Ecclesiastes is believed to be the last book written by King Solomon and it is believed to have been written near the end of his life. Upon first entering into this book, it can be very depressing. It speaks of futility and vanity. Today’s verse tells us that everything is vanity or meaningless. As you read things like that you can come away with a belief that there is no point to human existence.

It would be a mistake to take that outlook from this fascinating book. What Ecclesiastes does is take our eyes off of the things that we think are important and places them on the things that God says are important. Solomon was the wisest man to ever live. Sadly, his wisdom did not keep him from disobeying and turning away from the LORD. King Solomon had everything and he was the world’s greatest example that ‘having it all’ is not enough. At the end of his life when he had experienced ‘everything that his heart desired’ he uttered the statement above; it was all meaningless.

Solomon had wealth, great wealth and learned that it did not bring meaning to his life. He had power and it did not fulfill him the way that He hoped that it would. Solomon was king so he had position, the highest position there was, and it brought him no satisfaction. Solomon enjoyed any kind of pleasure that he desired, and it left him empty and wanting. Solomon had all the things that the world tries to tell you will make you happy and fulfilled and discovered that they did not.

At the end of Solomon’s life, he discovered or realized that even with all the things that should make him happy he was not. It was at that realization that he uttered the words above; it is all meaningless. And understand that Solomon is not saying that any of those things are bad; though some of them were forbidden by God and thus were bad. It was the pursuit of those things that was meaningless. To make the driving force of your life the pursuit of the things that Solomon had and enjoyed; that is meaningless.

It is pointless and meaningless to spend your life going after something that will not satisfy you and bring meaning to your life. As you read Ecclesiastes you will learn what it is that will bring meaning to your life, and you will learn that it is probably not what you think it is. If you will keep your spiritual eyes and ears open to what the Spirit would say to you, you will learn how to have a life of meaning and fulfillment. Jesus, help us to see where true meaning and fulfillment can be found in this life.

Read: Ecclesiastes 1:1-3:22; 2 Corinthians 6:1-13; Psalm 46:1-11; Proverbs 22:15