at a glance
author: Probably King Solomon.
date: Probably near the end of Solomon’s life (930 BC).
setting: Solomon went through a time in his life when he was apart from God, experimenting with sins like idolatry and materialism. In the book of Ecclesiastes, he reflects on his experiences.
verse to remember: Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind (12:13).
theme to consider: Life is meaningless apart from a relationship with the Lord. Solomon realized that power, popularity, prestige and pleasure really don’t satisfy.
unchanging truth
Close your eyes and dream for a minute …
Your life is perfect. You are gorgeous—perfect hair, perfect skin, perfect body. Oh, and not only that, you’re fabulously rich! You have it all …
Solomon, king of Israel, lived that dream. He was fabulously rich. He had power, popularity and prestige; he could enjoy any pleasure that he desired—and he did. He documents his quests in this book. The king pursued knowledge; he indulged in every possible pleasure that money could buy.
And do you know what he concluded?
“Everything is meaningless.”
That seems a little bit depressing for a book in the Bible, doesn’t it? But that’s not really the end of the story. You see, Solomon discovered that deep within him was a desire for something that could not be satisfied with all the riches and power in the world. That “something” had to do with a relationship with his Creator. God infuses everything we do for him with meaning and purpose. Without God, nothing will satisfy.
You won’t be fulfilled in life by chasing after beauty, money or fame—for, as Solomon discovered, these are like chasing the wind. Instead, “Fear God and keep his commandments.”
Now open your eyes … you already are living the dream. In your relationship with God, you have everything you need for a meaningful life.
1. No matter what we can learn (1:13), enjoy (2:1–3) or attain (2:4–11), we will have nothing unless we have a personal relationship with God (1:2; 2:24–25).
2. Remember your Creator while you’re young. If you stick with God now, while you’re young, you’ll have a head start on avoiding many painful mistakes and heartache in life (12:1). The time may come when it’s too late (12:6–7).
3. The only way to have a meaningful life is to fear God and keep his commandments (12:13–14).