19.12.15p - Ecclesiastes - Vanity

If you were given all the wisdom that would make you wiser than any man or woman on the planet, what would you do with it? In Ecclesiastes, Solomon pursues the answer to the question, "What is the point of life?" There is no telling how many people on earth struggle with this question every day. We want to find something of value to live our lives pursuing. People make their life all about many different things, but what is life all about?

What Is Life On Earth Like?

Ecclesiastes 1:1--11 (ESV) --- 1 The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem. 2 Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity. 3 What does man gain by all the toil at which he toils under the sun? 4 A generation goes, and a generation comes, but the earth remains forever. 5 The sun rises, and the sun goes down, and hastens to the place where it rises. 6 The wind blows to the south and goes around to the north; around and around goes the wind, and on its circuits the wind returns. 7 All streams run to the sea, but the sea is not full; to the place where the streams flow, there they flow again. 8 All things are full of weariness; a man cannot utter it; the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing. 9 What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun. 10 Is there a thing of which it is said, "See, this is new"? It has been already in the ages before us. 11 There is no remembrance of former things, nor will there be any remembrance of later things yet to be among those who come after.

Many believe this book is written by Solomon, the man who asked God for wisdom. If you remember, God gave him wisdom and riches and glory. What does all of that wisdom help Solomon see on earth? He sees vanity. Some translations use the word meaningless because vanity is not something we use very often. The idea of vanity is like futility. You put in all kinds of effort like running on a treadmill, and you find that you haven't gone anywhere or made any progress. That's what Solomon says he has found as he searches for something of value from all his work. As Solomon works, he finds that nothing really changes. The world is going through this endless cycle. He says in 1:15, "What is crooked cannot be made straight, and what is lacking cannot be counted." We get a picture of trying to make a dent or cause a change in something that is so much bigger than us.

In Chapter 2, he explains the different tests that he went through. He tried to see if there was any value in foolish things. He tried to enjoy wine, build great works, acquire more possessions, be entertained, and enjoy sexual pleasures. He became the greatest man in all the earth from earthly standards. He says that it was all vanity and like striving after wind. All of those accomplishments have no lasting value, and eventually, they will be lost to death. It is at this point that he makes his first major statement: "There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God."

In Chapter 3, Solomon says that all of life is going to have both good and bad. It doesn't matter who you are. We all have to come to terms with the fact that God has made everything temporary. This is in line with the curse of Genesis 3. But he says that there is a desire for something eternal inside of us (Ecc 3:11). We want to be back in the garden again. But instead of the garden, we all die. Why? Solomon says that in the place of righteousness he sees wickedness. None of us are worthy of the garden anymore. God has made it to where we would see death, so that we will seek things that are eternal. We all are living with a desire to feel fulfilled like we were in the garden. That's what he is saying in 3:11.

Unfortunately, Chapters 4, 5, and most of 6 reveal that man is busy seeking satisfaction on earth with temporary things. In Chapter 4, he says that many of us are suffering through life alone because we are selfish, and we would rather use other people than have a relationship that benefits us. In the first seven verses of Chapter 5, he says that we go to worship God with a focus more on ourselves than on God. We make foolish vows and turn God against us. From 5:8-6:9, Solomon points to those who think that satisfaction can be found with money. Again, he says they will come up empty-handed. The more money they have, the more problems they will have. Many people are so focused on money that they neglect the blessings that money brings, and they neglect the relationships God has given them to pursue it. They are truly the least happy people. He ends by saying, "Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the appetite, this also is vanity and a striving after wind."

This is Solomon's view of life on the earth. Men are in constant pursuit of something that will serve them and they are always coming up empty. They become wicked because righteous living doesn't get them what their heart desires. Solomon's solution is to be content with what your labor produces and enjoy that (5:18-20). But he has more advice in the next section.

What Should We Do?

In Chapter 6:10, Solomon transitions from accepting these truths to talking about what is good for us to do now that we know life is temporary and that loving ourselves, making false promises to God, and loving money doesn't help us.

Ecclesiastes 6:10--12 (ESV) --- 10 Whatever has come to be has already been named, and it is known what man is, and that he is not able to dispute with one stronger than he. 11 The more words, the more vanity, and what is the advantage to man? 12 For who knows what is good for man while he lives the few days of his vain life, which he passes like a shadow? For who can tell man what will be after him under the sun?

Solomon says we are what we are. We cannot force God to make us something else. No amount of talking is going to help our situation, but what can we do? How can we have a good life? In Chapter 7, he lists several things: Have a good name, go to the house of mourning, endure sorrow and rebuke, avoid oppression and bribery, find patience instead of anger, and find wisdom with an inheritance. This last point about finding wisdom is really the answer the book. If we want to enjoy a long, happy life, our best option is to pursue wisdom with humility.

