Finding True Meaning and Joy Through God

Solomon, the wisest and wealthiest king, set out to discover if anything “under the sun”—anything in this world—could truly satisfy the human heart. He tested wisdom, pleasure, and work, using all his resources and power, only to find that each pursuit, when disconnected from God, ultimately led to emptiness and vexation. Pleasure brought fleeting satisfaction, wisdom brought frustration in the face of death, and work, no matter how successful, could not provide lasting meaning. Even the greatest achievements are eventually forgotten, like sandcastles washed away by the tide.

The heart of the problem is not the pursuit itself, but the expectation that these things can deliver what only God can give. When we look to work, pleasure, or wisdom to provide identity, security, or salvation, we are left restless and unsatisfied. Solomon’s experiment exposes the futility of a life lived “under the sun”—a life that excludes God from its center. The more we try to extract ultimate meaning from our work or accomplishments, the more we experience anxiety, exhaustion, and disappointment.

Yet, there is a turning point. Solomon recognizes that enjoyment in work and life is possible, but only as a gift from the hand of God. When we invite God into our labor, our work is transformed from a burdensome toil into a joyful vocation. Work is not a curse, but a calling—a way to steward our gifts and resources for God’s glory. The curse of futility and frustration, brought on by sin, is ultimately redeemed by Jesus Christ, who bore the thorns of our curse on the cross and finished the work of salvation for us.

True rest and joy are not found in our striving, but in faith—trusting in the finished work of Christ. We are not saved by our own efforts, but by grace through faith. When we receive this gift, our work becomes an opportunity to reflect God’s grace and bring Him glory in all we do, whether in the workplace, at home, or in any season of life. The invitation is to stop striving for meaning apart from God and to find deep joy and purpose in Him, letting every part of our lives point to His goodness.

Key Takeaways

• 1. The Pursuit of Meaning “Under the Sun” Is Futile Solomon’s exhaustive search for meaning in wisdom, pleasure, and work reveals that nothing in this world can ultimately satisfy the human heart. Even the best experiences and achievements are fleeting, and when we seek fulfillment apart from God, we are left with emptiness and restlessness. This exposes the deep spiritual hunger that only God can fill. [20:55]
• 2. Death Is the Great Equalizer, Exposing the Limits of Human Achievement No matter how wise or successful we become, death comes for both the wise and the foolish, erasing distinctions and memories alike. This reality forces us to confront the limitations of our pursuits and the brevity of life. It is only by facing our mortality that we are driven to seek what is truly lasting and meaningful beyond this life. [27:34]
• 3. Work Becomes Vexation When It Is Our Source of Identity or Salvation When we look to our work to provide ultimate meaning, satisfaction, or recognition, we inevitably experience anxiety, exhaustion, and disappointment. The more we try to build our lives on our achievements, the more we feel the weight of futility and the fear of being forgotten. True rest eludes us when our worth is tied to our performance. [41:23]
• 4. Enjoyment in Work Is a Gift from God, Not an Achievement to Be Earned Solomon’s breakthrough is the realization that joy in our labor is not something we can manufacture, but a gift that comes from God’s hand. When we see our work as a calling and an opportunity to steward God’s gifts, it is transformed from a burden into a blessing. This perspective frees us to work with joy, knowing our value and purpose are rooted in God, not in our accomplishments. [55:49]
• 5. Salvation and Rest Come Only Through Faith in Christ’s Finished Work The deepest longing of our hearts—to be accepted, justified, and at rest—cannot be met by our own striving or good works. Only Jesus perfectly pleases God, and through faith in Him, we are given righteousness, rest, and joy as a gift. Our work then becomes a response to grace, not a means to earn it, and every part of our lives can be lived for the glory of God. [71:14]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [19:38] - Solomon’s Experiment: Testing Life “Under the Sun”
• [23:10] - The Fleeting Nature of Pleasure
• [24:30] - The Limits of Human Experience
• [25:29] - Wisdom vs. Folly: The Same Fate
• [27:34] - Death: The Great Equalizer
• [31:11] - Facing Defeat and Meaninglessness
• [36:00] - The Purpose and Burden of Work
• [41:23] - The Vexation of Toil
• [44:24] - The Illusion of Satisfaction in Success
• [49:06] - Recognition, Legacy, and the Sandcastle Analogy
• [54:26] - The Turning Point: What If There’s More?
• [55:49] - Enjoyment as a Gift from God
• [62:09] - The Universal Tendency to Work for Salvation
• [71:14] - Faith in Christ: The Only Way to Please God
• [76:18] - Work for the Glory of God
• [77:58] - Prayer and Invitation

