Now I’ve Heard Everything
Dave Faust
We’ve heard it all!
The average American adult now consumes around 74 gigabytes of data per day—roughly equivalent to 16 movies—the amount of information individuals would process in a whole lifetime 500 years ago. And our exposure to information increases by around five percent annually. No wonder our brains are tired.
Is all this information helpful or hurtful? Last year, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics surveyed how Americans use our time. The report revealed:
A 2024 study found that Americans typically consume an average of six hours of media content every day (for Gen Zers, it’s seven hours). In other words, Americans spend a third or more of our waking hours scrolling, streaming, and media binging. Meanwhile, evidence shows a direct link between media consumption and mental health struggles.
If information overload puts you in a bad mood, you’re in good company.
Depressing Discoveries
King Solomon didn’t have the internet, but he had a lot of information at his disposal. In the book of Ecclesiastes, he pondered life’s meaning and explored a wide range of options. Would knowledge alone satisfy his soul? What about money, pleasure, entertainment, fine homes and gardens, and other material comforts? Could life’s ultimate purpose be found in work and accomplishment? The answer to all these questions was a resounding “No.”
Solomon repeated depressing words throughout Ecclesiastes. Empty. Vain. Futile. Despair. Meaningless. Searching for life’s purpose feels like chasing the wind, and you can never grasp it.
Until we recognize the emptiness of life without Christ, we won’t fully appreciate the abundant life he came to give.
Challenging Conclusions
Ecclesiastes ends on a positive note, with more than just a reassuring pat on the head. Here are Solomon’s conclusions.
*God rewards the search for wisdom. *“The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails—given by one shepherd” (Ecclesiastes 12:11, New International Version). The pursuit of wisdom is worth the effort. Wise words are like “goads” that prod and motivate us to action. And wise words that come from the Good Shepherd himself are like “firmly embedded nails” that hold things together.
You won’t find the purpose of life if you leave out the Creator of life. “Now all has been heard” (v. 13). When you’ve heard it all, “Here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil” (vv. 13-14).
Amid today’s information overload, consider this: You won’t find life’s true meaning in this world’s temporary pursuits, but in respect for God’s authority and faithful obedience to his will.
Have you heard it all? Not until you hear the good news about the Savior who brings forgiveness, hope, and everlasting life.
This is the tenth and last in a series of articles based on the book of Ecclesiastes.
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This column first appeared in Christian Standard on Sep 9, 2026.
Notice People
Several years ago my daughter Michelle started making art projects using ordinary objects she finds in the woods and creeks near her home in southwestern Ohio. I’m amazed at the beautiful creations she designs using pine cones, acorns, fossil rocks, and other natural materials. Her crafts have grown into a small business (www.etsy.com/shop/FairyCreekLane) with the tagline, “Handmade from my backyard to yours,” but even more, they have opened my eyes to a wealth of interesting items I tend to overlook. On the farm where I grew up, fossil rocks were everywhere. I saw them every day, tramped on them mindlessly, and skimmed them across the surface of a pond, but I never saw anything special in them. Michelle has helped me recognize the simple beauty of the brachiopods, horn corals, and trilobites spread along my path.
Now That My Kids Are Grown
To learn about fatherhood, you can read the Bible and other good books, and you can listen to advice from wise friends. But the academy where most of us learn about parenthood is the school of hard knocks—trial and error! My wife and I have four great kids (including our son-in-law), the youngest of whom turns 19 this summer. I was mildly surprised to discover that I didn't quit being a dad when they graduated from high school; the role is just different now. On Father's Day I thank the Lord for each of my children, and I think about some things I wish I had done better. Here are 10 lessons I've learned along the way.