Ecclesiastes

A study on Ecclesiastes, through a series of short posts.

Vanity of vanities. This is what we know of this book – or, at least, it is the first thought that comes to mind for most. Ecclesiastes is viewed by many people, even Christians, as a negative book – a book that puts right in our face: life has no meaning. Life is nihilistic, materialistic, fatalistic.

Instead, it shows the opposite of this. There is a meaningful life possible, even in this fallen world, if we only stop looking in the wrong places for meaning. The worldview taught to us by society must be demolished; with a worldview built on the right foundation, we can find meaning.

It struck me when considering this study and seeing this reality in this book that Ecclesiastes just might be the perfect book to study for those who are struggling with finding meaning in life. I hope I can demonstrate this as I work through each chapter.

The authorship is attributed to Solomon, the son of King David, and himself king of Israel. He was very rich, very wise. Who could have more than he had? Yet he wrote this book of seeming despondency and lament.

Consider this in our day. Relative to much of the world, and certainly relative to history, we live in complete luxury, with want of nothing – again, when compared to many in this world and in history.

Conclusion

Life is uncertain, time and events are not in our control, wickedness surrounds us, and it all ends in death. This is true for all of us; we are powerless to change any of this.

What a meaningless life.

Yet, if we look in the right place and live for the right purpose, it doesn’t have to be like this. Every moment matters; it is how we live those moments that will determine just how meaningful or meaningless our life on this earth will be.

This, it seems to me, is the message from Ecclesiastes.