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September 19, 2003
“Everything is meaningless!” That thought has run through my brain a time or two… but I never expected to find those words in the Bible!
“Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher. “Utterly meaningless!
Everything is meaningless.” Ecclesiastes 1:2 (NIV)
Ecclesiastes is one of those books of the Bible that I had never read until my Bible study group decided they wanted to study it this summer. Ecclesiastes wasn’t my first choice, “but how bad can it be?” I wondered. We had just finished studying Romans, and I really enjoyed wrestling with the spiritual truths and doctrines presented in that book of the Bible. I thought it would be interesting to take on something that would be totally new to me. For someone who is a 'glass half full' kind of gal, I wasn't prepared for what I was about to experience.
As I was reading, the book of Ecclesiastes didn't really seem to fit with my view of the world. I found myself struggling with the thought of “How do I change my perception of the world to match up with what I’m reading here?”
As each week went by, I found myself not really looking forward to the next weeks' lesson. I couldn't wait for our study of Ecclesiastes to be over, so we could move onto something else — anything else. I actually found quite a bit of what I was reading to be negative and depressing, which was really a struggle for someone like me who subconsciously defines my life by hope. (At the core of my being is the hope I have in Christ.)
No one else in the group seemed to have a problem with Ecclesiastes, so for the first few weeks, I simply kept some of my thoughts to myself. I kept hoping with each passing week that Ecclesiastes would take a sudden turn for the better and extol at length about how it's with God that we have hope. Life is NOT meaningless — with God! But it never seemed to take the turn I was looking for. Oh, I did find a few nuggets of hope…
A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment? To the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness… Ecclesiastes 2:24-26 (NIV)
I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil—this is the gift of God. I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that men will revere him. Ecclesiastes 3:12-14 (NIV)
So I reflected on all this and concluded that the righteous and the wise and what they do are in God's hands, but no man knows whether love or hate awaits him. Ecclesiastes 9:1 (NIV)
Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil. Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 (NIV)
When studying Romans, I felt as though I had most of the answers, and the answers that I didn't have could be easily found – either through further study or by talking with others in the group. Now with Ecclesiastes, I felt totally clueless. “Is this book really in the Bible, Lord? Why did you put it here? And what is it that you'd like to teach me now through this study?”
Everyone in my group seemed surprised when I revealed my true feelings about what we were studying… that this study left me feeling gloomy and hopeless… that, for me, the negative was far more depressing than the positive was uplifting. I was reassured, though, by how supportive my friends were. It's OK that I don't have all the answers… that God loves me and has things to teach me that I can't even begin to dream about.
So, what did I learn from my study of Ecclesiastes? There are two main things that come to mind. First, is the importance of having a group of friends that I can be real with about God. What an incredible blessing that is! Having a place to be comfortable to admit I don't have all the answers; a group of friends who are willing to explore God’s Word together. It’s wonderful to have friends who support me in my journey with the Lord. We don’t always agree on every point of doctrine, but we love and accept each other and are open to really listening to other points of view. We learn from each other.
And second, the futile things of this life are hopeless… and meaningless. And there are plenty of life’s details that I would consider meaningless, but what I come away with is a renewed importance to invest my life in things that have eternal value. I can best sum up what God taught me through our study of Ecclesiastes in three small words “to be aware”. And I think I Timothy 6 also sums it up quite nicely.
Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life. I Timothy 6:17-19 (NIV)
article by Cindy Sandsness | 
