Ecclesiastes 1-2

“What does man gain by all the toil at which he toils under the sun? A generation goes, and a generation comes, but the earth remains forever” (v3-4).  Ecclesiastes presents us with a very honest, very human perspective of life.  Anyone who has experienced loss, or worked hard at something for years only to watch it crumble, might agree: “all things are full of weariness” (v8).  Even if we do accomplish something, it may be forgotten tomorrow (v11). “I have seen everything,” says the Preacher (v14), and it is all just wind.

But the truth is that none of us has “seen everything;” our perspective is limited.  God can make crooked things straight (v15) and bring beauty and purpose out of chaos.