Worthy Objectives for Life

ECCLESIASTES 1:2, 17; 2:1, 11, 24; 12:1-8, 13, 14

GOLDEN TEXT: “Fear God, and keep his commandments.”—Ecclesiastes 12:13

THE Book of Ecclesiastes is introduced with the explanation that it contains the “words of the Preacher.” This “Preacher” is generally supposed to be Solomon. He identifies himself as “the son of David, King in Jerusalem.” In the opening chapters the writer stresses the thought that everything to which one may turn his hand, whether to riches, or pleasure, proves to be vanity—that is, empty and worthless. We must assume that this is a viewpoint which does not take God into consideration, and is apart from hope of a future life which will be full, and rich, and lasting. The viewpoint is much akin to that expressed by Paul when he said that “if in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.”—I Cor. 15:19

In the last chapter of the book, Solomon traces the experiences of an individual from the time of his youth until he reaches old age and finally dies, and in connection with this gives us some very timely and important instructions. “Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth,” he writes. (Eccles. 12:1) Surely there is no more appropriate time to remember the Creator and seek to conform one’s life to the doing of his will than in youth. It is in youth that the habits of life are molded, and the youth who gives attention to the things of God starts out in a manner which not only will enrich the entire span of the present life, but will also have much to do with molding his eternal destiny. Consecrated parents, therefore, have a great responsibility toward their children.

Verses 2-5 of the 12th chapter, describe many characteristics of old age as they were experienced amidst the ancient surroundings of Solomon’s time. Finally death strikes, or, as Solomon puts it, “man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets.” He describes this poetically as the loosing of the silver cord, or the breaking of the “golden bowl,” the “pitcher … broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern.”

When this breakdown of the human organism occurs, and life no longer exists, the body returns “to the earth as it was,” and the “spirit” returns to “God who gave it.” Simple and understandable though this statement is, it has been misconstrued by many to prove that human beings go to heaven when they die.

Let us examine it briefly: The “dust” returning to the earth as it was, is a statement of fact and in accord with the Genesis account of the creation and fall of man. The human body was created out of the ground, meaning that all the chemical elements which compose the human organism are to be found in the earth. When man transgressed the divine law, God said to him, “Dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.”—Gen. 3:19

Solomon also explains that the “spirit” returns to God who gave it. The word return is very significant as used here. If Solomon meant by this that we go to heaven when we die, it would mean that we were in heaven before we were horn, because to return means to go back to where one was before. Indeed, those who believe in reincarnation use this as one of their “proof” texts.

But even more enlightening than the word “return” in this text is the Hebrew word translated “spirit.” It is the word ruwach, meaning wind, or breath. It is the same word used by Solomon in Ecclesiastes 3:19-21. Here he raises the question as to who knows that the spirit of a man goeth upward at death and that the spirit of a beast goeth downward. He answers his own question, saying that they all have one “breath,” and all go to the same place. In this passage the words “spirit” and “breath” are both translations of the Hebrew word ruwach, the word that Solomon uses when he explains that at death the ruwach returns to God who gave it. In this latter use, ruwach carries the additional thought of the divinely given right to life. God is the source of all life, hence it is quite proper to speak of life as returning to him. It does not mean that a conscious entity returns to God.

In the closing chapter Solomon writes, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.” In the previous verse he says that of the making of books there is no end, and that much study, or reading, is a weariness to the flesh. The “books” of Solomon’s time were at best parchment scrolls, written by hand, and doubtless it was difficult to read them; but Solomon indicates the importance of reading at least one “book” when he says that the duty of man includes keeping the commandments of God. Those commandments were at that time, written in the “book of the Law,” and in order to keep them, it was essential to know them.—Gal. 3:10

So we are not to take from Solomon’s “conclusion of the whole matter” the idea expressed by some that there is enough in the 5th chapter of Matthew to save any man. The whole Bible was given for our instruction, and we need to study it all in order to show ourselves approved unto God.—Matt. 4:4; II Tim. 2:15; 3:16,17

QUESTIONS:

From what standpoint did Solomon mean that all is vanity?

When is the best time to begin serving the Lord?

How does the spirit return to God who gave it?

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