A life both meaningless and abundant . . . ?

 

 

READ Ecclesiastes 1–4

After reading Revelation, this book has the potential to heap on more depressing thoughts. Age and the brevity of life can bring negatives such as, “What is the point of life?”

The author of Ecclesiastes asks the same questions. He was the wisest man alive and says wisdom is meaningless because wise or foolish, both come to the same end. I’m not sure I want to keep reading. Yet the Spirit moves me on.

Solomon also says self-indulgence is vanity and meaningless as is living wisely. That is, I can be proud of not being a fool, but pride is foolish. I can be healthy and prosperous because of wisdom, yet that also will end when I die. As for the things that I enjoy, observations tell me that age may mean the end of tending to our home, cooking meals, enjoying my family, writing about Jesus, making quilts, or remembering much of anything. Solomon concludes that work is meaningless — yet he adds another thought:

I hated all my toil in which I toil under the sun, seeing that I must leave it to the man who will come after me, and who knows whether he will be wise or a fool? Yet he will be master of all for which I toiled and used my wisdom under the sun. This also is vanity. So I turned about and gave my heart up to despair over all the toil of my labors under the sun, because sometimes a person who has toiled with wisdom and knowledge and skill must leave everything to be enjoyed by someone who did not toil for it. ☹ This also is vanity and a great evil. What has a man from all the toil and striving of heart with which he toils beneath the sun? For all his days are full of sorrow, and his work is a vexation. Even in the night his heart does not rest. This also is vanity. There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God, for apart from him who can eat or who can have enjoyment? For to the one who pleases him God has given wisdom and knowledge and joy, but to the sinner he has given the business of gathering and collecting, only to give to one who pleases God. This also is vanity and a striving after wind. (Ecclesiastes 2:18–26)

This is better news in that God puts joy in the heart of those who belong to Him, joy in the doing, joy in all those things that eventually come to nothing. I look at my fabric stash and realize His joy when creating something out of it, and even greater joy when giving that creation to someone else who, for the present time, needs it.

Solomon goes on to talk about there being a season or time for everything. He says, “I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live; also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God’s gift to man.” (Ecclesiastes 3:12–13) And I perceive that also. Apart from faith in Jesus Christ and the joy that comes as His gracious gift, what is the point? None of it will last.

This reading points to the evil in the world and the inevitability of death to all, both humans and beasts. There is “nothing better” than being able to rejoice in our work and not be concerned what happens after life is over. The author does condemn self-centered motivations for work that make it even a deeper vanity. Toil for personal gain becomes “toil without pleasure” and it too will end.

The bottom line from these four chapters is a wonder —I can know all this and yet rest in the goodness of God and be joyful; joyful in tending my home, cooking meals, enjoying my family, writing about Jesus, making quilts, and remembering what He puts on my mind — living in the NOW, not in the inevitability of it all ending and having very little impact on my world or eternity. Such is the grace of God. And such is the wonder of Christ’s promises reflected in His Word:

 . . . I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. (John 10:10)

(He) is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us. (Ephesians 3:20)

Life may be a meaningless vanity and even those who know Jesus realize it’s brevity and even wonder, “What’s the point?” but we also experience an abundance of peace and joy and the richness of knowing and walking with our Savior — and having the assurance of being with Him forever.