The book of Ecclesiastes can be a very challenging book of the Bible, but it is also very rich and stirs up practical truths we can apply to our lives. Not too long ago I was reading through Ecclesiastes and I was asking the Lord to teach me the truths of His Word. I noticed a phrase repeated throughout the book, and that is the phrase, “Under the sun.” As a matter of fact, thirty-seven times the phrase, “under the sun” is found in Ecclesiastes, and in 1:14 Solomon writes, “I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and indeed, all is vanity and grasping for the wind.”

As I prayed, the Lord really spoke to me – you see, all that is done “under the sun,” really is in vain. “Under the sun” means just for this world, this temporary place, this puny planet. “Under the sun” is being engaged in the wrong things, or doing anything for the wrong reason. “Under the sun” is either earthly (wasteful), or ungodly (evil), and anything done “under the sun,” really is vanity.

How can this be remedied? Well, I’ve discover that the antidote from doing things, “Under the Sun,” is doing things, “Under the Son.” Notice what a difference one letter can make? To do things under the Son, means that we’re captured by Jesus, God’s Son, and therefore do things in submission to Jesus, and in service to Jesus.

Are you living life “Under the Son?” I pray you would. Please pray that I would.

The beautiful thing about this, is that when you live life “Under the Son,” nothing is in vain, as we read in 1 Corinthians 15:58, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”

May God fill all of your days, with all of His ways – the Lord, with a labor, and a life that is never, ever in vain!

“A life spent in the service of God and communion with Him is the most pleasant life that anyone can live in this world.” – Matthew Henry on his deathbed