#better | From the New Testament Baptist Pulpit |1-12-2020

NO #BETTER THING
Ecclesiastes 8:15 (KJV) Then I commended mirth, because a man hath no better thing
under the sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry: for that shall abide with him of
his labour the days of his life, which God giveth him under the sun.

INTRODUCTION:
The Bible speaks of life “under the sun” (mentioned 27 times in Ecclesiastes
1:3, 9, 14; 2:11, 17-20, 22; 3:16; 4:1,3,7,15; 5:13, 18; 6:1, 12; 8:9, 15, 17; 9:3,6, 9, 11
13; 10:15). It does not only deal with spiritual, heavenly things, but also of
practical, earthly things. Life “under the sun” is a cycle of “vanity of vanities”.
(See Ecc. 1:2, 14; 2:1, 11, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 26; 3:19; 4:4,7, 8, 16; 5:10; 6:2, 4, 9, 11;
7:15; 8:10, 14: 9:9; 11:8, 10; 12:8)
Ecclesiastes 1:1 (KJV) The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in
Jerusalem.
2 Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.
3 What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun?
4 One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth
for ever.
5 The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose.
6 The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it whirleth about
continually, and the wind returneth again according to his circuits.
7 All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; unto the place from whence the
rivers come, thither they return again.
8 All things are full of labour; man cannot utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing,
nor the ear filled with hearing.
14 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and
vexation of spirit.
There are better things in life, both “under” and “above” the sun, according to
the “preacher”, a great king, who is the wisest man who ever lived, who is the
son of the greatest songwriter of all time.

I. UNDER THE SUN: NO BETTER THING

Ecclesiastes 8:15 (KJV) Then I commended mirth, because a man hath no better
thing under the sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry: for that shall abide
with him of his labour the days of his life, which God giveth him under the sun.

1. No better thing in evil work…

Ecclesiastes 2:24 (KJV) There is nothing better for a man, than that
he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good
in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God.
Ecclesiastes 3:22 (KJV) Wherefore I perceive that there is nothing
better, than that a man should rejoice in his own works; for that is
his portion: for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him?
Ecclesiastes 4:3 (KJV) Yea, better is he than both they, which hath
not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the
sun.
… but enjoying in the fruit of labor

2. No better thing in both hands full with travail and vexation of spirit…
 Ecclesiastes 4:6 (KJV) Better is an handful with quietness, than both
the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit.
… but in a handful with quietness.

3. No better thing in gaining alone…

Ecclesiastes 4:9 (KJV) Two are better than one; because they have a
good reward for their labour.
…, but in being rewarded together

4. No better thing in being foolish…

Ecclesiastes 4:13 (KJV) Better is a poor and a wise child than an old
and foolish king, who will no more be admonished.
…but in being admonished.

5. No better thing in unpaid vows…

Ecclesiastes 5:5 (KJV) Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than
that thou shouldest vow and not pay.
…but in fulfilled promises

6. No better thing in unsatisfied death…

Ecclesiastes 6:3 (KJV) If a man beget an hundred children, and live
many years, so that the days of his years be many, and his soul be not
filled with good, and also that he have no burial; I say, that an
untimely birth is better than he.
…but in untimely birth

7. No better thing in vain desires…

Ecclesiastes 6:9 (KJV) Better is the sight of the eyes than the
wandering of the desire: this is also vanity and vexation of spirit.
10 That which hath been is named already, and it is known that it is
man: neither may he contend with him that is mightier than he.
11 Seeing there be many things that increase vanity, what is man the
better?
12 For who knoweth what is good for man in this life, all the days of
his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell a man
what shall be after him under the sun?
…but in directed vision

8. No better thing in precious ointment (day of birth; e.g. Mt. 26:24,7-16) …

Ecclesiastes 7:1 (KJV) A good name is better than precious ointment; and
the day of death than the day of one's birth.
…but in a good name (“day of death”; e.g. Phil 2:5-11)

9. No better thing in feasting and laughter…

Ecclesiastes 7:2 (KJV) It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go
to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay
it to his heart.
3 Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the
heart is made better.

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 …but in meditating and making the heart better

10. No better thing in the song of fools…

Ecclesiastes 7:5 (KJV) It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise,
than for a man to hear the song of fools.
…but in the rebuke of the wise

11. No better thing in a proud beginning…

Ecclesiastes 7:8 (KJV) Better is the end of a thing than the
beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in
spirit.
9 Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the
bosom of fools.
…but in a patient ending

12. No better thing in inheritance and money…

Ecclesiastes 7:10 (KJV) Say not thou, What is the cause that the former
days were better than these? for thou dost not inquire wisely concerning
this.
11 Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and by it there is profit to them
that see the sun.
12 For wisdom is a defence, and money is a defence: but the excellency
of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it.
…but in wisdom and excellency of knowledge

13. No better thing in strength…

Ecclesiastes 9:16 (KJV) Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength:
nevertheless the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are
not heard.
…but in the words and wisdom of the poor

14. No better thing in weapons…

Ecclesiastes 9:18 (KJV) Wisdom is better than weapons of war: but
one sinner destroyeth much good.
…but in wisdom

15. No better thing in babbling…

Ecclesiastes 10:11 (KJV) Surely the serpent will bite without
enchantment; and a babbler is no better.
12 The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a
fool will swallow up himself.
13 The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the
end of his talk is mischievous madness.
14 A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and
what shall be after him, who can tell him?
…but in the words of the wise

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II. ABOVE THE SUN: MUCH BETTER THINGS
Colossians 3:1 (KJV) If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are
above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

1. Better Position.
a. “Risen with Christ” (Col. 3:1)
b. “Where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God” (Col. 3:1)
c. “Things Above” (Col. 3:1)

2. Better Purpose
a. Seek Those Things Which Are Above…
…Where Christ Sitteth (On the Right Hand of God)
b. Set Your Affection On Things Above

3. Better Place
Revelation 21:1 (KJV) And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the
first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more
sea.
2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of
heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

4. Better People.
Revelation 21:3 (KJV) And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying,
Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and
they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their
God.

5. Better Promise.
Revelation 21:4 (KJV) And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes;
and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall
there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he
said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

CONCLUSION:

Stop SEEKING for THINGS “UNDER THE SUN”

that are “NO BETTER”.
Start SETTING your affection on THINGS ABOVE –
they are “TEN TIMES BETTER”! (Dan. 1:20)