June 19, 2017. Ecclesiastes 1 - 6.

 

Ecclesiastes 1.1-2

1 These are the words of the Teacher, King David’s son, who ruled in Jerusalem.

Everything Is Meaningless

2 “Everything is meaningless,” says the Teacher, “completely meaningless!”

 

The question in Ecclesiastes isn't about the existence of God; the author is no atheist, he is Solomon the son of David, and God is always there. The question is whether or not God matters in this life and in the life to come.

In the search for this answer, the Teacher or Preacher will search the depths of human experience, including despair. He will thoroughly examine the emptiness and futility of a life lived without eternity in mind before coming to the conclusion of the necessity of the goodness and purpose of God in this life and in eternity.

The Preacher begins his sermon with his first conclusion (though not his ultimate conclusion). Looking at life all around, he judges it to be meaningless - nothing, useless, brevity, insubstantiality, emptiness, and unreliability. And you thought you were having a bad day!

Many times people will go to a professional counselor to just talk to them about life. They pay money to try to understand why it is that they feel like life is meaningless and at times just not worth living. The reason is that they have not experienced the third dimension of life--life on the spiritual plane. It is there where life takes on meaning and has joy.

In John 7 Jesus gives us the answer to a meaningless life.

 

37 On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! 38 Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’”39 When he said “living water,” he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him… 

 

All of the frustration and meaninglessness that we experience in life results from a lack of the Spirit. Jesus is saying, "You have a thirst for God in your spirit. Life is meaningless and dry without me. Come to Me and drink." Jesus comes to me and not only does He fill my life, that spiritual void that makes life tasteless, meaningless and frustrating, but He keeps pouring His Spirit in until it begins to pour out from me. Now my life has meaning, purpose, joy, peace and knows that this life is just a dress rehearsal for the life to come, eternity. No longer am I  living life in a pessimistic, cynical, meaningless mindset but joyful, confident, content and full of hope because the fullness of God within me overflows from me God's goodness and grace.

“Heavenly Father today I ask you to fill me with your Spirit till I overflow with life, joy, and peace. Speak to me today about your purpose for my life. May you show me that every little or great thing that happens to me today ultimately will work your purpose in my life now and have benefit for me in the life to come. Be for me today wisdom so that this life you have given me takes on eternal meaning.”