Living with Purpose - 2
Studies in the book of Ecclesiastes - Chapter 1
In the book of Ecclesiastes Solomon is addressing the question, "What is the meaning of life? ". He has looked at life on earth and concluded that "Everything is meaningless". In the first part of chapter one Solomon has given a general overview of the futility of life. Now in chapter one verses 12 to 18, that we are looking at, he highlights specific things that men and women pursue in their search for purpose. Chapter l verse 12 begins a series of four Sermons that the Teacher preaches and which finish at chapter 12 verse 7. This first sermon takes us from chapter 1 verse 12 to chapter 3 verse 15. This is the first part of the sermon and Solomon shows how gaining earthly wisdom fails to give a sense of meaning to life.
Solomon was in a good position to get wisdom. He says in verse 12, "I, the Teacher, was King over Israel". As King he had all the resources in his palace. He was rich enough to own all the great books. As King he rubbed shoulders with political thinkers and men with great minds. Jerusalem was the academic centre of Israel. It is possible to gain worldly wisdom by observation and personal experience of life. Solomon made this his aim in pursuit of meaning. He says in verse 13, "I devoted myself to study and to explore by wisdom all that is done under heaven". Now that is a fine objective to have in life. It is always good to improve your education. It is good to broaden your mind. Solomon isn't saying it is wrong. He studied everything "under heaven". I'm sure that included science, history, geography, philosophy, trade, law, customs, people and technology. One thing he did find was that it was hard work! He says in verse 13, "What a heavy burden God has laid on men!". Study is a toil. It is a laborious task. Have you ever wondered why the acquisition of knowledge is hard work? The answer goes back to Genesis in the Old Testament. Adam tried a short cut to gaining knowledge. He fell for the Devil's lie. Satan said in Genesis 3 verse 5, "For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened and you will be like God knowing good and evil". Adam sinned and God said to him in Genesis 3 verse 19, "By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food". As part of the curse, and the fall, knowledge can only be gained by the "sweat of your brow". However, Solomon was prepared to do it. He says in verse 14, "I have seen all the things that are done under the sun". He gained understanding. He says in verse 16, "I have experienced much of wisdom and knowledge". But the question is this: As good as it is, did the pursuit and gathering of knowledge bring him a sense of fulfilment and purpose in life. What's his answer? Solomon says in verse 14, "all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind". He was still left with that familiar feeling of frustration and emptiness. Why was that? The key is found in the words "grasping after the wind". Have you ever tried to hold on to the wind as it blows by you? You can grab for it but it blows through your fingers - it is gone. There is nothing there. There are two reasons why worldly wisdom leaves you frustrated. The first is found in verse 15. We read, "What is twisted cannot be straightened, what is lacking cannot be counted". Consider all the advance in knowledge and technology today. Yet with it all we've not stopped wars, and evil in the world. There are so many problems we haven't straightened out even yet. No amount of worldly wisdom has straightened out the crooked hearts of men. Every new day brings new problems and we haven't got the answers. The number of questions lacking answers is beyond counting. The second reason is found in verse 18. We read, "For with much wisdom comes much sorrow; the more knowledge, the more grief". Why does sorrow come with increased wisdom? Because the more you know the more ignorant you see you are! There are still so many unanswered questions that you are left empty, sorrowful because you don't have the answers, and frustrated with life. In other words, learning and education let you down in some critical areas of your searching. So you see its "grasping for the wind". Many critical answers to man's searching questions slip past us, blow by us, unanswered.
The message of the Gospel is that all is not lost. There is a wisdom that can bring fulfilment; that can make the crooked straight; that can bring a real deep sense of meaning. It is not the wisdom "that is done under heaven" as we've seen, it is that wisdom that James speaks about. We read in James 3 verse 17, "The wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure, then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere".
This is divine wisdom. This wisdom is a person. We read in l Corinthians chapter 1 verse 30, "You are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God". We read in Colossians 2 verse 3, "In him (Christ) are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge". Jesus Christ can straighten out your life. He can straighten out hearts twisted because of sin. He alone has all the key answers to the questions of life. This wisdom found in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ doesn't bring sorrow and grief. It brings forgiveness, joy, peace, satisfaction, blessing, and, a real sense of purpose in the complex tapestry of life. This wisdom is written down for us in the Bible. Read the scripture and be made wise. The book of Proverbs contains much wise instruction. We find wisdom personified because wisdom is a person the Lord Jesus. Wisdom says in chapter 8 verse 6, "Listen, for I have worthy things to say". Then the Lord tells us the benefits of listening to Him. He says in verse 35, "For whoever finds me finds life and receives favour from the Lord". You find Christ by repenting over your sins and seeking His forgiveness. He then gives His abundant life. The life mentioned here is life with purpose - life with fulfilment. Life with meaning that is never left frustrated or disappointed. Christ is the answer. Now what is your question?