It is likely that in the course of some illness, we have been prescribed medicine, usually with instructions along these lines: ‘Take twice daily, morning and evening, for one week.’ This prescription is essentially a way by which healing is aided and an ailment overcome. Thus far in our reading of Ecclesiastes we have seen the efforts of Solomon to discover meaning in life and to find significance amidst its perceived vanity. Despite varied efforts to ‘fill’ his life, he repeatedly finds it is empty. In this closing section of chapter 3, Solomon ‘prescribes’ for us three actions and attitudes that are a good ‘prescription’ for us as we seek meaning and fulfillment in life.
Filling the Empty Life
