Is the book of Ecclesiastes the most depressing book in the Bible? Well, it can be - no doubt about it. I don't think it would make very many people's list of favorite Bible books. I know personally it always kind of depressed me in days gone by when I would read it but that was my fault, not the book's. I would like to try and show the upbeat side of the book of Ecclesiastes.

What the book of Ecclesiastes does is lay before us the facts of this life. Our great achievements, as we may view them, will eventually fade away into obscurity and we along with them. Even the names on our tombstones will eventually be weathered away and can no longer be read. Our names may be found on a genealogy record somewhere but it will simply be a name without meaning, without feeling, read without love or caring by those who see it. Yes, it is depressing to think about it but it is also necessary.

We can only live this life successfully and find the greatest happiness when we are able to grasp the big picture of what it is all about and where it will end. That is the message of the book of Ecclesiastes. When Solomon says "all is vanity" as he begins to write (Eccl. 1:2) he is simply telling us that to build a life based on the things of this world is a vain thing that is but for a short time and has no lasting value. When we die we lose it all.

I believe we error greatly, however, when we read the book and get from it the idea that there is no use or value in striving to achieve in this life. When we live this life with understanding and purpose, God being at its center, we can find joy and happiness. Hear Solomon:

"He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, ... 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 drink and enjoy the good of all his labor--it is the gift of God." (Eccl. 3:11-13 NKJV)

That is not a depressing message. It is a joyous message. It is also a message of how to live one's life - "do good," work and enjoy the good from your labor, "it is the gift of God."

"So I perceived that nothing is better than that a man should rejoice in his own works, for that is his heritage." (Eccl. 3:22 NKJV) Work and rejoice in your works says Solomon.

The message of the book is not that all is of no value but rather go into life knowing where everything is ultimately leading and thus live in a way that is not self-deceiving and foolish. God is our creator and to dust we will return. We are in his hands. We live but for a time then "man goes to his eternal home." (Eccl. 12:5 NKJV)

We sometimes live life in such a way that we tell ourselves when I get this or that, when I achieve this goal, when I accomplish that, well, then I will be happy and content. Thus we live life in a way where real happiness is always just down the road around the corner. One of the messages of Solomon's is rejoice today, not tomorrow. Did you labor today? If you did rejoice in your labor. You did accomplish something in so doing. Count God's blessings and be happy here and now, happy and thankful.

We need to make sure we understand that Solomon is not saying we should not set goals and work toward them. But, we set goals as a man or woman of God who understands what the true values are and are not obsessed with reaching worldly goals to the exclusion of godliness and being the person we ought to be.

Yes, Solomon does teach us there is such a thing as vanity. Where? In what? In thinking that when you have done, or acquired, or accomplished, that in itself is going to bring you happiness in and by itself. The real joy is in the striving and enjoying the labor day by day (emphasis - day by day) as you reach for a goal. Often, and we have all experienced it, there is a big let down after we have reached a goal. What now? Where do I go from here? Solomon would say, I believe, that you can go wherever you want but it will always be the same.

He says, "He who loves silver will not be satisfied with silver." (Eccl. 5:10 NKJV) "All the labor of man is for his mouth, And yet the soul is not satisfied." (Eccl. 6:7 NKJV) Happiness can only come when the soul is satisfied. That is why you can pile college degree upon college degree, millions upon millions, fame and popularity upon fame and popularity, pleasure upon pleasure, honor upon honor, and still never be satisfied.

Satisfaction for the soul can only come from living a godly life, knowing all is well with you and God and your fellowman for you have lived faithfully and lived a life of love, doing good, a life of faith and obedience. Solomon thus admonishes man to, "Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth" (Eccl. 12:1 NKJV) and "before the silver cord is loosed (death - DS)." (Eccl. 12:6 NKJV)

If fame brought happiness, if money brought it, if great knowledge and wisdom brought it, if power brought it, if earthly pleasure and indulgence brought it, then Solomon should have been the happiest man in the world for he had it all. Yet, that does not seem to be the case. He wrote for our admonition to tell us hey, I tried it, it does not work.

In fact, it led in the opposite direction. In 1 Kings 11 we read where Solomon disobeyed God and married foreign women (he had 700 wives and 300 concubines) which was a violation of God's law given through Moses. In his old age the Bible says Solomon's "heart was not loyal to the Lord his God," (1 Kings 11:4 NKJV) he "did evil in the sight of the Lord," (1 Kings 11:6 NKJV) "he did not keep what the Lord had commanded." (1 Kings 11:10 NKJV) He worshipped idols, foreign Gods, and built high places (places to worship these gods by sacrifice).

Whether he ever repented or not we are not told. We do know God spoke to him about his sin. (1 Kings 11:11) One does know that the book of Ecclesiastes had to be written in or near his old age for he had already experienced all the things he wrote about and thus, perhaps, he did repent. We cannot know. We can know that, "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God" (2 Tim. 3:16 NKJV) and that "whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope." (Rom. 15:4 NKJV)

Yes, if one is just looking at the things of this life the book of Ecclesiastes can be a very depressing book but if one looks at the big picture one can gain much profit from reading it as to how to live a happy life, while here, that in the end will be rewarded. Seek the things that are not vain, not temporal, but are eternal.

"The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man." (Eccl. 12:13 ESV)

"Everything you were taught can be put into a few words: Respect and obey God! This is what life is all about." (Eccl. 12:13 CEV)

"After all this, there is only one thing to say: Have reverence for God, and obey his commands, because this is all that we were created for." (Eccl. 12:13 GNB)

Visit Denny Smith's web site to read more of his articles and also listen to over 110 audio sermons on many different subjects from "Where Are the Dead?" to "The Weaver's Shuttle," to "What Must I Do To Be Saved?" The audio sermons are by a good friend, Waymon Swain, who has preached over 50 years now. Why not visit Denny's site at dennysmith.net? You are sure to find a sermon topic or article of interest.