Ecclesiastes 6 reflects on the futility of life’s pursuits and the limitations of human desires. It implies that wealth and possessions do not guarantee satisfaction or happiness, ultimately leading to a sense of emptiness. True fulfilment lies beyond material gains.
Only God Can Fully Satisfy
In the depths of his reflections, Solomon writes in Ecclesiastes 6:6-7 (MSG): “Even if someone lived a thousand years—make it two thousand!—but didn’t enjoy anything, what’s the point? Doesn’t everyone end up in the same place? We work to feed our appetites; meanwhile, our souls go hungry.” These words resonate deeply, urging us to examine the true essence of satisfaction.
We often chase after the fleeting pleasures this life offers: food and drink, captivating music, vibrant entertainment, and the warmth of family and friends. Yet, Ecclesiastes 6:9 (AMP) reminds us that “What the eyes see [enjoying what is available] is better than [craving] what the soul desires.” Solomon teaches us a vital lesson: “It’s better to have little and really enjoy it than to dream about much and never attain it.”
Amidst our pursuits, the truth becomes clear—only God can fully satisfy our deepest longings. If we desire God, we will find fulfilment. Without Him, our efforts to find joy in worldly pleasures amount to nothing but “vanity and striving after wind.” True contentment emerges when we align ourselves with God’s will.
The Will of Him Who Sent Me
Jesus emphasises this in John 4:34 (AMP), saying, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to completely finish His work.” He further clarifies in Matthew 4:4 (AMP), “It is written and forever remains written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes out of the mouth of God.’” In John 6:35 (ESV), He declares, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.”
As we seek God’s presence, we echo Moses’s cry in Exodus 33:18 (ESV): “Please show me your glory.” Our heart’s desire should be singular: to pursue God. The Psalmist articulates this in Psalm 27:4 (ESV): “One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after—that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple.”
Ultimately, our purpose in life centres around knowing God more intimately. As expressed in Philippians 3:10 (ESV), “that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death.” In John 17:3 (ESV), we find the essence of eternal life: “And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.”
As we navigate our lives, let us remember: Only God can fully satisfy our souls.