Ecclesiastes 1:1-2
1 The words of the Teacher, son of David, king in Jerusalem:
2 “Meaningless! Meaningless!”
    says the Teacher.
“Utterly meaningless!
    Everything is meaningless.”

The word “meaningless” is really better translated: “Vapor” or “Mist.” So, this world we’re in is important, but it’s a Vapor - a cloud that will disappear as quickly as it came.

Ecclesiastes 2:1-9
1 I said to myself, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure to find out what is good.” But that also proved to be meaningless. 2 “Laughter,” I said, “is madness. And what does pleasure accomplish?” 3 I tried cheering myself with wine, and embracing folly—my mind still guiding me with wisdom. I wanted to see what was good for people to do under the heavens during the few days of their lives.

4 I undertook great projects: I built houses for myself and planted vineyards. 5 I made gardens and parks and planted all kinds of fruit trees in them. 6 I made reservoirs to water groves of flourishing trees. 7 I bought male and female slaves and had other slaves who were born in my house. I also owned more herds and flocks than anyone in Jerusalem before me. 8 I amassed silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and provinces. I acquired male and female singers, and a harem as well—the delights of a man’s heart. 9 I became greater by far than anyone in Jerusalem before me. In all this my wisdom stayed with me.

He got drunk.

Anyone who has tried to drown your pain in alcohol, knows that it doesn’t really help.

He undertook great projects 
like making gardens, parks, and reservoirs.
Achievements don’t bring happiness in and of themselves.



Solomon also bought slaves.

When we are miserable, using other people doesn’t make us happy
.

He amassed money and power.
Money itself doesn’t make us happier!

He also acquired “male and female singers, and a harem.”
So, sex doesn’t bring you happiness in and of itself, and it only adds to happiness in the right setting.

In all of those things, Solomon said: I became greater by far than anyone in Jerusalem before me.

Ecclesiastes 2:10-11
10 I denied myself nothing my eyes desired;
    I refused my heart no pleasure.
My heart took delight in all my labor,
    and this was the reward for all my toil.

11 Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done
    and what I had toiled to achieve,
everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind;
    nothing was gained under the sun.

These things might make you happy for a second, but in the grand scheme of things, they’re meaningless.  They're a vapor.

Chasing after “happiness” has never been enough. God doesn’t just want you to be happy, He wants to you be ALIVE.

Ephesians 2:1-2
1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world

If you don’t know Jesus, you aren’t just unhappy,
 you’ve never experienced life.

Ephesians 4:4-5

4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.



God loved you so much, 
that He paid the price for your sin, 
to give you LIFE! 

Jesus died on the cross for you, to give you LIFE!