Tag Archives: sun

April 3, 2025 · 9:00 pm

Fleeting Riches

1 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is common among men: 2 A man to whom God has given riches and wealth and honor, so that he lacks nothing for himself of all he desires; yet God does not give him power to eat of it, but a foreigner consumes it. This is vanity, and it is an evil affliction.

Ecclesiastes 6:1-2

Let us examine the futile nature of riches this week. Solomon was one of the wealthiest men who ever lived. Yet, His riches could not bring true peace and contentment. The preacher examines this thought in depth in chapter 6.

God is the one who gives riches. The writer understood this and gave God the credit for all he had. God is also our source and our supply. Thankfulness to God should be a regular part of our prayers and our conversation.


Solomon relates that while wealth is important, it can be lost and taken by others. The King had no doubt seen the brutality of war under his father, David. He knew how the control of earthly riches was responsible for deceit, war, and death. Riches are nice. However, they can be lost and be a great affliction.

Better to trust in the Lord than to place our faith in wealth.

Tony French

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February 6, 2025 · 9:00 pm

Under The Sun #2

4 Again, I saw that for all toil and every skillful work a man is envied by his neighbor. This also is vanity and grasping for the wind. 5 The fool folds his hands And consumes his own flesh. 6 Better a handful with quietness Than both hands full, together with toil and grasping for the wind. 7 Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun: 8 There is one alone, without companion: He has neither son nor brother. Yet there is no end to all his labors, Nor is his eye satisfied with riches. But he never asks, “For whom do I toil and deprive myself of good?” This also is vanity and a grave misfortune.

Ecclesiastes 4:4-8

We are examining the second characteristic of “life under the sun” from the book of Ecclesiastes this week. And that second characteristic found in chapter 4 is the dearth of lasting peace. Life without God does not lead to peace and contentment. Let’s examine.

Characteristic 2—No Lasting Peace

Another feature of life on this earth is a lack of peace. Nothing in this life can fulfill us for very long. 

Our work doesn’t lead us to peace. Instead, it leads to bitterness, envy, and covetousness. Solomon laments the meaninglessness and vanity of labor under the sun.

Don’t misunderstand the point. Work is good and is given by God. God provides for us through our work and labor. It is far better to work and be productive than to be lazy and ineffectual.

Ecclesiastes reminds us that though work has a purpose, it can never bring lasting peace. Labor when seen outside of the sovereignty and the purview of God, is mere drudgery and monotony. But, when work is kept in its proper perspective as a gift from God, it becomes something altogether different. Keep this in mind when the alarm clock rings next Monday!

Tony French

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January 30, 2025 · 9:00 pm

Under The Sun #1

1 Then I returned and considered all the oppression that is done under the sun: And look! The tears of the oppressed, But they have no comforter– On the side of their oppressors there is power, But they have no comforter. 2 Therefore I praised the dead who were already dead, More than the living who are still alive. 3 Yet, better than both is he who has never existed, Who has not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.

Ecclesiastes 4:1-3

“Life under the sun” is a phrase that Solomon uses extensively in this book. Some say it simply implies to the earth and all things related to it.

Other scholars also believe that the phrase refers to a purely humanistic perspective of life that precludes the presence of God. In this view, Solomon is examining life purely in human terms with only limited references to God or His working.  Both views have interpretive merit. Keep these in mind as we examine the characteristics of life under the sun.

Characteristic 1—Oppression “Under The Sun”

Oppression is abundant in our world. Unfairness and injustice permeate the very fiber of this sinful planet. Injustice in our day and time is overt and systemic.

Yet, there seems to be little that can done to overcome it. While we must fight for justice and help the poor and oppressed, we know that our efforts will never be powerful enough to help everyone. Thanks be to God for His ultimate judgement which will set things right once and for all.

Tony French

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August 5, 2024 · 9:00 pm

The Return of Christ

The return of Jesus…………………….

**Will be accompanied by signs

29 “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 

Matthew 24:29

**Will be seen by all

 30 Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

Matthew 24:30

**Will gather His people

31 And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

Matthew 24:-31

**Will be unexpected

36 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of [f]heaven, but My Father only. 37 But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 38 For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, 39 and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 

Be ready, child of God. He’s coming again!

Tony French

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