Ecclesiastes

Life is frustrating, and you can’t control it. In this 4-week series we explore a brutally honest take on faith from the most mysterious book in the Bible.

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Ecclesiastes: A Brutally Honest Take on Faith

We’re kicking off a new series in one of the most surprising books in the Bible: Ecclesiastes. When we first mentioned it during our Christmas Eve services, some of you probably wondered, “Ecclesiastes? To start the new year?” But that question actually proves the point. Ecclesiastes meets us right where many of us already are—tired, questioning, and wondering if the things we chased were ever meant to satisfy us in the first place.

We’ve titled this series A Brutally Honest Take on Faith because Ecclesiastes doesn’t sugarcoat reality. It names the frustrations, disappointments, and injustices of life head-on. If you’re not paying attention, you might miss the point and assume the book is bleak or hopeless. But if you lean in, you’ll find something far more helpful: clarity, perspective, and hope grounded in God rather than circumstances.

Humanity has always asked the same questions we’re asking today: What’s the point? Why does so much effort feel so empty? Ecclesiastes reminds us that “there is nothing new under the sun.” We’re not the first generation to wrestle with disillusionment, and we won’t be the last.

Think about it—have you ever worked hard to achieve something, only to find it didn’t really satisfy? A promotion that felt anticlimactic. A dream vacation that still left you restless. Even incredible accomplishments can fall flat. After winning his third Super Bowl in five years, Patrick Mahomes famously said in a postgame interview, “We’re not done.” Even at the pinnacle, he was already looking ahead. Success under the sun never seems to be enough.

Before digging into the text, it helps to understand what kind of book Ecclesiastes is. The Bible tells one unified story, but it does so through many literary genres—history, law, prophecy, poetry, and wisdom. Ecclesiastes belongs to the wisdom literature, alongside Proverbs and Job. Within the ancient Near East, there was even a subgenre called pessimism literature. Ecclesiastes is the Bible’s only example of it. But unlike other ancient pessimistic writings, Ecclesiastes is not hopeless. It acknowledges life’s frustrations while still pointing us toward joy and meaning rooted in God and eternity.

Ecclesiastes opens like this:

Ecclesiastes 1:1–11 (NLT) – “These are the words of the Teacher, King David’s son, who ruled in Jerusalem.”

The “Teacher” is widely understood to be Solomon. His achievements, wisdom, and wealth align perfectly with what we know from 1 Kings and 2 Chronicles. The Hebrew title for the Teacher is Qoheleth, meaning one who addresses or gathers an assembly. It carries the sense of a seasoned king standing before his people saying, “Listen—I’ve tried it all.”

Solomon likely wrote Proverbs earlier in life—practical wisdom that describes how life generally works. But Ecclesiastes reads like wisdom forged in disappointment. It’s a no-nonsense response to the simplicity of Proverbs. Proverbs says, “Do this, and you’ll get that.” Ecclesiastes replies, “Life isn’t that simple.” The wisest man on earth had lived long enough to see that even true principles don’t always play out the way we expect.

That’s why Ecclesiastes resonates so deeply with our culture. Many of us feel wounded by unfairness, disillusioned by unmet expectations, or hurt by institutions—even the church. Ecclesiastes doesn’t dismiss those experiences. It validates them while redirecting our hope.

That leads us to the central idea of chapter one: a life focused only on what is temporary will always feel empty.

“Everything is meaningless,” the Teacher says. The Hebrew word is hevel—used nearly forty times in the book. It literally means “breath” or “vapor.” Life under the sun is thin, fleeting, and impossible to grasp. Interestingly, hevel is also the name Abel—the first person to die in human history. His life was unjustly cut short, reinforcing the truth that even doing everything right doesn’t guarantee fair outcomes.

The Teacher contrasts life “under the sun” with God in heaven. What we chase here is unstable and unsatisfying. King David understood this too:

Psalm 39:5 (NLT) – “At best, each of us is but a breath.”

Yet David doesn’t end there. He asks the right question:

Psalm 39:7 (NLT) – “And so, Lord, where do I put my hope? My only hope is in you.”

That’s the heartbeat of Ecclesiastes. Life under the sun will disappoint—but we were made for more than life under the sun.

Believers live with an eternal perspective while remaining fully present. Jesus promises not just future life, but abundant life now:

John 10:10 (NLT) – “My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.”

