Welcome back. How exciting—today we wrap up Ecclesiastes by reading chapters 9–12, which also marks our completion of the twenty-first book of the Bible this year. Just over halfway through 2025, you’re progressing steadily. You’re doing great.
Gloom and Glory
Solomon opens with his familiar tone, reflecting on death’s certainty:
“No one knows whether love or hate awaits them.” (Eccles. 9:1b, NIV) The answer to this is found a couple of verses later, “Anyone who is among the living has hope.” (Eccles. 9:4a, NIV)
It’s true—we all will die. I’m sixty-four and inching closer to that day. But we don’t need to dread it. As the writer of Hebrews reminds us:
“Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment.” (Heb. 9:27, NIV)
John echoes Solomon’s lament—and his rejoicing:
“And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened… The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books.” (Rev. 20:12, NIV)
That’s Solomon’s point. We all end up in the same place, but our fate is determined by our responses to Christ.
When we live in Christ, God judges us not for our sins, but for how we lived our faith. Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10, NIV). That life is available when we surrender to His Lordship.
Freedom Redefined
I used to think Christianity meant joylessness. My early exposure to Catholic nuns made me feel like it was all restriction. But Scripture tells another story:
“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.” (Gal. 5:1, NIV) “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” (John 8:36, NIV)
Solomon affirms this joy:
“Go, eat your food with gladness, and drink your wine with a joyful heart, for God has already approved what you do.” (Eccles. 9:7, NIV)
He already approved it. Not because we’re sinless, but because He knows our hearts.
The False Gods We Make
This promise doesn’t apply to those who keep lordship over their own lives. We like to make our own rules—and when they don’t align with God, we imagine a god who allows them. But this isn’t the true God. Without Christ, we remain stained by sin. Isaiah pleads:
“Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.” (Isa. 1:18, NIV)
Solomon adds:
“Always be clothed in white, and always anoint your head with oil.” (Eccles. 9:8, NIV)
When we do, we can:
“Enjoy life with your wife, whom you love… For this is your lot in life.” (Eccles. 9:9, NIV)
Work, Joy, and Calling
I’ve always said I work hard—I play harder. Solomon agrees:
“Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might.” (Eccles. 9:10, NIV)
God designed life for joy: in labor, in love, in food, in community.
Money and Mastery
We must avoid letting money rule us:
“You cannot serve both God and money.” (Matt. 6:24, NIV)
This doesn’t make money evil. In fact, Solomon says:
“A feast is made for laughter, wine makes life merry, and money is the answer for everything.” (Eccles. 10:19, NIV)
No one forbids enterprise—it can even be blessed.
“Ship your grain across the sea… Invest in seven ventures, yes, in eight.” (Eccles. 11:1–2, NIV)
Relax, Release, Rejoice
Let go. We have no control over the mysteries of life.
“As you do not know the path of the wind… so you cannot understand the work of God.” (Eccles. 11:5, NIV)
“Everything is meaningless.” (Eccles. 12:8, NIV)
But here’s the twist—we are eternal:
“He has… set eternity in the human heart.” (Eccles. 3:11, NIV)
We must live for Jesus and let Him live in us. Then one day, we’ll barely remember what happened here—because compared to eternity, it’s a whisper.
As the hymn goes:
“When we’ve been there ten thousand years, bright shining as the sun…” ¹
The only thing that will matter is one thing: Did we give Jesus Christ Lordship over our lives?
Tomorrow, we will read the Song of Solomon 1-4.
Citation (Chicago Style)
¹ John Newton, Amazing Grace, 1779, public domain. Scripture quotations are taken from the New International Version (NIV), unless otherwise noted.