Life with Meaning

eDevotion

Encouragement for your daily walk with God 

I’ve been reflecting on my reading of Ecclesiastes. It’s an interesting book, written by an interesting man — a king, the son of David. He was a man who had everything and nothing at the same time. The book is like a reflective journal of his pursuit of meaning and purpose. And like the majority of people, his search led him to all the wrong things in all the wrong places. 

He was wealthy beyond imagination. But wealth did not fill the hole in his heart. 

He was a king. But all his power left an empty taste in his mouth.

He had more women than he could handle. But their beauty left his emotions cold. 

All of these paths led to dead-ends. He came to the only logical conclusion: “Meaningless!” (Vanity, KJV). 

“Everything is meaningless,” he said. While his life was overflowing with everything he could possibly want (and what many today are seeking after), his soul was empty. Thirty-five times in Ecclesiastes he described his life’s effort as “meaningless.”

After all his extravagant life, Solomon came to a simple realization: “Fear God” (worship), “Keep His commandments” (live a holy life), and “Remember, judgment is coming” (we will give an account of our life before God). By doing that, life transforms from “meaningless,” to “meaningful.”

That’s where Solomon should have started. It’s where we should start too.

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. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil. Ecclesiastes 12.13-14