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Real Life in a Fallen World: Lessons from the Book of Ecclesiastes
One of the greatest joys of my nearly five decades of pastoral ministry has been preaching through books of the Bible. In trying to teach others I have learned so much myself. That certainly was true in the preparation and delivery of sermons on the book of Ecclesiastes. God used that study to work in me a deepening, resilient joy that is unafraid to look at the sorrows and hardships of life east of Eden. Through this book I am delighted to share some of the abiding lessons from Ecclesiastes with you.
A tendency that I find within myself, and I have seen often in others, is to think of life in mutually exclusive terms. It is either wonderful with no room to acknowledge the negatives or else terrible with little reason for hope and joy.
Ecclesiastes shatters both perspectives. Solomon does not take second place to the most jaded pessimist when assessing life's futilities. He is, after all, the one who has given us the phrase, "vanity of vanities, all is vanity." Yet (surprisingly to those who have never really studied his book), he also repeatedly encourages us to pursue real joy. That is because he understands that the real source of abiding joy is found not in this fallen world, but in the God whose world it is and whose creatures we are. Knowing this God sets us free to live in His world, with all its disappointments and pains, with genuine contentment and hope.
That's the message of Ecclesiastes. It is a message that is desperately needed today as we face unprecedented challenges and opportunities. There is a God in heaven. Our sin has separated us from Him. He has not abandoned us to our own devices but has come to us and made provision for us. With clarity that Solomon could not have possessed at that early stage of redemptive history, we who live today can see that God's provision is found not in precepts or principles but in a Person; specifically, in Jesus Christ.
A tendency that I find within myself, and I have seen often in others, is to think of life in mutually exclusive terms. It is either wonderful with no room to acknowledge the negatives or else terrible with little reason for hope and joy.
Ecclesiastes shatters both perspectives. Solomon does not take second place to the most jaded pessimist when assessing life's futilities. He is, after all, the one who has given us the phrase, "vanity of vanities, all is vanity." Yet (surprisingly to those who have never really studied his book), he also repeatedly encourages us to pursue real joy. That is because he understands that the real source of abiding joy is found not in this fallen world, but in the God whose world it is and whose creatures we are. Knowing this God sets us free to live in His world, with all its disappointments and pains, with genuine contentment and hope.
That's the message of Ecclesiastes. It is a message that is desperately needed today as we face unprecedented challenges and opportunities. There is a God in heaven. Our sin has separated us from Him. He has not abandoned us to our own devices but has come to us and made provision for us. With clarity that Solomon could not have possessed at that early stage of redemptive history, we who live today can see that God's provision is found not in precepts or principles but in a Person; specifically, in Jesus Christ.
208 pages, Paperback
Published March 2, 2026
About the author
Thomas K. Ascol
23 books16 followersThomas K. Ascol has served as a Pastor of Grace Baptist Church since 1986. He has a BS degree in sociology from Texas A&M University and has also earned the MDiv and PhD degrees from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Ft. Worth, Texas. He has served as an adjunct professor of theology for various colleges and seminaries, including Reformed Theological Seminary, the Covenant Baptist Theological Seminary, African Christian University, Copperbelt Ministerial College, and Reformed Baptist Seminary. He has also served as Visiting Professor at the Nicole Institute for Baptist Studies at Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando, Florida.
Tom serves as the President of Founders Ministries. He has edited the Founders Journal, a quarterly theological publication of Founders Ministries, and has written articles for various journals and magazines. He has been a regular contributor to TableTalk, the monthly magazine of Ligonier Ministries. He has also edited and contributed to several books, including Dear Timothy: Letters on Pastoral Ministry, Recovering the Gospel and Reformation of Churches and By What Standard? God's World...God's Rules. He is also the author of From the Protestant Reformation to the Southern Baptist Convention, and Traditional Theology and the SBC and co-authoring with Jared Longshore the forthcoming (2021) Strong and Courageous.
He and Donna have six children along with 3 sons-in-law and a daughter-in-law. They also have fourteen grandchildren.
See also Tom Ascol .
Tom serves as the President of Founders Ministries. He has edited the Founders Journal, a quarterly theological publication of Founders Ministries, and has written articles for various journals and magazines. He has been a regular contributor to TableTalk, the monthly magazine of Ligonier Ministries. He has also edited and contributed to several books, including Dear Timothy: Letters on Pastoral Ministry, Recovering the Gospel and Reformation of Churches and By What Standard? God's World...God's Rules. He is also the author of From the Protestant Reformation to the Southern Baptist Convention, and Traditional Theology and the SBC and co-authoring with Jared Longshore the forthcoming (2021) Strong and Courageous.
