says, when your life under the sun gets disconnected
  • 00:05:31.216 --> 00:05:35.387
  • From life above the sun--
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  • When your life, my life, our lives
  • 00:05:38.323 --> 00:05:41.025
  • Gets disconnected from god and an eternal perspective--
  • 00:05:41.025 --> 00:05:46.164
  • You can expect to be able to say as he says,
  • 00:05:46.164 --> 00:05:51.736
  • "vanity of vanity, saith the preacher.
  • 00:05:51.736 --> 00:05:56.074
  • All is vanity."
  • 00:05:56.074 --> 00:05:58.676
  • He takes us on a tour of his life.
  • 00:05:58.676 --> 00:06:01.813
  • He gives us a sampling of how he tried to fill
  • 00:06:01.813 --> 00:06:06.518
  • The hole that he was feeling deep down in his soul--
  • 00:06:06.518 --> 00:06:11.656
  • A hole so big you could drive a mack truck through it.
  • 00:06:11.656 --> 00:06:15.927
  • And yet he wanted to get it filled.
  • 00:06:15.927 --> 00:06:17.729
  • And so in chapter 2, he says,
  • 00:06:17.729 --> 00:06:20.365
  • "i said to myself, 'come now, i will test you with pleasure.'"
  • 00:06:20.365 --> 00:06:26.204
  • He said, "i'mma party. i'mma party.
  • 00:06:26.204 --> 00:06:31.209
  • I'mma party hardy. i'm gonna have a good time."
  • 00:06:31.209 --> 00:06:37.215
  • He said, "i said to myself, 'let me test you, life.
  • 00:06:37.215 --> 00:06:40.819
  • Let me find out what life is all about with a party.'"
  • 00:06:40.819 --> 00:06:46.758
  • I mean, everybody likes a party. everybody likes a jam.
  • 00:06:46.758 --> 00:06:50.662
  • Everybody likes to be able to have a good time.
  • 00:06:50.662 --> 00:06:57.702
  • He said, "let me just have a good time.
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  • And so if i can have a good time,
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  • Then i can feel alive."
  • 00:07:02.674 --> 00:07:06.544
  • What did you do to have a good time?
  • 00:07:06.544 --> 00:07:08.079
  • 'cause he says in verse 1,
  • 00:07:08.079 --> 00:07:10.081
  • "so, go ahead and enjoy yourself."
  • 00:07:10.081 --> 00:07:15.053
  • He says in verse 3, "i explored with my mind
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  • How to stimulate my body."
  • 00:07:17.789 --> 00:07:21.092
  • I wanted my body to feel something.
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  • I wanted to feel something.
  • 00:07:23.094 --> 00:07:26.631
  • And so he says, "i drank wine
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  • Till i couldn't handle it anymore.
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  • I tested pleasure that would turn my body on
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  • So that i would feel this sense of life and purpose."
  • 00:07:34.272 --> 00:07:39.477
  • He said, "i tried it. i tried to have a good time.
  • 00:07:39.477 --> 00:07:48.419
  • It was fun, but it wasn't filling.
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  • It tastes great, but it was less filling."
  • 00:07:54.425 --> 00:07:59.330
  • Yeah, some of y'all know what that's talking about.
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  • [congregation laughing]
  • 00:08:01.633 --> 00:08:04.602
  • He says, "i sought pleasure." notice his words.
  • 00:08:04.602 --> 00:08:09.374
  • He says in verse 4, "i enlarged works
  • 00:08:09.374 --> 00:08:12.076
  • And i built houses for myself.
  • 00:08:12.076 --> 00:08:14.546
  • I planted vineyards for myself."
  • 00:08:14.546 --> 00:08:18.049
  • Verse 5, "i made gardens and parks for myself."
  • 00:08:18.049 --> 00:08:23.454
  • Verse 6, "i made ponds of water for myself."
  • 00:08:23.454 --> 00:08:28.593
  • Verse 8, "i collected for myself silver and gold
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  • And treasures of kings and provinces.
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  • I provided for myself male and female singers
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  • And the pleasures of men and many concubines."
  • 00:08:38.970 --> 00:08:42.307
  • He said, "and i did all this for myself
  • 00:08:42.307 --> 00:08:47.312
  • 'cause i wanted to feel it.
  • 00:08:47.312 --> 00:08:50.114
  • And so i spared no expense."
  • 00:08:50.114 --> 00:08:52.951
  • Here was a man who didn't have to go to a party.
  • 00:08:52.951 --> 00:08:56.120
  • He was the party-- 'cause he could afford it.