That life begins today—through gratitude, faithfulness, and trust in God’s purposes, even in hardship.

The book closes its opening section by reminding us that history repeats itself and human achievements fade from memory. But the gospel gives us a greater hope:

Hebrews 12:24 (NLT) – “You have come to Jesus… whose blood speaks of forgiveness instead of crying out for vengeance like the blood of Abel.”

Life under the sun is fleeting. Life in Christ is forever. That’s the honest—and hopeful—message of Ecclesiastes.

Talking Points:
  • Ecclesiastes offers a brutally honest look at life’s frustrations while still pointing us toward hope rooted in God and eternity. Ecclesiastes 1:1–3
  • The book is wisdom literature, written from the perspective of experience, acknowledging that life doesn’t always work according to simple formulas. Ecclesiastes 1:12–18
  • The word “meaningless” (hevel) describes life as fleeting and ungraspable when it’s focused only on what is temporary. Ecclesiastes 1:2, Psalm 39:5
  • A life lived “under the sun” is unstable and unsatisfying, but hope is found in God who reigns from heaven. Ecclesiastes 5:2
  • We were created for more than this life; true meaning comes from an eternal perspective rooted in Christ. John 10:10, Hebrews 12:24
Discussion:
  1. Read the talking points above as a group, including scripture references. What are your initial thoughts about these points or about the podcast lesson (see audio above)?
  2. When have you achieved something you thought would satisfy you—but didn’t? What did you learn from that experience?
  3. How does understanding the meaning of hevel change the way you read Ecclesiastes?
  4. Why do you think Ecclesiastes resonates so strongly with modern culture?
  5. What does it look like to live with an eternal perspective while still being fully present today?
  6. How does Jesus redefine what a “rich and satisfying life” actually means?
  7. Where might God be inviting you to shift your hope away from what is “under the sun” and toward Him?
Click for Student Edition

Icebreaker – “Chasing Smoke” (5–10 minutes)
Have everyone think of something they really wanted at one point (a phone, winning a game, making a team, getting popular, etc.).
Go around the circle and have students share:

  • What was it?

  • How long did the excitement last?

Then ask:

  • Did it satisfy you the way you thought it would?

Explain: “Today we’re going to talk about why so many good things don’t last the way we expect—and what does last.”

1. Meet the Teacher
Solomon calls himself “the Teacher” in Ecclesiastes. All the clues point to him being the author—the son of King David and one of the most famous kings in Israel’s history.

Read: Ecclesiastes 1:1–2

Discuss:

  • Why do you think Solomon’s perspective changed as he got older?

  • Do you think life always works like a formula? Why or why not?

Takeaway:
Wisdom grows when we’re honest about real life—not just how we wish it worked.

2. The Key Word: Hevel
The word “meaningless” shows up again and again in Ecclesiastes. But the original Hebrew word is hevel. It literally means smoke or vapor. Think about smoke—you can see it, but when you try to grab it, it slips right through your fingers. It’s real, but it doesn’t last.

Read: Psalm 39:5

Discuss:

  • How does thinking of life as “smoke” change the way you think about success?

  • What are some things people treat as permanent that really aren’t?

Takeaway:
When we chase temporary things as if they’ll last forever, we end up disappointed.

3. Life “Under the Sun”
Solomon uses a phrase over and over: life under the sun. That’s his way of describing life focused only on what’s here and now—achievements, popularity, money, or stuff. Even huge successes fade fast.

Read: Ecclesiastes 1:8–9

Discuss:

  • Why do you think excitement fades so quickly?

  • What’s something you’ve chased that didn’t satisfy for long?

Takeaway:
Life focused only on what’s “under the sun” will always leave us wanting more.

4. Where Real Hope Comes From
Solomon’s dad, King David, wrestled with the same feelings—but he asked the most important question: “Lord, where do I put my hope?” And he answered it clearly: “My only hope is in you.”

Jesus calls this a “rich and satisfying life”—a life that starts now, not just after we die.

Read: John 10:10

Discuss:

  • How does trusting God change the way we handle success or failure?

  • What would it look like to enjoy good things without depending on them?

Takeaway:
Real meaning comes from trusting God, not from chasing things that don’t last.

Outro – Bringing It Home
Ecclesiastes invites us to be brutally honest. What’s the smoke in your life? What do you keep chasing, hoping it will finally make you happy? Life can feel confusing and frustrating, but that doesn’t mean it’s pointless. When we place our hope in God, even ordinary days and hard moments can be filled with purpose.