He and Donna have six children along with 3 sons-in-law and a daughter-in-law. They also have fourteen grandchildren.
See also Tom Ascol .
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September 1, 2026
Ecclesiastes has been one of my favorite - if not my favorite - books of the Bible for quite some time now. I enjoy its initially-seemingly-murky, beautifully-crafted intricacies so much. If you’re looking for a succinct exposition of Ecclesiastes to make its message more clear, this is it.
Despite quickly agreeing with Voddie Baucham’s foreword that this is a “timely resource for YOUNG believers struggling to find contentment” (because it took a second before my curiosity was piqued by more profound sentiments), Ascol ultimately weaves scripture together to wonderfully illuminate the wisdom of Ecclesiastes. He fittingly lets Scripture do the talking, and he builds its application as the Teacher builds their case — that “[o]ur world says that nothing really matters, because death is the end. Yet, God's Word tells us that everything matters, because death is not the end” (187). It is richly convicting!
Chapter 9 (Coram Deo), 12 (Enjoy Your Life in This Fallen World!), & 14 (Entrepreneurship in the Kingdom of God) were balms of joy & a reinforcer of zealous boldness. I enjoyed them particularly well!
—-
Quotes:
“Without God, life is like a cosmic treadmill — perpetual motion with no destination and no gain.” -19
“Wisdom alone does not bring about a meaningful life any more than foolishness does. The more a person knows, the wiser he is, the more readily he sees through the charades that this world often presents, and the more clearly he sees life as it really is. Such clarity, when assessing this fallen world, increases vexation and sorrow.” -28
=> made me think of a sentiment from my mother back in Sep 2021: "My heart breaks a bit with ‘this’ as I see the transitioning of you from a faithful, untainted child to a faithful, lived-in-this-world, knowledgeable adult... that's why, as a child, you could boldly, confidently plow ahead (it was in Christ). Now you know the hurdles (have seen deep sinfulness), & it's giving you pause & doubt (not for living in Christ but for your effectiveness for Him). I do pray you can continue to have your childlike faith!"
“Meaningful life yields real joy when it is kept in proper perspective. There is joy in the daily routines of life — eating, drinking, and working — when we refuse to demand more of this life than it can provide. This life is no utopia, but it can be good.” -32
“God, the Creator of time, rules our times so that we time-bound creatures might learn to fear Him.” -38
“Enjoy all the blessings of life, recognizing that God has provided them to you for a season.” -47
“The peace, tranquility, and sense of shalom that we long for, which God designed us to experience, come only from Him. You will not attain this by grasping as much as possible while working as fast as possible…. With one hand grasp quietness and contentment, being confident in God and resting in His provision. At the same time, with your other hand, engage in the labor that God has entrusted to you and enjoy the blessings of that labor that God brings you.” -60
“Only as we pursue His greatest glory will we experience our greatest pleasure, because God has wed those two realities together. As the first question in our Baptist Catechism teaches us, man's chief end is ‘to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.’ Glorifying and enjoying is one thing, not two. To pursue God's glory is to pursue our own joy. As you give yourself to your studies, work, and life, seek to glorify God.” -66
“Two working in cooperation can accomplish more and share the fruit of their efforts, spreading the joy.” -66
“We will never attain what our hearts ultimately long for in this world, because we were made for something greater. We were made for another world.” -70
“True worship of the true God is something that each of us desperately needs in order to function well in this world. Without it, we will be easily swept along with the currents of modern values and ideals. Regularly coming into the presence of the living God with the people of God helps us to see through the mirage of what this world portrays as valuable, right, good, and desirable. Worship reorients us. It refreshes us. It reminds us of who God is, who we are, and what the real point and purpose of life is.” -72
“Money can be a wonderful servant, but it is always a horrible master.” -84
“Life is a gift from God, and the blessings of life, including wealth, are His gifts. Recognizing this and living in the light of it leads to joy and contentment.” -91
“Everything we do, we do before His face and under His gaze, whether we realize it or not. But to live well in this world, one must live consciously before the face of God-that is, conscious of His presence, submissive to His authority, and with a desire for His glory.” -96
“Because of God's sovereignty and our own limited mortality, we have a very limited perspective on life. ‘For who knows what is good for man while he lives the few days of his vain life, which he passes like a shadow? For who can tell man what will be after him under the sun?’ (6:12).” -98
“To rest in God's sovereignty does not mean becoming a fatalist. Our finiteness and inability to rule the world do not mean that we should just sit back and let whatever is going to happen, happen. On the contrary, to live coram Deo means we recognize that not only does God's sovereignty rule our lives, but His wisdom preserves them.” -100
