Lots of interesting replies.
Its a good while since I read Ecclesiastes, I remember reading it
and thinking "oh well lets read something happy now"!
But oddly as Ive get older I think I can see exactly where Solomon is
coming from. He had everything, riches, women (lots of women), people to
do his bidding, yet even he realised this life is all vanity.
The more we strive for and gain, the more we need. It's like it's the
striving itself which makes life interesting, the chase. Rather than the human
goal.
Its God who makes the difference, yet sin has separated people from
the one who makes the difference. I wonder what he would have written
if he had been able to write something during the early church days
following the resurrection of Jesus. I think I will ask Solomon that
when I meet him.
Its good to read Ecclestiastes it puts life in our vain attempts at self
sufficiency into perspective, it emphasises our poor attempt
at trying to make our own happiness and way in the world.
You know its absolutely true how nothing in this world satisfies we see it
daily around us. People turning to drugs and drink, sex and possessions to
try to find happiness.
In the right circumstances it could be a good book to use to
witness to others. To show them Jesus changes everything. That's what I
am getting from it as I read through it.