  • 00:08:56.120 --> 00:08:59.824
  • So, he brought in the band.
  • 00:08:59.824 --> 00:09:01.726
  • He brought in the male singers and the female singers.
  • 00:09:01.726 --> 00:09:03.795
  • He brought in the men. he brought in the women.
  • 00:09:03.795 --> 00:09:05.363
  • He brought in the liquor. he brought in the drugs.
  • 00:09:05.363 --> 00:09:07.498
  • He could buy it 'cause he's the king,
  • 00:09:07.498 --> 00:09:09.500
  • And nobody could deny him.
  • 00:09:09.500 --> 00:09:14.872
  • How did the pleasure work out for you, solomon?
  • 00:09:14.872 --> 00:09:17.141
  • How did the party work? how did the good times roll?
  • 00:09:17.141 --> 00:09:22.580
  • He said, verse 11, "i considered my activities
  • 00:09:22.580 --> 00:09:26.150
  • Which my hands had done
  • 00:09:26.150 --> 00:09:27.785
  • And the labor which i had exerted,
  • 00:09:27.785 --> 00:09:29.854
  • And behold, all was vanity and striving
  • 00:09:29.854 --> 00:09:31.923
  • After the wind, and there was no profit
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  • Underneath the sun."
  • 00:09:34.726 --> 00:09:37.061
  • He said, "after the party... emptiness set in again.
  • 00:09:37.061 --> 00:09:45.503
  • After the folk left, dryness set in again."
  • 00:09:45.503 --> 00:09:52.644
  • He says, "if you wanna know what i'm talking about,"
  • 00:09:52.644 --> 00:09:55.279
  • He says--every one of you can test it
  • 00:09:55.279 --> 00:09:57.448
  • When you leave service today, because it says,
  • 00:09:57.448 --> 00:09:59.684
  • "it's like striving after the wind."
  • 00:09:59.684 --> 00:10:01.352
  • So, when you leave church today, go out into the parking lot
  • 00:10:01.352 --> 00:10:04.355
  • And wait for the first breeze that comes your way.
  • 00:10:04.355 --> 00:10:07.725
  • And the first breeze that comes your way--grab it.
  • 00:10:07.725 --> 00:10:11.295
  • Grab a handful of blowing air. hold on to it.
  • 00:10:11.295 --> 00:10:15.333
  • Don't let it go. don't let it escape you.
  • 00:10:15.333 --> 00:10:18.469
  • He says you will discover, when you strive after the wind,
  • 00:10:18.469 --> 00:10:22.607
  • As soon as you...grab it, you just lost it.
  • 00:10:22.607 --> 00:10:27.679
  • He says, "it was vexing to me, and it was vanity,
  • 00:10:27.679 --> 00:10:34.152
  • Not because it wasn't fun--
  • 00:10:34.152 --> 00:10:36.888
  • It just had no meaning attached to it,
  • 00:10:36.888 --> 00:10:39.691
  • No purpose attached to it."
  • 00:10:39.691 --> 00:10:43.194
  • He's talking about the emptiness of life
  • 00:10:43.194 --> 00:10:45.229
  • Underneath the sun-- that is, disconnected from god.
  • 00:10:45.229 --> 00:10:50.201
  • So, he tried something else.
  • 00:10:50.201 --> 00:10:51.536
  • He said, "i know what i'll do: i'll get me an edumacation."
  • 00:10:51.536 --> 00:10:59.110
  • Verse 12, "so, i turned to consider wisdom and madness
  • 00:10:59.110 --> 00:11:02.980
  • And folly.
  • 00:11:02.980 --> 00:11:04.315
  • For what will the man do who will come after the king,
  • 00:11:04.315 --> 00:11:06.517
  • Except what has already been done?
  • 00:11:06.517 --> 00:11:08.186
  • And i saw that wisdom exceeds folly, as light excels darkness.
  • 00:11:08.186 --> 00:11:12.256
  • The wise man's eyes are in his head,
  • 00:11:12.256 --> 00:11:13.825
  • But the fool walks in darkness.
  • 00:11:13.825 --> 00:11:15.460
  • And yet i know one fate will befall them both."
  • 00:11:15.460 --> 00:11:18.963
  • Then i said to myself, 'as is the fate of the fool,
  • 00:11:18.963 --> 00:11:21.999
  • It will also befall me.
  • 00:11:21.999 --> 00:11:23.334
  • Why was i then more wise?'"
  • 00:11:23.334 --> 00:11:25.103
  • This also is vanity.
  • 00:11:25.103 --> 00:11:28.039
  • All right, so let's look at what solomon's saying.
