Studies in Ecclesiastes

Ecclesiastes is a clear confirmation that life, apart from God, is meaningless. Solomon proved this conclusion. We make excuses for not being satisfied. If only we had more time. Solomon could devote every waking hour to his pursuit of meaning and happiness and could find neither. If only we had more money to spend. Solomon had the wealth to buy anything and still found nothing to satisfy him. If only I had not been so distracted. In Solomon's day there were no wars, no catastrophes. He was free to give all his attention to his pursuit of satisfaction, yet came up empty. If the God of grace enables you to be honest with reality, you will not escape tears and sorrow, but the tears will flow down a smiling face and the sorrow will not be the sorrow of despair but will be accompanied with the sure hope of the Gospel. On the one hand, see and believe that everything, apart from the grace of God, is meaningless, and at the same time, fear God and keep his commandments (cf. Eccl 12:13).