Ecclesiastes – Living with Purpose
Think.
- What would you do if you suddenly came into having one-hundred million dollars (after taxes)?
- How would your life change?
- How do you think your relationships change?
- Knowing that you never had to work a day in your life with that kind of money, what would you do with your time?
- Do you think it would make your life better or worse to suddenly come into that kind of money?
Listen.
On the night that Solomon was to become king, God offered him any gift he wanted to help him during his reign. Instead of asking for wealth, power, honor, the life of his enemies or long life for himself, he asked God to grant him wisdom and knowledge so that he might be a better ruler for the people of Israel. (see 2 Chronicles 1:7-12)
God was extremely impressed by Solomon’s request and due to that wisdom, his reign ended up including a great amount of wealth along with the absence of a lot of the wars and internal strife that David had endured. But because Solomon was also a deep thinker, he sometimes struggled to make sense of the world he observed. He especially struggled with understanding the meaning of life, not just for him, but for all human beings.
In Ecclesiastes, he wrote….
For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
a time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to throw away;
a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace.
What gain have the workers from their toil? I have seen the business that God has given to everyone to be busy with. He has made everything suitable for its time; moreover he has put a sense of past and future into their minds, yet they cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. I know that there is nothing better for them than to be happy and enjoy themselves as long as they live; moreover, it is God’s gift that all should eat and drink and take pleasure in all their toil.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-13 (NRSV)
As well, Solomon wrote very deeply about his own struggle with finding happiness and purpose in life. Given his wealth and power, he had access to all the best that the ancient world could offer. Yet he kept asking, is this all there is? The happiness brought by those things never lasted.
Ultimately, he decided to take life as it comes, and to strive for wisdom while admitting somethings will never make sense. He advised others to do good work, enjoy the good times in life so there are no regrets later on and not worry about the things outside of their control.
Finally, he noted in Ecclesiastes….
The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God, and keep his commandments; for that is the whole duty of everyone. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil. – Ecclesiastes 12:13
- What are the experiences that you’ve had that will stay with you forever as moments that have shaped your life?
- What’s something that you see people do that seems like a waste of time?
- Is there something that it seems like people can get away with constantly that you wished would stop?
- What’s something that might seem like work to someone else but that you truly enjoy?
- What’s something that you are very proud of that you’ve accomplished?
Remember.
Living life only for its earthly pleasures will ultimately leave one empty. Only living for God will sustain a person over a lifetime.
Don’t worry so much about what other people are doing or what they think you should do. That’s God’s job. Keep your eyes on the main thing. Work hard no matter what you do. Enjoy yourself but don’t waste it on things that won’t bring your life meaning. Follow the rules. A lot of things won’t make sense along the way. It’ll seem like some people are getting away with something. But God’s paying attention. Let God handle it.
Pray.
Ask God to help you see your day to day life (school, chores, etc.) as a form of worship. Ask God to keep you mindful of Him when you are doing things that don’t seem to make a difference in the grand scheme of life.
More.
Scientific research on whether or not money can buy happiness.