As Solomon, the Teacher, continues, he addresses the issue of working for a lifetime, accumulating and leaving it all to a successor. If your work defines, if your work is where you find your satisfaction and enjoyment or if your work is your identity this realization is hard to accept. As Solomon continues, he comes to the place of understanding that everything we have in this life is truly a good gift from God and ought to be enjoyed in light of a right relationship with God. This is the call for us as believers today, enjoy life’s blessings as a good gift from our good God and be satisfied with him and his kindness!
As Solomon writes Ecclesiastes, as the teacher (Qohelet), he expresses various aspects that everyone experiences in life. Throughout Ecclesiastes, Solomon rehearses the frustration, futility, irony and fleeting nature of life. The difficulties that exist are described throughout Ecclesiastes as hevel or vanity (futility). This theme consistently appears throughout this wisdom literature. Together, all of these frustrations can be rightly engaged, only as we rightly engage God through his revealed word. God offers the perspective and strength that we need to endure the hardships, trials and frustrations that life presents. This is why Solomon calls everyone to fear God and to keep his commands – to follow his instructions. This will not take away the frustrations of life, but it does offer a proper framework by which view them.
