Book: The Way of the Word: Chapter 21: Ecclesiastes: Finding Meaning Under the Sun
- Dr. Layne McDonald
- May 29
- 9 min read
Welcome back to our journey through the living breath of the Father: His Word. If you’ve been following along with The Way of the Word, you know that our mission is simple but massive: to walk through every corner of the Bible, from the heights of creation to the depths of human despair, and find the heartbeat of Jesus in every verse.
This project isn’t just about information; it’s about transformation. We aren't just reading ancient history; we are reading the manual for the human soul. My heart in writing this series is to take the deep, rich theology of the Assemblies of God: the belief in the authority of Scripture, the power of the Holy Spirit, and the necessity of a personal relationship with Christ: and make it accessible for your Tuesday morning commute or your quiet time after the kids go to bed.
Today, we step into one of the most honest, raw, and sometimes frustrating books in the entire canon: Ecclesiastes. It’s a book that asks the questions we’re usually too scared to ask in church. Does any of this actually matter? Why do bad things happen to good people? If I’m going to die anyway, why am I working so hard?
Before we dive into the "vanity of vanities," let’s take a look at the project that houses these reflections.
The Vision for The Way of the Word
The Way of the Word is designed to be a companion for the seeker and the scholar alike. It’s a 60-chapter deep dive into the narrative of God’s redemptive plan. In a world that feels increasingly chaotic and untethered from truth, we need an anchor. That anchor is the Word of God.
As we move through the Old Testament, we see the foundation being laid for the Messiah. In the New Testament, we see the fulfillment of every promise. But right here in the middle, in the Wisdom Literature, we find the "Preacher" (traditionally understood to be Solomon) wrestling with what it means to live in a fallen world.
The Enigma of Hevel: Life as a Vapor
If you’ve ever opened Ecclesiastes, you’ve hit that famous first line: "Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity" (Ecclesiastes 1:2, ESV).
The Hebrew word used here is hevel. In many older translations, it’s "vanity," which makes us think of someone looking in a mirror. But in the original language, it means something more like smoke, vapor, or breath.
Think about a cold morning when you can see your breath. It’s there for a second: solid, visible, real: and then it’s gone. You can see it, but you can’t grab it. If you try to catch it in your hand, it slips through your fingers.
That is the Preacher’s assessment of life. It’s not that life is meaningless in the sense of being worthless; it’s that life is fleeting and enigmatic. We try to build monuments to our success, we try to secure our futures, and we try to control our reputations, but like smoke, it all eventually dissipates.
For a King like Solomon, who had everything: the money, the wives, the wisdom, the power: this realization was a mid-life crisis of epic proportions. He looked at the vast machinery of his kingdom and realized that even the greatest king eventually becomes a footnote in history.
From an Assemblies of God perspective, we understand this reality well. We recognize that the world is fallen (Genesis 3). The ground is cursed. Our bodies fail. Our plans fall through. If we try to find our ultimate satisfaction in anything "under the sun," we will always end up with a handful of smoke.
Life "Under the Sun"
The phrase "under the sun" appears about 29 times in Ecclesiastes. It’s a technical term the Preacher uses to describe a specific perspective: Life lived as if this world is all there is.
When you live "under the sun," you are looking at life horizontally. You see the birth and the death, the sun rising and the sun setting, the wind blowing in circles. You see the injustice where the wicked thrive and the righteous suffer. If you stay in that horizontal view, life is depressing. It’s a "striving after wind."
The Preacher decides to go on a series of "experiments" to see if anything under the sun can actually satisfy the human heart.
1. The Experiment of Wisdom
He says, "I applied my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is but a striving after wind" (Ecclesiastes 1:17).
Now, wait a minute. Isn't wisdom good? Of course it is. But the Preacher realizes that being the smartest person in the room doesn't stop you from dying. The wise man and the fool both end up in the grave. If your hope is in your IQ or your degrees, you’re building on sand.
2. The Experiment of Pleasure
Next, he tries the "party life." He builds gardens, he buys slaves, he amasses silver and gold, and he denies himself no pleasure. He becomes the ultimate consumer. "Whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I kept my heart from no pleasure... and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind" (Ecclesiastes 2:10-11).
We live in a culture that is obsessed with this second experiment. We are told that if we just get the right house, the right vacation, or the right followers, we’ll finally feel "arrived." But the Preacher warns us: the more you have, the more you have to lose, and the more you have to worry about.
3. The Experiment of Hard Work
Then he looks at his career. He works harder than anyone else. He builds a legacy. But then he realizes something frustrating: he’s going to die and leave everything he worked for to someone else: and that person might be a fool who wastes it all! (Ecclesiastes 2:18-19).
Does this sound familiar? We spend forty years building a business or a career, only to realize that we can’t take a single cent of it with us.
To Everything There is a Season
One of the most famous passages in all of Scripture is Ecclesiastes 3: "For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven..."
