Ecclesiastes 9-12

Life is Meaningless - Ecclesiastes 9-12

Listen to Ecclesiastes 9-12

Good Morning! Over the weekend we started Ecclesiastes, and today we finish the book.
Ecclesiastes is a book that some say is hard to read or understand, but, in reading the book, I would say that it is quite simple. To understand Ecclesiastes, I would suggest to first turn off trying to obtain the spiritual meaning of the book. The book of Ecclesiastes is a journal or a collection of thoughts of a man, (Could even be someone in today's world) who reflects on the problems of life. He is wrestling with life's realities, how to live in a world where death and judgement are certain.
When you read the book sometimes it seems to ramble on, just a collection of thoughts. Since we are ending Ecclesiastes today, let's see what the writer concludes about the meaning of life.


Focus Verses
4 I undertook great projects: I built houses for myself and planted vineyards. 5 I made gardens and parks and planted all kinds of fruit trees in them. 6 I made reservoirs to water groves of flourishing trees. 7 I bought male and female slaves and had other slaves who were born in my house. I also owned more herds and flocks than anyone in Jerusalem before me.


8 I amassed silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and provinces. I acquired men and women singers, and a harem as well-the delights of the heart of man. 9 I became greater by far than anyone in Jerusalem before me. In all this my wisdom stayed with me.

10 I denied myself nothing my eyes desired;
I refused my heart no pleasure.
My heart took delight in all my work,
and this was the reward for all my labor.

11 Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done
and what I had toiled to achieve,
everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind;
nothing was gained under the sun.

14 The wise man has eyes in his head,
while the fool walks in the darkness;
but I came to realize
that the same fate overtakes them both.

16 For the wise man, like the fool, will not be long remembered;
in days to come both will be forgotten.
Like the fool, the wise man too must die! - Ecclesiastes 2: 4-11, 14, 16
Thought for the DayIf I were to give you an overview of Ecclesiastes, it would be this. Here is a man who had everything that life would allow him to have. There was nothing that he did not buy or have, he had it ALL. He denied himself NOTHING, if it was a desire in his heart, it happened.

To put this in terms that we can identify with better, Imagine you had all the money in the world. You had as many houses, as large as you wanted, where you wanted. You had as many kinds of cars you desired. You had all the latest toys technology had created. If Macintosh came out with a new iPhone, you were the first to have it. And as far as women or men were concerned, you had as many as you could handle in 24 hours. You were so popular, they would be at your beck and call. Are you getting the picture?

Now, imagine that you have ALL this....... and it still is not enough, it almost seems empty, there is no real meaning in all this. This is what the writer of Ecclesiastes is struggling with. He even toils with the idea that you could work your entire life for these toys, die, and give all your toys to someone who does not deserve them, so why?. He finally comes to the conclusion that rich or poor, wise or fool, we all are going to die. So where does one find completeness or happiness?

In Chapter 4 the writer starts to change gears and point towards GOD. Then in the last two verses of the book, the writer comes to a conclusion about his dilemma:

Now all has been heard;
here is the conclusion of the matter:
Fear God and keep his commandments,
for this is the whole duty of man.

For God will bring every deed into judgment,
including every hidden thing,
whether it is good or evil.


This is one lesson that we need to remember, or for some of us, learn. I know that when I am feeling down or discouraged, I think that if I go and buy that new toy that I have had my eye on for sometime, it will make me feel better. I am sure it will bring temporary happiness, but in the end I will go back to feeling the same way again.

Life without Jesus is empty. He is the only one that will be able to fill us up, and make us feel complete. This is one lesson that we need to teach the generation below us, especially with all the bombardment of society telling them, they are nothing without their products. Hollywood is a great example of this, Brittney Spears, Lindsey Lohan, Paris, the list goes on and on. They have everything, yet they still struggle to "Find" themselves. When I am feeling down, I can take my Bible, go to a spot by myself, read, and feel this peace and comfort come over me. maybe give it a try when you are feeling empty. Have a BLESSED Monday - Jim :)

Bible TriviaConnect the Thots:

Your Parents
Better than Sacrifice
God Rather than Men

Hint: Ephesians 6:1, 1 Samuel 15:22, Acts 5:29

Gods411 InteractiveVideo Devotionals! Get a Overview of Our Lessons
Find Your Answers - Gods411 Topical Bible
Find Your Prayer - Praying the Bible
Wisdom of Proverbs - Search by Topic
Reading Schedule
Tuesday, July 31th Reading - Song of Solomon 1-8

View July's Reading Schedule

Have a BLESSED Day!!