The book of Ecclesiastes seems to be the diatribe of a man who has taken wisdom and philosophy beyond the borders of most peoples’ thinking. Most people are vaguely and sometimes acutely aware of the vanities and vexations of life, but never pause to understand the whole system behind their suffering. Solomon underscores many different reasons why life can seem so unfulfilling—to the point where he basically says life is vain and a waste of time. 

The Vanity Of Mortal Life

What do we gain by all the work we do? Someone else will enjoy the fruit of it anyway without even working for it when we’re gone. Generations come and go while the earth endures forever. Everything goes on and on in a seemingly meaningless cycle. Things are gained without apparent or permanent benefit. 

The sun rises and goes down and returns to the place where it rises day after day. The wind blows to the south and comes around to the north. All streams flow to the sea but it is never full and the streams keep flowing to the same places continually. Our eyes and ears are always looking for more to see and hear and are never satisfied (try scrolling through social media if you don’t believe this one). Some of us work continually without even pausing to enjoy what we have worked for. 

These are a few of the observations Solomon makes (paraphrased, of course) and there are many more we could add to the list. People build huge buildings, cities and entire civilizations only to have it all decimated through war. There are natural catastrophes, diseases and poverty throughout the world. So where can we find hope in all this darkness, chaos, vanity and vexation? 

The End Of The Matter

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

It really boils down to priorities and perspective. This world is in many ways still under the sway of the devil who has a mission to steal, kill and destroy. It is a corrupt world we are born into, but we have the opportunity to be born again into another family that has its existence in an incorruptible Kingdom. That Kingdom will someday come to this world and Jesus, the King, will reign with a rod of iron and those who love Him and have been redeemed by Him, will reign with Him, incorruptible. (Rev. 2:27 & Psalm 2:9)

The Impetus Of Judgment

The judgment Solomon speaks of in the above verses will come, where our lives will be exposed for all to see. Will they see all the vanity and vexation of this age or will they see things of eternal value by the work of the Lord in our lives? 

If we focus on the eternal in this life things cease to be as vexing and vain and we will begin to see hope and victory. We have the ability to see beyond the shroud of our immediate surroundings and into the eternal by the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit. And the accumulation of a life lived for God through many small deeds by His power, is one that has tremendous eternal value. Having lived in this way, when Messiah comes to set up His Kingdom, we will find the ultimate victory as He calls us to reign with Him in a Kingdom with rest, bounty and life eternal—devoid of vanity and vexation. Until then, we rest in that hope.