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The preacher who wrote the book of Ecclesiastes lacked contentment until he came to the true conclusion by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit about living life “under the sun.” He did, however, give us glimpses of contentment while “striving after the wind” of worldly pursuits.
God wants us to enjoy all the good gifts he has given us.
For example, rather than being anxious about food and drink and work (Matt. 6:25ff), the preacher writes,
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. (Eccl. 2:24)
Five times the preacher repeats the wisdom of contentment and even enjoyment in what we eat and drink and the work we do. He wants to make sure we understand that living under the sun, meaning while we live in this age on earth, is to be enjoyed by being content and happy with the meals God provides and while laboring in the work God gives to us. The grace of God gives us these good gifts in contrast to our "striving after the wind."
“Striving after the wind” is futile—it is like trying to grab a breath of air with your hand.
What does the preacher mean by “striving after the wind?” In Ecclesiastes 1:14, he writes,
I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind.
He uses the phrase “striving after the wind” nine times. Six of those times he relates it to “vanity” (e.g., Eccl. 2:17; 4:4; etc.). The Hebrew word that is translated as “vanity” could also be translated as “breath” or “vapor,” which fits “striving after wind.” “Futile” is another appropriate translation of the Hebrew word. In other words, “striving after the wind” is futile—it is like trying to grab a breath of air with your hand. You can’t do it. It is like a vapor that disappears in a moment. Many things that we pursue in this life hoping to find satisfaction and happiness and contentment in them are striving after the wind—futile vanities because they are like a breath or a vapor that evaporates in an instant.
We chase after things of the world only to be faced with our own mortality.
The preacher lists our common pursuits: wisdom and knowledge (Eccl. 1:17); pleasure (Eccl. 2:1); houses and landscaping (Eccl. 2:4-6); possessions (Eccl. 2:7); and wealth (Eccl. 2:8). All of these vaporize in a moment and even those that appear to last are given to others at that point of our death (Eccl. 6:2). Whether righteous or wicked, we all die like the animals from dust to dust (Eccl. 3:19-20). We chase after all these things of the world hoping to find contentment only to be faced with our own mortality—our death that takes us from this life naked as we came into it (Eccl. 5:15). In fact, the wisdom of God poetically reminds us,
It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for this is the end of all mankind, and the living will lay it to heart. (Eccl. 7:2)
We are to lay to our heart that at some point all of us will face the death of this body; therefore, we should be content with what God has given us, especially the enjoyment of the food we eat, the liquids we drink, and the labor of our work. All of these are gifts from God to give us joy and happiness.
“Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.”
Rather than striving after what doesn't last or merely becomes another’s after our passing, be satisfied with whatever God has provided to us. Don’t be lazy—don’t try to escape to a wilderness and demand God provide contentment. As God gives good gifts to us he often does so through the means of human labor—the work of a garden or farm, the patience that comes from waiting on the fruit of the vine, a fine wine, and the joy and satisfaction of serving others and the Lord through our vocations.
The preacher declares the end of the matter in Ecclesiastes 12:13:
Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.
And what God commands is that we are to love God and love our neighbor (Deut. 6:5; Lev. 19:18, Matt. 22:36-40). We are to be content with the good gifts God gives to us while being careful not to anxiously strive after the wind, after the things that do not last. Rather, seek God through faith in his Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, for only in him do we find the eternal contentment and joy in the life to come.
This article was originally published in Beautiful Christian Life’s June 2024 monthly newsletter, “Contentment.”
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