Challenge
This week, pay attention to what you’re chasing. When you feel disappointed or restless, pause and pray:
“God, help me put my hope in You, not in things that fade.”

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A Brutally Honest Take on Pleasure

Ecclesiastes has a way of cutting through our assumptions and exposing reality. Where Proverbs often presents life in clean cause-and-effect terms—do this and you’ll get that—Ecclesiastes responds with a sobering reminder: life isn’t that simple. This book gives us a clear-eyed look at life “under the sun,” meaning life as it exists in a fallen, broken world.

Last week, we were introduced to two key ideas that shape the entire book. The first is Qoheleth, the “Teacher,” whose reflections form Ecclesiastes. The second is hevel, a word translated “meaningless,” but more accurately understood as vapor or smoke—something fleeting, elusive, and impossible to grasp. The Teacher’s message is not that life has no value, but that life under the sun cannot bear the weight of our ultimate expectations. We were made for more than this world alone.

This week, the Teacher turns his attention to pleasure.

The Promise of Pleasure

In the ancient world, pleasure was often elevated as the highest good. Today, we use words like hedonic to describe short-term, sensory enjoyment, and hedonism to describe the belief that pleasure should be the primary goal of life. The logic is simple: if it feels good, do it; if it hurts, avoid it.

That mindset feels especially familiar in modern culture. We chase experiences, comfort, entertainment, success, and romance with the hope that the next thing will finally satisfy us. Yet experience tells us something isn’t working. The more we pursue pleasure directly, the more restless we become.

Thousands of years before neuroscientists studied dopamine or psychologists described the “hedonic treadmill,” King Solomon ran a real-world experiment to see if pleasure could satisfy the human soul.

Solomon’s Great Experiment

In Ecclesiastes 2:1–11 (NLT), Solomon describes his pursuit of pleasure in sweeping, exhaustive terms. He explored laughter and entertainment, concluding that constant amusement ultimately rang hollow. He turned to alcohol, attempting to numb the weight of life while still clinging to wisdom. He invested in massive building projects, vineyards, gardens, and infrastructure—accomplishments that would rival any modern empire.

He accumulated wealth, assets, and power beyond any king before him. He surrounded himself with music, beauty, and sexual pleasure, withholding nothing his heart desired. By every standard—ancient or modern—Solomon lived the dream. “Anything I wanted, I would take,” he writes. Ecclesiastes 2:10.

And yet, after surveying it all, his conclusion is devastating: “But as I looked at everything I had worked so hard to accomplish, it was all so meaningless—like chasing the wind. There was nothing really worthwhile anywhere.” Ecclesiastes 2:11.

Once again, the word hevel appears. Vapor. Smoke. Nothing solid enough to build a life on.

Why Pleasure Can’t Deliver

Solomon’s conclusion mirrors what many experience today. Pleasure produces a genuine emotional spike, but it doesn’t last. Over time, what once felt exciting becomes ordinary. To feel the same rush again, we need more—more success, more stimulation, more affirmation. This cycle leaves us constantly chasing, but never arriving.

The problem isn’t pleasure itself. The problem is asking pleasure to do what it was never designed to do. Pleasure can enhance life, but it cannot anchor it. When we treat pleasure as ultimate, disappointment is inevitable.

The Other Extreme

When pleasure fails, some people swing in the opposite direction. Instead of indulgence, they choose denial. This mindset—often called asceticism—assumes that avoiding pleasure makes us more spiritual or more righteous. But Scripture rejects that extreme as well.

From the very beginning, God placed humanity in a garden filled with beauty and abundance. Genesis 2 describes trees that were not only good for food, but also pleasing to the eye. Pleasure was part of God’s original design. He is not anti-enjoyment; He is anti-idolatry.

A Better Way Forward

Solomon eventually arrives at a wiser conclusion. “So I concluded there is nothing better than to be happy and enjoy ourselves as long as we can,” he writes, “and people should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor, for these are gifts from God.” Ecclesiastes 3:12–13.

This is the balance Ecclesiastes calls us to embrace. Hedonism says, pleasure is my god. Asceticism says, pleasure is my enemy. The gospel says, pleasure is a gift. Gifts are meant to be received with gratitude, not clutched with desperation.

