Ecclesiastes Recap
A Reflection on Vanity, Wisdom, and the Call to Fear God
Ecclesiastes walks us down a road that many are too afraid to tread: the road of truth. Not the polished, sunny version we wish for, but the dusty, gritty path of real life under the sun. Solomon—once the wisest and wealthiest of men—lays out the brutal honesty of existence without God: it is all vanity. Wealth, wisdom, work, pleasure, legacy, even long life—they’re all shadows without the light of God shining through them. We see men chase after wind, wear themselves out trying to make sense of things they were never meant to control. This book shakes us from our slumber. It reminds us that without God, we will live in darkness, and we will die in darkness. And yet, there’s a flicker of hope throughout: the invitation to fear God and walk with Him.
Solomon’s message is not one of despair, but of spiritual sobriety. He’s trying to wake us up. To teach us that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and without it, our labor is empty. The righteous and the wicked both die. The wise and the fool both suffer. But only those who live in reverence and submission to God will find meaning in the midst of all the mess. Ecclesiastes doesn’t deny hardship—it leans into it. It says the house of mourning is more honest than the house of feasting. It says wisdom is better than weapons of war. It says we will not understand all that God has done—and that’s not a flaw, it’s a design. The mystery is part of the mercy.
Again and again, Solomon reminds us that God is in control of the seasons, the outcomes, the timing, and the judgment. We are not here to master time, but to submit to the One who holds it. We are reminded that our identity must be rooted not in status, riches, or strength—but in righteousness, humility, and fear of the Lord. Every chapter invites the reader to ask: Where am I leaning? Toward God or away from Him? Do I labor for the Kingdom, or for the dust? Do I fear God enough to submit, or am I still clinging to the vanity of my own wisdom?
The book closes with clarity and weight: “Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.” Not some of it. All of it. We are not judged by outcomes, legacies, or public opinions. We are judged by God, who sees every secret thing. In that truth, we find both a warning and a blessing. It is not too late to walk with Him. The sooner we do, the sooner our labor gains meaning, our suffering gains purpose, and our joy gains permanence. Take the leap of faith and trust in God with me and your fellow brothers and sisters. Follow the calling that we are meant to follow. Are you ready?