MEANINGFUL OR MEANINGLESS

As I read through the Bible this year, it encourages me to read the portions of Scripture I don't normally run to for encouragement. Today I was reading Ecclesiastes, and was greeted with these opening words:
"Meaningless! Meaningless! says the teacher. "Utterly Meaningless! Everything is meaningless!" (1:2)
What a beginning to a very meaningful book. Solomon writes about things we don't like to really think about. Some of the principles of this book seem to fit with people who might look on life with discouragement: "life is hard and then you die" kind of mentality. There is certainly a tone in the book that no matter how hard you work, and no matter what you do, it ends up seeming empty, useless, vain - meaningless!

And yet if you read carefully, you also see hints of meaning. Understanding that this life is short, just a breath, there is a reason to enjoy every blessing that God gives. This includes work and what comes from it. It includes special relationships and all that entails. It includes wisdom and knowledge and the advantages of both. It includes some practical advice such as we read in Proverbs. And although the final chapter includes another reminder: "Meaningless! Meaningless! says the Teacher. Everything is meaningless!" (12:8), it also includes this:

"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." (12:13)

There are blessings to be found in this short life; and most do everything they can to pursue fleeting happiness and satisfaction in what this life provides. But I do think that Solomon, in all His God given wisdom knew the truth: Real satisfaction only comes through an intimate relationship with God. At the conclusion of everything, it all has to do with a right relationship with our Creator. To Fear God is not to cower and live terrified of condemnation. But it is to live a life of love, submitting our lives to the One who gave His life for us.

When we do that, we experience all the joy and peace and fulfillment that is available; even in the midst of a short, temporal life that is full of difficulty. We find out satisfaction in Him. If I focus, today, on responding to God for who He is and what He has done (life worship), I can also experience all the blessings that God gives me today. This makes life meaningful.