Our First Purpose

Upon first reading of the Book of Ecclesiastes, one might think, why bother to do anything? After a closer look, however, this Book of the Bible instead prioritizes God over any of our other endeavors. Before we get too caught up in what our purpose “to do” is, let us take a look at and be mindful of our "first purpose," and NEVER forget it.

“The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem” (Ecclesiastes 1:1).

The writer of Ecclesiastes, believed to be Solomon, tries each of the avenues proposed by humanity to achieve the value being sought, he finds them elusive (“grasping for the wind”) and fleeting, of no permanence (“vanity”). The “wisdom” of the world is found bankrupt of real value. Nor is the answer to be found in pleasure, wealth, great accomplishments or materialism.

Even human life itself, in any secular, humanistic sense, cannot be the profit sought after. The interplay of death and life is a subordinate theme for the book. But returning to the preacher’s grand quest: is it destined to conclude (12:8), as it began (1:2), on a note of despair? The preacher’s constant probing of all existence for meaning shows him to be an optimist, not a pessimist, and his failure to discover any absolute, abiding value in this life (“under the sun”) does not mean his quest is a failure. Instead, he finds himself compelled to seek the value he seeks in the world to come. Although he does not specifically state it as such, the logic that undergirds his entire quest compels him to find and conclude:[1]

1) The only real value is in the fear (reverence) and obedience of God.

“Let us hear the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all” (Ecclesiastes 12:13).

2) Mirroring the teachings of Jesus, we should first value a proper attitude and relationship toward God.

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37). (Quoting Deuteronomy 6:5)

“This is the first and great commandment” (Matthew 22:38).

3) We are to have the proper attitude toward our fellow human beings.

“And the second one is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:39).

"On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 22:40).

Our God-Given Task

“What profit has the worker from that in which he labors? I have seen the God-given task with which the sons of men are to be occupied. He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end. I know that nothing is better for them than to rejoice, and to do good in their lives, and also that every man should eat and enjoy the good of all his labor – it is the gift of God” (Ecclesiastes 3:9-13).

Remember, it is God who gives us all good things, including the work of our hands. May we consider Him first and boast in Him always!

[1] Spirit-Filled Life Bible (NKJV) (Thomas Nelson, Inc, 1991), 928–29.