Scriptures: Ecclesiastes 1:12 - 2:11, 1:2, 5:10, 1 Kings 4:29-34, 10:23, 11:3

Solomon's third book in the Bible--Ecclesiastes--is essentially a sermon on the vanity of life apart from God. In this message, Dr. Merritt examines four warnings that Solomon expounds on. From knowledge to social success, materialism and possessions to sexual desire--Solomon tried it all and was found wanting. His experiences serve as a stern warning to us today that life with real meaning and purpose must be attached to Someone beyond this work in order to be real and lasting.

"It doesn’t have to be drugs, alcohol, or even lewd parties. We move from one golf game to another, from one movie to another, from one TV show to another, and from one song to another trying to find the satisfaction that comes in pleasure. The problem is if you live for pleasure alone you are going to find the Law of Diminishing Returns kicks in. That is when you have to have more and more of it only to find that it satisfies less and less of you. That is why people become addicted to drugs, to gambling, to sex, to money, to fame, and to golf." --Dr. Merritt

(Note: The supporting materials includes the music video "Empire of Dirt" by Johnny Cash. Though the lyrics fit the message well, please note that this is a secular song, and you should preview the video first to determine if it is suitable for your particular audience.)

Keywords: God's will, purpose, life, vaporous, nothing, vain, vanity, Tom Bradley, football, New England Patriots, Super Bowl, Simon and Garfunkel, Patterns, Johnny Cash, journal, Solomon, dead-end, street, warning, intellectual, thought, learning, knowledge, wisdom, social, thrills, pleasure, Hugh Hefner, sex, concubines, satisfaction, Mick Jagger, Rolling Stones.