What Life’s All About (Ecclesiastes 12:1-14)

Big Idea: Only God satisfies, so fear him, obey him, and enjoy his gifts while you can.

I have never had the privilege of hiring a teacher or a preacher. If I did, I would look for someone who is interesting. I would want to hire someone who kept me engaged in what they were teaching. I would want someone who is wise. It wouldn't matter how interesting they are—if they didn't know what they're talking about, why should I listen? Wise people ask the tough questions and aren't afraid to tackle the tough issues. I think I would also have to be relevant. I heard somewhere that many preachers are answering questions that no one's ever asked. It's much better to hear someone discuss real issues we face instead of irrelevant hypothetical ones.

Once in a while you find a teacher or preacher who is interesting, wise, and relevant. And when you do, watch out! Be prepared to experience life-changing teaching. I've found such a teacher.

Besides being wise, the Preacher also taught the people knowledge, weighing and studying and arranging many proverbs with great care. The Preacher sought to find words of delight, and uprightly he wrote words of truth.

The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings; they are given by one Shepherd. My son, beware of anything beyond these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh. (Ecclesiastes 12:9-12)

Solomon's teaching reveals a man of precision and care. His words functioned as both "goads" and "nails"—prodding readers forward while anchoring truths firmly in place. He claimed divine inspiration, attributing his wisdom to "one Shepherd." Thomas Wolfe captured what many discover in these ancient words when he declared, "Ecclesiastes is the greatest single piece of writing I have ever known, and the wisdom expressed in it is the most lasting and profound."

The teacher—we've assumed that it's King Solomon, although we're not sure—has examined life from every angle. I've given you a list of the concerns he had about life. This morning I want to summarize what I believe are the key points of his message. It is my conviction that Ecclesiastes speaks to our human condition today and has much to say in 1997 to the issues we face in life.

Key Takeaways

Ecclesiastes offers important insights that we should not overlook. Here are the key points from the thirteen messages we explored. We will conclude by looking at the Teacher's own summary of his search.

We are all on a spiritual search.

Ecclesiastes addresses our profound spiritual longing. Every person eventually asks the essential questions that animals never consider: Why am I here? What is the purpose of my life? This human search for meaning begins the book with a stark declaration of emptiness, sparking Solomon's quest for true satisfaction.

The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.

Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher,
vanity of vanities! All is vanity.
(Ecclesiastes 1:1-2)

The author's quest was to find meaning in life, and he came up empty. The Teacher tells of his search in many different areas – wisdom, work, pleasure, prestige. But every time, he came up empty. The book of Ecclesiastes explores the pursuit of life's meaning, often leading to frustration when we seek it in the wrong places.

Look at your life. Isn't it true that your thoughts are about more than food to eat and clothes to wear? If we were not on a spiritual quest, we would worry about nothing more than our physical needs. But all of us ask what we could call spiritual questions: questions of meaning and purpose. Men and women have a universal curiosity and hunger for God.

Here's the second takeaway.

The thrills and accomplishments of this life are incapable of satisfying our spiritual search.

Solomon explored various ways to find fulfillment and conducted tests that we still use today. He sought pleasure and entertainment. He amassed wealth. He gained knowledge. He built prestige.

Our "if only" thinking mirrors his—believing the next relationship, accomplishment, or experience will finally fill our emptiness. Solomon was uniquely qualified to write this assessment. With unmatched resources, wisdom, and opportunity, he conducted a thorough investigation into what makes life meaningful. His verdict? All experiments failed. The thrills, possessions, and achievements that promised satisfaction ultimately left the deepest chambers of his soul hollow and wanting.

A young man took a trip to South America. The child of a successful businessman, he had everything you could desire – challenge, opportunity, promise, and money. The forty-five-foot sailboat, Harley-Davidson motorcycle, black Pontiac GTO, airplane, credit cards, and trips to Aspen, Europe, and Africa. Near the end of a trip to South America, he had dinner in the top floor of a restaurant that overlooked the Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, which was then considered the jet-setting capital of the world. While sitting in a restaurant, he reflected on his life when he overheard a conversation between a couple in their sixties nearby. "Well, it's all been worth it," they said to one another. "After years of working and saving, it's finally worth it as we enjoy this vacation evening." The young man was overwhelmed by the absurdity of it all. After years of hard work, they finally get to enjoy a meal at a restaurant with a view of Copacabana Beach. He returned to his room, fell on his knees, and said, "God, there has got to be more to my life than this."

Copacabana Beach is nice. Harley-Davidson motorcycles are nice. So are trips and credit cards and wealth. But they're not enough. They don't satisfy the hunger of the human soul. Many of the things we are tempted to chase after are basically meaningless, unsatisfactory, and empty.

We should consider Solomon's words, as he experienced these things and discovered they don't provide the lasting satisfaction they promise. Securing wealth, health, and family does not guarantee lasting rewards or life after death. Wealth is inherently unsatisfying; it's never enough, and it often leads to misery and worry. They are temporary and provide no real security. Having a long life and many children does not guarantee earthly satisfaction. The joy of a child's laughter can fade over the years, and children's love for their parents may turn to apathy or resentment. Even if a person is religious, he is quickly forgotten after he dies.

