What is the purpose of life? The preacher in Ecclesiastes, just like many today, is in search of life's meaning. But as they look through their limited worldview all they find is "vanity, vanity". Pure emptiness! They are in search for something which will have eternal value. To find it, we need to look beyond ourselves. This is what the preacher discovers; that man is powerless, yet God has a design and purpose for all things. He is the giver of all life. Ecclesiastes gives teaching on doctrines such as man, salvation and future judgment. William Barrick is Professor of Old Testament at Master’s Seminary, Sun Valley, California. Dr. Barrick has been married to his wife Barbara for 45 years. They have four married children and fourteen grandchildren.
