Searching for the Meaning of Life

                                                                                                                                                           

Aloha Dearest Family,

                As long as I’ve been alive I’ve heard of people searching for the meaning of life; to answer the age-old question, “Why are we here”? We’ve all heard stories from many people who achieved great success in their chosen profession, won fame and fortune and world-wide recognition, but still felt an emptiness inside that they could not fill by themselves. I once saw a bumper-sticker that read, “He who dies with the most toys wins.” Then you have to ask, what do you win and who gives you the prize? Who gets your toys after you die? You don’t get to take it with you.

                Long ago one of the wisest men went on his own quest to find the meaning of life. In the book of Ecclesiastes, King Solomon searches for purpose in life. What he finds is very telling and is not unlike what we would find today.

               These quotes are from the New International Version starting In Ecclesiastes 1. 

“The words of the Teacher, son of David, king in Jerusalem: “Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher. “Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.” (Wow! What a beginning). “What do people gain from all their labors at which they toil under the sun?... I, the Teacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem. I applied my mind to study and to explore by wisdom all that is done under the heavens. I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind. I said to myself, “Look, I have increased in wisdom more than anyone who has ruled over Jerusalem before me; I have experienced much of wisdom and knowledge.” Then I applied myself to the understanding of wisdom, and also of madness and folly, but I learned that this, too, is a chasing after the wind. For with much wisdom comes much sorrow; the more knowledge, the more grief.” 

And this comes from the wisest men who ever lived. At one point in his search, Solomon decides to put his hand to the pleasures of success. 

“I undertook great projects: I built houses for myself and planted vineyards. I made gardens and parks and planted all kinds of fruit trees in them. I made reservoirs to water groves of flourishing trees…I amassed silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and provinces. I acquired male and female singers, and a harem as well—the delights of a man’s heart. I became greater by far than anyone in Jerusalem before me. In all this my wisdom stayed with me. I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my labor, and this was the reward for all my toil.”

(Interesting to note, Solomon states that his wisdom never left him. That is because, God in His infinite wisdom, gave wisdom to Solomon when he asked Him for it. The gifts of God are without repentance, Romans 11:29)  

King Solomon achieved great success and amassed great fortunes for himself. But still he felt that it was all to no avail. 

“Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.” Many successful people have felt the same way. “I hated all the things I had toiled for under the sun, because I must leave them to the one who comes after me. And who knows whether that person will be wise or foolish? Yet they will have control over all the fruit of my toil into which I have poured my effort and skill under the sun. This too is meaningless.” 

He knew that after all he accomplished in his life, he would eventually die and leave “all his toys” to someone else. So what’s the use?  

Solomon does come to a great truth about life. 

“A person can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in their own toil. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment? To the person who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness…” 

What an interesting observation. At the end of the book, he sums up his search with the following verse, 

“Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear (reverence) God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of  man.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13) 

In the King James Version, the word duty is not in the text. It should read “this is the whole of man” or “there is no more to man than this.” For Solomon and people living at this time in history, this was man’s sole purpose.

Then came Jesus! And opened up a brand new life that was unlike anything anybody had ever experienced before. New revelations, new behaviors, new ways of life came with the ministry of Jesus Christ. Because of his work on the cross, we now can have a life with meaning and purpose. In Ephesians 2:10 we read, 

"For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”  (New Living Translation).  

We are God’s masterpieces! This new life that God has now opened to us is wonderful and exciting. We can do the good works that God has prepared for us to do long ago. We are not saved by our good works, but because we are saved we can do these good works.  This is truly the purpose of our lives. We can LIVE in newness of life and continual fellowship with the Father, which brings joy, peace and fulfillment. A life where we can love people like Jesus Christ did and change people’s lives with the good news. We are accepted by God in all that we do. Not because we are so righteous, but because we live in Jesus Christ’s righteousness. This is the true meaning of life.

                      Love Always, Ray