Solomon wasn’t wrong. He just didn’t know Christ.
I woke up thinking about Ecclesiastes (a little nudge in the spirit to go read it). And in just the first few chapters, it’s obvious Solomon’s observations of the world and his own life are truthfully said– there is no hope without Christ.
“Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher; “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity” (Ecclesiastes 1:2).
The New Living Translation reads: “Everything is meaningless,” says the Teacher, “completely meaningless!” And isn’t that how the world can feel at times? —when your eyes are off Christ.
“That which has been is what will be, that which is done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:9). Again, he’s not wrong but he’s speaking from his flesh, much like Job did in most of his account. In the case of Job, people have mistakenly taken things Job said and made it to be absolute truth. But what we need to understand is that the Bible correctly records what Job (and Solomon) said, but that doesn’t mean what they said is God’s truth.
For example, Job said God wants to set him up as a target and squash him like a bug (Job 7:20, 6:9). But we know that’s not true– and how dreadfully sad if we make that a doctrine about God! No, these were Job’s feelings in the moment. And Solomon too.
It all reminds me of something Paul said in his letter to the Galatians. He asked, “O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified? Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?” (Galatians 3:1,3). Paul was addressing their return to the Law instead of their newfound righteousness by faith in Christ.
But then to help them, Paul asks a great question: “What purpose then does the law serve?” (Galatians 3:19a). This sounds a lot like Solomon, doesn’t it? He asked, “What’s the point?” The difference in these two men and their similar questions is Jesus Christ. Paul knew the answer to his question– Solomon did not (know Christ).
“Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law. But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe… Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ…” (Galatians 3:21-22, 24).
And there’s the answer I wanted to show you!
When, like Solomon or Job, you are tempted to look around and get discouraged with life, let it be a tutor to point you to Christ! He is all you need! Therefore, “Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:1-2)!
You and I get to choose what we focus on. If we look at things only naturally, it’s “all vanity… nothing new under the sun…” But if we look to JESUS, the author and finisher of our faith, there is “…joy inexpressible and full of glory” (1 Peter 1:8b).
So I pray we are reminded today (and every day) to pay attention to the attitude of our heart. Jesus said when our heart is darkened, we’re looking at the wrong thing. But if your eye is good, your life will be full of Light! “If your eye is pure, there will be sunshine in your soul. But if your eye is clouded… you are in deep spiritual darkness. And oh, how deep that darkness can be!” (Matthew 6:22-23, TLB).
Keep your eyes on Christ.