  • 00:11:28.039 --> 00:11:30.708
  • Solomon's saying-- he's the wisest man
  • 00:11:30.708 --> 00:11:33.211
  • Who ever lived, the bible says.
  • 00:11:33.211 --> 00:11:34.545
  • Nobody was more brilliant in knowledge, understanding,
  • 00:11:34.545 --> 00:11:36.714
  • And wisdom than solomon.
  • 00:11:36.714 --> 00:11:39.283
  • So, we're just likening that to education
  • 00:11:39.283 --> 00:11:41.619
  • 'cause he knew stuff...
  • 00:11:41.619 --> 00:11:43.721
  • Education is big.
  • 00:11:43.721 --> 00:11:45.223
  • If you live in the west-- education--
  • 00:11:45.223 --> 00:11:46.924
  • I hope you are challenging your children
  • 00:11:46.924 --> 00:11:48.826
  • To get as much legitimate education
  • 00:11:48.826 --> 00:11:51.028
  • As they can, to go as far as they--
  • 00:11:51.028 --> 00:11:53.197
  • Given their time, talent, skills, and interests--
  • 00:11:53.197 --> 00:11:55.166
  • Can take them.
  • 00:11:55.166 --> 00:11:56.567
  • Because he says, "the wise man is better than the fool."
  • 00:11:56.567 --> 00:12:01.472
  • It's better to go to school than not go to school.
  • 00:12:01.472 --> 00:12:05.209
  • It's better to know than to not know.
  • 00:12:05.209 --> 00:12:07.111
  • It's better to be wise than to be a fool.
  • 00:12:07.111 --> 00:12:10.081
  • He says, "that's better."
  • 00:12:10.081 --> 00:12:13.417
  • But then he says, "one day i was looking out the window."
  • 00:12:13.417 --> 00:12:17.288
  • And i'm looking out the window, and i watched the fool walk by.
  • 00:12:17.288 --> 00:12:21.659
  • This is the kindergarten dropout.
  • 00:12:21.659 --> 00:12:23.227
  • The kindergarten dropout walked by, the fool,
  • 00:12:23.227 --> 00:12:26.564
  • The guy who didn't know,
  • 00:12:26.564 --> 00:12:27.899
  • The guy who had no understanding,
  • 00:12:27.899 --> 00:12:29.901
  • The guy who didn't make anything of himself.
  • 00:12:29.901 --> 00:12:32.603
  • I watched the fool walk by.
  • 00:12:32.603 --> 00:12:35.840
  • And he said, "when i watched the fool walk by,
  • 00:12:35.840 --> 00:12:39.544
  • The uneducated guy," he says,
  • 00:12:39.544 --> 00:12:42.413
  • "i could see i was better off 'cause i had some information.
  • 00:12:42.413 --> 00:12:44.749
  • I had some knowledge. and i had some will.
  • 00:12:44.749 --> 00:12:46.484
  • I was better than the fool. but then i got depressed."
  • 00:12:46.484 --> 00:12:49.787
  • "well, what depressed you, solomon?"
  • 00:12:49.787 --> 00:12:51.489
  • He says, "one fate shall befall us all."
  • 00:12:51.489 --> 00:12:56.661
  • My education won't keep me from the grave.
  • 00:12:56.661 --> 00:12:59.931
  • My degrees won't keep me from the grave.
  • 00:12:59.931 --> 00:13:02.500
  • In fact, the fact of the matter is the kindergarten dropout
  • 00:13:02.500 --> 00:13:05.303
  • May live longer than me with the degree.
  • 00:13:05.303 --> 00:13:11.142
  • He says, death is the great equalizer
  • 00:13:11.142 --> 00:13:13.611
  • Between the fool and the wise man.
  • 00:13:13.611 --> 00:13:19.517
  • As educated as you are--and i'm sure virtually everybody here
  • 00:13:19.517 --> 00:13:23.788
  • Has graduated from high school,
  • 00:13:23.788 --> 00:13:25.489
  • Most have graduated from college.
  • 00:13:25.489 --> 00:13:27.425
  • Then there's this group that has a master's degree.
  • 00:13:27.425 --> 00:13:30.094
  • And then there's this other group
  • 00:13:30.094 --> 00:13:31.896
  • That may have a doctorate degree.
  • 00:13:31.896 --> 00:13:34.232
  • And i got bad news for all of you--same news:
  • 00:13:34.232 --> 00:13:41.272
  • That your education, knowledge, understanding,
  • 00:13:41.272 --> 00:13:43.641
  • And informational base
  • 00:13:43.641 --> 00:13:44.976
  • Will not keep you from the grave,
  • 00:13:44.976 --> 00:13:47.311
  • 'cause you're under the sun.
