Introduction: How to Read Ecclesiastes

The moment you open the book of Ecclesiastes, you read what seems to be the most cynical statements in all Scripture: “Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity.” This pronouncement comes from a man who has everything: money and mansions; wisdom and wealth; power and possessions; wine and women. In the end, the wisest man to live found his wisdom to be wanting and his life to be lacking. In his pursuit to find meaning, each of these things in turn, turned out to be meaningless. So, it seems that the man who had everything actually had nothing.

Apart from Jesus, Solomon was the wisest man to ever walk the earth. He invites us to take a walk in his shoes to find true meaning, purpose, contentment, and enjoyment in this life -- and how to do so in light of the life to come.