“When we recognize the reality of death, we can see that even the most wonderful experiences and relationships in this world are temporary. Our health, wealth, friendships, even marriage and parenthood can all be wonderful, but they are all temporary. The same is true for the difficulties and sorrows of life. Sickness, loss, separation, poverty, enemies, war, and every other evil thing will one day be destroyed.” -102
“On the one hand, do not think that your actions can absolutely manipulate the world in your favor. But on the other hand, do not consider your efforts as meaningless. Instead, seek to live your life as a person ‘who fears God.’” -108
“Wisdom dictates proper deference and patience toward authorities.” -118
“Be patient in working for good…. Sometimes, you can be so burdened by a matter that it troubles you, and you feel like you must do something immediately. Wisdom will cause you to exercise restraint, even while remaining burdened. It will lead you to be deferential and patient, not running away because it's hard and not violating God's commandments because doing so is expedient. Wisdom will lead you to act in the right way at the right time.” -119
“Do not expect more from life than it can deliver, but do not miss out on all that it has to offer…. We can enjoy this life without making an idol of it when we learn to rest in the limitations of what we can know and control. We can fear God, trust His provisions for us, and be free to enjoy the life that He has given.” -124
“Ecclesiastes is a book about joy — real joy that isn't contrived and does not refuse to look at life as it really is. Ecclesiastes teaches us to live a life of joy even though we must live our lives in a fallen world.” -128
“While there is breath, there is hope of salvation, and all the circumstances of our lives, the things we cannot control, no matter how much we may try to, should point us to this hope. God's Word teaches us that this is how we should respond to the difficulties and the blessings that come to us. They all call us to consider eternity, to turn from our sin, and to trust Jesus Christ for salvation…. When tragedy comes near or into our lives, we should take it as a call to repent, to turn from sin, and to entrust ourselves wholeheartedly to Jesus Christ.” -132
“Live passionately. Don't just shuffle through life. Find something worth giving your life to and then give your life to it with passion…. whatever your hand finds to do, do it zealously!” -136
“Get serious about pursuing joy!” -134
“God created the world for our enjoyment. When we lawfully delight in what God has provided, we are acting in harmony with His purpose.” -135
“Though wisdom is beneficial and powerful, it is also vulnerable and can be easily destroyed.” -143
“If the axe is dull, wisdom dictates that we stop and sharpen it. Stopping work to maintain a tool may seem like a waste of time, but wisdom knows that a sharper axe works more efficiently and effectively.
Sometimes we will work better by working less. Taking time off can seem like a waste, yet rest enables us to reenergize and regain strength.” -147
“It is not just about the words we say, but also about the words we choose not to say. Winning the war is about being prepared to say the right thing at the right moment, exercising self-control. It is refusing to let our talk be driven by passion and personal desire but communicating instead with God's purposes in view.” -150
“Quit living scared and playing it safe with our lives and instead to live openly and daringly, giving ourselves wholeheartedly to make a difference with the few years we have left in this fallen world.” -156
“We are admonished to act decisively with hope for a good return.” -157
“Being paralyzed by the unknown is like a farmer unwilling to plant when it's windy.” -162
“Leverage your life for the sake of God and His kingdom. Are you talented? Use your talents for His sake! Do you have gifts? Offer them to him in His service! Do you have time? Use it to make Christ known! Don't wait until you're older. Don't wait until you finish school. Don't wait until your kids are raised before you start risking your life for Christ. Do it now!” -163
“His ways are not only right, but they are always best for us…. Be diligent to do what you can as you can. Remember God and work hard. Take advantage of opportunities that arise to make your life count, and if your efforts result in lasting fruit, thank the Lord. If not, trust that the Lord has reasons for that, too.” -164
“If we uncritically buy into the cult of youth, we will miss out on the joy and life found in God's way of thinking about youth and old age. The author of Ecclesiastes calls us to a sober and serious joy rooted in the reality that youth and old age are God-ordained seasons of life…. Rejoice in the life that we have by remembering the God who has created it for us.” -169
“Diligently pursue joy…. The kind of joy that God provides for us is a joy that was only designed to dance with goodness and never with sin.” -173
“The autumn of life shifts to winter, and life can lose much of its innate joy that was available in youth. That is a hard time to begin trying to remember your Creator. So we are told to remember Him before those days set in.” -175
“If you are left to represent yourself, you have no hope. But the good news is that God sent His Son…” -188
Despite quickly agreeing with Voddie Baucham’s foreword that this is a “timely resource for YOUNG believers struggling to find contentment” (because it took a second before my curiosity was piqued by more profound sentiments), Ascol ultimately weaves scripture together to wonderfully illuminate the wisdom of Ecclesiastes. He fittingly lets Scripture do the talking, and he builds its application as the Teacher builds their case — that “[o]ur world says that nothing really matters, because death is the end. Yet, God's Word tells us that everything matters, because death is not the end” (187). It is richly convicting!
