Ecclesiastes 1:5

"Also, the sun rises and the sun sets; and hastening to its place it rises there again"."the sun rises" -Even the powerful sun is caught up in this treadmill of vanity. The word "hastening" means to breathe hard, pant, as one in haste. The sun and the wind (Ecclesiastes 1:6) are in constant motion but never arrive at any fixed goal or lasting rest. "Qoholeth picks out three examples of this endless round in nature, starting with the most obvious, that of the sun, which stoops from its great upward curve into its decline; and having done so, hastens to repeat itself day after day" (Kidner p. 25). People will say, "What is freer than nature!" But Solomon responds, even nature, the most powerful forces in nature aren't free. They are on the same treadmill as you and I. And the point is well made that mere activity in and of itself produces nothing of ultimate value. But how many people feel that accomplishing some physical task will bring them happiness. Or, if they are busy, then they are being useful and productive?