Hi, Church! It’s Jonathan Thomas, ready to read Ecclesiastes with you! You may think this is a depressing book…and you’re right…sort of. Ecclesiastes speaks the last 10% in every area of life, and it stings. It is written to make us feel uncomfortable about where we look for meaning.
When writing these devotionals, I wanted to remain honest with the book’s tone. Where the book leaves tension, I also leave tension. So, will you commit to these 12 chapters to sit with me in the uncomfortable?
The famous phrase from this book is “Everything is Hevel.” The word “Hevel” is the word “vapor.” Not necessarily “meaningless,” but rather “it’s here, and then it’s gone.” But it is meaningless to put meaning in vapor.
“God, open my eyes to this book; that I may be convicted on how I view my life. And give me your Spirit to change me.”
Remember, everything is vapor!
Daily Devotional
There was a man born to a poor family. He wasn’t much of anyone, but he was wise beyond his years. He helped countless strangers, neighbors, and foes. And he spoke to countless crowds, getting them excited about a new future where he was in charge. He fought against injustice both in his harsh words and his loving deeds. He was successful in all he did and had many close companions who followed his example.
But then the man died. And with him, his legacy. His life, like everyone else’s, was vapor. It was here one day and then it was gone. His companions fled and the crowds scattered. His fate was no better than the criminals he died besides. And like the same fate for every other before, the world sped by without him. “History merely repeats itself. It has all been done before. Nothing under the sun is truly new.” (Eccles.1:9) This man would be forgotten like the rest.
Except something was new under the sun…
The man, got back up…
The missing piece the Teacher could not see.
How vapor becomes permanence.
How meaningless becomes purpose.
How today becomes eternity.
Jesus broke through death’s impassable jaws to make a path us. Only by dying and surrendering to Jesus’ way can we experience the eternal life that Ecclesiastes aches for.
In the Teacher’s tone of voice, “Why are you still looking for meaning? It is all ‘vapor.’ Leave it and run after the God-man that passed through death and returned! Surrender work. Surrender family. Surrender success. Surrender money. Surrender your will. Every day, surrender it all. Jesus is who we’ve been searching for!”
Paul echoes the same to the Corinthians. “But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ. So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.” (1 Cor 15:54-58)
Jesus is the answer to every why the Teacher asks. Jesus is the fulfillment of Ecclesiastes and the answer to our meaning. So today and every day, be thankful for the vapor that is here today and gone tomorrow as you walk with Jesus forever. What are you waiting for?
Read Ecclesiastes 1
Everything is vapor!
In the prologue, we are introduced to "the Teacher," a king from Judah who is considered extremely wise. Together, we will sit and learn under this teacher in all that he has observed and tested, both wise and foolish.
Everything is vapor!
In the prologue, we are introduced to "the Teacher," a king from Judah who is considered extremely wise. Together, we will sit and learn under this teacher in all that he has observed and tested, both wise and foolish.
In Chapter 1, the Teacher observes the earth from a wide cosmic perspective. Like looking down on the earth from an airplane or watching a timelapse of the night sky or the hurry of a city skyline. In the grand history of humanity, would I even show up among the billions of people throughout history?
So today consider...
-All the stress about things you need to get done...
-All the goals you have accomplished...
-All the sacrifices for your future...
-Or your kids' future...
-All the knowledge you gain...
-All the pleasures you experience...
-The earth will spin on without you...
-It will all be forgotten...by everyone.
Everything is vapor!
"God, this is a heavy reality. What am I supposed to do with this?"
Read Ecclesiastes 2
Haven't we all had these thoughts?
"When I just finish my work goals, I will be happy."
"I just need to accomplish my to-do list or else I can't sleep."
"This vacation is going to be exactly what I need."
"The holidays will reset me."
That brings us to the theme of this chapter; stop lying to yourself.