Chapter 9 (Coram Deo), 12 (Enjoy Your Life in This Fallen World!), & 14 (Entrepreneurship in the Kingdom of God) were balms of joy & a reinforcer of zealous boldness. I enjoyed them particularly well!
—-
Quotes:
“Without God, life is like a cosmic treadmill — perpetual motion with no destination and no gain.” -19
“Wisdom alone does not bring about a meaningful life any more than foolishness does. The more a person knows, the wiser he is, the more readily he sees through the charades that this world often presents, and the more clearly he sees life as it really is. Such clarity, when assessing this fallen world, increases vexation and sorrow.” -28
=> made me think of a sentiment from my mother back in Sep 2021: "My heart breaks a bit with ‘this’ as I see the transitioning of you from a faithful, untainted child to a faithful, lived-in-this-world, knowledgeable adult... that's why, as a child, you could boldly, confidently plow ahead (it was in Christ). Now you know the hurdles (have seen deep sinfulness), & it's giving you pause & doubt (not for living in Christ but for your effectiveness for Him). I do pray you can continue to have your childlike faith!"
“Meaningful life yields real joy when it is kept in proper perspective. There is joy in the daily routines of life — eating, drinking, and working — when we refuse to demand more of this life than it can provide. This life is no utopia, but it can be good.” -32
“God, the Creator of time, rules our times so that we time-bound creatures might learn to fear Him.” -38
“Enjoy all the blessings of life, recognizing that God has provided them to you for a season.” -47
“The peace, tranquility, and sense of shalom that we long for, which God designed us to experience, come only from Him. You will not attain this by grasping as much as possible while working as fast as possible…. With one hand grasp quietness and contentment, being confident in God and resting in His provision. At the same time, with your other hand, engage in the labor that God has entrusted to you and enjoy the blessings of that labor that God brings you.” -60
“Only as we pursue His greatest glory will we experience our greatest pleasure, because God has wed those two realities together. As the first question in our Baptist Catechism teaches us, man's chief end is ‘to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.’ Glorifying and enjoying is one thing, not two. To pursue God's glory is to pursue our own joy. As you give yourself to your studies, work, and life, seek to glorify God.” -66
“Two working in cooperation can accomplish more and share the fruit of their efforts, spreading the joy.” -66
“We will never attain what our hearts ultimately long for in this world, because we were made for something greater. We were made for another world.” -70
“True worship of the true God is something that each of us desperately needs in order to function well in this world. Without it, we will be easily swept along with the currents of modern values and ideals. Regularly coming into the presence of the living God with the people of God helps us to see through the mirage of what this world portrays as valuable, right, good, and desirable. Worship reorients us. It refreshes us. It reminds us of who God is, who we are, and what the real point and purpose of life is.” -72
“Money can be a wonderful servant, but it is always a horrible master.” -84
“Life is a gift from God, and the blessings of life, including wealth, are His gifts. Recognizing this and living in the light of it leads to joy and contentment.” -91
“Everything we do, we do before His face and under His gaze, whether we realize it or not. But to live well in this world, one must live consciously before the face of God-that is, conscious of His presence, submissive to His authority, and with a desire for His glory.” -96
“Because of God's sovereignty and our own limited mortality, we have a very limited perspective on life. ‘For who knows what is good for man while he lives the few days of his vain life, which he passes like a shadow? For who can tell man what will be after him under the sun?’ (6:12).” -98
“To rest in God's sovereignty does not mean becoming a fatalist. Our finiteness and inability to rule the world do not mean that we should just sit back and let whatever is going to happen, happen. On the contrary, to live coram Deo means we recognize that not only does God's sovereignty rule our lives, but His wisdom preserves them.” -100
“When we recognize the reality of death, we can see that even the most wonderful experiences and relationships in this world are temporary. Our health, wealth, friendships, even marriage and parenthood can all be wonderful, but they are all temporary. The same is true for the difficulties and sorrows of life. Sickness, loss, separation, poverty, enemies, war, and every other evil thing will one day be destroyed.” -102
“On the one hand, do not think that your actions can absolutely manipulate the world in your favor. But on the other hand, do not consider your efforts as meaningless. Instead, seek to live your life as a person ‘who fears God.’” -108
“Wisdom dictates proper deference and patience toward authorities.” -118
