The book of Ecclesiastes in the Old Testament is one of the most important books in the bible that teaches us wisdom, what the world is, how to live our lives etc.
In this article, we are going to answer the question,” what is the main message of Ecclesiastes.” I am sure you may be asking this very same question as you have arrived here.
The book of Ecclesiastes, which was written by King Solomon, has many messages to tell us that are full of wisdom and relevant in our lives and in the world we live in today.
Ecclesiastes is a book that has been called “the preacher’s book,” because it deals with many of the same questions that preachers address in their sermons. But it does so in a very different way, and often from a very different perspective.
The author of Ecclesiastes writes as one who has tried all things and found them all to be vanity ( Ecclesistes1:2). The preacher of this book goes on to say that Life is full of disappointments and that pleasure fails to satisfy the human soul.
He further goes on to say that wealth cannot buy happiness, that wisdom is no substitute for folly, and that hard work will not always guarantee success in life (Eccl 2:1-11).
The writer ends by saying that there is nothing better for a man than to enjoy his work while he does it, be happy, and enjoy life while it lasts ( Eccl 2:24-26).
He also says that the moral obligation of man is to fear God and to keep His commandments, as God will bring everything we do one day to judgment whether good or bad.
To answer the question,” what is the main message of Ecclesiastes,” we will look at the 5 main messages that are found in the book of Ecclesiastes that will help you live wisely.
Why Is The Book Of Ecclesiastes Important?
The book of Ecclesiastes is a wonderful book to read. It is one of the most important books in the Bible because it gives us a glimpse into the mind of God and how He thinks about life.
It also tells us how we should live our lives and how to find godly wisdom. The book of Ecclesiastes begins with Solomon asking why God allows evil to happen.
He goes on to say that he has seen something else and that he doesn’t understand it and in Ecclesiastes 9:11 he says that everything in this life happens by chance and that there is no rhyme or reason in the world.
The author also writes about how we should live our lives in this world, and how we should treat others. The main lesson in this book is that there are no solutions for everything in life, so we must be patient and wait for God’s will to be revealed.
He also further points out that hat you don’t need much money or possessions if you have wisdom, because wisdom is better than riches (Eccles. 2:8).
Godly wisdom from God gives you peace and contentment in your heart no matter what happens around you. If you don’t have wisdom, then every situation will cause anxiety or fear in your heart because you do not know what will happen next.
5 Main Massages Of Ecclesiastes.
Below are the 5 main messages of the book of Ecclesiastes that will remind you what life is all about and how you must live it.
- Life Is Not For The Swift.
- There Is Nothing New Under The Sun.
- Life Has No Meaning.
- There Is Time For Everything Under Heaven.
- God Will Bring Every Work Into Judgement.
1. Life Is Not For The Swift.
In Ecclesiastes 9:11, we are told that this race of life is not for the swift, the wise, intelligent, and educated, nor is wealth and riches to those of understanding and that life and chance happen to everyone regardless.
This implies that the fastest runner or athlete doesn’t always win the race and that the strongest warriors don’t always win the battle.
In short, the above verse is trying to tell us that just because you are wise and very well educated in life doesn’t automatically mean that you will live a successful life nor will you be wealthy.
I am sure you have seen this phenomenon happen in your life where you see highly educated people who seemingly had it all figured out still living miserable poor lives and those who even never went to school living happy and successful lives.
So, in short, the preacher in that chapter and verse of Ecclesiastes is trying to tell us that everything in life is decided by change and that everyone in this life whether wise, foolish, educated, uneducated, etc. gets a second chance at life.
2. There Is Nothing New Under The Sun.
The other main message that the book of Ecclesiastes tries to tell us is that nothing is new under the sun and that everything that happens on earth has happened before and will happen again (Ecclesiastes 1:10-11).
So why worry about anything? It does not matter if you succeed or fail; everything will end up being the same anyway (Eccl 2:17-18).
Since nothing is new under the sun, it, therefore, follows that everything you are seeing happening in this world right now or before be it wars, evil, human suffering, slavery, pestilences, etc. has happened before in one way or the other in earlier generations before us.
I am sure you may be wondering about this statement of nothing being new under the sun, especially in this crazy world we live in and how things have been lately from Corvid 19, wars, natural disasters, etc.
But you need to understand that all the above has happened before e.g. wars, evil, suffering, and slavery have always existed in this world since the fall of man which is why when you see these things happening now you need not be surprised as it’s nothing new.
3. Life Has No Meaning.
One of the main messages of Ecclesiastes is that there is no meaning to life especially if it’s without God other than living in harmony with nature and accepting death.
He further goes on to say in Ecclesiastes 9:2-4 that death comes to all people regardless of their actions. Therefore, there is no point in trying to avoid death by doing good deeds or avoiding evil deeds.
It does not matter what we do because God will take us when He chooses to take us regardless of our actions and whether we are godly people or sinful people.
So, if life has no meaning without God, why bother with the worldly successes, fame, and riches that most are so engrossed in when all is vanity in the end?
This specific chapter of the book of Ecclesiastes reminds us that if you don’t have God in your life, your life is utterly meaningless regardless of how well educated, illiterate, successful, rich, or poor you may be in this life.
4. There Is Time For Everything Under Heaven.
King Solomon in The book of Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 tells us that there is time for everything and every purpose under heaven and there is time to be born, a time to die, a time to sow, a time to reap, etc.
It’s so sad that we live in a time where people don’t value their time which is manifested by how they spend it by wasting it on useless things that don’t align with God’s purpose for their lives.
Many people live as if they will live forever with no regard for God nor do they even try to prepare themselves as to where they will spend eternity when they die.
We have become too busy trying to acquire earthly riches without any thought of God and what He wants out of our lives forgetting that one day we will all die and that it will be too late to try to live meaningfully then when we close our eyes in death.
As you are reading this, you need to remember that everything under heaven has its own time this is why you need to live your life meaningfully by living it to please God because one day you will be no more and you will one day give an account of your earthly life.
5. God Will Bring Every Work Into Judgement.
Last but not least, the preacher in conclusion tells us in Ecclesiastes 12:14 that God will bring every work into judgment whether be it good or bad and every secret thing of man will be brought to light.
Implying that whatever you have done during your earthly life whether it be good or bad or in secret will be brought to light and be judged on judgment day (Revelations 20:11-15).
The above is also echoed by the Lord Jesus Christ in the New Testament in Luke 8:17 that there is nothing that is hidden that will not be revealed nor anything in secret that won’t come to light.
In short, the final chapter of the book of Ecclesiastes is reminding us that whatever we do be it in secret or openly will be judged openly before all, which is why you need to be mindful of how you live your life now.
If you think that you are clever by living in secret sin, you are lying to yourself, as everything you have done in secret will be exposed openly before all to see on a giant screen on judgment day. You better make your life right with God now before it’s too late.
Related: How To Escape God’s Judgment & Wrath (In 3 Simple Steps).
Conclusion.
I hope the above post on what is the main message of Ecclesiastes has now taught you the important lessons you need to get from there so that you can live wisely and more meaningfully.
You need to understand that your life isn’t just about making money or having riches but living it to please God which is the whole duty and moral obligation of mankind.
In closing, if this post has benefited you greatly, let me know in the comments below, and don’t forget to share before you leave. Live meaningfully.
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How awesome to living our lives with God then trying to live a life on our own will.
This post has really opened my wisdom, knowledge and understanding in knowing who really Iam as what God has really put me into this world. God has a plan and purpose for my life.
That’s good to hear and glad you found this post a blessing to you. God bless.