Solomon reveals in Ecclesiastes that true fulfillment in life does not come from materialism or the pursuit of physical well-being and possessions. He demonstrates through his own experiences in chapters 1 and 2 that building material things and seeking greater wealth result in vanity, offering no lasting profit or sustained quality of life. These pursuits fail to align with God's purpose for humanity, providing only fleeting pleasure rather than enduring satisfaction. In chapters 4-6, Solomon emphasizes that satisfaction is a gift from God, who is deeply involved in guiding His creation and working out His eternal, spiritual purpose for individuals and nations. He asserts that God has placed eternity in our hearts as a reminder of this divine direction, showing that true fulfillment arises from a spiritual relationship with our Creator rather than from temporary material gains. This relationship, in which God imparts the gifts needed to use life wisely, brings a balanced and sustained measure of satisfaction, guiding us to glorify Him as our ultimate goal.

In the exploration of life's meaning, Solomon reveals that true fulfillment does not come from materialism, which he deems vanity and a grasping after wind. He concludes that material achievements and pleasures, such as wealth, wine, and entertainment, offer no lasting profit or quality to life, labeling them as folly and a mad pursuit. Instead, satisfaction in life emerges as a gift from God, who is intimately involved in working out His purpose with us. This eternal, spiritual relationship with our Creator, initiated by Him, provides the balanced and sustained measure of fulfillment we seek. As we seek Him, He endows us with what is needed to use our God-given life wisely, guiding us to make right use of this life in glorifying Him, which is the righteous pursuit. Material things may bring momentary pleasure, but they cannot compare to the enduring satisfaction derived from an active involvement with Him, producing enjoyable satisfaction despite life's trials.

Until we reach a point where, by faith, we are supremely confident of God's presence in our life—of His providence toward us in the past, present, and future—we will not experience the enduring fullness of satisfaction He desires for us. A Christian's joy can be as fleeting as that of anyone in the world if we seek it for itself as the world does. Biblical joy is a fruit, a byproduct, an additional blessing, not the end in itself. It flows into and grows within the person whose life and energies are not focused merely on being joyful. When we follow God's prescription, He removes the burdens that make true rejoicing a reality, feeding us with the finest of wheat and satisfying us with honey from the rock. Real joy lies in the quality of our relationship with Him. Biblical joy is inseparable from our relationship with God and springs from our knowledge and understanding of the purpose of life and the hope of living with Him for eternity, when there will be joy evermore. If He is truly present in our lives, the joy He experiences can begin in us. Joy is the sign that life has found its purpose, its reason for being. True joy must be sought God's way, arising as a product of yielding wholeheartedly to the creative purpose He, the Master Creator, is working out in our lives. The joy that is a fruit of His Spirit has its roots in the realization of His purpose and its outworking that transforms us into His image. Biblical joy begins when He calls, and we hear the gospel, understand it, and believe it, leading to repentance, forgiveness, and reconciliation with Him.