Even the Wisest Man Hated Life | Ecclesiastes 2:12-17

No matter how much wisdom we gain, how many trophies we collect, or how well we plan, we all face the same fate. It’s an uncomfortable truth, but Solomon didn’t shy away from it. He wrestled with a reality we all try to ignore—does any of this really matter?

Welcome to The Daily. We go through the bible verse-by-verse, chapter-by-chapter, every single day.

Our text today is Ecclesiastes 2:12-17.

So I turned to consider wisdom and madness and folly. For what can the man do who comes after the king? Only what has already been done. Then I saw that there is more gain in wisdom than in folly, as there is more gain in light than in darkness. The wise person has his eyes in his head, but the fool walks in darkness. And yet I perceived that the same event happens to all of them. Then I said in my heart, “What happens to the fool will happen to me also. Why then have I been so very wise?” And I said in my heart that this also is vanity. For of the wise as of the fool there is no enduring remembrance, seeing that in the days to come all will have been long forgotten. How the wise dies just like the fool! So I hated life, because what is done under the sun was grievous to me, for all is vanity and a striving after wind. — Ecclesiastes 2:12-17

Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, stood at the peak of human achievement. And yet, at the end of his reflection, he reached a disturbing conclusion—his wisdom and toil would eventually be left to another, whether wise or foolish.

What he sees is the injustice of wisdom and toil. No matter how much effort he poured into his work and put into protecting his work, someone else would always reap the benefits. Someone else would enjoy the wealth he worked for all his life. Someone else would take his throne and do unwise things with the kingdom. And worst of all? His wisdom couldn’t alter the unavoidable: both the wise and the fool share the same fate. The point? Death comes for all, erasing their memory from the minds of future generations.

This reality broke Solomon. “So I hated life,” he admitted. Not because life was meaningless in itself but because its bounties were brief, passing to those who did not earn them.

The temptation is to look at Solomon’s words and despair, but his frustration points us to the truth: if all we labor for is under the sun, it will never satisfy. Everything we build, everything we achieve, will eventually be given to someone else. If our meaning is found in our work, we will be crushed by the reality that it won’t last. We all know companies fail, businesses are sold, people are fired, careers are altered, all in the blink of an eye.

But we find hope if we shift our focus above the sun—beyond this temporary world. Our labor, when accomplished for God, has eternal significance. The Apostle Paul echoes this in 1 Corinthians 15:58: “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”

So, what do we do with this? Do we stop working, stop striving, and let life happen? No. But we must shift our perspective.

So here’s the challenge: Stop working for things that won’t outlive you. Start investing in what will outlast you.

How? Serve with eternity in mind. Work as if you are building something for God, not just yourself. Invest in people, not just projects. Prioritize relationships over rewards, faithfulness over fame, and obedience over outcomes. Whatever you do, do it for the glory of God (Colossians 3:23).

If your toil is focused on earthly gain, you, like Solomon, will "Hate your toil." But if your toil is for the Kingdom, your labor is never in vain.

#EternalPerspective, #WisdomFromSolomon, #WorkForGod

ASK THIS:
What earthly achievements do you invest in that won’t last?
How can you shift your focus from temporary success to eternal significance?
In what ways does your work glorify God?
How can you prioritize faithfulness over fame in your daily life?
DO THIS:
Shift your focus—serve with eternity in mind. Work as if you’re building something for God, not just yourself.

PRAY THIS:
Lord, help me to labor for what lasts. Teach me to seek eternal significance rather than temporary gain, and to glorify You in all I do. Amen.

PLAY THIS:
Come Jesus Come.