In the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon approaches wisdom from a different perspective than he does in the book of Proverbs. Proverbs provides practical wisdom whereby anyone can take these stated principles, live them out, and be wise in their courses of action throughout life. Ecclesiastes, however, is a consideration of ultimate meaning in life. It is more questioning and philosophic about what is worthwhile.

In order to make his point, Solomon pursues a secular line of thinking in portions of Ecclesiastes. This reasoning, which builds up faulty conclusions because it leaves out consideration of the divine, results in a very pessimistic view of life. We must understand this when we approach the book lest we take one statement out of context and miss the overall point. Consider an example:

In Ecclesiastes 2:17, Solomon concludes: “Therefore I hated life because the work that was done under the sun was distressing to me, for all is vanity and grasping for the wind.” Why was his work distressing? Had he not said just a few verses earlier that, “my heart rejoiced in all my labor” (Ecc. 2:10).  Yet, now he hates his life and work. Why? While he enjoyed the labor itself, he recognized the fruits of that labor are going to dissipate soon in the next generation, as he expounds: “Then I hated all my labor in which I had toiled under the sun, because I must leave it to the man who will come after me. And who knows whether he will be wise or a fool? Yet he will rule over all my labor in which I toiled and in which I have shown myself wise under the sun. This also is vanity” (Ecc. 2:18, 19). Indeed, in Solomon’s own life this was the case. He had more wealth than any other (1 Kings 10:23-29; 2 Chron. 1:11-17; 9:22-31), yet he left it to Rehoboam who had ten tribes succeed from him due to his foolish insistence on being a harsh ruler (1 Kings 12). Then soon after the treasures of Solomon were taken away by foreigners (1 Kings 14:25-26).  All the fruit of his labor under the sun would vanish. That would be distressing. This is still true even today; the wealthiest people who have given their entire lives making money cannot take it with them nor will their descendants be likely to maintain it wisely.

Focusing only on the material wealth of this life, this conclusion is depressing.

But then Solomon presents the turning point in Ecclesiastes 2:24: God, “Nothing is better for a man than that he should eat and drink, and that his soul should enjoy good in his labor. This also, I saw, was from the hand of God.” With God the outlook changes drastically.

Instead of hating life, Solomon concludes that life is a good gift from God, stating, “I know that nothing is better for them than to rejoice, and to do good in their lives, and also that every man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labor—it is the gift of God” (Ecc. 3:12-13). God makes all the pursuits of life worth it, “Here is what I have seen: It is good and fitting for one to eat and drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labor in which he toils under the sun all the days of his life which God gives him; for it is his heritage. As for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, and given him power to eat of it, to receive his heritage and rejoice in his labor—this is the gift of God. For he will not dwell unduly on the days of his life, because God keeps him busy with the joy of his heart” (Ecc. 5:18-20). Life is full of simple pleasures that are the gift of God: “Live joyfully with the wife whom you love all the days of your vain life which He has given you under the sun, all your days of vanity; for that is your portion in life, and in the labor which you perform under the sun” (Ecc. 9:9). Instead of hating our work, we recognize that our labor in the Lord is not in vain (1 Cor. 15:58). God makes all the difference, and that is the point of Ecclesiastes.

God gave a covenant to Israel when He had delivered them from Egyptian bondage, but through their unfaithfulness they broke the covenant (Jer. 31:32). However, God in His mercy and forbearance made a new covenant (Heb. 8:6-12 cf. Jer. 31:31). Though sins were remembered every year in the Levitical sacrifices of the old covenant (Heb. 10:3), under the new covenant God no more remembers sins (Jer. 31:34; Heb. 8:12; 10:17). What is remembered now is Christ’s death. This remembrance is made by means of the Lord’s Supper every week (Mt. 26:26; 1 Cor. 11:24, 25). Here are some reasons that this death, which brought our deliverance, should be remembered as a focal point in the entire history of God’s dealings with man:

The blood of Christ shed on the cross cleanses the conscience in a complete way that could not be achieved merely through old covenant rituals (Heb. 9:9, 14). The sacrifices under the old covenant were an illustration of the cost of sin that pointed toward the perfect sacrifice of Christ for the remission of sins (Heb. 9:22, 23). The blood of Christ not only cleanses us today who live after His death, but also covered those who lived before His death. Hebrews 9:15 speaks of Jesus as the Mediator of the new covenant; however, it also acknowledges His death was for “the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant.” In the mind of God—Who sees all human history at once—forgiveness and salvation could be extended in every age based upon the death of Christ. Even though Jesus lived and died in a particular historical moment that occurred after centuries of human history had already transpired, Jesus is the one “whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed” (Rom. 3:25). While the particulars of obedience varied from the old covenant to the new, God’s grace—extended through Christ’s death on the cross to those who would respond in faith and obedience—has always been the means of salvation.