Bible Reading

Ecclesiastes 2:12-26 (ESV) — 12 So I turned to consider wisdom and madness and folly. For what can the man do who comes after the king? Only what has already been done.
13 Then I saw that there is more gain in wisdom than in folly, as there is more gain in light than in darkness.
14 The wise person has his eyes in his head, but the fool walks in darkness. And yet I perceived that the same event happens to all of them.
15 Then I said in my heart, “What happens to the fool will happen to me also. Why then have I been so very wise?” And I said in my heart that this also is vanity.
16 For of the wise as of the fool there is no enduring remembrance, seeing that in the days to come all will have been long forgotten. How the wise dies just like the fool!
17 So I hated life, because what is done under the sun was grievous to me, for all is vanity and a striving after wind.
18 I hated all my toil in which I toil under the sun, seeing that I must leave it to the man who will come after me,
19 and who knows whether he will be wise or a fool? Yet he will be master of all for which I toiled and used my wisdom under the sun. This also is vanity.
20 So I turned about and gave my heart up to despair over all the toil of my labors under the sun,
21 because sometimes a person who has toiled with wisdom and knowledge and skill must leave everything to be enjoyed by someone who did not toil for it. This also is vanity and a great evil.
22 What has a man from all the toil and striving of heart with which he toils beneath the sun?
23 For all his days are full of sorrow, and his work is a vexation. Even in the night his heart does not rest. This also is vanity.
24 There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God,
25 for apart from him who can eat or who can have enjoyment?
26 For to the one who pleases him God has given wisdom and knowledge and joy, but to the sinner he has given the business of gathering and collecting, only to give to one who pleases God. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.

Genesis 3:17-19 (ESV) — 17 And to Adam he said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, ‘You shall not eat of it,’ cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life;
18 thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field.
19 By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”

Ephesians 2:8-10 (ESV) — 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Observation Questions

1. According to Ecclesiastes 2, what did Solomon discover about the pursuit of wisdom, pleasure, and work “under the sun”? What was his conclusion about these pursuits? [[20:55]]
2. In verse 23, what does Solomon say about the effect of work on a person’s heart and rest? [[41:23]]
3. What does Genesis 3 say happened to work after sin entered the world? What specific words are used to describe the new reality of work? [[55:49]]
4. According to Ephesians 2:8-10, how is salvation described? What is the relationship between grace, faith, and works in this passage? [[01:13:43]]

Interpretation Questions

1. Why does Solomon say that even wisdom and hard work cannot provide lasting meaning or satisfaction when God is left out? How does this challenge common ideas about success and fulfillment? [[27:34]]
2. The sermon describes work as both a gift and a curse. How can work be both, and what changes when we see our work as a calling from God rather than just a way to earn or achieve? [[55:49]]
3. The preacher said, “Work under the sun becomes sorrowful vexation. But work under Jesus Christ becomes a joyful vocation.” What does it look like practically to invite God into our work? [[55:49]]
4. Ephesians 2:8-10 says we are saved by grace, not by works, but also that we are created for good works. How do these truths fit together, and how should they shape our attitude toward work and achievement? [[01:13:43]]

Application Questions

1. Solomon found that pleasure, wisdom, and work all left him empty when he expected them to give ultimate meaning. Are there things in your life right now that you are looking to for identity, security, or satisfaction instead of God? What are they, and how do they leave you feeling? [[20:55]]
2. The sermon talked about the “restlessness” that comes from tying our worth to our performance at work or in life. Have you experienced anxiety or exhaustion because of this? What would it look like to find your rest in Christ instead? [[41:23]]
3. When you think about your daily work (job, school, home, volunteering, etc.), do you see it as a burden or as a calling? What would need to change for you to see your work as a gift from God? [[55:49]]
4. The preacher used the sandcastle analogy to show how even our greatest achievements can be quickly forgotten. How does this perspective affect the way you approach your goals and ambitions? [[49:06]]
5. The sermon said, “True rest and joy are not found in our striving, but in faith—trusting in the finished work of Christ.” What are some practical ways you can remind yourself of this truth during a busy or stressful week? [[01:11:14]]
6. Ephesians 2:10 says we are created for good works that God prepared for us. What is one area of your life where you sense God calling you to serve or steward your gifts for His glory? How can you take a step in that direction this week? [[01:13:43]]
7. The message ended with an invitation to stop striving for meaning apart from God and to let every part of our lives point to His goodness. What is one specific change you want to make this week to invite God into your work, relationships, or daily routines? [[01:16:18]]