Ecclesiastes 12:8-10 – Life is empty without God

A recall of the book of Ecclesiastes will tell us that Solomon had captured the journey of his quest in search for wisdom. He sought to provide insights into how to maximize life on earth. He helps us through his journey to differentiate between wisdom and folly. He also shows us the solemn truth that life’s ultimate end is the grave and our spirit return to our maker. Admit it or not, earthly life or life under the sun’s perspective is empty and meaningless. He realizes that, and says it is “Vanity of vanities.” And this phrase is his common refrain. We can’t help but keep bumping into it ever so often in the book.

He started the book by expressing that life is “vanity of vanities” immediately after introducing himself briefly. Right in the very first verse of the very first chapter, he outrightly exclaims that life is empty. Now as he winds down to the closing of the book, in Ecclesiastes 12:8, that same phrase, “Vanity of vanities” is repeated again. The word “vanity” literally means “a vapor or a breath.” It pictures steam or vapor rising out of the spout of boiling water in a kettle. As quickly as the vapor rises, it also vanishes. Figuratively, Solomon uses the phrase to refer to the transient and futile life in the fallen world. Thankfully vanity of vanities does not have the last say in our life. Why? Because as believers we have Jesus living in our heart and He promises to give us an abundant life. What Solomon had shown so far is to help us see, about living life in this fallen world, outside of the perspective of God. Without God in the picture, life will be futile and meaningless. Now coming to the end of this book, we cannot deny that he had convincingly argued his case. Without God at the center, our life will truly be vain and meaningless and empty.

Everything Solomon had said is wisdom gathered and carefully studied, reflected, researched, and accurately chronicled. How do we know? Verses 9-10 tell us so. He said, “Besides being wise, the Preacher also taught the people knowledge, weighing and studying and arranging many proverbs with great care. The Preacher sought to find words of delight, and uprightly he wrote words of truth.” His works shown in this book are not a random piece-meal. Everything he had said is carefully researched, and thoughtfully interacted with, then carefully, systematically and artfully organized and written. They are meant to be instructive. Knowing them will give us true knowledge. Solomon selected from all the proverbs and wise sayings he had heard, contemplated, then selected those that were helpful, and string them aptly together to provide a rich teaching. Besides he also finds ways to delightfully put it. What he wrote, he did so with wholeness, uprightness, and integrity. In this book, we find a piece of work artistically and cleverly argued. When we look at life’s experiences and compare them with what he had said about them, we will see how unmistakably true he truly is. Without a doubt, Ecclesiastes is truly a piece of clear, comprehensive, intelligent and artfully crafted book. Solomon leaves us with a model on how we should approach, engage and study God in His Word. We too must carefully cogitate and ruminate through each passage of the Word and identify what He is saying to us. We are challenged to make time and take the effort and diligently investigate the Word of God. And we must make this our habit and discipline.

Realize it or not, many truths presented by Solomon in this book are clear instructions to us in our journey with God. If we take time to mull over them, our minds will be instructed and our hearts will be touched in deep ways. Remember that life without God at the center is meaningless and vain. So, let us make Him our center! As Saint Augustine, the Bishop of Hippo so aptly reminded us saying, “Thou hast made us for Thyself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it finds its rest in Thee.”