Ecclesiastes 5 warns against making careless promises to God, urging reverence and humility in worship. It emphasises the futility of wealth, the dangers of greed, and the fleeting nature of life, advising contentment and finding joy in God’s gifts.
People Leave This World No Better Off
Ecclesiastes 5:16-17 (NLT) says: “And this, too, is a very serious problem. People leave this world no better off than when they came. All their hard work is for nothing—like working for the wind. Throughout their lives, they live under a cloud—frustrated, discouraged, and angry.”
This reflection drives home the harsh reality that we leave the world in the same condition we entered—empty-handed. 1 Timothy 6:7 (NLT) echoes this truth: “After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it.”
Job’s words in Job 1:21 (NLT) express a similar sentiment: “I came naked from my mother’s womb, and I will be naked when I leave. The Lord gave me what I had, and the Lord has taken it away. Praise the name of the Lord!” Since we bring nothing with us into this world and take nothing out, we must ask ourselves: what is our true purpose while we are here?
The Whole Duty of Man
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 (ESV) provides the answer: “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.” Our purpose is to glorify God by fearing and obeying Him, keeping our focus on eternity and building a relationship with Him.
Isaiah 43:7 (ESV) reminds us of this truth: “Everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.” We were created for God’s glory.
John 10:10 (AMP) encourages us that Jesus came so that we may “have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows].” Rick Warren explains our life’s purpose: we were planned for God’s pleasure (worship), formed for God’s family (fellowship), created to become like Christ, shaped to serve God, and made for a mission—to introduce others to God.
Our mission is to help others discover the same relationship with God.
As Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NLT) says, “God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.” While life’s work may seem fleeting, there’s eternal significance in glorifying God and fulfilling the mission He has given us.