Ecclesiastes 3: Everything's Pointless, Now What?

"I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live; also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God's gift to man." Ecclesiastes 3:12-13

As we come today to the chapter of Ecclesiastes 3, let us remember the context of this chapter. In Ecclesiastes 2, Solomon has just pointed out the vanity of wisdom, want, and work. He briefly concludes in the final verses of the chapter that "there is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil." When all is vanity, Solomon says, the best thing to do is find enjoyment in that which God has given to us. But how can this be? If everything is vanity, how can we find enjoyment? Solomon answers this question in chapter 3.

Ecclesiastes 3 is probably the most popular chapter in Ecclesiastes, yet sadly the most misunderstood and misapplied. It starts off which a poem about how there is a "time for every matter under heaven." This is a great section of scripture that often comforts us in troubling times, as it certainly should. However, we must read it in context. Paired with the next paragraph, we can see that Solomon's point here is that there are changing times and changing seasons, yet God is over all of them. These temporary, non-eternal seasons God has made beautiful in their timing, though they are not the eternity in which God has placed inside of man's heart (11). In other words, these temporary seasons often seem unsatisfying, because they ought to be. We were not created for changing times and seasons, but for eternity. Thus, in this in-between time between the temporary earth and the eternal heaven, Solomon concludes that we ought to have joy and do good.

At first, Solomon's conclusion might seem rather obscure; I know it did for me. But nevertheless, scripture is infallible, and we must seek to understand it. Solomon's point here, as enforced greater in the last section of the chapter (16-22) is not the "eat, drink, for tomorrow we shall die" type of mentality, though it may seem like it is. Solomon is not saying to throw our hands up in the air and involve ourselves with drunkenness and partying because everything is pointless. Rather, he is saying that beause everything is vanity, we must seek to do that which we were created for: to do good and find joy in all that God has given to us. Since God has placed eternity into our hearts, we will not be satisfied apart from him. And since we cannot be fully satisfied in the temporary seasons of this earth, we must look to find goodness and joy in something higher, that is, the commands and ways of our eternal God whose plans "endure forever" (14).

In summary, Matthew Henry states this about Ecclesiastes 3: "If all things in this world be so uncertain, it is a foolish thing for men sordidly to spare for uthe present, that they may hoard up all for hereafter; it is better to live cheerfully and usefully up what what we have, and let tomorrow take thought for the things of itself. Grace and wisdom to do this is the gift of God."

So, are you rejoicing in the vanity? This world is temporary and the pleasures within it will not satisfy, so does that lead you to find joy in your Creator who is above and beyond this world? Child, rejoicing is your lot (22), and therefore unless you find joy in Jesus you will be in despair because you are not doing what you have been created for. Perhaps you feel dry, empty, and pointless. Perhaps it is because you are looking for satisfaction in the temporary rather than the eternal. I encourage you to wake yourself, do good, and find enjoyment in the gifts of God, which is your lot (22). Amen.