Solomon had everything and still felt empty. Jesus, on the other hand, lived with almost nothing—and was perfectly full. Jesus offers what pleasure never can: “My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.” John 10:10.

True satisfaction isn’t found in chasing pleasure, but in trusting the One who gives it.

Talking Points:
  • Life under the sun is marked by hevel—vapor, fleeting, and unable to deliver ultimate meaning. Ecclesiastes 1:2
  • Hedonism promises happiness through pleasure, but the more directly we chase it, the more it eludes us. Ecclesiastes 2:1–11
  • Solomon tested entertainment, alcohol, possessions, wealth, sex, and success and found none of them satisfying. Ecclesiastes 2:1–10
  • The hedonic treadmill explains why pleasure always demands “more” but never delivers fulfillment. Ecclesiastes 2:11
  • Asceticism is the opposite error—denying God’s good gifts instead of receiving them with gratitude. Genesis 2:8–9
  • Pleasure is a gift from God, not a god to replace Him. Ecclesiastes 3:12–13
  • True satisfaction is found in Jesus, who offers a rich and satisfying life beyond temporary pleasures. John 10:9–10

Discussion:
  1. Read the talking points above as a group, including scripture references. What are your initial thoughts about these points or about the podcast lesson (see audio above)?
  2. Which forms of pleasure does our culture most aggressively promise will make us happy? Why are those promises so convincing?
  3. Where have you personally experienced the “hedonic treadmill”—needing more just to feel the same?
  4. Why is it tempting to swing from hedonism to asceticism when pleasure disappoints?
  5. How does seeing pleasure as a gift instead of a god change the way we enjoy it?
  6. Read Ecclesiastes 3:12–13. What does it look like to enjoy God’s gifts without depending on them?
  7. How does Jesus’ promise of a “rich and satisfying life” redefine what satisfaction really means?

Click for Student Edition

A Brutally Honest Take on Pleasure

Icebreaker: “Would You Rather…?” (5–10 minutes)
Have students stand up. Read fun “Would You Rather” questions (pizza forever or burgers forever, fame or money, unlimited video games or unlimited snacks). Students move to different sides of the room to show their choice.
Connect it: “Today we’re talking about pleasure—things we enjoy—and whether those things can really make us happy.”

  1. Why Pleasure Matters
    Pleasure isn’t a bad thing. God made us to enjoy good things. But sometimes we expect pleasure to do more than it can—like make us happy forever. That’s what Ecclesiastes is about.

Read: Ecclesiastes 2:1

Discuss:
• Why do people chase pleasure so much?
• What are some pleasures students your age are tempted to chase?

2. Solomon Tried Everything
Solomon had money, fun, success, and relationships. He tried everything people today still chase. But none of it lasted.

Read: Ecclesiastes 2:10–11

Discuss:
• Why do you think Solomon still felt empty?
• Have you ever looked forward to something that didn’t satisfy like you hoped?

Takeaway:
Pleasure feels good for a moment, but it can’t fill your heart forever.

3. The Two Ditches
Some people chase pleasure too much. Others avoid it completely. God doesn’t want either extreme.

Read: Genesis 2:8–9

Discuss:
• Why do you think God made beautiful things?
• What happens when people feel guilty for enjoying good things?

Takeaway:
God gives good gifts, and He wants us to enjoy them the right way.

4. Jesus Is Better
Jesus didn’t promise endless fun—He promised real life. A life that’s full even when things aren’t perfect.

Read: John 10:10

Discuss:
• How is Jesus different from temporary pleasures?
• How can trusting Jesus change how we enjoy other things?

Takeaway:
Only Jesus can give lasting satisfaction.

Outro
Pleasure isn’t the enemy—but it’s a terrible god. When we enjoy God’s gifts without replacing God, life starts to make sense.

You don’t have to choose between joy and faith. Real joy starts with Jesus.

Challenge
This week, thank God for one good thing you enjoy—and remind yourself it’s a gift, not the source of your happiness.

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A Brutally Honest Take on Work and Wealth

We spend an enormous amount of our lives thinking about work and worrying about money. How much should we save? How hard should we hustle? Will we ever have enough?

The book of Ecclesiastes meets those questions head-on—with refreshing honesty.

Written by “the Teacher” (Qoheleth), Ecclesiastes doesn’t offer clichés or easy answers. Instead, it introduces us to a key idea that shapes everything else: hevel—a Hebrew word meaning vapor, smoke, or breath. Something real, but fleeting. Visible, but impossible to grasp.

