What am I supposed to do with my life? What’s the whole point of living anyway? These are the big questions of life raised by the author of Ecclesiastes. But his quest to find answers left him frustrated and disillusioned – he calls it an unhappy business that God has assigned to humanity. This was bound to be the case because his was a research project conducted ‘under the sun’ – an exploration made apart from God. 

Nevertheless, his account of his futile quest has much to teach us. His seek-and-search mission for an answer to purpose of life led him to examine wisdom and knowledge, experiment with various forms of pleasure before throwing himself completely into work and the accumulation of wealth. But none provided the answer he was looking for. He was striving after the wind, and it left him empty.

1. The Futility of Human Wisdom
2. The Folly of Pleasure
3. The Failure of Production

Reflection Questions

1. Reflect on a time when achieving a personal goal (e.g., career or academic success, a purchase) left you feeling empty. How does the author’s conclusion in Ecclesiastes 2:11 challenge your view of earthly pursuits?
2. How can you intentionally experience life as God intended when faced with anxiety about unanswered questions or unmet desires?
3. Jesus’ words to his followers in Mark 8:34-37 directly address the big questions of meaning raised by the author of Ecclesiastes. How does Jesus’ message speak to you personally?