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Solomon, “the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem,” concluded that a life lived without God or "under the sun,” is nothing more than “Vanity of vanities." He didn't say some things were fulfilling apart from God, but "all is vanity.” In other words living a life on the horizontal plane, “under the sun,” is nothing more than a useless, empty, vain, and meaningless endeavor without God in your life! "Vanity" [Heb, Hebel, H1892] is a keyword in Ecclesiastes, occurring 38 times.
Regardless of what has been achieved in your life, you always end up empty and unsatisfied apart from God. This was not some theoretical speculation in metaphysics. This was based upon Solomon's experiences of a lavish and foolish nature. It has been said that Solomon wrote the Song of Solomon as a young adult, Proverbs during his mid-life and Ecclesiastes in his reflective years.
Regardless of what has been achieved in your life, you always end up empty and unsatisfied apart from God. This was not some theoretical speculation in metaphysics. This was based upon Solomon's experiences of a lavish and foolish nature. It has been said that Solomon wrote the Song of Solomon as a young adult, Proverbs during his mid-life and Ecclesiastes in his reflective years.
According to the wealthiest and wisest man who ever lived, life is fruitless, meaningless, and lacking significance without God. I can remember one famous actress admitting that money doesn’t make you happy, but it does give you a measure of control. She wasn’t happy, but she had control and her creature comforts! In reality she didn’t have either in spite of her wealth and fame. I have often wondered if she would have given up her "control" and comfort for true happiness. Things can become a very powerful addiction as Solomon revealed in his book. It's not that things are inherently evil; its what we do with them or what they do to us where the problem lies.
Our Creator God made us so that we will never find true happiness and peace without Him because of one fundamental spiritual truth; happiness is hardwired to holiness (Psa 1:1-3). The world doesn’t seek for holiness; therefore, it will never find true happiness in people, places, or things. It explores for an illusion of happiness, magnetized to a belief that lasting happiness can be found in things that appeal to the senses. And so the world continues to passionately pursue this quest for something that will fill the void of a God-less heart.
Life “under the sun” that lives by the rule of one’s own reasoning rather than the rule of God is nothing more than an enterprise of emptiness and futility. Who would know better than Solomon, and he was a believer that went south for a season! Yep! Even believers cannot escape that fundamental truth that happiness is hardwired to holiness, not to people, places, or things! He should have known better, but believers are not immune to backsliding. Happiness will always remain a choice whether a believer or a non-believer.
That is exactly the way God designed it to be – nothing truly satisfies without Him! This applies not only to the unbeliever but to the believer as well. Life was not meant to be lived in a horizontal orientation but a vertical one, living above the sun, or another way of saying it is living under the Son! This is why Jesus came that we might have life, life more abundantly in all of its fulness (Jn 10:10b)!
We cannot rewire the way God has designed us no matter how clever we are. Happiness is only found in holiness – “Blessed is the man” [happy happy is the man], declares the Psalmist, who “delights in the law of the LORD” (Psa 1:2). Solomon concludes his case for living life in a vertical orientation of looking up,
“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all. For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil” (Eccl 12:13-14).
There will always be a bigger and better thing out there under the sun marketed to be your "happy place." Once the new wears off, after it has run its course, the realization of emptiness and futility will set in once again, echoing in the hollow chambers of your heart. Apart from a Christ enriched life, true and lasting happiness will never be realized while living under the sun; in that dimension all is “vanity of vanities,” says Solomon.
Living above the sun or under the Son is the secret to filling the void and putting an end to the futility. Happiness is wired into holy living. Enjoy the fruits of your labor, but give God the glory of first priority. People, place, and things have their place, but God is due the rightful place! This is the good work that withstands the scrutiny of judgment. Happiness is a choice, and holiness is the way to it. Choose Christ.... <><
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