• Whenever we arise from our beds, do our bodies ache?
• Whenever we sleep, does our body feel totally refreshed?
• Whenever we work hard doing a day’s work, do we feel tired?
• Whenever we eat our fill, does our stomach feel totally full?
• Whenever we raise our children, do they always go in obedience as we have planned?
• Whenever we study all the books we have received, have we ever studied enough?
• Whenever we love the one we have chosen to love, do we ever love enough?
• Whenever we are given offspring to raise and to love, do we ever do enough to demonstrate our love?
• Whenever we live, year after year after year, have we ever lived—long enough?
• Whenever we have found ALL the pleasure we can consume during our lifetime, have we ever enjoyed life—enough?

If we stop there, at the end of verse two, we are discouraged, and we find no reason at all to dress and step forth into our day; therefore, we read on, to see the rest of the words the Preacher has for us to see.

• We read to see the futility of all that one accomplishes, while the sun shines brightly in the sky.
• We read to see the vanity of striving for wealth and knowledge and pleasure and possessions.
• We read to see the folly for all the activities our hands can do while we are alive on earth.
• We read to see the truth that ALL people die at the end of their life, whether rich and strong or whether they are poor and weak.  Life ends in death.
• We read to see that we labor and labor and labor and labor, sometimes completely despaired by the fruit of our labor when we see those who come behind us do not really care about anything we have built as our legacy; thus, our offspring may not honor our amassed wealth.
• We read the list of all the “times” we have been given during our “time” here on earth.

Then I came to a truth about God.

Thus, we read on, SEEING THE TRUTH!

• We read to see the futility of striving after wind, for we can never catch or contain the wind.
• We read to see the way we should guard our steps, how we should remember how God is in heaven and we are alive here on earth.
• We read to see the truth that when we make a promise to God that we should keep our vow.
• We read to see the silliness in chasing only after the wealth and possessions found on earth.
• We read to see the truth—we came naked into this world, and naked and empty-handed we shall return.
• We read to see the truth—enjoy our labor, our food, and our drink because our years are brief.
• We read to see the truth—even if we labor for more wealth, even more wealth we will desire.
• We read to see the truth—even if our appetite is filled, even more food we will desire.

We read to see the truth—

Yes, this morning I found myself reading, and as I read, I saw how our lifetimes are really nothing more than turning and chasing everything under the sun.  How life lived on earth is pure vanity.

As I pondered whether I should even dress and go out the door to work, I came to the Preacher’s words describing God.  SEE WITH ME.

• Our days are numbered; it is so because the Bible says it is so.
• Our death is for sure;  it is so because the Bible says it is so.
• Our soul will be required of us, it is so because the Bible says it is so.
• Our decision to the only question that matters:  What will I do with this Savior Jesus?—It is the only REAL TRUTH that ever matters, and it is so true because the Bible says it is so.
• Our youth, our strength, our memory, our eyesight, our minds:  All of them are fading; for sure, the Bible speaks it so.
• Our bodies are formed from the dust of the earth, and our bodies will return to the earth.  Yet, our soul, our spirit will return to God; it is a FACT for the Bible tells us so.

So let us take to heart the words of the Preacher this day and then again the next day and then the day after that day.  Why?  Why should we heed the words of the Preacher?

It is the TRUTH of GOD, FOR THE BIBLE, GOD’S HOLY WORD SAYS IT IS SO!