A Positive Perspective

"I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind." - Ecclesiastes 1:14

One of the podcasts I have been listening to  recently has been talking about the message of the book of Ecclesiastes. Without critical analysis, reading this biblical book will get you depressed. Why would a book in the Bible say all is vanity, that everything under the sun is utterly worthless?

Is life really worthless?

The perspective from the author is to show two opposing perspectives, which I think are very relevant for opposing worldviews in the United States.

1. The first worldview is that history is cyclical. That there is no ultimate purpose in the events that happen on earth. Nothing new every really happens. Life is lived in the present only, without an eternal perspective. It is the perspective that says "eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die" because everyone will die and evil happens to everyone.
2. The second perspective says that there is a God and that there is an ultimate purpose in the events  (good and evil) of the past and present that are leading to an eternal outcome. This is a worldview that says the actions that you do on earth matter eternally. 

Ultimately, the author of Ecclesiastes reveals his true opinion at the end of this persuasive book which juxtaposes two conflicting perspectives:

"The end of the matter; all has been heard. 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." - Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

The author concludes in the last two sentences that the end of the matter lies in a God who exists whom we should honor and obey. And in the end, God will judge the righteous and evil deeds of men to reveal his justice.