The Meaning of Life

Introduction:

In the movie, Contact, Jodie Foster plays an astronomer who has spent her whole life searching for intelligent life on other planets.  She doesn’t believe in God and is searching for the meaning of life in the stars.  The movie represents a conflict about where to look for meaning and hope – in God or in man.

People from all walks of life are searching for meaning in their lives.  What’s it all about, they ask?  Why are we here?  How can I find happiness and contentment?  They look under every rock, so to speak.  Knowing the answer is out there; they continue to search.  They note each new religion, new philosophy, new life style. . .  Is there meaning in the Hale-Bopp comet?

This craving to find meaning is not something unique to our time.  Man has been searching for centuries.  But one man, more than any other, was qualified to study this question.  What is the meaning of life?  He was King Solomon.

Solomon was the king of a nation at its peak in power.  He was wealthy beyond our imagination.  He possessed all of the tools necessary to make this journey of discovery – to find the meaning of life.

Solomon’s search is recorded in the book of Ecclesiastes.  Listen to these words.  (Ecclesiastes 1:1-4)  He’s asking, “What difference do I make?”  As a result of this way of thinking, Solomon sought fulfillment in every kind of worldly pleasure and endeavor.  He had resources to experience them in ways other people couldn’t.  He could go even to the extremes.  He could explore every/ all avenues.

His conclusions, findings are left for us so we can know what will give true fulfillment in life; so we can know the meaning of life!

Body:

I.  Solomon Searched for Meaning in Worldly Wisdom  (Ecclesiastes 1:13-18)

Education, apart from God [where He is not the focal point], has no lasting value.  It is like trying to catch the wind in a sock.  Open it up and nothing is there.

Verse 14  If the end or goal is not God, study is a wearisome task.  (Ecclesiastes 12:12)  Worldly education cannot solve all of life’s problems.  It is hard to turn a criminal around.

Verse 15  Incapable of answering: “What is the meaning of life?”  Man’s own knowledge, such as science, cannot tell us from where we come, who we are, who God is, or about our ultimate destination.

Verse 8  Only wisdom from God can reveal these to us.  (Ecclesiastes 12:9-10)

Often advanced education brings sorrow to one’s spiritual condition because it leads people away from God.

Verse 18  Many human teachings and philosophies such as agnosticism and relativism are in direct contradiction with God’s Word.  They bring much sorrow to those who believe such.  Along this line, Paul wrote Romans 1:24-25.  Our world today seems to be making gods of ourselves.

 

II.  Solomon Searched for Meaning in Worldly Pleasures  (Ecclesiastes 2:1,3,10)

Solomon was able to indulge in every form of worldly pleasure available in his time. Three thousand years later men are still doing the same.  New thrills are sought.  Many bow down to the god of pleasure.  The inspired writer John declared that these things are passing away.  (I John 2:17)  There is more to life than this.

Verse 2  Laughter and fun cannot be the basis for our lives.  All fun and no seriousness is truly madness!  Life is not a big joke!  Some live to be entertained and pursue it to ever greater lengths.

Verse 3  Wine and alcohol have long been associated with worldly pleasures.  This same writer says in Proverbs 23:31-32 that pleasure is short-lived.  It soon turns against him.

 

III.  Solomon Searched for Meaning in Worldly Wealth  (Ecclesiastes 2:4-9)

Besides these, he also built the Great Temple, a magnificent palace for himself, and cities throughout the kingdom.  He “had it made” – he was “on Easy Street.”  He sought fulfillment in possessions, materialism. 

Outcome:  Read Ecclesiastes 2:11 and Ecclesiastes 5:10-12.  Meaning was not to be found in wealth.  He was miserable in the midst of all his luxuries.

The rich young ruler in Matthew 19 thought life consisted of what he possessed.  He was wrong!

Conclusion:

Solomon tried and failed to find meaning in life through worldly wisdom, worldly pleasure, and worldly wealth.  He reached the point where he even despaired of life itself.  (Ecclesiastes 2:17)

Finally his search for fulfillment, for the real meaning of life, was over and he discovered a great truth.  (Ecclesiastes 12:13)

Invitation:

Have you discovered that truth?  If so, are you ready to act on it today?  Meaning is found only in Jesus.

 

Bobby Stafford 

August 11, 2013