“The meaning of your life is the meaning you give it,” writes philosopher A. C. Grayling in his book Thinking of Answers. He suggests trying to create meaning in our lives through the pursuit of relationships and goals, by developing our talents and interests, and through our hopes and desires. Grayling concludes that life itself is meaningless and the only meaning we can find is the meaning we make.
Surprisingly, Grayling’s words seem to echo some found in the Bible. The writer of Ecclesiastes, a philosopher himself (Ecclesiastes 1:13, 12:9-11), surveyed life intently: nature (Ecclesiastes 1:5-7); the cycles of history (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, 5:8-9, 6:7); life’s injustices and its riches (Ecclesiastes 8:14) and concluded: “Everything is meaningless” (Ecclesiastes 1:2).
Solomon then tried out Grayling’s answer to finding meaning. He sought it in sex, through wives and concubines (Ecclesiastes 2:8, 9:9); he pursued it through work (Ecclesiastes 2:4-6, 17-23); he tried pleasure, indulging every desire of his eye (Ecclesiastes 2:1,10); he tried materialism (Ecclesiastes 2:7-9) and philosophy (Ecclesiastes 2:12-16). And his answer to them all? They were also meaningless. Not one of them was immune from death, disaster, or injustice (Ecclesiastes 5:13-17). Solomon, it turns out, was more pessimistic than today’s nihilist philosophers!
Well, almost.
Rays of light break in throughout his musings. We can find some fulfillment when God is part of our eating, drinking, and working— ”For who can eat or enjoy anything apart from Him?” (Ecclesiastes 2:24,25). Life will feel meaningless sometimes, he counsels, but remember your Creator (Ecclesiastes 12:1). Instead of exhausting ourselves by trying to figure life out, we should “fear God and obey His commands” (Ecclesiastes 12:12-14).
Life has many pleasures and sorrows, but its meaning always is found in Him.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Genesis 19:15-29
More:
The Teacher didn’t know about the hope of resurrection. Read Romans 8:11,18-25 and consider his sadness in light of these verses.
Next:
How much do you seek life’s meaning through impermanent things? How have you been doing things “with” Him and “for” Him?
lindagma on May 15, 2012 at 7:37 am
Keeping your focus on God…spending time with him as your best friend…remembering all that He has blessed you with and what you have to look forward to…keeps life in perspective and joy to your time here on earth.
tom felten on May 15, 2012 at 11:35 am
Jesus revealed that our obedience truly declares our love for God: “Those who accept My commandments and obey them are the ones who love Me. And because they love Me, My Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal Myself to each of them” (John 14:21). Following His commands give meaning to life and truly lead to life!
sheridan voysey on May 15, 2012 at 4:26 pm
While we’re in the book of John, John 14:23 is also an important verse when it comes to life’s meaning: ‘My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them.’
This is what the writer of Ecclesiastes wasn’t yet to see – God dwelling within us, bringing His life into our lives. Then, no matter what or where, the source of all love, joy, peace and meaning is present with us.
winn collier on May 15, 2012 at 3:14 pm
Ecclesiastes is such an intriguing book. It offers the many twists and turns of the modern angst about existence. From such ancient pages – almost as if the God who created our very life had something to do with it.
sheridan voysey on May 15, 2012 at 4:23 pm
Ha! With dry wit like that you might become an honorary Brit, or even an Australian, Winn :).
Seriously, I’m equally amazed at the timeless wisdom of this ancient book every time I read it.
There’s really nothing new under the sun. Now, where have heard that before…
yemiks1 on May 15, 2012 at 4:38 pm
If not for ‘grace’, who will we be? There’s no profitunees the sun! -Eccl2:11d
daisymarygoldr on May 15, 2012 at 10:06 pm
Good post, Sheridan Voysey! It takes the teacher twelve chapters to get the truth across that—life is meaningless without God. Looking for satisfaction in anything under the sun is pointless. Point is: to enjoy and experience life to its fullest is, to “fear God and keep His commandments.” This is the conclusion Solomon made at the end of his life ending his meaningless pursuit of wealth, wives, wine and worldly wisdom.
So, how does the fear of God make life meaningful? “The fear of the Lord is true wisdom” (Job 28:28). “Wisdom,” means seeing life as God sees it. The ability to see life from God’s perspective helps us to choose what is right in His eyes. This wisdom cannot be acquired from books in philosophy or psychology. All those who fear the Lord are taught by God, who shows them the path they should choose (Psalms 25:12).
We choose life that we may live in eternity with Him. God has created us for Himself—for His pleasure (Revelation 4:11). That is why we are told to remember our Creator. When? Not in the leftover years of our lives. For when we are old, it is hard to find the answers to life. But when we are mindful of God and His ways in the days of our youth, it will help us to see meaning in life even during the difficult days of our old age.
Whether we are young or old, the significance of our lives is in being spent for Him. This is the very purpose of life: we exist solely for His glory. And we will never live out our purpose until we come into a right relationship with our Creator through Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God (1 Corinthians 1:30). The meaning of life is in the Son. It is therefore, so true; the meaning of life always is found in Him.