Sermon: "Whatever My Eyes Desired" // Ecclesiastes 2:1-11

In this sermon on Ecclesiastes 2, the author continues his pursuit of meaning by turning to pleasure. After wisdom failed to satisfy him, he tested every form of gratification—wine, wealth, possessions, homes, achievement, entertainment, and sex. Although these things brought enjoyment, they ultimately proved meaningless because their pleasure never matched their cost. The Pleasure Paradox is that the more pleasure is pursued, the less satisfying it becomes, leaving people trapped in an endless cycle of desire. Ecclesiastes therefore warns against trying to build a personal paradise “under the sun.” True meaning is found instead in Jesus Christ, who is Meaning in flesh and blood. Unlike the world’s call to gratify every desire, Jesus calls his followers to deny themselves, take up their cross, and surrender their desires to him. Meaning comes not from filling ourselves but from pouring ourselves out through acts of loving service to others.