"NO NEW THING UNDER THE SUN" Ecclesiastes 1:9 I. Introduction. A. Solomon spoke with two types of wisdom: earthly and spiritual. B. At times: he neglected spiritual--he knew better--so do we. C. Provided with innumerable opportunities to experience life. D. What he found: Eccl. 1:9. E. A generation must fight its own battles--face its own problems--possess its own standards and faith: Eccl. 1:4. F. So with the individual. G. Note: Eccl. 3:15. I I. Body. A. Cannot live in the past--cannot live in the future: Eccl. 1:11. 1. The earth. . .the people. .they continue: Eccl. 1:10. 2. There is an uneasiness--a restlessness in people. Eccl. 1:8. 3. Nothing is final in this life. 4. Atoms are constantly moving! B. The physical cannot satisfy: Eccl. 1:14. 1. This is the explanation for Eccl. 1:2. 2. Not even the wisdom & knowledge of world: Eccl. 1:17-18. 3 There is a weariness--a monotony to life. (Think of own life.)(even young people) 4. Men labor to satisfy wants of this life. 5. When acquire goal: what next? 6. Nothing man can do in this life can give him full satisfaction. C. Challenges of this life--once met--offer no satisfaction: Eccl. 2. 1. Pleasure? v. 1. 2. Laughter & mirth? v. 2. 3. Monuments? V. 4f. 4. Any desirable activity? v. 10. 5. Man can only deal with a few defects--there are always more to take their place. 6.Increase in knowledge: increase in difficulties.(In fact: education will not remove crime, misery, ungodliness, etc.) 7.But should it not be this way? D. Accomplishments are soon forgotten: 1. Realized: Eccl. 2:15. 2. Noticed how fast those in the news fade into oblivion? 3. Note: Eccl. 9:14-16. 4. Only a small fraction will be remembered. 5. But God will not forget good people! E. What we have today is the result of what was done in the past: EccI. 2:18. 1. Same sorrows; same travail...same grief...in each age. 2. Each generation renews the quest.(the good old days...?) a. Conquer fear, disease, loneliness, etc. b. Repeats the mistakes, the joys, etc: of preceding. 3. "All men labor more for posterity than for themselves." 4. You cannot spend your chiId's inheritance ! F. Each generation discovered there is time to perform needed tasks. 1. In some--no choice: Eccl. 3:2. 2. In others--choose: Eccl. 3:4-8. 3. Can choose: Eccl. 3:12. 4. The present life is not final. 5. Gives hope for man III. Conclusion. A. This is not new: Eccl. 2:26.-jy