King Solomon, like many of us, wanted to find meaning in his life. He wanted to do things that mattered and had a lasting impact. Yet, no matter how hard he tried he was unable to find anything under the sun that provided true meaning. He observed all he could, gained more than any other ruler, and tried various things but found it all like chasing the wind. A fool’s errand and absolutely meaningless. All of which he records in his own words in the Book of Ecclesiastes.
Ecclesiastes 1:2 (ESV)
2 Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher,
vanity of vanities! All is vanity.
Ecclesiastes 1:12–14 (ESV)
12 I the Preacher have been king over Israel in Jerusalem. 13 And I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven. It is an unhappy business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with. 14 I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind.
Ecclesiastes 2:1 (ESV)
1 I said in my heart, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy yourself.” But behold, this also was vanity.
Ecclesiastes 2:4–11 (ESV)
4 I made great works. I built houses and planted vineyards for myself. 5 I made myself gardens and parks, and planted in them all kinds of fruit trees. 6 I made myself pools from which to water the forest of growing trees. 7 I bought male and female slaves, and had slaves who were born in my house. I had also great possessions of herds and flocks, more than any who had been before me in Jerusalem. 8 I also gathered for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and provinces. I got singers, both men and women, and many concubines, the delight of the sons of man.
9 So I became great and surpassed all who were before me in Jerusalem. Also my wisdom remained with me. 10 And whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I kept my heart from no pleasure, for my heart found pleasure in all my toil, and this was my reward for all my toil. 11 Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun.
As you read through Ecclesiastes you wait for Solomon to reveal what he discovered in life that brings true meaning. But he never does. Instead, he simply ends his writing the same way he started it. By simply declaring that everything is in fact vanities of vanities. Or meaningless like chasing after the wind. The wisest man to ever live spent his life searching the world for meaning and found nothing.
1 Kings 3:11–12 (ESV)
11 And God said to him, “Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, 12 behold, I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you.
1 Kings 4:30 (ESV)
30 so that Solomon’s wisdom surpassed the wisdom of all the people of the east and all the wisdom of Egypt.
Ecclesiastes 12:8 (ESV)
8 Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher; all is vanity.
Why is this so? Why was wise King Solomon unable to find meaning in this world? The simple answer is because nothing this world has to offer holds any true meaning. We have the ability to accomplish much in this world and it can seem as though we are making a grand difference. But the truth is all we do will only act as a small band-aid on a much larger problem. Then once we die all our work will be left to another who may or may not handle it properly. Then one day it will all be forgotten.
Ecclesiastes 2:18–20 (ESV)
18 I hated all my toil in which I toil under the sun, seeing that I must leave it to the man who will come after me, 19 and who knows whether he will be wise or a fool? Yet he will be master of all for which I toiled and used my wisdom under the sun. This also is vanity. 20 So I turned about and gave my heart up to despair over all the toil of my labors under the sun,
Ecclesiastes 2:16 (ESV):
16 For of the wise as of the fool there is no enduring remembrance, seeing that in the days to come all will have been long forgotten. How the wise dies just like the fool!
It may seem as though there is no hope for us. That nothing we ever do will have any true meaning. Thankfully that is not the case for us living today. Because we are able to experience true meaning. While nothing this world has to offer can provide meaning God is able to offer it to us. King Solomon couldn’t find it because it had yet to be revealed. Jesus had not yet come to the earth offering all people true meaning in life. Because Jesus brought salvation to the world and empowered every believer to draw others to the faith we can find the meaning in this life Solomon couldn’t.
As already stated even what seems to carry the greatest meaning in our world today is only a temporary patch. Helping to mitigate a problem but not solve it. As Christians, we have the answer that everyone needs. We possess the knowledge that not only improves this life but extends into eternity. Solving the greatest problem mankind faces, death. If we truly want to do something with meaning then we need to do nothing more than sharing the good news of Jesus Christ with everyone we can. Something that King Solomon was unable to do.
John 3:16–17 (ESV)
16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
1 Timothy 1:15 (ESV)
15 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.
John 3:15 (ESV)
15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
Nothing is able to offer the same meaning that sharing the Gospel does. Bringing joy, hope, peace, love, comfort, and so much more into the lives of those who accept it. While also granting eternal life in heaven where pain and suffering will be no more. We could share the truth of the Bible with hundreds and only see one converted. But still, our life would have meaning because one soul has been saved. Not to mention all the potential souls that can be saved through just one conversation.
Romans 15:13 (ESV)
13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
Romans 5:8 (ESV)
8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
2 Thessalonians 3:16 (ESV)
16 Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.
Revelation 21:4 (ESV)
4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
Had Solomon been able to experience this, Ecclesiastes would have a completely different ending. Possibly mirroring the writing of some of the Apostles. Telling us to not love the world or the things of the world. Instead warning us that there is no meaning to be found in this world. Calling us to instead focus on God and put the things of this world behind us. Because they offer no true value or meaning.
1 John 2:15 (ESV)
15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
Romans 12:2 (ESV)
2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Colossians 3:2–3 (ESV)
2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
Does this mean we do nothing more than share the Gospel? That we stop other outreaches, quit jobs, give up every pastime, and forsake everything else? No, not at all. The Bible instructs us to do good deeds. Such as giving to the poor, feeding the hungry, offering medical services to those who can’t afford it, and so on. The Bible also instructs every person to work and provide for their own family. But we must be sure that these things do not become our primary focus or the source from which we try to find meaning. Instead, we should work to share the gospel in all that we do and everywhere we are.
Matthew 5:42 (ESV)
42 Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.
Luke 3:11 (ESV)
11 And he answered them, “Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.”
James 1:27 (ESV)
27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
Acts 20:35 (ESV)
35 In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”
1 Timothy 5:8 (ESV)
8 But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
2 Thessalonians 3:10 (ESV)
10 For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.
Don’t keep searching the world hoping you will find meaning. Take Solomon’s word for it. Knowing good and well that no meaning can be found in what this world has to offer. Instead, look to God who created the world to offer you meaning. Find what you have been searching for by placing your faith in Jesus Christ. Then begin to share that faith with everyone you can. Offering them something that nothing else can. Not only is this the only true meaning that can be found in life, but it is also what Jesus called every Christian to do. Heed the call and start living a life of true meaning today.
Matthew 28:19 (ESV)
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
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