Think of smoke. You can see it. It looks solid. But the moment you try to grab it, it slips right through your fingers. That, the Teacher says, is what money is like. It’s real and useful—but if you try to build your life on it, you’ll eventually discover you’re standing on nothing.

The Big Idea: Money is a helpful tool, but a horrible god.

Below are five timeless insights from Ecclesiastes that help us hold work and wealth with wisdom and humility.

1. Work and Wealth Are Good Gifts from God

Ecclesiastes is clear: work itself is not the problem. In fact, the Teacher calls it a gift.

Ecclesiastes 5:19 (NLT)
“And it is a good thing to receive wealth from God and the good health to enjoy it… this is indeed a gift from God.”

Notice where wealth comes from—from God. That means we are not the source of our wealth; we are stewards of it. The Bible never commands us to be poor, unemployed, or lazy. Instead, it consistently warns against idleness.

Work is good. Earning is good. Enjoying the fruit of your labor is good—when it’s received as a gift, not treated as a god.

2. Don’t Sacrifice Your Peace for a Paycheck

While work is good, toil is not.

Ecclesiastes 4:6 (NLT)
“Better to have one handful with quietness than two handfuls with hard work and chasing the wind.”

There’s hevel again. Hustle culture promises fulfillment but often delivers exhaustion. When success steals your sleep, your joy, and your sanity, something is off.

The Teacher observes that those who work hard tend to sleep well—but the wealthy often lie awake at night, anxious and restless. More money doesn’t always mean more peace.

3. Money Can’t Buy True Happiness

If money could satisfy the human heart, then having more would finally be enough. But Ecclesiastes says otherwise.

Ecclesiastes 5:10 (NLT)
“Those who love money will never have enough.”

The problem isn’t having money—it’s loving it. Wealth constantly promises happiness just one step ahead: a little more, a little better, a little bigger. But that finish line never arrives.

The New Testament echoes this wisdom, warning that the love of money leads to sorrow, spiritual drift, and deep regret. Money makes a terrible savior.

4. Enjoy What You Have Right Now

Here’s one of the most practical lessons in Ecclesiastes:

Ecclesiastes 6:9 (NLT)
“Enjoy what you have rather than desiring what you don’t have.”

Wealth can’t buy happiness—but what you already have can be enjoyed. Contentment isn’t getting everything you want; it’s learning to appreciate what God has already given.

Gratitude replaces coveting. Presence replaces comparison. Jesus reinforced this truth when he warned that life is not measured by how much we own.

5. You Can’t Take Any of It With You

Ecclesiastes repeatedly reminds us of a simple reality: we arrive with nothing, and we leave with nothing.

Ecclesiastes 5:15 (NLT)
“We can’t take our riches with us.”

This truth isn’t meant to depress us—it’s meant to free us. There are no hearses pulling U-Hauls. One second after you die, your net worth is zero.

That’s why Jesus ends his parable in Luke 12 with a warning: a person is foolish to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.

The Solid Ground Beneath It All

Money is hevel. Real, but fleeting. Useful, but unreliable.

God, on the other hand, is solid ground.

The gospel invites us to stop worshiping the gift and start trusting the Giver. True wealth isn’t found in what we accumulate—but in a relationship with God that can never be taken away.

Luke 12:21 (NLT)
“A person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.”

That kind of wealth lasts forever.

Talking Points:
  • Money is described as hevel—real but fleeting—making it a poor foundation for life. Ecclesiastes 1:2, 5:10–11
  • Work and wealth are good gifts from God, meant to be stewarded and enjoyed, not worshiped. Ecclesiastes 5:19, 10:18
  • Hustle without rest turns meaningful work into meaningless toil and steals our peace. Ecclesiastes 4:6, 2:22–23
  • Loving money promises happiness but delivers anxiety and dissatisfaction. Ecclesiastes 5:10, 1 Timothy 6:10
  • Contentment grows when we enjoy what we have instead of chasing what we lack. Ecclesiastes 6:9, Luke 12:15
  • Since we can’t take wealth with us, true riches are found in a relationship with God. Ecclesiastes 5:15, Luke 12:21

Discussion:
  1. Read the talking points above as a group, including scripture references. What are your initial thoughts about these points or about the podcast lesson (see audio above)?
  2. Why do you think money so easily shifts from being a tool to becoming a “god” in our lives?
  3. How have you seen hustle culture affect your peace, priorities, or relationships?
  4. Which is harder for you personally: earning money wisely or enjoying it contentedly? Why?
  5. Read Ecclesiastes 6:9. What would it look like for you to enjoy what you already have this week?
  6. How does remembering that you can’t take money with you change the way you think about success?
  7. What does having a “rich relationship with God” look like in everyday life?

