Though work is good, wealth can can drive a person into places he or she doesn't want to go (Eccl. 4:4-16; Luke 14:27-29).

We often feel distraught when justice is imperfect, but there is a time when full justice will come (Eccl. 3:16-4:3, 12:14; 1 Peter 2:23).

Good times and bad times seem to come to everyone, regardless of their faithfulness to God (Eccl. 3:1-15; Rom. 8:28-30).

Solomon begins to chronicle his search for meaning, and cannot find it in self indulgence, wisdom, or hard work; but points to the hand of God as the key to true pleasure (Eccl. 2:1-26; Phil. 3:18-21).

Ecclesiastes 1 exposes the temporal nature of things “under the sun” are exposed as vapor and will lead only to internal and external vexation if you place your meaning and purpose in them. In contrast, we have the newness only being found in Christ (Eccl. 1:1-18, Eph. 2:5-6).

Solomon shares the repentant reflections of his own life, recounting his failure to find meaning in anything.

The fall of mankind has introduced an upside-down situation, but God remains available and perfect (Gen. 3:14-24; Ecclesiastes 4).