Your gains will go to someone else. (v19)
Pleasure ends faster than we hope and never results in lasting peace. (v11)
Even in being wise, we all still die. So, what did the wise gain over the foolish? (v16)
You may be waiting for the "but there is hope" line...but Ecclesiastes offers only a little of that. The Teacher wants us to sit in tension with him so we can reflect and change how we structure our lives. "Then I realized that these pleasures are from the hand of God. For who can eat or enjoy anything apart from Him?" (v24-25)
"God, I want to know you more."
Read Ecclesiastes 3
A bit of an emotional roller coaster in this one. The Teacher praises all the beauty in life. How beautiful it is to work and enjoy pleasures. Then he reminds us that death is at the end, the same fate as the animals. But the key is in v11. "Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart..." This chapter is all about being present in all moments, highs and lows. Highs are a wonderful gift and lows won't stay forever.
Eternity doesn't have a concept of past, present, or future. Eternity just is. We are made in the image of I AM. We do have a beginning, but we were originally designed to have no end. This is just another day in eternity. So, whatever God has for us today, can we begin to learn to be present? Can your thoughts of what you will do today begin to be outgrown by the thoughts on what you are doing right now?
"God, help me be present with what is right in front of me."
Read Ecclesiastes 4
By this point, we are feeling the tensions that even the Teacher is wrestling with. It's like he is missing a piece of a puzzle to connect two very different but true realities.
There is incredible injustice in the world. Wouldn't it have been better for some if they hadn't been born? (V1-3)
Pursuing success is a fool's errand. (V4)
Hard work without someone to share the fortunes with is "vapor and depressing." (V7)
Companionship is a wonderful thing to pursue. (V9-12)
Having wisdom is superior to having power and wealth. (V13-14)
But even the wise person will be replaced by a successor, so is wisdom worth it? (V15)
Do you notice the brokenness of this world, even locally in our city...like really notice? Do you bury it in your mind to not upset yourself? There is so much heartbreak and loss. If we ignore it, we only set ourselves up for our own falls even harder.
"God, how long will this world remain broken? What can I do?"
Read Ecclesiastes 5
"As you enter the house of God, keep your ears open and your mouth shut. It is evil to make mindless offerings to God. Don't make rash promises, and don't be hasty in bringing matters before God. After all, God is in heaven, and you are here on earth. So let your words be few." (V1-2)
When we pray, how often are we silent? We have so many things to talk "at" God about. We ask for vapor, and we complain about vapor. But this chapter (and the whole book) reminds us of God's holiness. God is not vapor. He IS and will always BE. What if, in our morning prayer, we remember this and submit to let Him talk first?
"God, I'm here to learn, to obey, to surrender. What do you have for me today?" (Then pause for 2 minutes to listen.)
Read Ecclesiastes 6
What's the point of wealth if we don't get to use it? Why all the saving, grinding, and late-night stressing just to leave it all behind? Our last days might even be before we get to enjoy our retirement funds.
"He might live a thousand years twice over but still not find contentment. And since he must die like everyone else-well, what's the use?" (v6) The Teacher asks if it would be better if this person had never been born...so they would not have known the miserable life they have created for themselves.
A sobering view on money. What a vicious hold it has on us. But we can't just "give it up" can we? That would leave a nasty hole. To give up our pursuit of money, we must replace it with something greater. When we finally trade away our love of money for God, we gain what money can never deliver...Fulfillment.
"God, my money is vapor. What do you want me to do with it while I still have it?"
Read Ecclesiastes 7
This chapter is full of one-off sayings and paragraphs on the benefits of wisdom. By this point in the book, you can see the pendulum swing back and forth as the Teacher talks in circles about work, pleasure, money, and wisdom. Here's the cycle we see throughout the chapters.
_____ is vapor... on the other hand, ____ is important after all... but wait it's not... but then again...
Even the wisest can't make sense of the world. Despite this, the Teacher continually points to Godly wisdom as the best course despite his confusion at times. In fact, he says embracing some of the darkest moments of humanity is where we can learn the most. He even goes so far as to say to attend more funerals than parties. (V2) Wisdom is not an easy path to fully understand but it still is the best path.
