Ecclesiastes 6:10-12 – How to be satisfied with life

One great advice we must consider in life is to always begin with the end in mind. In life, if we have a mission, we are more likely to find purpose, meaning, and fulfillment.  The end-goal in life must be to connect with God deeply. Remember, ultimately, everything will culminate in Him. We were created to bring Him pleasure. And if we fail to find that purpose, how can we ever be satisfied? An old Chinese saying goes like this: The journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step. May we add the first step in the right direction! Otherwise, we will be going around in circles.

In these verses in Ecclesiastes 6, Solomon disappointingly tells us that satisfaction is not guaranteed and even suggests that to be dead is better off than being alive. He even insinuates that it’s hard to find satisfaction because of our insatiable appetite. Now in verses 10-12, he insisted like he did before, that life is going around the same old mundane path until the day of death. What happens after that is anybody’s guess.  He said, “Whatever has come to be has already been named, and it is known what man is and that he is not able to dispute with one stronger than he. The more words, the more vanity, and what is the advantage to man? For who knows what is good for man while he lives the few days of his vain life, which he passes like a shadow? For who can tell man what will be after him under the sun?”

Like a broken record, Solomon was still at it. Though we have come to the midpoint of the book of Ecclesiastes, he is still saying the same thing that he had begun with at the onset. To him there is nothing new under the sun. Why is life so mundane and seems to be going in circles since the fall of Adam? Apart from God, no one has the perfect explanation to the plight of man. However, Solomon did say it makes no sense to argue and complain about it to God. As unhappy as we are with all that’s happening to our life, it makes no sense to argue with God. He had warned man of the consequence of disobedience right at the onset of creation. No matter how unfair we feel about the plight we have to endure, it’s pointless to blame God. All we need to know is that God is far too loving to be cruel and far too deep to explain Himself. It is necessary for us to rightly appraise our capacity. We need to know our limits and accept that we can never out argue God. Apart from Him, no one has a better idea than He, concerning how this universe and our life ought to be run. No wonder in Romans 9:20, Paul reminds us strongly, saying “Who are you, O man, to answer back to God?”

Instead of going on winding endlessly, he decided to end this chapter with a few rhetorical questions. He asked firstly, “For who knows what is good for man while he lives the few days of his vain life, which he passes like a shadow?” And secondly, “For who can tell man what will be after him under the sun?” These are questions pertaining to the meaning of life and death. Firstly, he wanted to know about our present reality. Like him, we know that earthly life is short and transient. Life is like a shadow that shifts rapidly for we are unlike God, who has no shadow of turning. Within this short space of transient life, if we do not have God, life will truly be meaningless and empty. Like Solomon had insisted it’ll all be vanity, sheer vanity. Yet without a doubt, we are still learning and seeking ways to live a good life.

The second issue needing answer is, “What happens after this earthly life is folded?” Solomon wondered who knows what would happen after this life. Bear in mind that in this book, his is an “under-the-sun” perspective. He has no answer though occasionally he would talk about God. Let me give you a brief preview of the answer which will be revealed at the end of this book. It is none other than the God factor. “The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.” So says the first of the Westminster shorter catechism. But until we know God, how can we glorify Him? If we are not connected with Jesus how can we experience the fullness of all that God has installed for us? Take to heart what Paul said in Colossians 2:9-10. It will help us to hold on to God when life seems to come unglued. Paul says “For in him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.  And we are complete in him….” And yes, we certainly are!