Daily Readings at Southeast

  Introduction to Ecclesiastes Ecclesiastes wrestles with life’s biggest questions: What’s the point of it all? Why do we work, strive, and plan if everything ends? It’s a book of raw honesty, written by someone who’s seen the world and still finds it lacking. Traditionally attributed to Solomon, Ecclesiastes reads like a journal from someone who has tried everything—wealth, pleasure, success, knowledge—and found it all “meaningless” or “vanity.” That phrase repeats throughout the book, creating a tone of frustration and deep searching. But don’t misunderstand—this isn’t a book of despair. It’s a book of awakening. It strips away the illusions that we can find lasting satisfaction in anything under the sun. It exposes the emptiness of life apart from God, not to discourage us, but to direct us toward what truly matters. The writer observes that time is short, injustice is real, and death comes to all. Yet he also affirms that life is a gift, and simple joys—like food, work, friends...