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.
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