"God, I don't understand. I don't think I ever fully will. But I trust Jesus. I trust those who have walked this path before. Help me stay on your path."
Read Ecclesiastes 8
How do we deal with injustices where bad people are honored, and good people are forgotten? The Teacher recommends, "Having fun, because there is nothing better for people in this world than to eat, drink, and enjoy life. That way they will experience some happiness along with all the hard work God gives them under the sun." (V16)
Isn't pursuing pleasure associated with evil and foolishness? The Teacher doesn't think so in all cases. Pleasure is a part of creation and a gift from God. Pleasure has the unique power to cast the future aside to pull us back into the present and enjoy where we are.
Do you find time for simple pleasures each day?
Do you enjoy food or is it just fuel?
Do you play with your kids, have dates with your spouse, or have a fun night with friends?
Do you have a hobby?
When enjoyed in God's boundaries, pleasure can refill the soul. Life is vapor so be present and find joy in your life.
"God, thank you for the little joys you give me each day."
Read Ecclesiastes 9
Oof! The author was in a dark place when he wrote this chapter. Death, death, and death, followed by a quick story of a wise man who saved the day but was forgotten because he was poor. Yikes.
I hope each of you knows you have permission to feel the way the Teacher does. We can have all the knowledge and wisdom, and some days get the best of us. Or the injustices of this world burden us. Or the reality of death taking everything from us sets in. It doesn't make it better to know the right answers. At some point, the duality of the beautiful and cursed world overwhelms us.
The healthy thing the Teacher did was to vocalize this rather than avoid it.
Save this prayer for a day when you need it: "God, today is awful. I'm done. I'm going to bed early. Goodnight God."
Read Ecclesiastes 10
Well, the Teacher had a better day today. He can't stay away from wisdom because even when calling wisdom "vapor," he knows it is the right course. "Using a dull ax requires great strength, so sharpen the blade. That's the value of wisdom; it helps you succeed." (V10)
The theme of this chapter is irony but more like dark irony. Not "rain on your wedding day" but more like "when you dig a well, you might fall in." (V8) Or "if a snake bites before you charm it, what's the use of being a snake charmer?" (V11) What are we supposed to do with this?
Well do we pray for safety, or do we get in a car and just trust our years of driving will safely get us there? Do we trust our years at our craft?
...or our knowledge?
...or our physical strength?
...or our street smarts?
...or our instincts to make us feel safe?
The Teacher says that our skills and abilities, too, are vapor. We have no guarantees.
"God, keep me and my family safe today."
Read Ecclesiastes 11
"Young people, it's wonderful to be young! Enjoy every minute of it. Do everything you want to do; take it all in. But remember that you must give an account to God for everything you do. So refuse to worry, and keep your body healthy. But remember that youth, with a whole life before you, is meaningless." (v9-10)
This would be the most depressing graduation speech ever.
Don't we all want the most for the next generation? But in that, a hope in vapor sneaks in again. We tell ourselves that today's kids will be better off than us. Or that we just want them to have healthy and happy lives. But vapor disappears for everyone, including those who come after us. How do we prepare the next generation (our kids) to relate to life's vapor?
"God for the sake of my kids and the next generation that I will get to influence, please teach me how to relate to vapor in my own life so I can pass on what I've learned to them."
Read Ecclesiastes 12
We made it! In this final chapter, the Teacher finishes speaking and the author chimes in to summarize the book. "Fear God and obey His commands, for this is everyone's duty. God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good or bad." (V13-14)
So, after 2 weeks, what is the meaning of life? Well, we've learned it's not in "vapor." Yes, vapor is beautiful, and it was created "good." But it will all pass. Our purpose can only be found in God Himself; learning who He is and doing what He asks. Don't wait to discover this. It's as simple as this prayer followed by a few minutes of silence.
"God, what do you want to teach me today?"
This prayer has transformed my life because God consistently answers. Not because He wasn't before but because I am now in tune to Him throughout the day. Give it a try. Be on the lookout for His answers and the meaning it gives to be obedient to His instruction and to personally hear your Creator's voice.