Ecclesiastes by Conrad Hilario (2021)

In Ecclesiastes, King Solomon ponders the utter despair of a life lived apart from God. Everything is utterly meaningless. You are here one day and gone the next, forgotten by all in a few generations. What is left of life if all there is is what is under the sun? Solomon tried everything that is available under the sun and found only utter despair in possessions, pleasures, power and prestige. The alternative is a life of meaning, lived for God.

King Solomon decided to do a little experiment where he would not deny himself anything his eye desired. Although King Solomon had all the wealth and sexual pleasures a man could ever want, he realizes it all left him empty. All of it was meaningless, chasing after the wind. A life lived as if there was no God, was utterly meaningless, but a life lived for God is where one finds true meaning under the sun.

King Solomon, having already determined that pursuing wonton pleasure does not lead to a meaningful life, now turns his attention to attaining achievement and material success. But once again he comes up empty. He understands all his toil and anxious striving only leads to grief and pain, and restlessness. The Bible does not teach that work is sinful, but seeking ones significance from work is. There is a type of work that is meaningful, due to its enduring quality. When we pursue the work of the Lord, we will find significance and meaning.

If God does not exist, then life would just be meaningless toil until we die. Youth, beauty, health, all are fleeting. Nothing endures. But God does exist and has planted an awareness of eternity in our hearts. We know we were created for much more. God is real and He does have a plan for your life. This gives real significance and meaning to our lives when we put our faith in Jesus and not in the things of this world.

Some Christians believe that they don't need community to grow with God. King Solomon refutes this unbiblical idea. How can a person alone keep warm, or defend himself when overpowered? A chord of three strands is not quickly broken. After His acts of creation, God said, "It is good." But He saw Adam was alone and said that was not good so he made Eve to be his companion. God designed us to be in relationship with Him and other believers.