September 14 - The Meaning of Life

The Meaning of Life

"Meaningless! Meaningless!  Utterly meaningless!” ( Ecclesiastes 1:2)

C.S. Lewis once shared that if we look at this world apart from God, life seems intolerably cruel and mean. If we understand that we live in a fallen world, then we understand that this world isn’t the way God made it; it’s not the way it’s supposed to be.

As Christians we first should realize that God is not the originator of the fallen world. That comes down to man.

A poll was taken some time back that shared ten percent of the British people believe they would be better off dead, according to a survey. One in four people said they were unhappy in their jobs, while one in three felt exhausted, unappreciated, or underpaid. Christine Webber, the psychotherapist who carried out the survey, said: "Sadly, it comes as no surprise to me that so many people are unhappy at home and work. It seems that people’s lives do not live up to their extremely high expectations. It is particularly worrying to see so many people dwelling on morbid thoughts, with a large proportion just plainly exhausted by life."

A lot of people, whether rich or poor, or young or old, are wondering what life is all about. Even, Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived wondered about the meaning of life. In his personal journal, he express the challenges that come from placing meaning in life apart from God.  He started out the book of Ecclesiastes by saying, "Meaningless! Meaningless!" says the Teacher. "Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless." (Ecclesiastes 1:2)

What are some things we pursue to find purpose? Success? Wealth? Relationships? Sex? Entertainment? Credit? Pleasure? …And there is still emptiness …there is still a void. There is still in our hearts, a God-shaped void that can only be filled by God.

Clarence Darrow, the great criminal lawyer of another day, had among his friends a young minister. This seems strange, because, as you remember, Darrow was usually thought of as an atheist, infidel, agnostic or what have you.  They were talking one day and Mr. Darrow became reminiscent. He talked of his career and some of the famous trials in which he had been the lawyer for the defense. He said, "This has been an exciting life." He made at least a comfortable fortune and he guessed he might be regarded as somewhat of a success. Then Mr. Darrow asked, "Would you like to know my favorite Bible verse?" His friend said, "Indeed I would." Mr. Darrow said, "You will find it in Luke 5:5. ’We’ve toiled all the night and have taken nothing.’" He added, "In spite of my success that verse seems to sum up the way I feel about life."

No matter what one does in life, no matter what position he may obtain, no matter what he might come to own...if he leaves God out, the time will come when life itself will rise up and mock him with the word -- nothing -- nothing!

One baseball player who made it to the Hall of Fame was asked what he wished someone would have told him when he first started playing baseball, he relied,  “I wish someone had told me that when you get to the top, …there’s nothing there!”

As we read scripture from Ecclesiastes and we hear how “Meaningless” life is according to Solomon’s musings, we begin to realize that the problems that we and Solomon are up against have developed because we are living life as though all there is to life is what we can see with our eyes and experience with our senses. God created us for something beyond the physical, and beyond the here and now.  Solomon said of God, “He has also set eternity in the hearts of men.” In our hearts we know that this is not all there is.

There are several things that turn life from seeming meaningless to being meaningful:

1)  First, God wants me to get to know Him.

The Bible also teaches that I can come to know God by coming to know Jesus Christ as my Lord & Savior. Jesus, Himself said, "...when you’ve seen Me, you’ve seen the Father."

2)  Second, God wants me to become like Christ.

Just as my children have some of my traits because we’re family, I should exhibit some of the traits of Jesus because we’re family, too.

3) Thirdly, God wants me to practice being a servant.

Because in heaven we’re going to be serving. The most Christ-like picture, the best model of being Christ-like you will find in Scripture is of Jesus putting the towel around His waist & washing the feet of the Apostles.

4) Lastly, God wants me to share my life’s purpose with others.

Why does God keep me around? Because the only plan that God has for telling others about His purpose is for those who have found the purpose to share it.

Solomon concluded with the words, “Remember your Creator in the days of your youth.”  (Ecclesiastes 12:1) Early in your life and as often as you can…that’s a great approach. In fact, now is just as good of time as any.

Terry Risser

Reflections:

1)   Have you ever had a Clarence Darrow experience of having things or accomplished goals and still feeling that something is missing?

2)   Why is God so important to meaning in our lives?

Consider reading the Word today:

Copyright 2014-Terry Risser