At the end of Chapter 7, he says that in all of his searchings for the benefit of wisdom and folly, he has found that men are searching for a scheme that will never be found. It's a trap likened to a seductive woman. We are looking for something on this earth to restore us to the way we use to be, but we will never find it in ourselves.

Why Pursue Wisdom With Humility?

In Chapter 8, he proclaims that wisdom is precious because we can interpret more of life with wisdom. In verse 1, he says, "Who is like the wise? And who knows the interpretation of a thing? A man's wisdom makes his face shine, and the hardness of his face is changed."

Having wisdom will make many of our days happy. It won't solve all of our problems. Choosing wisdom does not take away our suffering or help us tell the future (8:7-9, 9:11-12). As he said in 1:18, increasing wisdom also increases our sorrow and aggravation as we see what is wrong, and we are powerless to make it right. However, Solomon tells us that wisdom has much value because it will improve our lives.

In 8:12-13, he says that the wicked will not get away with their evil because God is going to make them pay. Then, in 9:1, he says that the wise are in the hand of God though they have no idea what God will do to them. Like we studied in Job, they could be in for trials that test their faith, a life of blessing, or both.

One thing that is troubling in the book is how Solomon understands death. He, like Job, thinks that the wicked and the righteous die, then they know nothing (9:5). The best thing we can do is enjoy the blessings God gives us while we are alive on earth with wisdom and humility because no one knows what God has in store after this life.

This is the point where we remember that Solomon is writing without the full revelation that we enjoy today. He does not even have the promises of the prophets yet.

From 9:13-11:4, we see many proverbs of Solomon that reveal why wisdom is greater than folly. These are proverbs that would help us all to live life in peace, but they do not seem to add to Solomon's overall argument about life.

In verse 5 of Chapter 11, he begins his conclusion. The conclusion of this book is an admonition to sow seed at all times hoping that God will work to bring you success and give you blessings and joy. He wants the young man to find joy in the benefits of this life and to get the most out of life before the sad and challenging days come when he is unable to enjoy anything. It can all be taken away at any time, so enjoy it while it lasts. But enjoy it with wisdom and humility toward God.

Ecclesiastes 12:13--14 (ESV) --- 13 The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. 14 For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.

What Is The Message?

The message of this book is that everything we pursue on this earth is vanity. Solomon tests out everything under the sun and determines that the best we can hope for is a long life without too much suffering. He says that if man pursues wisdom, enjoys the work of his hands, enjoys the fruit of his labor, and remembers God who has given him all of these things, he might enjoy life. But ultimately, nothing is promised except that these things will not last. It is all temporary, and it does not get us the eternal joy we want. Realizing this is depressing, but also a significant accomplishment. It frees us from our pursuits.

I think all of us go through a pursuit like Solomon's. We all try to find a scheme that will satisfy our need for more. We change jobs, we change hobbies, we trade our possessions, and we even try doing things that we know are wrong to feel something worthwhile. We are all trying the things that are temporary to see if what Solomon found holds. Solomon does not see anything eternal, but what he sees convinces him that it is always wise to stay in the hand of God and do what is right. Pursuing all of these material things will leave us empty. When we go to a funeral, we are reminded of this. When we die, the things of this earth stay here, and we go somewhere else. This view of death helps us keep things in perspective and stop placing a higher value on items that we will only have for a limited time.

What About Us?

Looking at this book through the lens of the New Testament, we may feel like something is missing in Solomon's understanding of the world. Solomon is only looking at what he can see under the sun. "Under the sun" is used over and over again in the book. Solomon recommends that we enjoy life with contentment, wisdom, and humility while we remember God, who blesses us. If we were to do what Solomon says, we would be finding a balance between work, family, fun, and worship. But knowing the New Testament, we might alter that a little bit to say worship God as you enjoy your work, family, and fun.

We can enjoy all of the blessings of this life, as Solomon recommends. But living under the sun is only a small taste of the eternal blessings that God has promised for those who love him. Through Jesus, we can also have what Solomon was looking for. Jesus reveals a way back to the garden through him. He gives life the eternal meaning that we are all searching for.

Matthew 6:19--21 (ESV) --- 19 "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

If we are looking to lay up treasures that will last, Jesus tells us that we can do that though him. All of those who follow him will find eternal satisfaction. He goes beyond Solomon, giving us what Solomon could not by showing us how to live a life that has meaning and eternal joy alongside our creator.

Conclusion

We are on this earth to understand that we were created for more than this earth has to offer. Are you searching for the eternal? We are called to die to this world and live a new life that resembles our eternal king. We receive eternal blessings and hope for joy, wisdom, and the ability to worship that this world has never seen before.