WISDOM FOR THE WHYS: Finding Meaning in a Meaningless World
WE CAN FEEL DEEP FRUSTRATION AND EMPTINESS IN LIFE “The words of the Teacher, son of David, king in Jerusalem: “Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher. “Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.” (Ecclesiastes 1:1-2) (Ecclesiastes 2:1-11; Ecclesiastes 4:1-3; Ecc 5:10-12) LIFE LOSES ITS MEANING IN PROPORTION TO HOW MUCH WE MAKE OURSELVES THE CENTER OF LIFE AND WE MAKE OUR HAPPINESS THE PURPOSE OF EVERYTHING (Ecclesiastes 2:1-11) WE CANNOT FIND TRUTH THAT SETS US FREE FROM MEANINGLESSNESS IF WE MAKE OURSELVES- OUR EXPERIENCE, REASON, AND OBSERVATION- THE CENTER OR BASIS OF TRUTH (Ecclesiastes 1:16-18; Ecclesiastes 7:23-24) LIFE FINDS MEANING INSPITE OF ALL THE BROKENNESS IN THE WORLD WHEN WE MAKE LIVING FOR GOD THE PURPOSE OF OUR LIVES (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14; Ecclesiastes 5:4-7) INSPITE OF THE SUFFERING AND STRUGGLES OF LIFE THAT CAN LEAD MAN TO DESPAIR, THE LORD GIVES MAN PLEASURE IN LIFE (Ecclesiastes 2:24-25; Ecclesiastes 5:18-20) IT IS TIME TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT GOD IS THE ONE WHO MADE US AND WE BELONG TO HIM (Ecclesiastes 12:1; Ecclesiastes 12:6-7) IT IS TIME TO HAVE A FEAR OF GOD OR DEEP RESPECT FOR GOD “Much dreaming and many words are meaningless. Therefore, fear God.” (Ecclesiastes 5:7) “Although a wicked person who commits a hundred crimes may live a long time, I know that it will go better with those who fear God, who are reverent before him.” (Ecclesiastes 8:12) “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.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13)