Finding Purpose in All of Life's Sorrows and JoysSýnishorn

A Teacher with Receipts

Isn’t it true that we have a lot of teachers around us? We go out of our way to find some while others seek us out. But who is this Teacher of Ecclesiastes, and why is it worth listening to him? What has he got to offer that you can’t find somewhere else or figure out yourself?

The Teacher. We don’t know who he is for sure, but he’s introduced in the book as if he’s Solomon, the ancient Israelite king of Jerusalem.

In the Bible, Solomon is famous for his wisdom. There’s a story where God appears to him in a dream and tells him to ask for whatever he wants. Instead of seeking long life, wealth, or the death of his enemies, Solomon asks for wisdom. God is so pleased with Solomon’s response that He not only gives him what he asks—unrivaled wisdom—but also unimaginable wealth and honor.

As a result, Solomon became one of the most accomplished and privileged kings in all of human history. Imagine someone with the wealth of Warren Buffet, the business sense and savvy of Jay-Z, sprinkled with the prestige of Oprah, and topped off with the power and respect of your favorite president. He’s all that and more. And this rings true of the Teacher in Ecclesiastes. Not only does he have great wisdom, but he has access to anything and everything under the sun.

Whoever the Teacher is in Ecclesiastes, he wants Solomon’s reputation to come to mind when you read the book. It’s either Solomon or someone who has a Ph.D. in Solomon. This Teacher has a wealth of experience that he’s spending on educating you.

So, when it comes to giving out advice, the Teacher is qualified. He’s got the experience and authority to speak on what he knows—which is the stuff you want to know. He isn’t someone who can’t get a date writing to you about the benefits of loving yourself. He isn’t someone who’s broke telling you there’s more to life than money. He’s the most eligible bachelor. Forget being in the wealthiest one percentile; his portfolio places him in the top one-hundredth percentile. Simply put, he’s lived the life of your dreams.

Now, if someone like that writes a book, what are the first words you’d expect to read? Maybe, All right, if you want to make money, here’s where to invest! or Let me tell you how to find success in between the sheets! or If you want to leave a lasting impact, follow these twelve steps! But that’s not how it starts at all. Instead, it’s Meaningless! Meaningless! I get it. It sounds crazy.

Can we trust someone who says something like this? Yeah, but we need to set a little context. Solomon is just as famous for his fall from grace. As time went by, he stopped living by his ideals. He sought satisfaction in the wrong places, abused his power, and lost his connection with God—the source of every good thing he had.

Solomon wasn’t the first, and he wasn’t the last to lose his way. But when our teachers and leaders fail us, it disorients us. It shakes our confidence. We become disillusioned, bitter, and angry. It’s difficult, if not impossible, to reestablish trust once broken.

Reflect

Have you had a teacher or leader fail you? Did you invest so much into that person, only to find that it was all a waste? Take a moment and reflect on how a teacher’s failure hit you and how you responded. Is there anything you wish you could have said? Take a moment. Put it into words. You can say it out loud or write it on a page. Let it out.