“Everything is meaningless,” says the Teacher, “completely meaningless!” Ecclesiastes 1:2 NLT

That’s the whole story. Here now is my final conclusion; Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty. Ecclesiastes 12:13 NLT

In Ecclesiastes we follow the “Teacher’s” journey, (who many believe to be Solomon) from believing that everything in human life is meaningless (verse 1:2) to his final conclusion that all humankind has a duty to fear God and obey his commands. That our relationship with God is the most important thing in our lives.

All of life is work, generations come and go, the sun rises and sets, the winds blow, rivers run into the sea, but the earth never changes, things stay the same. There is nothing new. Solomon asked for wisdom from God when he became king, and God gave him wisdom. Yet in verse 3:18, Solomon says, “The greater my wisdom, the greater my grief.”

Then Solomon seeks pleasure, the good things in life, and realizes that too, was foolishness. He then built homes and planted vineyards, gardens and parks full of fruit trees. Solomon had large herds, gold and silver, everything he wanted, but it was like chasing the wind. Next Solomon compared the wise and the foolish and concluded that both end up the same, both die.

Happily, his journey did not end there. All the pleasures that humans enjoy; food, drink, satisfaction in work, wisdom, knowledge, and joy come as blessings from God! God has planned a time for all things, like seasons, planting and harvesting, crying and laughing, grieving and dancing, and war and peace. God has made everything beautiful.

When we focus on God and all He has blessed us with and provided for us, then we follow the Teacher’s advice to fear God and obey His commands as is our duty.

I thank God for each of you, and I thank you for joining me this week as we journey with Solomon and conclude that we will be wise and fear God and obey His commands in our lives.

Blessings and abundance, joy and peace!