Click for Student Edition

 

Today we’re talking about something that affects every single one of us—work and money. Whether you already have a job or school feels like your full-time job, money is something we think about all the time. It can be exciting, but it can also be stressful. So today we’re going to get real about our relationship with it and ask some honest questions about what we’re really living for.

Before we go any further, think about this: Is there a number in your head? Like, “If I just had this much money, everything would be okay.” That question might sound simple, but it’s actually really hard to answer. And the Bible has a lot to say about why.

Icebreaker: “What’s the Number?” (5–10 minutes)

Have students write down (or just think about) an amount of money they believe would make life feel “set.”

Then ask:

  • Why did you choose that number?

  • Do you think that number might change later?

  • What do you think money would fix—and what wouldn’t it fix?

Connect it: Most of us believe more money will finally make us feel secure. Today we’ll see why the Bible says that’s not actually how it works.

1. The “Just a Little More” Trap

A reporter once asked John D. Rockefeller—the first billionaire ever—how much money is enough. His answer? “Just a little bit more.”

That one sentence explains so much. No matter how much someone has, the finish line keeps moving.

Read: Ecclesiastes 1:2
Discuss:

  • Why do you think “just a little more” never feels like enough?

  • Where do you see this mindset in our culture or on social media?

Takeaway: Chasing “more” is a race you can never win.

2. Money: Tool or God?

Ecclesiastes forces us to ask a big question: What role does money play in our lives?

Money can be a tool—something we use to do good, help others, and plan wisely. But when money becomes a god, everything flips. We start serving it. We stress, compare, and sacrifice things that matter more just to get more of it.

Read: Ecclesiastes 5:10
Discuss:

  • What does it look like when money becomes a god instead of a tool?

  • How can good things turn into dangerous things?

Takeaway: Money is powerful—but it was never meant to be worshiped.

3. When More Money Brings More Pain

In 2002, Jack Whittaker won $315 million in the lottery. It sounded like a dream come true. But his life quickly fell apart—robberies, family tragedy, addiction, and eventually losing it all. Years later, he said, “I wish I’d torn that ticket up.”

Read: Ecclesiastes 4:6
Discuss:

  • Why do you think money made his life harder instead of easier?

  • What kinds of things can money not protect us from?

Takeaway: More money doesn’t always mean more peace.

4. Peace Is Worth More Than Hustle

Ecclesiastes says it’s better to have one handful with peace than two handfuls with stress and exhaustion. Our world praises hustle, grind, and always doing more—but the Bible calls endless stress toil.

Read: Ecclesiastes 2:22–23
Discuss:

  • Where do you feel pressure to always be “doing more”?

  • How can stress and exhaustion become warning signs?

Takeaway: Chasing success at the cost of peace is just chasing smoke.

5. Enjoy What You Have—Because You Can’t Take It With You

Hetty Green was once the richest woman in the world, but she lived in extreme misery and even refused medical care for her son to save money. When she died, she left billions behind—but none of it went with her.

Read: Ecclesiastes 5:15
Discuss:

  • Why is it hard to remember that money doesn’t last forever?

  • What does last longer than money or stuff?

Takeaway: You can’t take money with you—but you can invest in what truly matters.

Outro
One second after you die, your net worth is zero. That might sound heavy, but it’s actually freeing. If money is just hevel—smoke that disappears—then it doesn’t have to control us.

Jesus said the real tragedy isn’t having money. It’s having money but missing what matters most.

Read: Luke 12:21
Discuss:

  • What does it mean to be “rich toward God”?

  • What are you building your life on right now?

Closing Thought
Money is temporary. God is eternal. Real treasure isn’t found in what we own—but in who we trust.

This week, thank God every day for one thing you already have. Practice contentment and ask yourself: Is money serving me—or am I serving it?

