Ecclesiastes is good for me.

Again I find myself teaching the book to Fusion’s Certificate IV students at a time when I think I need to be hearing what the book is saying.

I love the courage of Ecclesiastes, Solomon (I go with the author the bible wants me to think it is, despite all the discussion about authorship), dares to ask the very scary question does life have any meaning at all?

I came across a quote that I think captures a bit of the importance of the book:

The book goes in two arcs, the first from chapter one to 3:15 and then from 3:16 to the end of the book, in both cases ending in the same place.

I love the way Solomon tries on so many different approaches to life, and finds each one wanting and finally reaches what he considers the point of life:

I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race. He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yetno one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.  I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. ¹³ That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God. (3:10-13)

This passage comes directly after the beautiful “time for every purpose under heaven” section and captures Solomon’s philosophy. It’s a shame the word “burden” sounds so negative, my understanding is that the Hebrew language is more like “heavy choice”. The choice we have is to find “the beautiful time”, the “time for every purpose under heaven”. The purpose of life is to find a way to harmonize with the creator of the universe. Maurice West said:

“If a man is centred upon himself, the smallest risk is too great for him, because both success and failure can destroy him. If he is centred upon God, then no risk is too great, because success is already guaranteed; the successful union of Creator and creature, beside which everything else is meaningless.”

How is it possible to work out what God wants? There is part of you that knows, and it’s not your head…. “He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.”

Reading Ecclesiastes is like a reality check. It forces me to examine the foundations of your life and reminds me that I’m not it.

I’m so glad Solomon had the courage to ask the scary questions.