“Everything is meaningless,” says the Teacher, “completely meaningless!” –Ecclesiastes 1:2
The words of a disillusioned king who always looked for satisfaction where it could not be found. What we learn from Solomon’s frustrations and disappointments is to look beyond the sun to the only one who can satisfy the forlorn soul, Jesus Christ.
Straight to the point: Life without God will have no meaning.
Life is like walking on a treadmill. You can count the years, (miles), but we really never move beyond where we are or what we believe it is that we are “supposed” to do.
We fill our lives with labor and activity. Learning, observing and doing. And when you are old, remembering, (hopefully). Seems the evilest of reductions.
Ask a man why he works, he’ll say it’s to get money. Nowadays most of us are in a battle just to have money at the end of the month. We can hardly make ends meet because somebody comes along and moves the ends.
Now. Why do we need money? To buy food. Why do we buy food? To eat that we maintain physical strength.
Finally, why do we want strength? So we can work.
Thus the cycle, begins again. Ultimately and always, we are right back to where we started. Work, money, food, strength, work, money, food, strength.
The treadmill. Sounds…boring.
One writer said, "The two enemies of human happiness are pain and boredom." I believe that. It’s usually a choice. A bored person either can’t do or won’t. That’s when the pain sets in. We busy ourselves with things that are valueless, (meaningless). And where there’s no flex, you can see how much time you’ve wasted.
It’s the interjection of the spiritual nature that is the only thing that actually adds life…to life. Jeremiah 29:11 says, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
Success in life is better suited to short term accomplishments than long term goals. Kind of like making the bed every day. Doesn’t make sense, I know. We’re bound to crawl back in at some time but it’s the idea that no matter what, you’ve accomplished something.
What we find is that living is not an exercise in futility. It is a privilege. You may not see at this moment how God’s plan comes together for you but I guarantee it will. If you’ll look prayerfully, you can see the parts. He’s provided hope and healing, restoration and rejuvenation, foundation and a future.
So grab yours and do something with it.
-Pastor Butch