  • 00:13:47.311 --> 00:13:49.747
  • And everybody under the sun, he says, shares the same fate.
  • 00:13:49.747 --> 00:13:54.252
  • So, he could not find meaning in education,
  • 00:13:54.252 --> 00:13:57.355
  • 'cause it wasn't gonna keep him alive any longer.
  • 00:13:57.355 --> 00:14:01.058
  • And so as beneficial as his wisdom and knowledge was,
  • 00:14:01.058 --> 00:14:06.530
  • He was reminded that one fate befalls them all.
  • 00:14:06.530 --> 00:14:11.769
  • And, therefore, he could not find meaning.
  • 00:14:11.769 --> 00:14:15.606
  • He says, "this also is vanity."
  • 00:14:15.606 --> 00:14:20.511
  • There--it's without purpose.
  • 00:14:20.511 --> 00:14:23.948
  • It's beneficial-- better to be smart
  • 00:14:23.948 --> 00:14:26.117
  • Than to be dumb--but it does not give you purpose.
  • 00:14:26.117 --> 00:14:30.788
  • So, young people who are going to college--
  • 00:14:30.788 --> 00:14:33.457
  • Yes, it'll increase your employability.
  • 00:14:33.457 --> 00:14:35.760
  • It'll increase your capacity to know things,
  • 00:14:35.760 --> 00:14:39.096
  • To interact with things.
  • 00:14:39.096 --> 00:14:40.431
  • It does have benefit, he says, but it doesn't give meaning.
  • 00:14:40.431 --> 00:14:46.737
  • And that's why so many college students
  • 00:14:46.737 --> 00:14:48.472
  • Wind up living for the party while at school.
  • 00:14:48.472 --> 00:14:53.511
  • He said, "let me try something else.
  • 00:14:53.511 --> 00:14:54.845
  • Let me try something else. the party didn't do it.
  • 00:14:54.845 --> 00:14:57.748
  • The education didn't do it.
  • 00:14:57.748 --> 00:15:00.051
  • Oh, but
  • 00:15:00.051 --> 00:15:02.887
  • ♪ money, money, money, money, money ♪♪
  • 00:15:02.887 --> 00:15:09.260
  • He said--solomon said, "the oj's got it.
  • 00:15:09.260 --> 00:15:11.462
  • The oj's got the answer."
  • 00:15:11.462 --> 00:15:13.764
  • He says, verse 18, "then i hated all the fruit of my labor
  • 00:15:13.764 --> 00:15:19.870
  • For which i had labored under the sun,
  • 00:15:19.870 --> 00:15:22.239
  • For i must leave it to the man who will come after me.
  • 00:15:22.239 --> 00:15:28.145
  • And who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool?
  • 00:15:28.145 --> 00:15:31.182
  • Yet he will have control over the fruit of my labor."
  • 00:15:31.182 --> 00:15:37.822
  • Mm, "the fruit of my labor"--
  • 00:15:37.822 --> 00:15:41.025
  • That's your money and stuff money can buy, okay?
  • 00:15:41.025 --> 00:15:45.763
  • That's the stuff you can accumulate with money--
  • 00:15:45.763 --> 00:15:49.734
  • Fruit of your labor, the productivity of your life.
  • 00:15:49.734 --> 00:15:52.937
  • He said, "i looked at all i accomplished."
  • 00:15:52.937 --> 00:15:55.172
  • He's a mega-billionaire.
  • 00:15:55.172 --> 00:15:59.610
  • He says, "and i'm going to leave it
  • 00:15:59.610 --> 00:16:01.479
  • To the one who should come after me.
  • 00:16:01.479 --> 00:16:04.849
  • And who knows whether the one who comes after me
  • 00:16:04.849 --> 00:16:07.651
  • Is gonna value it like i valued it?"
  • 00:16:07.651 --> 00:16:10.821
  • Some of us are scared to put our own kids in the will.
  • 00:16:10.821 --> 00:16:17.028
  • Y'all heard that, didn't you?
  • 00:16:17.028 --> 00:16:18.829
  • [congregation laughing]
  • 00:16:18.829 --> 00:16:26.203
  • 'cause he says, "i worked like a dog
  • 00:16:26.203 --> 00:16:29.273
  • To build up this nation,
  • 00:16:29.273 --> 00:16:31.809
  • And then i gotta leave it after i birthed it
  • 00:16:31.809 --> 00:16:34.879
  • And developed it?
