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 is so wonderful, so complex, that we simply cannot understand it. 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 (ESV)

9 What gain has the worker from his toil?
10 I have seen the business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with.
11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.
12 I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live;
13 also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil– this is God’s gift to man.
14 I perceived that whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it. God has done it, so that people fear before him.
15 That which is, already has been; that which is to be, already has been; and God seeks what has been driven away.
16 Moreover, I saw under the sun that in the place of justice, even there was wickedness, and in the place of righteousness, even there was wickedness.
17 I said in my heart, God will judge the righteous and the wicked, for there is a time for every matter and for every work.