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A Brutally Honest Take on the Uncontrollables

We live in a culture obsessed with control. Hustle harder. Plan smarter. Pray longer. If you do all the right things, life should cooperate. That’s the promise of hustle culture—and it’s incredibly seductive.

But Ecclesiastes offers a brutally honest response.

As we close our Ecclesiastes series, Qoheleth—the Teacher—pulls back the curtain on the illusion of control. Life “under the sun” is not a machine we operate; it’s a mystery we inhabit. And the more we try to control it, the more frustrated and disillusioned we become.

Earlier in the book, Qoheleth introduced us to two key ideas that shape everything else. First, his name—Qoheleth—means “Teacher,” the one who gathers people to tell the truth. Second, the word hevel—often translated “meaningless”—literally means vapor. Life is fleeting, unstable, and impossible to grasp.

Pleasure is hevel.
Wealth is hevel.

They’re not sins. They’re not gods. They’re gifts—but terrible masters.

In this final message, Ecclesiastes confronts three unavoidable realities of life: the uncontrollables.

1. You Can’t Control the Creator

We live under the illusion that we are in charge—especially in American culture. Ecclesiastes says otherwise.

Ecclesiastes 7:13–14 (NLT) says, “Accept the way God does things, for who can straighten what he has made crooked?”

The hardest truth for control-oriented people is this: God is God, and we are not.

Scripture teaches that God is sovereign—not just aware of events, but actively holding the universe together and directing history toward His purposes. Sometimes God acts directly. Sometimes He allows human choices. But even when He permits something, He never loses control.

God is the primary cause—the one with the plan and the power.
Humans are secondary causes—we make real choices with real responsibility.

The bottom line is humbling: you are not the scriptwriter of your life.

2. You Can’t Control the Consequences

We assume life is a meritocracy—that the fastest, smartest, and hardest-working people always win. Ecclesiastes dismantles that assumption.

Ecclesiastes 9:11 (NLT) says, “The fastest runner doesn’t always win the race… It is all decided by chance, by being in the right place at the right time.”

Timing matters. Circumstances matter. Opportunity matters.

This doesn’t mean effort is pointless. In fact, Ecclesiastes affirms wisdom and preparation.

Ecclesiastes 10:10 (NLT) says, “Using a dull ax requires great strength, so sharpen the blade.”

Sharpen the blade. Work hard. Be wise.

But even then, outcomes are never guaranteed.

Ecclesiastes doesn’t call us to quit trying—it calls us to stop pretending we’re in control.

3. You Can’t Control the Clock

Some people are better at predicting the future than others. Many of them are rich. But it’s still a guess.

Ecclesiastes is clear: the future is unknowable, and death is unavoidable.

Ecclesiastes 8:7–8 (NLT) says, “No one really knows what is going to happen… None of us can hold back our spirit from departing.”

No amount of money, innovation, or optimism can stop time—or death. The human mortality rate remains a steady 100%.

That reality sounds dark until we realize what Ecclesiastes is doing: stripping away false hope so we can find real hope.

The Only Thing You Can Control

If we can’t control the Creator, the consequences, or the clock—what can we control?

Ecclesiastes ends with clarity.

Ecclesiastes 12:13–14 (NLT) says, “Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty.”

You can control your response to God.

Not your parents’ faith.
Not your spouse’s obedience.
Not your pastor’s integrity.

Yours.

To fear God means more than being afraid. It means awe, reverence, humility, and trust. And obedience naturally flows from that posture—not because outcomes are guaranteed, but because God is worthy.

The Gospel Answer to the Uncontrollables

Qoheleth lived “under the sun”—under the law, under the cycle, under the shadow of death. He didn’t see the full picture.

But we do.

Jesus stepped directly into the uncontrollables. He entered a world of chance, suffering, and death. He took the judgment Ecclesiastes warns about. He broke the cycle we couldn’t escape.

Life under the sun finds its answer in the Son.

The brutal honesty of Ecclesiastes doesn’t lead to despair—it leads to trust.

Your duty isn’t to be in control.
It’s to live in submission to the One who already is.