  • 00:16:34.879 --> 00:16:36.580
  • And suppose somebody comes after me
  • 00:16:36.580 --> 00:16:38.616
  • Who messes over what it took me a lifetime to construct."
  • 00:16:38.616 --> 00:16:45.589
  • He says, "when i thought about that,
  • 00:16:45.589 --> 00:16:48.092
  • All i could say is 'this too is vanity, emptiness.'"
  • 00:16:48.092 --> 00:16:53.297
  • And so if all you've got is life under the sun,
  • 00:16:53.297 --> 00:16:56.734
  • You are going to be sorely disappointed
  • 00:16:56.734 --> 00:16:58.803
  • Because there is no purpose in it.
  • 00:16:58.803 --> 00:17:00.771
  • Prosperity under the sun, disconnected from god--
  • 00:17:00.771 --> 00:17:06.944
  • It's reality under the sun.
  • 00:17:06.944 --> 00:17:08.279
  • And if you live your life only underneath the sun--
  • 00:17:08.279 --> 00:17:14.919
  • For time and space and the five senses--
  • 00:17:14.919 --> 00:17:17.455
  • If that becomes the sum total definition of your life,
  • 00:17:17.455 --> 00:17:21.759
  • You will have vanity and vexation of spirit.
  • 00:17:21.759 --> 00:17:31.569
  • And so many--even christians-- because solomon is saved--
  • 00:17:31.569 --> 00:17:35.072
  • Even christians climb the ladder to success,
  • 00:17:35.072 --> 00:17:38.943
  • Only to find out at the end
  • 00:17:38.943 --> 00:17:40.511
  • It was leaning against the wrong wall.
  • 00:17:40.511 --> 00:17:44.215
  • They climbed the ladder, they got there, and they say,
  • 00:17:44.215 --> 00:17:49.854
  • "vanity of vanity, saith the preacher."
  • 00:17:49.854 --> 00:17:57.761
  • That leads us to probably the most famous chapter
  • 00:17:57.761 --> 00:18:01.565
  • In the book of ecclesiastes: chapter 3.
  • 00:18:01.565 --> 00:18:05.503
  • "there's a time for this, and there's a time for that,
  • 00:18:05.503 --> 00:18:07.505
  • And there's a time for this, and there's a time for that,
  • 00:18:07.505 --> 00:18:09.306
  • A time to live, a time to die,
  • 00:18:09.306 --> 00:18:10.875
  • A time to plant, a time to pluck,
  • 00:18:10.875 --> 00:18:12.376
  • A time to laugh, a time to cry."
  • 00:18:12.376 --> 00:18:13.978
  • He goes through this in the first half of chapter 3.
  • 00:18:13.978 --> 00:18:16.514
  • "there's a time, a time, a time, a time, a time, a time."
  • 00:18:16.514 --> 00:18:19.183
  • What is he saying?
  • 00:18:19.183 --> 00:18:22.953
  • He's saying, "i got bad news for you.
  • 00:18:22.953 --> 00:18:27.525
  • You live, i live, we live in a closed universe."
  • 00:18:27.525 --> 00:18:31.795
  • 'cause as soon as you find out
  • 00:18:31.795 --> 00:18:33.364
  • There's something to laugh about,
  • 00:18:33.364 --> 00:18:35.232
  • Something else is gonna happen to make you cry.
  • 00:18:35.232 --> 00:18:41.071
  • As soon as you find some peace,
  • 00:18:41.071 --> 00:18:43.908
  • Something else is gonna break up to turn it into war.
  • 00:18:43.908 --> 00:18:48.546
  • You are locked in to a closed universe,
  • 00:18:48.546 --> 00:18:51.649
  • And there is no escape.
  • 00:18:51.649 --> 00:18:53.717
  • That's why people are looking for ways to escape:
  • 00:18:53.717 --> 00:18:56.420
  • Because they're trying to break out...
  • 00:18:56.420 --> 00:18:58.656
  • Of this closed universe
  • 00:18:58.656 --> 00:19:00.524
  • Because they feel stuck and stymied
  • 00:19:00.524 --> 00:19:03.727
  • In things they cannot control,
  • 00:19:03.727 --> 00:19:05.996
  • That makes life hold them hostage
  • 00:19:05.996 --> 00:19:08.632
  • In a way that they do not want to be jailed.
  • 00:19:08.632 --> 00:19:14.572
  • God, why you doing this? why you doing this?
