December 20, 2021 — “The White Elephant” — Ecclesiastes 1:2-11 

“Vanity of vanities, says the Teacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity. What do people gain from all the toil at which they toil under the sun? A generation goes, and a generation comes, but the earth remains forever. The sun rises and the sun goes down, and hurries to the place where it rises. The wind blows to the south, and goes around to the north; round and round goes the wind, and on its circuits the wind returns. All streams run to the sea, but the sea is not full; to the place where the streams flow, there they continue to flow. All things are wearisome; more than one can express; the eye is not satisfied with seeing, or the ear filled with hearing. What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done; there is nothing new under the sun. Is there a thing of which it is said, “See, this is new”? It has already been, in the ages before us. The people of long ago are not remembered, nor will there be any remembrance of people yet to come by those who come after them.” Ecclesiastes 1:2-11 

White elephant:” The “white elephant” gift concept has morphed into a phrase associated with tacky gift swaps, sometimes made at church outings — other times at school or other social functions. It originally stems from literal “white elephants”, which South Asian royalty often kept as vanity pets. In contemporary language, the White Elephant encompasses anything huge and expensive that requires more money than its actual value to maintain. 

“Vanity of vanities: all is vanity.” This is one of the statements the writer of the Book of Ecclesiastes makes in this Old Testament book. The pointlessness of human activity is the major theme of the book — at least at the beginning — until the author comes to realize like Job, that G-d’s laws must be kept, whether keeping them results in happiness or suffering. We all need to remember that G-d “…causes the sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” (Matthew 5:45) There will be times where we are down, and will feel as if G-d is “kicking us” — that all is vanity and pointless. But, we need to place our faith and trust on the sovereign nature of G-d — that G-d has everything worked out — and, like Job states in the midst of his own suffering: “The Lord gives and the Lord takes away — blessed be the name of the Lord.” 

Let us pray,

Lord Jesus, sometimes we feel as if all is vanity. Help us to remember that you always want the best for us, and that you will defend us on our good days, and our bad. Amen.

Pastor Dave