The Divine Mockery of Solomon in Business: What Really Matters in Leadership and Work

Lessons From the World’s Wisest Leader

King Solomon was famous not just for his wealth but for his wisdom. Yet in Ecclesiastes he lays out a sobering truth that applies as much to executives and entrepreneurs as it did to ancient Israel. Much of what human’s chase, status, wealth, recognition, innovation, even productivity, can be vanity, fleeting, and ultimately meaningless if it is disconnected from a higher purpose.

In modern business, this principle translates directly to our obsession with growth for growth’s sake, metrics without meaning, and strategies divorced from ethical or human-centered objectives. Solomon’s voice serves as a wake-up call for business leaders. Without clarity of purpose, without values, and without a grounding in something bigger than quarterly results, even the smartest, most driven companies risk chasing shadows.

The “Under the Sun” Perspective: Short-Term Thinking in Business

Solomon repeatedly uses the phrase “under the sun” to describe life confined to temporal concerns. In business, “under the sun” thinking is strategy without vision, leadership without legacy, and innovation without ethics. Leaders who operate exclusively in quarterly metrics, shareholder value, or surface-level KPIs are living under a “sun-limited” view. They may succeed temporarily, but their work may leave no lasting impact.

This mirrors what Solomon warns. Even wisdom, labor, and wealth are ultimately meaningless when disconnected from ultimate purpose. A company may generate revenue, gain recognition, and produce innovation, but if it does not serve a real need, contribute positively to society, or leave a sustainable legacy, it risks being remembered as a hollow achievement.

The Vanity of Human Achievement in the Business World

1. Wisdom and Expertise Without Context
   In business, technical skill, strategy, and insight are highly valued. Yet, as Solomon observed, wisdom alone cannot prevent failure, inequity, or unpredictability. Brilliant executives and visionary entrepreneurs sometimes see their most brilliant plans collapse due to factors beyond control. Wisdom matters, but without alignment to ethics, customer impact, and long-term purpose, it is incomplete.
2. The Futility of Chasing Pleasure or Recognition
   Modern corporate culture often equates success with perks, recognition, and acclaim. Solomon’s experiments with pleasure remind us that chasing these as ultimate goals is hollow. Employee engagement programs, “fun at work” initiatives, or awards can enhance morale, but they cannot replace purpose. Enjoyment and recognition are byproducts of meaningful work, not substitutes for it.
3. Labor and Productivity Without Enjoyment
   Solomon observed that toil can be unrewarding if the fruits are taken away or unappreciated. In business, teams work tirelessly on initiatives that are micromanaged, undervalued, or disconnected from outcomes. Leaders who fail to create environments where effort is meaningful risk burnout and disengagement.
4. Wealth and Reputation Are Fleeting
   In business, market share, fame, and brand recognition can vanish overnight. Solomon warns that the accumulation of material or social capital is meaningless if not coupled with ethical stewardship and higher purpose. Corporate glory fades; ethical impact endures.

Eat, Drink, and Be Glad: Practical Enjoyment in the Workplace

Solomon repeatedly notes the value of enjoying one’s labor. In business terms, this translates into building companies and teams where people can derive satisfaction from their work, not merely chase bonuses or recognition.

Key insights for leadership:

• Purposeful Engagement: Employees flourish when their tasks connect to a meaningful outcome. Satisfaction comes from contribution, not just compensation.
• Gratitude and Recognition: Organizations should cultivate cultures of recognition that value people as contributors, not just as revenue drivers.
• Sustainable Success: Enjoyment in work is sustainable when businesses are designed with ethical standards, reasonable expectations, and a healthy work-life balance.

Solomon’s point is that enjoyment is a gift, not a goal in itself. Similarly, in business, engagement and fulfillment come naturally when purpose and stewardship guide the company, not when they are artificially pursued.

The Role of Ethical Fear in Business Leadership

Solomon concludes that the ultimate answer is to fear God and keep his commandments. In business terms, this principle translates into operating with integrity, ethical responsibility, and accountability.

• Fear of Misuse of Power: Leaders who understand their responsibility beyond profit margins make more sustainable, impactful decisions.
• Ethical Governance: Embedding morality, transparency, and stewardship into corporate strategy ensures long-term trust and relevance.
• Long-Term Perspective: Like Solomon’s perspective beyond “under the sun”, executives who plan for lasting impact avoid the short-sighted trap of vanity metrics.

Applying Solomon’s Insights: A Business Playbook

1. Audit Your Priorities: Examine whether your company’s metrics, initiatives, and strategies serve lasting value or fleeting appearances.
2. Align Purpose and Profit: Profit is necessary but insufficient. Embed mission and ethical purpose into your business model.
3. Celebrate Work as Contribution: Foster environments where employees experience daily satisfaction from meaningful tasks.
4. Guard Against Vanity Projects: Pause before investing in initiatives that may look impressive but produce no real value.
5. Lead with Stewardship, Not Ego: Your leadership should aim to create impact, develop people, and leave a legacy.

Lessons for Today’s Leaders

Solomon’s divine mockery is a mirror for modern business leaders. The Preacher exposes the futility of chasing growth, recognition, and pleasure as ultimate ends. Yet he also provides the pathway to sustainable fulfillment: pursue purpose, embed ethical stewardship, and recognize joy as a gift that comes from meaningful labor and aligned leadership.

Companies that internalize these lessons do more than survive. They thrive ethically, sustainably, and memorably. The business world may reward flashy moves and empty victories in the short term, but the most enduring organizations are those that combine wisdom, purpose, ethical accountability, and the ability to appreciate the work itself.