  • 00:19:14.572 --> 00:19:16.840
  • Verse 9 of chapter 3:
  • 00:19:16.840 --> 00:19:18.175
  • "what profit is there to the worker
  • 00:19:18.175 --> 00:19:20.344
  • From that in which he toils?
  • 00:19:20.344 --> 00:19:22.046
  • I have seen the task which god has given the sons of men
  • 00:19:22.046 --> 00:19:26.383
  • With which to occupy themselves."
  • 00:19:26.383 --> 00:19:29.820
  • Wait a minute. god, you did this on purpose?
  • 00:19:29.820 --> 00:19:33.958
  • "i've seen the task." 'cause living is work.
  • 00:19:33.958 --> 00:19:38.362
  • He says, "i've seen the job description
  • 00:19:38.362 --> 00:19:41.298
  • That god has given men under the sun
  • 00:19:41.298 --> 00:19:43.634
  • With which to occupy."
  • 00:19:43.634 --> 00:19:45.369
  • "god, why do you have me trapped in this thing called life,
  • 00:19:45.369 --> 00:19:50.207
  • When all i've got to look forward to is death?"
  • 00:19:50.207 --> 00:19:56.780
  • Oh, he helps us in verse 11: "he has made everything appropriate
  • 00:19:56.780 --> 00:20:00.050
  • In its time.
  • 00:20:00.050 --> 00:20:02.253
  • He has also set eternity in their heart,
  • 00:20:02.253 --> 00:20:05.823
  • Yet so that men will not find out
  • 00:20:05.823 --> 00:20:07.758
  • The work which god has done
  • 00:20:07.758 --> 00:20:09.260
  • From the beginning even to the end.
  • 00:20:09.260 --> 00:20:11.161
  • I know that there is nothing better for them
  • 00:20:11.161 --> 00:20:13.097
  • To rejoice and do good in one's lifetime.
  • 00:20:13.097 --> 00:20:15.866
  • Moreover, that every man who eats and drinks
  • 00:20:15.866 --> 00:20:18.302
  • Sees good in all of his labor.
  • 00:20:18.302 --> 00:20:20.237
  • It is the gift of god.
  • 00:20:20.237 --> 00:20:21.572
  • I know that everything god does will remain forever,
  • 00:20:21.572 --> 00:20:25.142
  • That there is nothing to add to it
  • 00:20:25.142 --> 00:20:28.178
  • And there is nothing to take from it,
  • 00:20:28.178 --> 00:20:29.947
  • For god has so worked that men should fear him," ah.
  • 00:20:29.947 --> 00:20:37.187
  • God has boxed you and me in to time and space
  • 00:20:37.187 --> 00:20:45.062
  • And made it so we can't break out of it
  • 00:20:45.062 --> 00:20:49.500
  • To force us to him.
  • 00:20:49.500 --> 00:20:52.603
  • He has set eternity in your heart.
  • 00:20:52.603 --> 00:20:55.339
  • Now, you may not know it,
  • 00:20:55.339 --> 00:20:57.341
  • But that longing for fulfillment, god said,
  • 00:20:57.341 --> 00:21:00.110
  • Is a longing for him.
  • 00:21:00.110 --> 00:21:02.713
  • That longing for purpose is a longing for him.
  • 00:21:02.713 --> 00:21:06.850
  • So, he has set within time and space
  • 00:21:06.850 --> 00:21:10.621
  • An empty spot that we try to fill
  • 00:21:10.621 --> 00:21:14.224
  • With cheap substitutes in order to find meaning
  • 00:21:14.224 --> 00:21:18.829
  • That can only be discovered in him--
  • 00:21:18.829 --> 00:21:21.865
  • And he did it on purpose.
  • 00:21:21.865 --> 00:21:24.902
  • He set eternity in your heart
  • 00:21:24.902 --> 00:21:29.873
  • So that deep down where you live with you,
  • 00:21:29.873 --> 00:21:33.911
  • Unless you cover it over with fake stuff,
  • 00:21:33.911 --> 00:21:38.515
  • There is this hole that only he can fill.
  • 00:21:38.515 --> 00:21:44.521
  • So, he wants life underneath the sun
  • 00:21:44.521 --> 00:21:47.825
  • To get connected with life above the sun.
  • 00:21:47.825 --> 00:21:51.128
  • He wants your human life to be connected with god
  • 00:21:51.128 --> 00:21:55.799
  • And eternity.
  • 00:21:55.799 --> 00:21:57.134
  • And to the degree that you connect eternity to time
  • 00:21:57.134 --> 00:22:01.872
  • Is to the degree you change vanity into victory.