A time to be born, and a time to die.
A time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted.
A time to weep, and a time to laugh.
The Preacher is showing us that we are not in control of the clock. God is the Sovereign Architect of time. As Pentecostal believers, we hold onto this truth fiercely. We believe that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, but we also recognize that we live in a world governed by seasons.
Sometimes you are in a season of "breaking down." You feel like everything you’ve built is falling apart. Other times, you are in a season of "building up." The key to the Christian life isn't trying to force the season to change; it's learning how to trust the God of the seasons.
The Preacher drops a massive truth bomb in 3:11: "He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end."
This is why you are never satisfied with "stuff." You were created with an eternal "hole" in your heart. You were made for another world. Because you have "eternity" in your heart, no amount of temporary "smoke" will ever fill you up. You are trying to fill an infinite void with finite things. It’s like trying to fill the ocean with a teaspoon.
The Vertical Perspective: Breaking Through the Sun
So, is Ecclesiastes just a giant "bummer"? Not at all.
Throughout the book, the Preacher sprinkles in what I call "Glimmers of Grace." Every few chapters, he stops his complaining and says something like this: "There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God" (Ecclesiastes 2:24).
This is the secret. When you stop trying to find ultimate meaning in work or food or relationships, and you start seeing them as gifts from a loving Father, everything changes.
When you live "under the sun," a steak dinner is just a biological necessity that will be forgotten tomorrow. But when you live in relationship with God, a steak dinner is a gift from your Creator to be enjoyed with gratitude.
The Assemblies of God teaches that the Holy Spirit is our Comforter and Guide. He is the one who helps us look "above the sun." When we are filled with the Spirit, we gain a perspective that transcends our circumstances. We realize that while life is a vapor, our souls are eternal.
Why Does This Matter for You Today?
Maybe you’re reading this and you feel like the Preacher. You’re tired. You’ve been striving. You’ve been trying to keep up with the Joneses, or you’re worried about your health, or you’re frustrated that you haven’t achieved what you thought you would by this age.
Ecclesiastes is here to give you permission to exhale.
Stop trying to control the uncontrollable. You can't control the wind, and you can't control the seasons of your life. Trust the One who holds the wind in His fists.
Enjoy the small things. Don't wait for the "big win" to be happy. Enjoy the cup of coffee. Enjoy the sunset. Enjoy the conversation with a friend. These are the "portions" God has given you for today.
Invest in the eternal. If life is a vapor, spend your time on things that outlast the smoke. Invest in people. Invest in the Kingdom. Invest in your relationship with Jesus.
The End of the Matter
The book ends with a clear, thunderous conclusion. After twelve chapters of searching and testing, the Preacher brings it all home:
"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).
Everything "under the sun" will burn up. But your response to God: your "fear" (reverence, awe, and love) of Him: is the only thing that remains.
In the Assemblies of God, we believe in the "Blessed Hope": the imminent return of Jesus Christ. Ecclesiastes reminds us why that hope is so precious. If this life were all there is, it would be a tragedy. But because Jesus rose from the dead, He has broken through the "sun." He has gone into the eternal realm to prepare a place for us where there is no more hevel, no more decay, and no more "striving after wind."
Until then, we live with our feet on the ground but our hearts in heaven. We work hard, we love well, and we enjoy the gifts of God, knowing that the best is yet to come.
Reflection Questions
What is one area of your life where you feel like you are "striving after wind"? How can you surrender that to God today?
When was the last time you truly enjoyed a "small gift" from God (like a meal or a walk) without worrying about the future?
If you truly believed that "eternity" is in your heart, how would that change the way you spend your time this week?
A Prayer for Meaning
Father, I thank You that You are the God of the seasons. When life feels like a vapor and I can’t seem to get a grip on my circumstances, remind me that You are the Anchor. Forgive me for trying to find my satisfaction in things that are passing away. Help me to fear You, to love You, and to enjoy the life You’ve given me as a gift. Fill me with Your Spirit so that I can see beyond the "sun" and live for Your eternal Kingdom. In Jesus' name, Amen.
About the Author
Layne McDonald, Ph.D., is an author, teacher, and leadership mentor dedicated to helping people navigate the complexities of faith, culture, and life through a biblical lens. With a deep commitment to the truth of Scripture and the power of the Holy Spirit, Dr. McDonald creates resources that bridge the gap between ancient wisdom and modern application. He is the founder of Layne McDonald Ministry and the author of numerous books focused on discipleship, leadership, and spiritual growth. His mission is to guide believers into a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ and a clearer understanding of their purpose in God's eternal plan.
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If Ecclesiastes shows us the frustration of life without God, what happens when we look at the most intimate relationship possible: the love between a Bridegroom and his Bride? Get ready, because in Chapter 22, we are stepping into the beautiful, poetic, and often misunderstood world of the Song of Solomon. Is it just a love poem, or is it a picture of something much more eternal?
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