With our swimsuits on and the sand between our toes, my family and I decided to try a beach experiment. We picked a spot about 20 feet from the shoreline and set to work digging with plastic spades. Our goal was to hollow out a mini riverbed that would extend all the way back down to the sea. After some effort, we tested it by filling buckets with water and then pouring the contents into our man made trench. We cheered as the water snaked down the beach, flowing back to its origin.
As we trudged back to our car I thought about the pointless nature of our sand-excavating exercise. Sure it was fun, but it reminded me of this verse: “Rivers run into the sea, but the sea is never full” (Ecclesiastes 1:7). This observation is one of several related thoughts—courtesy of King Solomon—on the topic of futility. In fact he began the book of Ecclesiastes by announcing, “Everything is meaningless” (Ecclesiastes 1:2).
Although Solomon concluded something quite different at the end of the book, many people today agree with his initial thoughts. Some believe in a kind of “choose your own adventure” existence where each of us creates meaning within our own lives, with no objective standard to guide us. These people find their ultimate purpose in family life, in work or in devotion to a cause.
While these things produce some fulfillment, they all relate only to life “under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:9). As Christians, we know that this life is not all there is, and our purpose here is linked to eternity in another place. Solomon concluded that we should “Fear God and obey His commands” (Ecclesiastes 12:13). This is what gives meaning to our lives. This is what endures beyond the shifting sands of earth.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Jonah 3:1–4:11
More:
Read Ecclesiastes 2:1-3 to see the relationship between pleasure and meaning in life. Read 1 Timothy 1:4-6 to see how even Christians can become involved in meaningless pursuits.
Next:
Where do you find meaning in life? How does a life lived for the here and now look different from a life lived for eternity’s sake?
tom felten on June 4, 2012 at 10:02 am
Love this post, Jen! Over the years I’ve built countless sandy riverbeds with the kids. Our specialty, however, has been building sand creatures on the beach—like huge tortoises or alligators! But, as the wisdom literature of Ecclesiastes proclaims, they also didn’t last. How good it is to know that our faith and lives are not built on shifting sands, but on firm foundation of Jesus Christ! (Matthew 7:24-27; 1 Peter 2:4-5).
jennifer benson schuldt on June 4, 2012 at 6:22 pm
Going to the beach with the kids is so much fun–so many good memories. 🙂 The verse you noted in Matthew reminds me of that Sunday school song: The wise man built his house upon the rock…the foolish man built his house upon the sand. As you said, as Christians, our faith has a firm foundation. Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8)! Another neat reference to God as our rock can be found in David’s song of praise: 2 Samuel 22:1-4.
GChoo on June 4, 2012 at 1:22 pm
Jennifer, thank you for this important reminder.
I must say i am not one who is very familiar with everything/scriptures in the bible. When i read and listen to all these debates about science and God by well known physicists, it really bores me. What 1 Timothy 1 : 4-6 said is so, so true. It is just meangingless talks.
All i care about is there must definitely be an amazing God to create this world and everything on it. To me, God is the creator and we humans are one of His wonderful creation (that is science to me) and in order to truly know God we need to have an on-going relationship with Him. Only when we are willing to establise this on-going relationship that we can see God working in our lives (the ups and the downs) and learning to LOVE Him, ourselves and others. It is through this love relationship that life becomes MEANINGFUL. We need to put God’s teaching into ACTION. Tom, you are right we need to build a firm foundation on Jesus Christ.
jennifer benson schuldt on June 4, 2012 at 6:30 pm
Gchoo—You said, “…it is through this love relationship [with God] that life becomes meaningful”. Yes, yes, and yes! It all comes back to God. This is why accomplishments, relationships with other humans, amassing knowledge, and satisfying our earthly appetites all leave us oddly unfulfilled. Thank you for pointing out the origin of true “meaning” in the life of a Christian. May the Lord bless you today.
daisymarygoldr on June 7, 2012 at 1:41 am
Good post and comments, Jennifer and all! It is true, without God, life under the sun is all empty and without purpose. As wise as Solomon was, because God was missing in his life, he felt trapped in a maze of monotonous and meaningless motion. This is why he sees no point in the endless running of the rivers into the sea.
However, when God is in our lives, we have a completely different perspective and find purpose in everything under the sun. We know the “here and now” is not all that there is to life. God has also set eternity in the hearts of men (Ecclesiastes 3:11).
The flowing of the rivers into the oceans is part of the incredible water-cycle which— is not a futile process. It provides water to animal and plants. The plant cells in turn split water to produce oxygen which sustains life. God would have us know that there is a continual increase of His fullness with the ceaseless flow of the rivers.
Surely, the rivers don’t flow into the sea without having accomplished something. They refresh and bring life as they flow across dead, dried and desert lands. So does God. Jesus Christ used a river as an imagery for the Holy Spirit (John 7:38). God’s Spirit brings eternal life to all those who believe in Christ.
The river water returns to the sea after fulfilling their purpose on the lands. Likewise, the life-giving “Word” of God returns to Him, not void, but accomplishes the purpose of making dead and barren lives to produce plenty of spiritual fruit for His good pleasure.
jennifer benson schuldt on June 7, 2012 at 4:16 pm
daisymarygoldr,
Just a few thoughts on the great verse you mentioned. God has planted eternity in the human heart. Isn’t it interesting that He has given us an inkling of the hereafter, and yet not a complete understanding of it? That little scrap of knowledge can help us see beyond the here and now. It can motivate our good works (2 Timothy 4:8), and reduce the angst we feel when things don’t go right in this life (Revelation 21:4).