  • 00:22:01.872 --> 00:22:07.010
  • But as long as you're disconnected,
  • 00:22:07.010 --> 00:22:11.582
  • You're trapped in something you cannot change.
  • 00:22:11.582 --> 00:22:19.223
  • You see, you are not living in the land of the living
  • 00:22:19.223 --> 00:22:24.995
  • On your way to the land of the dying.
  • 00:22:24.995 --> 00:22:27.564
  • You are living in the land of the dying
  • 00:22:27.564 --> 00:22:30.534
  • On your way to the land of the living.
  • 00:22:30.534 --> 00:22:32.936
  • So, if you think this is it,
  • 00:22:32.936 --> 00:22:34.738
  • You're gonna live like this is it.
  • 00:22:34.738 --> 00:22:37.141
  • If you know this is not it,
  • 00:22:37.141 --> 00:22:39.910
  • Then you will live as though it's not it
  • 00:22:39.910 --> 00:22:42.312
  • And you will find life in that approach.
  • 00:22:42.312 --> 00:22:47.584
  • You're living-- from the time you were born,
  • 00:22:47.584 --> 00:22:49.753
  • From the time your baby was born,
  • 00:22:49.753 --> 00:22:51.321
  • They started to march to the grave.
  • 00:22:51.321 --> 00:22:53.023
  • This is not the land of the living
  • 00:22:53.023 --> 00:22:54.658
  • On the way to the land of the dying.
  • 00:22:54.658 --> 00:22:55.993
  • It's the land of the dying
  • 00:22:55.993 --> 00:22:57.661
  • On the way to the land of the living.
  • 00:22:57.661 --> 00:23:00.898
  • And so to make that eternal connection
  • 00:23:00.898 --> 00:23:04.168
  • With that eternal perspective
  • 00:23:04.168 --> 00:23:06.503
  • Is god's answer to the question of purpose, meaning.
  • 00:23:06.503 --> 00:23:13.477
  • He said, "it is good for a man or woman to enjoy themselves"--
  • 00:23:13.477 --> 00:23:19.082
  • Okay?--"to enjoy life."
  • 00:23:19.082 --> 00:23:21.518
  • God doesn't mind you having fun,
  • 00:23:21.518 --> 00:23:26.356
  • As long as it doesn't exclude him.
  • 00:23:26.356 --> 00:23:30.260
  • He doesn't mind you, he says, to enjoy life.
  • 00:23:30.260 --> 00:23:33.063
  • It is a gift of god. don't misread that.
  • 00:23:33.063 --> 00:23:35.866
  • He says life is a gift of god.
  • 00:23:35.866 --> 00:23:38.001
  • Let me tell you what it doesn't say:
  • 00:23:38.001 --> 00:23:39.336
  • Life is god.
  • 00:23:39.336 --> 00:23:41.705
  • Life is a gift from god. it's never to become god.
  • 00:23:41.705 --> 00:23:46.810
  • So, the moment you make life a god
  • 00:23:46.810 --> 00:23:49.980
  • Instead of a gift from god,
  • 00:23:49.980 --> 00:23:51.715
  • You make your life an idol that competes with god.
  • 00:23:51.715 --> 00:23:56.620
  • So many people live their lives as though your life is god,
  • 00:23:56.620 --> 00:24:01.992
  • And god will never respect idolatry
  • 00:24:01.992 --> 00:24:04.628
  • Even if the idol is yourself,
  • 00:24:04.628 --> 00:24:11.468
  • Myself.
  • 00:24:11.468 --> 00:24:15.772
  • Life without god is like a needle without a thread
  • 00:24:15.772 --> 00:24:18.775
  • And a pen without ink.
  • 00:24:18.775 --> 00:24:23.046
  • He says, "enjoy life.
  • 00:24:23.046 --> 00:24:24.748
  • Just don't disconnect it from me."
  • 00:24:24.748 --> 00:24:31.021
  • All that's legitimate to enjoy--
  • 00:24:31.021 --> 00:24:33.757
  • 1 timothy 6 says, "god has given you all things to enjoy."
  • 00:24:33.757 --> 00:24:37.194
  • If god has given it and god's not excluded for it,
  • 00:24:37.194 --> 00:24:40.931
  • God says, "enjoy it, maximize it.
  • 00:24:40.931 --> 00:24:45.869
  • Don't disconnect it."
  • 00:24:45.869 --> 00:24:49.206
  • And so he closes with the last chapter of the book:
  • 00:24:49.206 --> 00:24:53.510
  • Chapter 12.
