Imagine you are a citizen of ancient Jerusalem around 945 BC. For thirty years, life has been good. The nation is at peace, prosperity abounds, and the temple stands as a glorious symbol of worship. Yet troubling changes are afoot. Pagan altars and idols have started to appear, signaling a slow drift from pure devotion to Yahweh.

One day, the sound of shofars calls you to the king’s palace. You expect good news, but when the king appears, something is wrong. He shuffles forward, his shoulders slumped, his eyes weary. After a long silence, he cries out, “Vanity of vanities! All is vanity” (Ecc 1:2). He speaks of life’s futility and weariness, concluding, “All is vanity and a striving after wind” (Ecc 2:11 ). The crowd is bewildered. What has happened to the king?

This scene reflects the tone of Ecclesiastes. The book presents two voices: the Preacher (Solomon) and the Narrator. The Preacher, described as “the son of David, king in Jerusalem,” shares reflections shaped by regret (Ecc 1:1). Solomon, once gifted with extraordinary wisdom, allowed his heart to turn away from God through idolatry. His accomplishments in wealth, power, and pleasure ultimately felt empty.

Yet Ecclesiastes isn’t mere lament. Solomon warns others, especially the young, to avoid his mistakes. He urges, “Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth” (Ecc 12:1). Life’s routine can feel monotonous and unsatisfying, but the problem isn’t the routine—it’s a life lived apart from God. Solomon uses the phrase under the sun to describe a worldview that excludes God, eternity, and true purpose.

In chapter 3, Solomon shifts perspective. He says, “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven” (Ecc 3:1). Instead of meaningless cycles, he now sees life moving according to God’s sovereign plan. He acknowledges, “God has made everything beautiful in its time” (Ecc 3:11 ). The difference? God and eternity. When we recognize God’s purpose, even the mundane becomes meaningful.

Consider something as simple as doing the dishes. It’s not just a chore. It’s an opportunity to serve, to fulfill your created purpose, and to reflect God’s order and care. Even small acts can be worship when offered to God.

Douglas McKelvey captures this in his prayer: “Meet me therefore, O Lord, in the doing of the small, repetitive tasks… that by such stewardship I might bring a greater order to my own life… knowing that all good service faithfully rendered is first a service rendered unto you.”

A life centered on God transforms everything, even washing dishes, into an act of joy and worship.

Recommended reading

Living Life Backward: How Ecclesiastes Teaches Us to Live in Light of the End by David Gibson

Ordinary: Sustainable Faith in a Radical, Restless World by Michael Horton

Providence by John Piper

God at Work: Your Christian Vocation in All of Life by Gene Edward Veith Jr.

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