Have you ever wondered: “What is the meaning of life?” If we’re honest, all of us have asked this question. We think: “Why am I here? What’s the point of all this? Does my life have purpose?” Maybe you desperately want the answer to this question but have never found it. Well, I have good news. The Bible gives the answer in Ecclesiastes.

 

As we begin to examine Solomon’s quest, it’s helpful to think of some of the answers that people give for this fundamental question. Some people say that life is about family, fun, pleasure, love, doing good, or being happy. But what is the issue with every single one of these answers? They don’t solve our problem. The meaning of life must fix our problem. What is our problem in this life? Death. We’re all going to die someday. So, the meaning of life must fix the problem of death. Because if it doesn’t, then it’s not the true meaning of life. If we don’t have an answer for the problem of death, then we don’t have a reason to exist. This is important to understand as we evaluate this essential question in Ecclesiastes.

 

In Ecclesiastes 1:1-11, Solomon introduces his book and his topic. He identifies himself as “the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.” That sounds like King Solomon. To understand this book, we need to know some facts about the author. Solomon was a man of conflicted desires. He loved God but he also loved sin. In 1 Kings 3:5-14, God appeared to Solomon and told him that He would grant one request. In humility and faith, the young king requested an understanding mind to govern God’s people and to discern right from wrong. Solomon loved God and His people. Sadly, later in Solomon’s life he fell away from God (1 Kgs 11:1-8), and even started to worship pagan gods. Eventually Solomon repented but still faced serious consequences for his sin. Before his death, Solomon reflected on his life and wrote this book.

 

Solomon comes right out of the gate swinging. He says in Ecclesiastes 1:2, “Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity.” Remember the word vanity means empty, frustrating, fleeting. Solomon is not saying that life is meaningless, but he’s stating that man’s endeavors in this life are futile. Ultimately, this is because man can’t escape death. Any effort to live forever on this earth won’t work. Solomon is considering the purpose of life from the perspective of death and the outlook is bleak. The Preacher gives two reasons for the vanity of this world.

 

The first reason for vanity is that this world will go on without you when you die. In Ecclesiastes 1:3-8, Solomon describes the endless cycle of the earth. He demonstrates that work and labor mean nothing in the end because man lives, works, and dies. And what does man get from all this? Money that will pass on, food that will rot, things that will fade, and eventually he’ll lose all of this to the grave.

 

In verses 4-7, Solomon shows us that everyone dies, and life goes on. People move on without us. Your generation will live and die like the one before. The next generation will go on without you. Time and nature move on without us. Solomon describes the never-ending cycle of the earth, sun, wind, & water. The earth will be here after you. The sun will continue to rise and set without you. The wind will continue to circulate. The waters of the earth will continue their cycle. They’re all in an endless cycle that will continue after you die. Isn’t that just the best news ever? (sarcasm)

 

This world is stuck in a cycle of never reaching the goal. In verse 8, Solomon says, “All things are full of weariness.” The world is in a restless cycle that never ends. The sun will rise and fall over and over again. Winds will circulate around and around. Waters will flow downhill but never overfill the ocean. They never cease but they also never change anything. They go on and on and on.

 

Man reflects this in his heart. We find no rest or contentment in this world. We live every day in a pursuit of meaning, looking for a solution to our impending death, but our efforts are futile. We wake up, eat, live, breathe, eat some more, go to bed, and do again and again until we die.

 

The second reason for vanity is that this world will forget you when you die. Verses 9-11 demonstrate this sad reality. Solomon says there is nothing new under the sun. Nothing is “new” in the cycle of life. There may be new inventions, but creativity and the excitement it brings is not new. Man’s desire to fix his problems with stuff is not new. Humans will keep doing human things long after we’re gone.Every generation looks for something “new” to satisfy their craving for meaning but it’s the same old story. “This invention, technology, medicine, or diet will give u a longer life…” But in the end, they all fail. This is nothing new. Your life will be forgotten. Each generation is forgotten by the next. The great ones of today will be forgotten tomorrow.

 

For example, most people can’t remember who the 23rd president of the United States was or who invented the World Wide Web or the first programmable computer. These were notable people in their generations but few of us can remember them even though they had great achievements. Generations come and go. People live and die and are forgotten.

 

What is the meaning of life? Solomon painted a very bleak picture. This world is vanity. So,the meaning of life must transcend the vanity of this world. It must be above and beyond the endless cycle of life and death. It must be sufficient for every human being. And it must be satisfying to the individual. Therefore, the meaning of life must be eternal, personal, & universal.

 

Solomon is already setting the stage for his conclusion. The meaning of life is only found in God. The Eternal God, the Creator of heaven & earth, the Covenant-Keeping Lord is the answer to the question. Solomon is pointing us to God. He points us to the brevity of life to get us to turn to the Creator of life. Solomon is trying to destroy the arrogance of mankind and bring us to a humble respect for God. To find the meaning of life you must humbly accept your inefficiency and look to the One who is Eternally Sufficient. Only God can give us the meaning of life.