Ecclesiastes 7-12

“Death is the destiny of everyone; the living should take this to heart” (7:2) Ecclesiastes explains that in human terms, life is “meaningless” (1:1); despite our efforts, death is the destiny of “the righteous and the wicked, the good and the bad” (9:23). Life does not always make sense. “The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong ... but time and chance happen to them all” (9:11). The only thing for sure, Ecclesiastes says, is to “fear God” and obey him (12:13).

“Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might” (10:10). In God’s kingdom, death does not steal the meaning from life. Safe in his love, we can live today “with all our might.”