Two Views of Life

“The occasionally grim realism of Ecclesiastes is understandable when we realize that it tells only part of the story.”

I’ve heard people say that “seeing is believing.” However, for the author of the book of Ecclesiastes, what he saw caused him to say that life is meaningless (Eccl. 1:2, 14; 2:1, 11, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 26). Based on what happens “under the sun,” life can seem empty and even absurd. This perspective may come as a shock. Not only because we find it in the Bible but also because it seems to be the conclusion of someone known to be wise (Eccl. 12:9). What are we to make of the writer’s repeated observation that the world is a place where the righteous appear to be no better off than the wicked (Eccl. 7:15; 8:14; 9:2)?

The book of Ecclesiastes highlights the difference between a life lived by faith and a life based on sight alone. Many of the author’s most troubling assertions begin with the phrase, “I have seen...” (Eccl. 1:14; 3:10; 5:13; 6:1; 7:15; 9:11; 10:5, 7). After surveying the evidence for life’s emptiness, he realizes that what he sees does not tell the whole story. A truly biblical view of life must also consider the unseen God and those aspects of His plan that we cannot see. Ultimately, God will have the final say. He will “bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing” (Eccl. 12:14).

Like the author, we often have certain expectations about how things should work. We believe life should be fair. Shouldn’t God punish those who do bad things and reward those who do what is right? So when this does not happen, we may question whether God is truly in control or whether righteousness is worthwhile. But to grasp the whole story, we must not limit ourselves to appearances alone. There is more to life than what the eye has seen (1 Cor. 2:9). Second Corinthians 5:7 reminds us that “we live by faith, not by sight.” The occasionally grim realism of Ecclesiastes is understandable when we realize that it tells only part of the story. To find life’s true meaning, we must look for it in God, who has revealed Himself through the person and work of Jesus Christ. Jesus is “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). He is both our righteousness and our true reward.

For Further Study

To learn more, read Ecclesiastes by Charles Bridges (Banner of Truth).