Why are we here? What are we to be doing? Where are we going? People search for answers to those questions because they want their lives to have meaning, yet many do not know where to look. The fact that this is so common is why we are addressing it early in our series. The Bible – especially the book of Ecclesiastes – helps us with the answers we are seeking.
But what is the meaning of life? Let us consider four points to help us address that question.
The Desire for Meaning Is Natural
Our modern society has taken for granted the theory of evolution which depicts man as nothing more than a highly-evolved animal that exists as a result of countless instances of blind chance. Yet the wise man explained that God has “set eternity in [man’s] heart” (Ecclesiastes 3:11), which means that there is something unique about mankind compared to the rest of nature.
We all recognize a “sense” of a higher purpose – that there is more to life than what we see. This intuition has existed in every generation throughout history. Man seeks after something that is higher, spiritual, and eternal. When Paul spoke with the philosophers in Athens, he explained why this was. God made us so that “[we] would seek God, if perhaps [we] might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us” (Acts 17:27). The “sense” that there is something more out there was placed in us by God as a way to help lead us to Him.
Many Look for Meaning in the Wrong Places
The wise man who wrote the book of Ecclesiastes was the king of Israel at the height of the nation’s prosperity. He had all the resources necessary to experiment with any type of enjoyment in this life – earthy wisdom, pleasure, entertainment, riches, and more (Ecclesiastes 1:16-2:10). In the end, he realized that “all was vanity and striving after wind and there was no profit under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 2:11).
People today do the same types of things that the wise man did. They think if they just had more money, a better job, or a certain degree of fame, then they would feel fulfilled. Yet the wise man tried all of that. He said, “All that my eyes desired I did not refuse them. I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure…” (Ecclesiastes 2:10). However, all of these things were ultimately futile because he was looking for meaning in the wrong places. It is no different for people today.
Our Purpose Is Simple
After his pursuit for meaning in the temporal things of life, the wise man arrived at this truth: “The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person” (Ecclesiastes 12:13). This is the “whole duty” (KJV) for each one of us. This is why we are here.
As we noticed in the first lesson in this series, God created us. “God created man in His image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them” (Genesis 1:27). We were created for His will (Revelation 4:11). For all of the many things we could be doing in our lives, what we should be doing comes down to simple reverent obedience to God.
We Enjoy Peace When We Understand This
Before recognizing his purpose, the wise man described man’s life as “painful and grievous; even at night his mind does not rest” (Ecclesiastes 2:23). Yet when we recognize our purpose and follow God’s will, we can rest easy. In the book of Proverbs, the wise man advised his son to follow after God’s wisdom. If he would do this, he told him, “Then you will walk in your way securely and your foot will not stumble. When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet” (Proverbs 3:23-24).
When we know what is truly important and are focused on that, we will not lose sleep wondering what we might be missing. Not only this, but when we know why we are here, we can focus on what we ought to be doing instead of distracting ourselves with things that are ultimately meaningless. The Hebrew writer said, “And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope until the end” (Hebrews 6:11). When we know what our goal is, we can stay on track as we diligently pursue it.
Conclusion
So what is the meaning of life? It is to fear God and keep His commandments. When we understand this, we can live with a purpose knowing where we came from, why we are here, and what we are to be doing.
