Ecclesiastes 1:12 says, I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem.  Solomon had been speaking in generalities, and now he was going to share his own experiences.  We can talk about the world today and how bad it is in general terms, but the most effective witness we can share is what God has done in our life.  Until we accept God as Lord of our life through Jesus Christ, we will continue to see the world as a futile, hopeless place.  Solomon was king of Israel, but now he was speaking to the people as a spokesman for God.  No matter how important we may be in the world, ultimately it is our relationship with God that matters.  Verse thirteen says, And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith.  People today are seeking to understand everything done in the world.  We here in America are much more educated in general than ever before, but most still do not even know enough to acknowledge that God created and sustains the world.  Solomon was not condemning learning, but only saying that all his learning took a lot of effort and did not bring satisfaction to his life.  No matter how much worldly wisdom we gain, we will never find satisfaction outside the understanding of Who God is.  Verse fourteen says, I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.  Again, Solomon was not condemning work or saying that we shouldn't do our best in everything that we do.  He was saying ultimately that our works on earth will pass away.  We may believe that we are so important in our job that if we leave everything will fall apart, but once we leave, we are surprised at how quickly we are forgotten.  Everything we do in this world is temporary, but as God's followers that shouldn't cause us to feel defeated, because we are working to serve God and not the world.