It's evident in the book of Ecclesiastes that the pleasures and accomplishments of life do not meet our deepest needs.

We're all on a spiritual search, but the thrills and accomplishments of this life are incapable of satisfying us. Here's the third takeaway.

Life poses troubling mysteries.

Solomon's quest for life's meaning revealed the unfairness of life, the limits of human wisdom, and the inevitability of death. One man described life as a "blister on top of a tumor, and a boil on top of that." Solomon would ultimately agree with that assessment. As Solomon observed life, he witnessed the futility of life. In life, wickedness abounds; there is constant oppression, often with no one to comfort. What do we say to the triplets of injustice, ignorance, and death? This is what Solomon said:

And I thought the dead who are already dead more fortunate than the living who are still alive. But better than both is he who has not yet been and has not seen the evil deeds that are done under the sun. (Ecclesiastes 4:2-3)

Let's be honest: life does present some troubling mysteries. There are many things we can't understand—so much so that we can understand when someone despairs of life.

We're all on a spiritual quest; life's thrills and achievements can't satisfy us, and it presents troubling mysteries. Here's the fourth takeaway.

Despite life's mysteries and the certainty of death, we should strive to enjoy life and live it to the fullest.

Over and over again in the book of Ecclesiastes, the Teacher tells us to enjoy life:

Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart, for God has already approved what you do.

Let your garments be always white. Let not oil be lacking on your head.

Enjoy life with the wife whom you love, all the days of your vain life that he has given you under the sun, because that is your portion in life and in your toil at which you toil under the sun. Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might, for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going. (Ecclesiastes 9:7-10)

Instead of giving in, Ecclesiastes ultimately concludes that life is a gift from God to be enjoyed. The Teacher illustrates that even a living dog, considered lowly, is better than a dead lion, no matter how great it may be. He recognizes the world's injustices but believes the best approach is to accept our situation and find happiness in it. To accept life as a wonderful gift from God.

We're all on a spiritual quest; life's thrills and achievements can't satisfy us, and it presents troubling mysteries. Yet despite life's mysteries and the certainty of death, we should strive to enjoy life and live it to the fullest. Here's the final takeaway.

Live life, beginning now, in a way that pleases God.

We are now looking at the last chapter of the book of Ecclesiastes. In chapter 11, we were told to live life to the fullest because it is short and the future is uncertain. In chapter 12, we are told to live life wisely because it is short and the future is uncertain. But one thing is certain about our future: we will die. Furthermore, the process of dying is not an experience filled with pleasure, but with sorrow. That is why Solomon tells us that time to serve God is now – before we lose the ability to enjoy life.

Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”... (Ecclesiastes 12:1)

The term translated "remember" means to "act decisively on behalf of someone." What Solomon is saying is this: "Act decisively on behalf of God while you are young." Do not waste time living a life of meaninglessness. Don't wait until you're white-haired before you respond. Honor God now with your life, because sooner or later your powers to enjoy life will deteriorate.

What follows in verses 2 to 8 is a picture of the aging and dying process. The author uses metaphors to depict old age. We won't analyze this passage in detail, and it's important to note that students have differing interpretations. But what we see here is the gradual deterioration that occurs with aging and that leads ultimately to death, when:

...the silver cord is snapped, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is shattered at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern, and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it. Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher; all is vanity. (Ecclesiastes 12:6-8)

We are instructed to turn to God while there is still time to discover the meaning of life and alter the course of our lives. Serve God while you can still enjoy life and think clearly about his purposes. Ecclesiastes teaches us to enjoy life while being aware that it’s temporary and that death is inevitable. Live for God, and give him your best years.

A man rushed to a ferry, out of breath from running fast, but he arrived just as the gateman closed the door. A bystander remarked, "You didn't run fast enough." The disappointed man answered, "I ran fast enough, but I didn't start on time." To accomplish the most for God in our lifetimes, we must start early, in the days of our youth.

Read with me the conclusion of the book of Ecclesiastes:

The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil. (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14)

The concluding verses of the Teacher's search for meaning emphasize three key actions that summarize his message.

• First, cultivate a right relationship with God through proper fear. This fear transcends mere terror—it embodies reverence born from love and genuine awe at God's greatness. Ecclesiastes concludes that life gains coherence only when we surrender ourselves fully to God's primacy.
• Second, maintain this relationship by being obedient. Keeping God's commandments isn't merely one duty among many; it constitutes humanity's defining purpose and complete obligation.
• Third, be aware of the impending judgment. Though our disobedience may seem consequence-free today, every action, hidden or visible, faces divine evaluation. Nothing escapes God's flawless record-keeping.

Here's the big idea of this passage: Only God satisfies, so fear him, obey him, and enjoy his gifts while you can.

The command is this: act decisively on God's behalf. Believe in him. The abundant life he promised is available today. Jesus said: "But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you" (Matthew 6:33).

Is life worth living? Absolutely, but life only makes sense with God. You can continue your search for meaning elsewhere, but like the Teacher, you'll find only frustration and emptiness. Or you can come to God this morning and find the answer to our deepest needs. You can receive life in Christ, and begin leading the abundant life today.