The context of Ecclesiastes is important. If you are unfamiliar with the book, and read some excerpts you may draw the wrong conclusion. For example, reading Ecclesiastes 1 may lead you to think that wisdom is futile and not worth pursuing. This is not at all the case! We must realize the broader context of the book. Solomon is reflecting back on many things he has pursued in his life in looking for personal fulfillment. If we keep his ultimate conclusion in mind, we can better understand the context in which he says pursuing wisdom is like chasing the wind.
13The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. 14For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.
Wisdom is good, but wisdom by itself, as a goal, is empty without the presence and purposes of YHWH. Man was created to live in relationship with the Father. Many try to fill this “hole” with other things like wisdom, power, money, sex, achievement, etc. However, nothing else can fill this hole that was designed to be filled by our relationship with the Father. It is all like chasing the wind without Him.
The Futility of Wisdom
12I, the Preacher, have been king over Israel in Jerusalem. 13And I set my mind to seek and explore by wisdom concerning all that has been done under heaven. It is a grievous task which God has given to the sons of men to be afflicted with. 14I have seen all the works which have been done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and striving after wind. 15What is crooked cannot be straightened and what is lacking cannot be counted.
16I said to myself, “Behold, I have magnified and increased wisdom more than all who were over Jerusalem before me; and my mind has observed a wealth of wisdom and knowledge.” 17And I set my mind to know wisdom and to know madness and folly; I realized that this also is striving after wind. 18Because in much wisdom there is much grief, and increasing knowledge results in increasing pain.
Seek relationship with the Father. Pursue Him through Yeshua, who is the way, the truth, and the life.
6Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.
—-
Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.