生命是一個謎，相當費解。對不認識上帝的人而言，生命只有兩個字可說，就是「虛空」。傳道者在一章二節提到虛空之後──本書中還連續提了三十次──以此形容遠離上帝、庸庸碌碌的生命，他理應知道，每一種屬地的歡樂都會疲乏厭倦，總覺不足！只有把生命當作「出於上帝之手」（2：24）的珍貴禮物時，才能開始進入另一層境界──是屬於「日光之上」的！

        如果你的生命從八十歲開始，倒數計算，而今漸漸接近十八歲，你會怎麼想？會過得稍有不同嗎？
        傳道者對生命沒有幻想，他得到的都是第一手資料，即太陽下沒有一件事可帶來永遠的的滿足。雖然進入虛空之中，傳道者的智慧卻增長了，因他發現上帝的手在工作（2：24；9：1），上帝是「智慧、知識、喜樂」的施者（2：26），祂使人能夠「吃喝，在一切勞碌中享福」（3：13）。
        何不為今晚籌畫一個「讚美聚會」呢？邀家人或朋友就可以了，準備一頓特別的晚餐，為的是公開的感謝上帝賜下祂美好的禮物，你會發現：讚美可以養成習慣！

        傳道者──是所羅門或另有其人？
        傳道書中傳道者的敘述，與列王紀上所羅門的講論作一比較。
　　傳道者是誰？（傳道書）        所羅門是誰？（列王紀上）
•大衛的兒子（1：1）        •╴╴╴╴╴（2：1）
•耶路撒冷的君王（1：1）        •╴╴╴╴╴（8：1）
•智慧的心（1：13）        •╴╴╴╴╴（3：12）
•偉大的成就（2：4 -6）        •╴╴╴╴╴（7：1-12）
•龐大的財富（2：7 -10）        •╴╴╴╴╴（10：14-23）
        請你自己判斷：「傳道者」是所羅門，或是另有其人？

信心可以回答生命一切的問題。

English

        Truly life is an enigma ... a riddle ... a puzzle. From the perspective of those who do not know God, there can only be one word for it: vanity. That's the word the Preacher uses in 1:2—and 30 other times in the book—to describe the futility of life apart from God. And he ought Co know! Every earthly prescription for hap¬piness has been tried . . . and found wanting. Only when life is viewed as a precious gift "from the hand of God" (2:24) does it begin to come into focus—a focus only possible "above the sun.

        What would you think if your life began at the age of 80, and gradually approached 18? Would you live it differently?
        The Preacher has no illusions about life. He has learned from firsthand experience that nothing under the sun will bring lasting satisfaction.But even in the midst of his voyage into vanity, the Preacher grows wiser, for he discovers the hand of God at work (2:24; 9:1). God is the Giver of "wisdom, and knowledge, and joy" (2:26). He enables a person to "eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour" (3:13).
        Why not plan a "Praise Party" for this evening? With family or friends, fix a special meal specifically for the purpose of thanking God publicly for His good gifts. You'll find it's habit forming!

        The Preacher: Solomon or Someone Else?
        Compare the description of the Preacher in Ecclesiastes with the corresponding description of Solomon in 1 Kings.
Who is the Preacher? (Ecclesiastes)        Who is Solomon? (1 Kings)
•son of David (1:1)        __________(2:1)
• king ofjerusalem (1:1)        __________(8:1)
• heart of wisdom (1:13)         __________ (3:12)
• great accomplishments (2:4-6)        __________ (7:1-12)
• great wealth (2:7-10)        __________ (10:14-23)
        Is "the Preacher" Solomon …or someone else?

Life asks no questions that faith cannot answer.