  • 00:24:53.510 --> 00:24:56.413
  • And for those of you under 40,
  • 00:24:56.413 --> 00:24:57.848
  • I want you to pay close attention to this,
  • 00:24:57.848 --> 00:24:59.950
  • You teenagers here under 40,
  • 00:24:59.950 --> 00:25:01.685
  • Because 40 was the generational switch
  • 00:25:01.685 --> 00:25:04.488
  • In the bible.
  • 00:25:04.488 --> 00:25:05.822
  • Once you hit 40, you were now in the next generation,
  • 00:25:05.822 --> 00:25:08.959
  • Which means a bunch of y'all are going downhill, okay?
  • 00:25:08.959 --> 00:25:12.529
  • If you over 40, you're heading south, okay?
  • 00:25:12.529 --> 00:25:19.069
  • He says in chapter 12, the book of ecclesiastes, verse 1,
  • 00:25:19.069 --> 00:25:25.475
  • "remember your creator in the days of your youth
  • 00:25:25.475 --> 00:25:29.379
  • Before the evil days come and the years draw near
  • 00:25:29.379 --> 00:25:32.950
  • When you will say, 'i have no delight in them.'"
  • 00:25:32.950 --> 00:25:37.821
  • A lot of people wanna give themselves to god
  • 00:25:37.821 --> 00:25:40.490
  • When there's nothing left to give.
  • 00:25:40.490 --> 00:25:44.227
  • They wanna read the bible when they can't see.
  • 00:25:44.227 --> 00:25:48.098
  • They wanna to hear a sermon when they can't hear.
  • 00:25:48.098 --> 00:25:51.902
  • They wanna serve god when they can't get out of bed.
  • 00:25:51.902 --> 00:25:55.906
  • Because he spends the chapter talking about body parts
  • 00:25:55.906 --> 00:25:58.175
  • Wearing out.
  • 00:25:58.175 --> 00:25:59.509
  • He talks about eyes going dim and ears that can't hear
  • 00:25:59.509 --> 00:26:02.145
  • And legs that can't walk and arms that can't grab.
  • 00:26:02.145 --> 00:26:04.915
  • Now you old and you wanna give yourself to god.
  • 00:26:04.915 --> 00:26:07.517
  • He says, "remember your creator
  • 00:26:07.517 --> 00:26:09.853
  • When you still have eyes and ears and legs and tongue
  • 00:26:09.853 --> 00:26:13.423
  • And mind and strength.
  • 00:26:13.423 --> 00:26:15.492
  • Remember your creator in the days of your youth.
  • 00:26:15.492 --> 00:26:19.363
  • Parents, remind your children and your grandchildren
  • 00:26:19.363 --> 00:26:22.733
  • To remember their creator
  • 00:26:22.733 --> 00:26:24.901
  • When they have the capacity to do something
  • 00:26:24.901 --> 00:26:29.306
  • That matters for eternity," why?
  • 00:26:29.306 --> 00:26:31.141
  • Because of the last two verses, the conclusion, verse 13,
  • 00:26:31.141 --> 00:26:35.212
  • "when all has been heard is to fear god,
  • 00:26:35.212 --> 00:26:38.081
  • Keep his commandments,
  • 00:26:38.081 --> 00:26:39.616
  • Because this applies in--to every person."
  • 00:26:39.616 --> 00:26:42.285
  • The hebrew means "this applies to all of you."
  • 00:26:42.285 --> 00:26:45.622
  • "for god will bring every act to judgment,
  • 00:26:45.622 --> 00:26:49.726
  • Everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil,"
  • 00:26:49.726 --> 00:26:57.300
  • Because you gonna have to meet god one day.
  • 00:26:57.300 --> 00:27:00.170
  • You know, you're gonna-- whether you want to or not,
  • 00:27:00.170 --> 00:27:02.906
  • It ain't over when it's over.
  • 00:27:02.906 --> 00:27:05.075
  • You're going to have to meet god.
  • 00:27:05.075 --> 00:27:06.510
  • I'm going to have to meet god.
  • 00:27:06.510 --> 00:27:07.844
  • So, since we got to meet him and we don't have a choice
  • 00:27:07.844 --> 00:27:11.882
  • And he offers us purpose, if we meet him now
  • 00:27:11.882 --> 00:27:14.818
  • And not just wait to meet him then
  • 00:27:14.818 --> 00:27:17.487
  • And enjoy the good things that he's given us
  • 00:27:17.487 --> 00:27:19.656
  • Along the way, he says,
  • 00:27:19.656 --> 00:27:21.591
  • "you can have victory and not vanity."
  • 00:27:21.591 --> 00:27:21.591