Ecclesiastes Search For The Meaning Of Life

At first glance, the book of Ecclesiastes is one that can be described as bleak and pessimistic at times. However, upon closer look, Ecclesiastes is a book focused on reality, one that deals with the expectations of life. The speaker tests the ins and outs of life in order to discover what the meaning of life truly is. In the end, he discovers that life is not about pursuing human-centric ideals, like wisdom, wealth, and pleasure; instead, humans’ ultimate goal in life is to fear God and to uphold his commandments. This realization is why Ecclesiastes was ultimately included in the Hebrew Bible.

In his search for the meaning of life, the writer discovers that it is not about ideals such as wisdom, wealth, and pleasure. From the beginning of

Fear God, and keep his commandments; for that is the whole duty of everyone. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil.” (Eccles. 12:13-14) This conclusion is reached after exploring the meaning of life without God, where God only watches and has no direct activity in humans’ lives. Achieving each of these human-centric ideals has their own downsides. Knowledge has its limits. “Whatever has come to be has already been named, and it is known what human beings are, and that they are not able to dispute with those who are stronger. The more words, the more vanity, so how is one the better?” (Eccles. 6:10-11) Wisdom is elusive. “See, this is what I found, says the Teacher, adding one thing to another to find the sum, which my mind has sought repeatedly, but I have not found. One man among a thousand I found, but a woman among all these I have not found. See, this alone, I found, that God made human beings straightforward, but they have devised many schemes.” (Eccles. 7:27-29) And even if you find success in finding these ideals, all of it becomes naught once death rolls around. “So I turned and gave my heart up to despair concerning all the toil of my labors under the sun, because sometimes one who has toiled with wisdom and knowledge and skill must leave all to be