Nevertheless, the author has a purpose and here it is. You don’t hear this immediately upon reading the first two chapter but the author extends an invitation to enjoy life as a gift from God. "A person can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in their own toil. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment? To the person who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind." (2:24-26).
Before announcing that life is a gift from God to enjoy, the author realistically prepares for that conclusion by speaking to the restlessness of life (1:1- 11). So much in life appears to be futile and worthless when viewing life from a leave- God - out - of the - picture, secular worldview. Therefore the author completes the corollary. Life is a gift from God to be enjoyed but without God life is hollow.
Before announcing that life is a gift from God to enjoy, the author realistically prepares for that conclusion by speaking to the restlessness of life (1:1- 11). So much in life appears to be futile and worthless when viewing life from a leave- God - out - of the - picture, secular worldview. Therefore the author completes the corollary. Life is a gift from God to be enjoyed but without God life is hollow.
