Ecclesiastes 1:1 The words of the Teacher, son of David, king in Jerusalem.
The author of Ecclesiastes doesn’t identify himself by name, but King Solomon is the most likely candidate. He probably wrote around 950 BC to help God’s people understand some of life’s frustrations. Ecclesiastes is written from the perspective of someone who believes in God, but doesn’t seem to love God. The tone is bleak, therefore, but numerous insights can be gleaned.
Ecclesiastes 1:2 Meaningless! Meaningless! says the Teacher. Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.
An important difference between people and beasts is that people can’t be happy without meaning. Cows don’t ask the meaning of life, or why they were born, but people often do. And often they find the answer elusive. A wealthy person was asked what he learned from his success that he wished he knew when he was younger. He said, When you get to the top, nothing is there.
But if he’d gone all the way to the top, he would’ve found God. Apart from him, everything else is pointless. The meaning of life is that there is a life-giver, to whom we owe our life. It’s only through loving and serving God that we find ultimate meaning and purpose.
Ecclesiastes 1:14 I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind.
The little phrase under the sun occurs over two dozen times throughout Ecclesiastes, and contrasts with what’s above the sun, namely God. Apart from God, our earthly activities are meaningless, like chasing after the wind.
Imagine a little boy blowing bubbles and chasing after them. It’s fun, of course, but they quickly pop and he must chase another. That’s how many people live. They chase money, pleasure, romance, and success but none of them bring lasting satisfaction. That only comes from pursuing God.
Ecclesiastes 3:11 He has also set eternity in the human heart.
Because we’re made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27), and because God is eternal (Genesis 21:33), people know in their hearts that they will live forever. That, of course, is a very long time.
If God told a little bird to gather every grain of sand on Earth and carry it to the Moon, then take both to Venus, then all three to Saturn, and so forth, by the time that little bird gathered up the entire universe, it would be 9:35 in the morning, on the first day of eternity.
That’s why the most important thing we can do is secure the salvation of our souls. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? (Mark 8:36), said Jesus. And, [some] will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life (Matthew 25:46), he said. We ought to be the most concerned about where we’ll spend the longest, not just the next few years.
Ecclesiastes 5:10 Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income.
Few things on earth are more helpful than money, but there’s a limit to what money can buy. A wealthy banker lived in a mansion, and pursued wealth above everything else. Among other things, he wanted to buy the property around his home, as far as he could see. But the people living there hated him, and refused to sell their land to him. Years past, and the man became so miserable that he took his own life.
The desire for wealth isn’t evil in itself, but reflects the fact that we were made for more. This is why heaven is described as a place of inconceivable wealth, where even the street is made of gold (Revelation 21:21). God is the source of infinite wealth, and whoever has him will have everything else (Revelation 21:7).
Ecclesiastes 7:2 It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, for death is the destiny of everyone; the living should take this to heart.
We don’t look forward to funerals, but we can certainly learn from them. There we see that all our earthly dreams will come to an end some day. Sooner or later, we’ll take our place in the coffin and people will talk about us. Perhaps they’ll say nice things, but we won’t be there to enjoy it. We’re all destined to die once, and after that to face judgment (Hebrews 9:27), says Hebrews. Funerals help us keep the end of life in view.
As part of his medical training a doctor watched many people die, and knew the symptoms well. He was checking a patient who barely had a pulse, and whose blood pressure was dropping steadily. His eyes were as blank as billiard balls and he thought he’d check the retinas, but he was shocked by what he saw. As he looked into the eyes of a man who was almost dead, he saw a clear reflection of himself. Who can live and not see death, or who can escape the power of the grave? (Psalm 89:48), wrote the Psalmist. Those who are wise live each day preparing for their last.
Ecclesiastes 7:10 Do not say, Why were the old days better than these? For it is not wise to ask such questions.
The old days are often better than our declining years, but not as good as the future. Forgetting what is behind . . . God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:13-14), wrote Paul. Regardless how great the past, the future is better by far for those who follow Christ.
An old preacher stood at the door shaking hands with people after the service. He said the same thing to almost everyone. Just keep going. Just keep going. Just keep going. There are better things ahead than anything left behind.
Reflection and Review
Why do people care about meaning?
Why is it good to go to funerals?
What do you think about the past?
The author of Ecclesiastes doesn’t identify himself by name, but King Solomon is the most likely candidate. He probably wrote around 950 BC to help God’s people understand some of life’s frustrations. Ecclesiastes is written from the perspective of someone who believes in God, but doesn’t seem to love God. The tone is bleak, therefore, but numerous insights can be gleaned.
Ecclesiastes 1:2 Meaningless! Meaningless! says the Teacher. Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.
An important difference between people and beasts is that people can’t be happy without meaning. Cows don’t ask the meaning of life, or why they were born, but people often do. And often they find the answer elusive. A wealthy person was asked what he learned from his success that he wished he knew when he was younger. He said, When you get to the top, nothing is there.
But if he’d gone all the way to the top, he would’ve found God. Apart from him, everything else is pointless. The meaning of life is that there is a life-giver, to whom we owe our life. It’s only through loving and serving God that we find ultimate meaning and purpose.
Ecclesiastes 1:14 I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind.
The little phrase under the sun occurs over two dozen times throughout Ecclesiastes, and contrasts with what’s above the sun, namely God. Apart from God, our earthly activities are meaningless, like chasing after the wind.
Imagine a little boy blowing bubbles and chasing after them. It’s fun, of course, but they quickly pop and he must chase another. That’s how many people live. They chase money, pleasure, romance, and success but none of them bring lasting satisfaction. That only comes from pursuing God.
Ecclesiastes 3:11 He has also set eternity in the human heart.
Because we’re made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27), and because God is eternal (Genesis 21:33), people know in their hearts that they will live forever. That, of course, is a very long time.
If God told a little bird to gather every grain of sand on Earth and carry it to the Moon, then take both to Venus, then all three to Saturn, and so forth, by the time that little bird gathered up the entire universe, it would be 9:35 in the morning, on the first day of eternity.
That’s why the most important thing we can do is secure the salvation of our souls. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? (Mark 8:36), said Jesus. And, [some] will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life (Matthew 25:46), he said. We ought to be the most concerned about where we’ll spend the longest, not just the next few years.
Ecclesiastes 5:10 Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income.
Few things on earth are more helpful than money, but there’s a limit to what money can buy. A wealthy banker lived in a mansion, and pursued wealth above everything else. Among other things, he wanted to buy the property around his home, as far as he could see. But the people living there hated him, and refused to sell their land to him. Years past, and the man became so miserable that he took his own life.
The desire for wealth isn’t evil in itself, but reflects the fact that we were made for more. This is why heaven is described as a place of inconceivable wealth, where even the street is made of gold (Revelation 21:21). God is the source of infinite wealth, and whoever has him will have everything else (Revelation 21:7).
Ecclesiastes 7:2 It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, for death is the destiny of everyone; the living should take this to heart.
We don’t look forward to funerals, but we can certainly learn from them. There we see that all our earthly dreams will come to an end some day. Sooner or later, we’ll take our place in the coffin and people will talk about us. Perhaps they’ll say nice things, but we won’t be there to enjoy it. We’re all destined to die once, and after that to face judgment (Hebrews 9:27), says Hebrews. Funerals help us keep the end of life in view.
As part of his medical training a doctor watched many people die, and knew the symptoms well. He was checking a patient who barely had a pulse, and whose blood pressure was dropping steadily. His eyes were as blank as billiard balls and he thought he’d check the retinas, but he was shocked by what he saw. As he looked into the eyes of a man who was almost dead, he saw a clear reflection of himself. Who can live and not see death, or who can escape the power of the grave? (Psalm 89:48), wrote the Psalmist. Those who are wise live each day preparing for their last.
Ecclesiastes 7:10 Do not say, Why were the old days better than these? For it is not wise to ask such questions.
The old days are often better than our declining years, but not as good as the future. Forgetting what is behind . . . God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:13-14), wrote Paul. Regardless how great the past, the future is better by far for those who follow Christ.
An old preacher stood at the door shaking hands with people after the service. He said the same thing to almost everyone. Just keep going. Just keep going. Just keep going. There are better things ahead than anything left behind.
Reflection and Review
Why do people care about meaning?
Why is it good to go to funerals?
What do you think about the past?