All is vanity: Ecclesiastes 1.2–11 (Day 104)

Pray

Lord, prepare me to receive your word. Clear my mind and warm my heart. Assure me of your loving purposes for me, and speak into my life today.

Read

Leviticus 18 Psalm 22 Ecclesiastes 1 1 Timothy 3

Daily Reflection: Ecclesiastes 1

On first reading it might seem that Ecclesiastes is expressing a deeply nihilistic worldview. This is especially noticeable in the repeated phrase 'all is vanity' or 'chasing after the wind'. In the original Hebrew this phrase means futility or lacking in permanent purpose.

This is coupled with the sentiment 'nothing is new under the sun'. Just as the wind will always blow, the cycles of life will always continue and have been continuing as long as humanity has lived – even if we build great monuments or grow fields or gardens, buildings will eventually crumble and the land will become wild again, so our accomplishments can never make a truly new and lasting difference. 

People have interpreted this book in many ways, but the key thing is that the author is presenting a view of the world where God is not central. The phrase 'under the sun' indicates that he’s looking out at the earth without the perspective of heaven. The author is questioning the worth of all we try to do by our own hands to change nature, or to gain some new understanding about the world – we can’t put our sense of worth in these things alone as eventually they will fade away and become worthless again.

But in contrast, with God in the perspective we find freedom from the need to make our lives feel worthwhile by the work of our own hands – people’s opinions and our achievements cannot ultimately define our worth – only God can do that, as he is eternal.

Pray

Lord, whenever I feel despair, help me to look towards you and your perspective on my life and remember that my worth comes from you.