Everything is Meaningless
Posted by tom | Nov 10, 2005During our morning time, Ryan led us into a consideration of Everything is Meaningless from Ecclesiastes 1. Several rich images came to me as I considered in whose Presence I find meaning day by day, the One
1. who is the Creator/Sustainer that brings about the natural world, in particular my mind was on the beauty of the fall foliage
2. who is my very Bread of Life as we sit around the breakfast table, our Provider of manna during our desert travels
3. who is our family's Shepherd, even through the valley of the shadow of death
4. who has entrusted to me the care for our family and a ministry on campus.
5. who bursts forth in my life to share His grace with all whom I encounter
In whom or what do you find meaning? Do you find your end in life vacuous or full in the Creator/Redeemer of Ecclesiastes 12 and Mark 8:31-36.
Well I just finished studing this perplexing book and I had to weigh in my views on this comment. Origially I struggled with Soloman being the "wisest" man to live yet having such a hard time with life. I came to the conclusion that wisdom doesn't put any of us on the "holy" pedistal and exempt us from following our own folly. Or as Soloman aptly puts it "chasing after the wind". Seeing Soloman in this new light, I've really come to embrace the book. I can be very logical in how I approach my day and with small children at home, well, let's just say things rarely go as planned. I could sit back and say "why didn't I get this done, or where did the time go?" but then I could also accept as Soloman concluded that the true meaning of life is not in being in control. I like how Tom used 5 attributes of God to show how meaningful life is when we acknowledge who is really in control. So,I've actually begun now to come full circle and embrace this book and to rejoice that God provided it for people like me who often are frustrated that life is NOT FAIR Eccl chapter 6. If I'd start our day giving it to God and accept that He is in control I know I'd be a lot better off. Eccl 12:9-14 summarizes it nicely and helps me keep perspective- "Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whold duty of God." I'm just glad that God accepts us the way we are and gave us this book of true emotion to show that through Christ and obedience to Him and the sprinkling of His Blood (1 Peter 1:1-2) we can know beyond the shadow of a doubt the true meaning of life. What a great challenge and opportunity to let the world know that this life and our experiences are a far cry from being "Meaningless" with God in our heart.
Posted by Andrea Shissler, Dec 5 2005, 11:37