Why do wicked people seem to prosper? Why is there so much injustice in this world? According to verse 11, it is natural for human beings to wonder about such things. Because we are made in the image of God, we have “eternity” in our hearts – we are able to imagine and long for a perfect world. It is precisely such longing that has led to so many advances in civilization, from public health to human rights.

But at the same time, our desire for perfection has always ended in frustration, at least in this world. It is not only our sin, but also the limitation of our perspective that has brought all great schemes for human improvement to grief. It’s simply not possible to guard against an infinite number of problems. Nor can anyone impose structure and order on people whose abilities and desires are so varied and complex. And any attempt to do so will always end in the very abuse and injustice it seeks to correct.

In contrast, Solomon reminds us that God’s creation and His work throughout history are so wonderful, so complex, that we simply cannot understand them. And unlike even our most selfless plans and dreams, verse 14 tells us that whatever God does endures forever. And so instead of trying to make everything perfect, we should simply fear God and seek to do His will.

Now, this doesn’t mean we should stop trying to improve things. Verse 12 says that we should try to do good as long as we live. But it is to say that we should stay in our lane – leaving the big questions to God and instead rejoicing in our daily responsibility to love one another and trusting God to provide our daily bread. God really is in charge – so let’s let go of our frustration and trust Him to sit in the driver’s seat.

Ecclesiastes 3:9-17

9 What profit is there to the worker from that in which he toils?
10 I have seen the task which God has given the sons of men with which to occupy themselves.
11 He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also set eternity in their heart, yet so that man will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end.
12 I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and to do good in one’s lifetime;
13 moreover, that every man who eats and drinks sees good in all his labor– it is the gift of God.
14 I know that everything God does will remain forever; there is nothing to add to it and there is nothing to take from it, for God has so worked that men should fear Him.
15 That which is has been already, and that which will be has already been, for God seeks what has passed by.
16 Furthermore, I have seen under the sun that in the place of justice there is wickedness, and in the place of righteousness there is wickedness.
17 I said to myself, “God will judge both the righteous man and the wicked man,” for a time for every matter and for every deed is there.