Does this mean that we give up hope? No, as Garrett says,
For us the “meaninglessness” of life which the Teacher so ruthlessly exposes would seem to lead to despair or nihilism; for him it is an incitement to true piety. The insignificance of all that is done under the sun leaves him awestruck and silent before God. His inability to control or predict the future provokes him to dependence on God. The futility of attempting to secure his future through wisdom or acts of religion (e.g., making vows) leads him not to impiety but to an understanding of the true nature of obedient trust. Garrett, Ecclesiastes (The New American Commentary), 345.
That is, we must recognize that real meaning, hope and joy come from outside the visible sphere, from God and his revelation of himself. We gain joy in this life through faith and dependence on God as we enjoy the blessings he provides. We live humbly as we recognize our limits and that we do not fully understand God or how he works. We have hope as we look forward to facing our shepherd-judge who loves us and promises us eternal relationship with Him.
Everything is transitory and therefore of no lasting value. People are caught in the trap of the absurd and pursue empty pleasures. They build their lives on lies. Ecclesiastes 1.2
The essence of idolatry is to place our hope and purpose on what is not eternal.
This passage is not a contradiction to the gospel but a call for it. The world is in bondage; and humanity is unable to explain, find satisfaction in, or alter it. Only the Word, who came into the world from above, can open the way of understanding and escape (John 8:23, 31–32). He has done a new thing: he has created a new covenant, given the new birth, new life, and a new commandment (Jer 31:31–34). He gives a new name that will last forever. Everything else is old and passing away. Ecclesiastes 1.3-11, 288.
“I undertook great projects” could be rendered “I enlarged my spheres of activity.” This general statement is followed by more specific lines. Notice how frequently “for myself” appears. This is the “gospel” of selfishness. Ecclesiastes 2.4, 291.
The Teacher sees two great dangers connected to the making of money. The one is to become consumed with work and the quest for wealth, but the other is to fall into poverty (and the suffering it entails) through laziness or misfortune. Ecclesiastes, 337.
The incarnation of Christ and his work on earth is the one “new thing” that breaks up the monotony of the cycles of this life. Nothing counts ultimately unless it is placed within relationship with Jesus.
He is not, therefore, negating the worth of higher values. But he insists that people should learn how to enjoy the return they get on their labor. Indeed, the ability to enjoy and use the good things of life (i.e., material things) is itself a gift of God. Those who belong to God should above all others have a capacity to enjoy life. Ecclesiastes 2.24, 296.
Part of a faithful life is using and enjoying the blessings that God provides and sharing them with others.
Life is composed of joy and sorrow, building and destroying, and living and dying. Each comes at the proper time. This reminds us that we are creatures of time and not yet able to partake of the joys of eternity. No one can be happy who has not come to grips with the reality that life is full of changes and sorrows as well as continuity and joy. We must accept that we are mortal and governed by time. Ecclesiastes 3.1-9, 298.
He further acknowledges that the ability to enjoy life—both moments of recreation and labor—is a gift of God. The paradox is that one cannot genuinely face personal mortality and finitude without first facing God’s immortality and infinite power. Ecclesiastes 3.13, 300.
Since humans are truly mortal, two conclusions follow. First, neither possessions nor accomplishments are eternal, and we should properly use and enjoy them while we still see the light of day. Second, because we are by nature dependent and contingent, our hope of eternal life must be founded in God and not ourselves. For the Christian this means that immortality is in the risen Christ. Ecclesiastes 3.17, 305.
The Teacher now urges the reader to face death and take its lessons to heart...there is much to be gained by sober reflection on death. Those who do so realize that the same end awaits them, and their hearts are turned from folly. Herein the carpe diem of the Teacher differs from that of the libertine, for whom death is either a subject to be avoided or an incentive to party all the more furiously. Ecclesiastes 7.1-4, 318–319.
No worldview is worth having if it cannot make sense of life under the shadow of the impending death of every person who has ever lived on this earth. When we see that life, and everything that goes with it, is a gift of God, we can trust him and enjoy the ups and downs of the “roller coaster ride.” We can plan, but ultimately only God knows the times and seasons.
For the Teacher the supreme act of impiety is the presumption that one can be in a position of control when dealing with God. He does not reject or even criticize prayer, but he does contend that we have nothing to offer God and thus are in no position to bargain with or impress him. Ecclesiastes 5.2, 311.
Every endeavor of wisdom to find the key by which one may master life is bound to fail. Our inability to know the future (8:7) is evidence of this. If we could know with certainty what actions bring prosperity, happiness, and long life, then we could control life and even God. But such knowledge and such powers are ever out of reach. 8.16-17, 330.
The illusion that we have control leads to idolatry, and, to a lot of stress and anxiety. We are certainly not in control of God despite what certain preachers say about the power of your words.
The wise man is neither naive nor cynical and embittered...It is pointless to look back to the good old days when corruption was not so common. Such days never existed... It is foolish to long for the days of prosperity. Apart from the fact that such longing does no one any good, every period has its hardships and opportunities. Ecclesiastes 7.8-10, 320.
The injustice and sorrows of life force us to come to terms with the powers that govern us. On the human level this is the king (8:2–6), but on the higher level this is God (8:9–9:1)... The future is an enigma (v. 7), and the power that confronts us is irresistible...That is, no amount of cunning can save one from control by the governing powers. Ecclesiastes 8.7-8, 327.
We waste a lot of time worrying about things that don’t matter. Even good things that have eternal value, like pursuing justice and helping the needy, can lead to this sin if not placed under the control and care of Christ. Human governments are all going to pass away so we should not become overly dependent on them or overly worried about what they are doing.
To forget the Creator of youth is to invite bitter regrets and an empty existence in old age. To remember the Creator is to follow the path of wisdom and extend the joy of life. Ecclesiastes 12.1-7, 340–341.
To obey God is to be truly human. Throughout his book the Teacher has investigated the situation of ʾādām Now, surprisingly, he affirms that the whole of humanity consists not in its mortality or ignorance but in its dependence on God. And yet the conclusion is not surprising. It not only flows naturally from all that has gone before but is the book’s final look at Gen 2–3. Humanity sought to become like God in disobeying him, but instead they lost the one thing that made them truly human. Ecclesiastes 12.13-14, 344.
The bottom line to living and enjoying life in this troubled world is: pursue relationship with God through Jesus Christ.
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