Ecclesiastes - The Cliff Notes Version

For a man may do his work with wisdom, knowledge and skill, and then he must leave all he owns to someone who has not worked for it. This too is meaningless and a great misfortune. (Eccl 2:21)

A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment? To the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God. This, too, is meaningless, a chasing after the wind. (Eccl 2:24-26)

I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that men will revere him. (Eccl 3:14)

The first time I ever read Ecclesiastes I was puzzled by it. If you take one verse out of context you can misunderstand the point of the book. But I think the few verses shown above contain the core of Solomon’s message in this book:

1. Nothing you build on earth will last forever, not even your name. 
2. Therefore, to make these things your purpose in life is meaningless and foolish. 
3. What God does is eternal and it does matter. 
4. Therefore we, too, should make it our purpose to join with God in doing what will last for eternity. 
5. Freed from the need to find our eternal self worth in our wealth and work, we can simply enjoy them today for the blessings they are.