“Be patient in working for good…. Sometimes, you can be so burdened by a matter that it troubles you, and you feel like you must do something immediately. Wisdom will cause you to exercise restraint, even while remaining burdened. It will lead you to be deferential and patient, not running away because it's hard and not violating God's commandments because doing so is expedient. Wisdom will lead you to act in the right way at the right time.” -119
“Do not expect more from life than it can deliver, but do not miss out on all that it has to offer…. We can enjoy this life without making an idol of it when we learn to rest in the limitations of what we can know and control. We can fear God, trust His provisions for us, and be free to enjoy the life that He has given.” -124
“Ecclesiastes is a book about joy — real joy that isn't contrived and does not refuse to look at life as it really is. Ecclesiastes teaches us to live a life of joy even though we must live our lives in a fallen world.” -128
“While there is breath, there is hope of salvation, and all the circumstances of our lives, the things we cannot control, no matter how much we may try to, should point us to this hope. God's Word teaches us that this is how we should respond to the difficulties and the blessings that come to us. They all call us to consider eternity, to turn from our sin, and to trust Jesus Christ for salvation…. When tragedy comes near or into our lives, we should take it as a call to repent, to turn from sin, and to entrust ourselves wholeheartedly to Jesus Christ.” -132
“Live passionately. Don't just shuffle through life. Find something worth giving your life to and then give your life to it with passion…. whatever your hand finds to do, do it zealously!” -136
“Get serious about pursuing joy!” -134
“God created the world for our enjoyment. When we lawfully delight in what God has provided, we are acting in harmony with His purpose.” -135
“Though wisdom is beneficial and powerful, it is also vulnerable and can be easily destroyed.” -143
“If the axe is dull, wisdom dictates that we stop and sharpen it. Stopping work to maintain a tool may seem like a waste of time, but wisdom knows that a sharper axe works more efficiently and effectively.
Sometimes we will work better by working less. Taking time off can seem like a waste, yet rest enables us to reenergize and regain strength.” -147
“It is not just about the words we say, but also about the words we choose not to say. Winning the war is about being prepared to say the right thing at the right moment, exercising self-control. It is refusing to let our talk be driven by passion and personal desire but communicating instead with God's purposes in view.” -150
“Quit living scared and playing it safe with our lives and instead to live openly and daringly, giving ourselves wholeheartedly to make a difference with the few years we have left in this fallen world.” -156
“We are admonished to act decisively with hope for a good return.” -157
“Being paralyzed by the unknown is like a farmer unwilling to plant when it's windy.” -162
“Leverage your life for the sake of God and His kingdom. Are you talented? Use your talents for His sake! Do you have gifts? Offer them to him in His service! Do you have time? Use it to make Christ known! Don't wait until you're older. Don't wait until you finish school. Don't wait until your kids are raised before you start risking your life for Christ. Do it now!” -163
“His ways are not only right, but they are always best for us…. Be diligent to do what you can as you can. Remember God and work hard. Take advantage of opportunities that arise to make your life count, and if your efforts result in lasting fruit, thank the Lord. If not, trust that the Lord has reasons for that, too.” -164
“If we uncritically buy into the cult of youth, we will miss out on the joy and life found in God's way of thinking about youth and old age. The author of Ecclesiastes calls us to a sober and serious joy rooted in the reality that youth and old age are God-ordained seasons of life…. Rejoice in the life that we have by remembering the God who has created it for us.” -169
“Diligently pursue joy…. The kind of joy that God provides for us is a joy that was only designed to dance with goodness and never with sin.” -173
“The autumn of life shifts to winter, and life can lose much of its innate joy that was available in youth. That is a hard time to begin trying to remember your Creator. So we are told to remember Him before those days set in.” -175
“If you are left to represent yourself, you have no hope. But the good news is that God sent His Son…” -188
July 9, 2026
I wish I had access to this volume when I preached through Ecclesiastes a few years back - but it was just published this year (2026). It's a good volume, helpful for students of Ecclesiastes and for preachers of Ecclesiastes. Ascol overplays the "meaningless" bit of the book which means he underplays the "brief" bit of the book - the word "hebel" is at the root of how one makes sense of the overarching message of Ecclesiastes. Still, quite helpful.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews