In the opening pages of Ecclesiastes, the Preacher invites us to think, with sober-minded precision, about the things that we tend to get so hung up over. He highlights that we tend to invest far too much of our hopes and dreams in things that, while good, do not ultimately last. In chapters 1 & 2, he highlights three things we tend to look to for our ultimate significance and satisfaction: education, pleasure, and work. Yet, with each, he reminds us: “These things don’t last.” Like everything else in this world, they are hevel. A wise person can appreciate each for what it is: a good thing but NOT a God-thing. To inhabit time well is to appreciate each for what it is while not ultimately looking to them for our deeper joy and satisfaction. While these things all have their place, they are intended to point us to something greater: the God who alone is the one who gives us these good gifts (Ecclesiastes 2:26).