True Joy Comes From God (Part 1 of 2)
Ecclesiastes 6: The Vanity of Life Without God
Ecclesiastes chapter 6 describes life without God as vain—pointless, without value, like chasing after the wind. Everything done apart from God lacks significance. Solomon illustrates this through various aspects of life that prove unsatisfying without a relationship with Him.
There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, and it lies heavy on mankind. A man to whom God gives wealth, possessions, and honor, so that he lacks nothing of all that he desires, yet God does not give him power to enjoy them, but a stranger enjoys them. This is vanity. It is a grievous evil.
If a man fathers a hundred children and lives many years, so that the days of his years are many, but his soul is not satisfied with life's good things, and he also has no burial, I say that a stillborn child is better off than he. For it comes in vanity and goes in darkness, and in darkness its name is covered. Moreover, it has not seen the sun or known anything; it finds rest rather than he. Even though he should live a thousand years twice over, yet enjoy no good—do not all go to the one place?
All the toil of man is for his mouth, yet his appetite is not satisfied. What advantage has the wise over the fool? What does the poor man have who knows how to conduct himself before the living? Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the appetite. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.
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?
Ecclesiastes 6:1-12
The book of Ecclesiastes pictures life without God as a waste. Without trusting in Him for salvation, life is vain. Solomon reveals not just the pointlessness of such a life but also the joy available in a life with God. Unbelievers may experience worldly joy, but it pales compared to the joy found in God. Real joy comes from God alone—nothing outside a relationship with Him can satisfy.
Are You Satisfied?
Life without God leaves us perpetually hungry, like eating a meal only to hunger again soon after. Anything pursued apart from God cannot satisfy. Are you satisfied with your life—with school, work, friends, or relationships? Contentment means no grumbling or complaining.
The Israelites grumbled in the wilderness despite God's provision and miracles. If all you had was God, you would be in paradise. Examine your friendships: Do they have value? What about romantic relationships? Could you be satisfied single for life with God? Ecclesiastes shows that without God, no area of life satisfies.
1. You Can't Be Satisfied with Life's Good Things
Even good things from God—wealth, possessions, honor, food—cannot satisfy without His power to enjoy them. A man may lack nothing he desires, yet a stranger enjoys it. This is vanity, a grievous evil.
Paul learned contentment in plenty or want, but without God, even wealth leaves one unsatisfied. Toys, video games, music, gadgets—none satisfy permanently or accompany us beyond death. God grants the power to enjoy good things only to those who enjoy Him first.
2. You Can't Be Satisfied with Life's Good Relationships
Even fathering 100 children—a blessing in Solomon's day—does not satisfy without God. A stillborn child finds rest, better off than one with many years but no satisfaction. Children belong to God, who appoints our time to die. Good relationships satisfy only when God is our ultimate joy.
3. You Can't Be Satisfied with Life's Good Experiences
Long life, wisdom, poverty with conduct, eloquence—none provide advantage without God. The wise have no edge over the fool; experiences do not satisfy. People chase comfort in this life, shortsighted to eternity.
Christians face trials, yet count them joy (James 1). Trials test faith, more valuable than gold (1 Peter 1), conforming us to Christ's image. Pain draws us closer to God, freeing us to long for eternal joy where tears are wiped away.
The greatest advantage in life is God, the Creator of life.
