unfulfilled

Tag Archives: unfulfilled

April 24, 2025 · 9:00 pm

7 All the labor of man is for his mouth, And yet the soul is not satisfied. 8 For what more has the wise man than the fool? What does the poor man have, Who knows how to walk before the living? 9 Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of desire. This also is vanity and grasping for the wind.

Ecclesiastes 6:7-9

The author revisits a previous theme. Whether we have much or whether we have little, the things of this life don’t truly satisfy. Solomon should know. He tried it all and found it all wanting.

Solomon sought meaning in riches, fame, and building projects. None of them brought satisfaction. He searched for meaning in philosophical pursuits and in relationships with women (He had over a 1000 wives and concubines!-1 Kings 11:3). Even that wasn’t enough.

Our only satisfaction is found in Jesus Christ. Life will not be perfect. But, in Christ, we can find meaning and purpose that will carry us through to heaven.

Tony French

Unfulfilled

3 If a man begets a hundred children and lives many years, so that the days of his years are many, but his soul is not satisfied with goodness, or indeed he has no burial, I say that a stillborn child is better than he– 4 for it comes in vanity and departs in darkness, and its name is covered with darkness. 5 Though it has not seen the sun or known anything, this has more rest than that man, 6 even if he lives a thousand years twice–but has not seen goodness. Do not all go to one place?

Ecclesiastes 6:3-6

We must recall that Solomon’s writing is basically from an earthly perspective. Apart from God, there is no fulfillment in life. It is through our relationship with Christ and Christ alone that we are brought peace, power, and contentment.

Solomon’s book seems true for those who are without God. One could paraphrase these verses in the following way; not being born seems to be superior to an unfulfilled life. If there is no contentment, no peace, and no purpose to life, then why be born in the first place? All die and are forgotten.

I am thankful that there is more to the story. Jesus Christ lived, died, and rose again so that we may have life in abundance. Our lives have meaning and purpose because He lives.

Tony French