Solomon's Equation for True Fulfillment

Karen Pennington
Oct 8
3 min read

At first glance, Ecclesiastes may read like a book of complaints. I see it more as a book of confessions, both of Solomon's vanity and God's singular ability to satisfy. Through the book, two key phrases point to this, "under the sun" and "chasing the wind."

Solomon chases after fulfilment by any and every means this world has to offer (everything under the sun), including: work, riches, ever kind of indulgence, buildings, projects, friend, women, power and wisdom (and that's just the first chapter and a half). Unlike almost any human being before or after him, Solomon gets absolutely everything he is going for, both materially and immaterially. And he finds that it is not enough. He says it's like chasing the wind, the one thing he cannot seem to harness. He counts these things as "everything under the sun," which leads me to believe that it takes something (or someone) whose presence extends beyond the sun to bring true contentment.

Amidst his lament and cries of discontentment, the wise Solomon shares two golden nuggets of truth:

"There is nothing better than for mortals to eat and drink and find enjoyment in their toil (Ecclesiastes 2:24)."

"Fear God and keep his commandments, for that is the whole duty in everyone (Ecc 12:13)."

Solomon's equation for true fulfillment: Seek God's will, work hard every day at at what God has called you to today, and and enjoy both the work and provision God has for you to do. Everything else is wind chasing.

Is is true that people can be truly happy simply by faithfully working at the daily tasks that God has place before them, and enjoying exactly what God has given without constantly striving for more?

This seems counterintuitive to my current time, culture and desires. As an admitted wind chaser, I can get kind of restless if I'm not working (often feverishly) towards a goal to make life better. But I don't think having goals is the problem. It's when the goals own me that I get in trouble. I don't want to let this grasping of the elusive "more" that the future holds rob me of the meaningful work, joy and contentment God has given me today.

This hits me personally today, as I have recently had to once again hit pause on my dream of working towards a doctorate degree. I have been looking to change my employment situation as well. But God has placed me where I am right now for a reason, and there is true joy in what God is calling me to do right now. Yesterday I spent spent some time doing dishes at church with a friend. As crazy as it sounds, it was an Ecclesiastes kind of fun, and doing the work helped me to sleep better. I may not (yet) be a best selling author as I have dreamed, but I still get to share my heart in an open online forum through social media and blogging.

I am blessed, God is good, and what God has called me to do is meaningful. I do not want to miss the blessing in all God has given me right now by chasing after everything that the future may or may not have for me. I think this may be the the difference between diligent work and striving, the freedom to enjoy our work without worry or disillusionment.

Scripture: The Book of Ecclesiastes