Ecclesiastes 8:14-15 – Life seems unfair, but with God life is good

Billy Joe an American singer-songwriter, composer, and pianist wrote and sang a song entitled, “Only the good die young.” That’s the misconception of the world. They think that the good die young while the bad live longer. Solomon entertained a similar idea though not in such an extreme. In verse 14, he shares an observation in life. He wonders if the law of retribution is working in reverse order. If not, why then do righteous people have to go through so much, suffering the things that only wicked people deserved. And the wicked seem to enjoy so much blessing that is rightly due to the righteous. What he sees made him return to his constant refrain, saying this also is vanity. This is certainly hard for one’s mind to fathom. Though not able to explain this enigma, Solomon was deeply assured that all will be well for the people who fear the Lord. Why? For the all-seeing God can see and know how one has conducted one’s God-fearing life. The issue for us, who seek to be godly, is how should we live in the meantime? How should we continue to live here on earth?

In verse 15 Solomon offers a practical advice. He says, “I commend joy, for man has nothing better under the sun but to eat and drink and be joyful, for this will go with him in his toil through the days of his life that God has given him under the sun.” If we have followed his trend of thoughts we would have seen that he had consistently called for such a lifestyle. He said so in Ecclesiastes 2:24-26, then again in Ecclesiastes 3:12-13 and also Ecclesiastes 5:18-20. Now we see the same call again in Ecclesiastes 8:15. In spite of how vain and empty life seems to be “under the sun” there are always ways to find joy, and live our daily life with contentment.

There are some who see this verse as a resignation to life. It is as if we are asked to just eat and be merry since we are all going to die anyway. What’s wrong with this perspective is its failure to put God in the picture. It has totally missed the part that sees the days of our life as given by God to live here on earth. Solomon is referring to the days we have on earth as a gift from God. The point is this: conscious of it or not we have God with us every moment in life. This being so, there can be contentment even in the deepest and darkest hour of life. Here he commands us to be joyful. We can derive satisfaction out of the very ordinary activities. Finding time to eat and drink and have fellowship with the godly can be enriching to life. We can share God’s goodness with fellow pilgrims advancing to the eternal city of God.

However, it is true that we can never have personal satisfaction and joy without connecting personally to our blessed Saviour and Lord. The thought that life is short and uncertain can drive us to depression. But the glorious hope of knowing Jesus is that this is just one phase of life. When our life is folded here on earth, the new and more exciting phase of living eternally with the Lord begins. Meanwhile, we just live each day with anticipation of something greater to come. So, enjoy the life we have now!