Talking Points:
  • Life “under the sun” is hevel—unpredictable, fleeting, and beyond human control. Ecclesiastes 1:2
  • You can’t control the Creator. God is sovereign, and humans are accountable but not ultimate. Ecclesiastes 7:13–14
  • You can’t control the consequences. Effort matters, but outcomes are never guaranteed. Ecclesiastes 9:11; 10:10
  • You can’t control the clock. The future is uncertain, and death is unavoidable. Ecclesiastes 8:7–8
  • The one thing you can control is your response to God—fearing Him and obeying His commands. Ecclesiastes 12:13–14; Proverbs 1:7
  • Jesus steps into the uncontrollables, takes judgment, and conquers death for those who trust Him. Romans 5:8; 1 Corinthians 15:54–57

Discussion:
  1. Read the talking points above as a group, including scripture references. What are your initial thoughts about these points or about the podcast lesson (see audio above)?
  2. Which of the three “uncontrollables” do you struggle with most: the Creator, the consequences, or the clock? Why?
  3. How does believing life is a meritocracy affect your view of success and failure? How does Ecclesiastes challenge that belief?
  4. What does “fearing God” look like practically in your everyday decisions?
  5. Why is obedience difficult when outcomes are uncertain? Share a personal example.
  6. How does the resurrection of Jesus change the way we view death and control?
  7. Where might God be calling you to move from control to trust this week?

Click for Student Edition

Icebreaker: “Who’s Really in Control?” (5–10 minutes)

How to Play:
Give each student a piece of paper. Ask them to write down:

  • 3 things they think they control in life

  • 3 things they don’t control

Have a few students share their lists.

Connect it:
“We spend a lot of our lives trying to control things—our future, our success, how people see us. Today we’re going to talk about what we really control… and what we don’t.”

1. Intro – The Illusion of Control

Our world sends one loud message: Take control of your life. Get good grades. Build the perfect resume. Hustle harder than everyone else. If you do everything right, life should work out.

But Ecclesiastes challenges that idea. Solomon—also called Qoheleth—says our attempts to control life are like hevel, a vapor. They disappear fast.

Read: Ecclesiastes 1:2

Discuss:

  • Why do people your age feel pressure to “have it all together”?

  • What happens when life doesn’t go according to plan?

2. You Can’t Control the Creator

One of the biggest myths is thinking we’re in charge of everything. Ecclesiastes says we’re not.

God is the Creator. We are not.

A helpful picture is this: life is like a video game. God is the game designer. He made the world, set the rules, and knows how it ends. We are the players. Our choices matter—but we don’t control the game.

Read: Ecclesiastes 7:13–14

Discuss:

  • Why is it hard to admit we’re not in control?

  • How does knowing God is in control actually help us?

Takeaway:
God is in control—and that’s better than us being in control.

3. You Can’t Control the Consequences

We like to believe life is fair—that the hardest-working or smartest people always win. But that’s not how life works.

Ecclesiastes says timing and chance matter. Being in the right place at the right time matters more than we think.

Read: Ecclesiastes 9:11

Discuss:

  • Have you ever worked hard and still failed?

  • How does that make you feel about effort and success?

Takeaway:
Do your best—but don’t trust results more than you trust God.

4. You Can’t Control the Clock

Here’s another tough truth: you can’t control the future, and you can’t stop time.

People are terrible at predicting what’s coming next. And no one can avoid death. The Bible calls it “that dark battle”—something everyone faces.

Read: Ecclesiastes 8:8

Discuss:

  • Why do people avoid thinking about death?

  • How should knowing life is short change how we live today?

Takeaway:
Life is limited, so what we do with it matters.

5. What Can You Control?

After tearing down all our illusions, Ecclesiastes gives us hope. There is something we can control.

Our response to God.

Solomon says every person has the same duty: fear God and obey Him. That means respecting God, trusting Him, and choosing to follow Him—even when life feels unfair or out of control.

Read: Ecclesiastes 12:13

Discuss:

  • What does it mean to fear God (without just being scared)?

  • What’s one area where you struggle to trust God?

Takeaway:
Your job isn’t to control life—it’s to trust God.

6. Outro – How Jesus Changes Everything

Ecclesiastes ends with a warning about judgment. It feels heavy. But that’s not the end of the story.

Jesus stepped into our uncontrollable world.
Jesus took judgment on the cross.
Jesus did what no one else could—He defeated death.

Because of Jesus, we don’t just let go of control—we place our trust in someone who loves us.

Read: John 11:25

Closing Thought:
You’re going to let go of control someday. The real question is: who will you trust with your life?

This week, when something feels out of control, pause and pray:
“God, I trust You—even when I don’t understand.”

Then choose obedience, even if the outcome feels uncertain.

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