Ecclesiastes is an interesting book in the Old Testament. It was written by Solomon, the son of David who followed him as king, and who built the Temple in Jerusalem. King Solomon was said to be both extremely wealthy, and also quite wise. He wrote much of the Book of Proverbs, along with Song of Solomon (also called Song of Songs), along with some Psalms. Solomon likely wrote Ecclesiastes later in his life, when he was an older man. In this book of the Bible, he reflects on life, on the emptiness and futility of living a life apart from God and having a relationship with Him. From a man who could have anything and everything he wanted, let’s see what he says in today’s Scripture.
As our Scripture begins, Solomon identifies himself as the king of Israel in Jerusalem, and also as a Preacher (vs 1:12). When we look at that, these are both positions of someone that we should listen to, someone who has something important to say. As he wrote this towards the end of his life, he looked back and saw that all of the things that people pursue and run after in life tend to be “vanity and grasping for the wind.” (vs. 1:14). When the word “vanity” is used in the Bible, it implies a sense of emptiness and futility. It emphasizes the meaninglessness of a life lived without God.
Solomon found this out in his life, and now as an older man, he sought to warn others so that they would not fall into the same trap. As the king goes on to write chapter 2, he describes his attempts at finding meaning and pleasure in life, each one only bringing futility and vanity to his soul. Despite all the different things he tried, things to bring pleasure, to achieve accomplishments, and different types of work, nothing brought him any lasting satisfaction.
At first Solomon sought meaning in a life filled with mirth, filled with gaiety and pleasure (vs. 2:1-2). Perhaps, as king, he might have brought into his royal court some of the latest comedians of the day. However, without God it was all senseless. He then turned to alcohol (vs. 2:3), seeking to “gratify my flesh with wine.”. As anyone who has ever gone that route knows, that can only lead to ruin. Fortunately Solomon realized that before he became an alcoholic. Then he turned to both architecture and horticulture (vs. 2:4-6). Both of these are very worthwhile pursuits, but if one doesn’t have God in their life, it is vanity. He sought meaning with an accumulation of wealth (vs. 2:7-11), with piling up of gold and silver, of servants, livestock, and musicians. Whatever his eyes saw, if he wanted it, he got it. However, he repeats that none of this brought him any satisfaction.
Here in chapter 2, and throughout the Book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon speaks about things being done “under the sun”. This refers to life from a purely earthly perspective. Without God guiding what we do in life, even wisdom and pleasure become empty pursuits, as Solomon found out. Solomon had unmatched wisdom (I Kings 4:29-34), yet even he found it insufficient to explain life’s deepest questions. Intellectual pursuits, apart from God, lead to sorrow and frustration.
As Solomon continues with his ponderings, he realizes, like we all do, that both the wise and the fool die alike (vs. 2:14-16). The same with the rich and the poor. They both come to the same end. This exposes the meaninglessness of living just for earthly gain. Solomon then laments that one may work wisely all their life, accumulating a nice bank account, but then leave it to someone who will just squander it (vs. 2:18-23). This shows the vanity of having worldly ambitions and building a legacy apart from God.
As we come to the close of this Scripture passage, what can we learn from Solomon’s lifetime pursuits of happiness and meaning? As he found out late in life, all that he went after in life was meaningless since none of it was rooted in God. True meaning is found only in the Lord Jesus Christ. The answer to having an empty and futile life is not more effort, but surrendering to God’s will and having an eternal perspective which Solomon says in the last words of this book (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14).
Finding pleasure in our life, in our work, interests, and hobbies is not sinful, but as Solomon learned, it cannot be our foundation. Having fullness of joy is found in God (Psalm 16:11). As St. Paul reminds us in Colossians 3:2, we need to set our minds on things above, heavenly and spiritual things, not on things of this earth. When our goals have eternal value, not just earthly satisfaction, then our life won’t be one of just emptiness and frustration, but instead will be one with a deep, eternal purpose. A life walking with Jesus is greater than anything the world has to offer.
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