Not only should the cross be a focal point of human existence collectively, it also should be the focal point of the life of each individual. Life is often tragic. Suffering comes our way. If we are not prepared for it in our mindset, then we can really be thrown off course. Peter was a witness of the sufferings of Christ (1 Pet. 5:1); moreover, he was with the Lord when the Supper was established. Consider the inspired reminders the apostle Peter had for those who are suffering. Christ suffered for us, leaving us an example, that we should follow in His steps (1 Pet. 2:21). Christ suffered for our sins; He suffered even though He is just and we are unjust. Why? To bring us to God (1 Pet. 3:18). Remember this when you are suffering. And when you are tempted to sin, remember since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, we should arm ourselves with the same mind and cease from sinning (1 Pet. 4:1). Remembering Christ’s suffering gives meaning to my life, helps me to be grateful, and deters me from sin. This is why I should continually remember Christ’s death on the cross.

One of the joys of traveling is meeting New Testament Christians in different places. To attend another congregation and to see the “like precious faith” in the lives and worship of others is indeed a blessing to my soul. It reminds me that Jesus Christ is head of the church, King over the kingdom, and that His last will and testament is understandable and can be followed.

Religious division, however, shrouds those truths from many. Paul addressed this when he wrote, “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment” (1 Cor. 1:10). Paul was pleading with those in Corinth to have unity. He had heard from reliable sources that Corinth was divided in following different preachers (1 Cor. 1:11-13) and these fractions had disrupted proper worship (1 Cor. 11:18-20; 14:33).

Paul’s pleading was “by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,” in other words by the authority of the Lord. Paul words were the Lord’s commandments (1 Cor. 14:37). Some have attempted to contradict this truth by misusing the phrase “But to the rest speak I, not the Lord…” (1 Cor 7:12). But what Paul was saying is that the Lord had addressed the previous principles of 1 Corinthians 7:10-11 with His teaching while on earth (cf. Mt. 5:32; 19:9). Paul was pointing out in verse 12 that he was giving God’s inspired instructions regarding matters not explicitly stated by Jesus during His earthly ministry. Jesus indeed had many more instructions to impart that the Holy Spirit would guide the apostle in after Jesus’ death, resurrection, and ascension (Jn. 16:12, 13). Paul taught the words the Holy Spirit gave (1 Cor. 2:13).

When we stay with the word of God, we will all speak the same thing. Some religious groups try to enforce uniformity in their doctrines, but that is not what Paul means. The Watchtower has its curriculum that each Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses receives and studies so that all are being taught the same exact lesson. Many religious groups follow a liturgical calendar where certain passages and topics are covered on given dates throughout the year. These are not what Paul is referring to. That one can travel to another congregation of Christ’s church in another area of the world and hear the pure word of God is a testament to this truth Paul emphasized in 1 Corinthians 1:10. The churches of Christ do not have some earthly headquarters that controls what each congregation studies every single week. There is no human hierarchy to enforce conformity. The headquarters is in heaven with Jesus Christ ruling over His people (Eph. 1:20-23).

We are not only to speak the same things and have no divisions, but also to “be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment” (1 Cor. 1:10). As the church, we are a people joined together for a purpose greater than ourselves; the church is greater than the sum of its parts. As Paul explained, “Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.” (Eph. 2:19-22). Think of the way that different pieces of wood are fitly framed together in mortise and tenon joints. The unity of which we speak then does not mean that we are clones of one another. As Paul later explained to the Corinthians, we each as members of the body have unique attributes that we bring together to serve the whole (1 Cor. 12). Let us be perfectly joined together by God’s word.