Wed.’s Devo - The Meaning to Life

Read: Ecclesiastes 1:1-3:22; 2 Corinthians 6:1-13; Psalm 46:1-11; Proverbs 22:15 Ecclesiastes is a stark contrast to Proverbs which were both believed to be written by Solomon. Proverbs was written when Solomon was closely following the Lord and Ecclesiastes was written later in his life when he had married many many wives and worshipped many idols. It is the struggle of his soul trying to piece together all he has seen and find meaning to his life. He sums everything up in one word - ‘meaningless’. Solomon is very pessimistic and cynical about life. He realizes that like the water in the ocean, everything ebbs and flows right back to the same place. History repeats itself. Solomon is bored with life because nothing is new and he has seen it all. Solomon sets out to find some kind of meaning in life so he tries pleasure, building, creating beauty, and working hard. He finds it meaningless. Then he compares wisdom with foolishness and madness and finds that the end is the same. He decides he hates life because it is so meaningless and you can take none of it with you to the next life. Next he tried eating and drinking. When it didn’t satisfy he realized that, like he had written in Proverbs, everything is tied to God. God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy to those who please him. All of his searching showed him that nothing on this earth can satisfy which is why the hope for eternity has been written in our hearts. He concluded that man should enjoy the life God has given them and the resources they have been given because it all comes from God. It all boils down to fearing the Lord which was the motto of Proverbs. Things happen over and over so we will come to the same conclusion - this is not our home. This will pass and eternity is waiting that will go on forever. Man’s justice will never be complete on earth, but God’s justice will be complete in heaven. Paul warns his people not to do what Solomon did. Solomon had a wonderful gift of understanding the fear of the Lord, but he forgot it. Ecclesiastes is Solomon’s struggle to get back his innocence. Paul tells them that God’s marvelous gift of salvation has got to be kept alive in our hearts. We are his walking testimony on the earth to others of God’s love so even through hardships and calamity, we must endure and be proven. The Holy Spirit lives through us to show God’s purity, kindness, patience and understanding so that others will see God through our lives. We are not responsible for people’s reactions or is our success measured by our popularity, it is measured by our honest walk with God. Lord, help us to truly love one another and walk in truth and holiness.