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Meaningless
Meaningless
Everything is
Meaningless
What does it mean
that everything is meaningless?
The book of Ecclesiastes starts out with a startling exclamation:
“‘Meaningless! Meaningless!’
says the Teacher.
‘Utterly meaningless!
Everything is meaningless’” (Ecclesiastes 1:2).
says the Teacher.
‘Utterly meaningless!
Everything is meaningless’” (Ecclesiastes 1:2).
Other translations have the
word vanity or futility in place of meaningless.
The point is the same: Solomon in his
old age has found everything in this world to be empty and void of meaning.
This lament becomes the theme of the whole book.
Saying that everything is
meaningless sounds depressing, but we must keep Solomon’s point of view in mind.
This is found in Ecclesiastes 1:14: “I have seen all the things that are done under
the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind.”
The key phrase is “under the sun,” which is repeated throughout the book.
Solomon is sharing an earth-bound perspective. He is only
considering life “under the
sun”; that is, a human life
lived to the exclusion of any consideration of God.
From that godless perspective, everything is indeed “meaningless.”
In the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon discusses ten vanities
— ten things that are “meaningless” when considered from the limited point of view of “under the sun.”
Without God,
- human wisdom is meaningless (Ecclesiastes 2:14–16);
- labor (Ecclesiastes 2:18–23);
- amassing
things (Ecclesiastes 2:26);
- life
itself (Ecclesiastes 3:18–22);
-
competition (Ecclesiastes 4:4);
- selfish
overwork (Ecclesiastes 4:7–8);
- power and
authority (Ecclesiastes 4:16);
- greed (Ecclesiastes 5:10);
- wealth and
accolades (Ecclesiastes 6:1–2); and
-
perfunctory religion (Ecclesiastes 8:10–14).
When Solomon says, “Everything is meaningless,” he did not mean that everything in the world is of zero value.
Rather, his point is that
all human efforts apart from God’s will are meaningless.
Solomon had it all, and he
had tried everything, but when he left God out of the equation, nothing
satisfied him.
There is purpose in life,
and it is found in knowing God and keeping His commands.
That’s why Solomon ends his
book this way:
“Now all has been heard;
here is the conclusion of the matter:
Fear God and keep his commandments,
for this is the duty of all mankind” (Ecclesiastes 12:13)
here is the conclusion of the matter:
Fear God and keep his commandments,
for this is the duty of all mankind” (Ecclesiastes 12:13)
Are you struggling
with a big decision or wondering how your eternal future will play out?
Why not talk to the
God of the universe and let Him work in your behalf?
He says, “I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go; I
will counsel you with my eye upon you" (Psalm 32:8).
Ask God to show you
what to do. Pray the following prayer:
“Heavenly Father,
I admit that I am a
sinner and my sins have separated me from You. I now want to turn away from my
past sinful life and begin a new life with You.
Please forgive me. I
now receive your Son, Jesus Christ as my Savior, my Master and my Lord. I
believe and confess that Jesus Christ died for my sins, was buried, and rose
from the dead.
I want to receive all that Jesus Christ has provided for me
as my Savior. Your Word says, ‘Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be
saved’ (Romans 10:13).
I believe and confess
that Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and no man comes unto
the Father, but by Him.
Lord Jesus, I pray
and ask You, to come into my heart and be Lord of my life. I thank You that you
have given me eternal life, and according to Your Word, I am born again.
Heavenly Father,
thank You for the gift of the Holy Spirit Who is in me now. I surrender my life
to You. I promise to study Your Word – the Bible.
Use me for Your glory.
In Jesus’ Name. Amen.”
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