Understanding Our Meaning
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
What is the meaning of life?
As we said before, any attempt to restore a man's inner strength in the camp had first to succeed in showing him some future goal. Nietzsche's words, "He who has a why to live for can bear with almost any how," could be the guiding motto for all psychotherapeutic and psychohygienic efforts regarding prisoners. Whenever there was an opportunity for it, one had to give them a why - an aim - for their lives, in order to strengthen them to bear the terrible how of their existence. Woe to him who saw no more sense in his life, no aim, no purpose, and therefore no point in carrying on. He was soon lost. The typical reply with which such a man rejected all encouraging arguments was, "I have nothing to expect from life any more." What sort of answer can one give to that?
What was really needed was a fundamental change in our attitude toward life. We had to learn ourselves and, furthermore, we had to teach the despairing men, that it did not really matter what we expected from life, but rather what life expected from us. We needed to stop asking about the meaning of life, and instead to think of ourselves as those who were being questioned by life - daily and hourly. Our answer must consist, not in talk and meditation, but in right action and in right conduct. Life ultimately means taking the responsibility to find the right answer to its problems and to fulfill the tasks which it constantly sets for each individual.
These tasks, and therefore the meaning of life, differ from man to man, and from moment to moment. Thus it is impossible to define the meaning of life in a general way. Questions about the meaning of life can never be answered by sweeping statements. "Life" does not mean something vague, but something very real and concrete, just as life's tasks are also very real and concrete. They form man's destiny, which is different and unique for each individual. No man and no destiny can be compared with any other man or any other destiny. No situation repeats itself, and each situation calls for a different response. Sometimes the situation in which a man finds himself may require him to shape his own fate by action. At other times it is more advantageous for him to make use of an opportunity for contemplation and to realize assets in this way. Sometimes man may be required simply to accept fate, to bear his cross. Every situation is distinguished by its uniqueness, and there is always only one right answer to the problem posed by the situation at hand.
Victor Frankl was not a Christian
About Ecclesiastes:
King Solomon is likely the author.
1 The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.
12 I, the Preacher, have been king over Israel in Jerusalem.
16 I said to myself, “Behold, I have magnified and increased wisdom more than all who were over Jerusalem before me; and my mind has observed a wealth of wisdom and knowledge.”
Scholars think Solomon wrote Song of Solomon early in his life, Proverbs in the middle of his life, and Ecclesiastes near the end.
Ecclesiastes is similar to the notes, queries, and ponderings of a philosopher.
Understanding our meaning requires ...
A. Establishing a habitual lifestyle of worship
B. Examining and exhorting the Truth
C. Exercising a biblical worldview
I. Establishing a habitual lifestyle of worship (vv. 1-8)
I. Establishing a habitual lifestyle of worship (vv. 1-8)
A. Remember your Creator means to cast yourself wholly and completely in dependence upon Christ.
‘Remember’ is not merely to bring to mind, but to dwell on the fact that there is no aspect of our life that is not sustained completely and totally by God. It is to bring this fact into mind in every circumstance: in sorrow and in joy; in youth and in age; in despair and in peace. It is to worship.
B. Before every person is the simple question: ‘Is He worthy?’
The word ‘worship’ comes from an old English word ‘worthship.’
Is He worthy of my time?
Is He worthy of my energy?
Is He worthy of my finances?
Is He worthy of my praise?
C. In the days of your youth — we must wrestle with this question as soon as possible.
My high school Spanish teacher’s comments concerning my academic performance.
“Kids do not understand the permanence tomorrow of their decisions today.”
13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.” 14 Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. 15 Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.”
Young people eagerly search for meaning thinking they will have all the time and energy to do so.
Effectively, Solomon is encouraging young people to establish habits of worshipping God now, so that when it becomes difficult, it will be second-nature.
One time in college, I jumped out of bed suddenly. You remember that feeling of being late to class that jolted you awake as a student? I jumped in the shower, brushed my teeth, got dressed, grabbed my backpack, and headed out the door. I reached the end of the hallway and walked outside into darkness. Confused, I took out my phone and the phone screen showed 3:30 AM. Don’t ask me why I hadn’t looked at my phone yet.
You see, even though it was the middle of the night, when I got out of bed I went through my usual routine, habits I had established. It should work the same for us when it comes to worship. Much more than a habit though, we are called into a deepening relationship with Christ. And the quicker you begin on that journey, the easier it is. What do I mean? Eventually, you will grow to the point where no matter what life throws at you, worship will become your first instinct. And the further we go in life, the more it throws at us: physically, spiritually, mentally, and emotionally.
6 Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it.
D. A poetic picture of advancing age
The keepers of the house tremble — arms and hands shake
The strong men bow down — the legs and knees begin to sag
The grinders cease because they are few — chewing becomes difficult because teeth are lost
One rises up at the sound of the bird — sleep becomes more difficult
The daughters of music are brought low — singing and music are less appreciated
Afraid of height and terrors in the way — becoming more fearful in life
The almond tree blossoms — the hair becomes white
The grasshopper is a burden — weaker and less active
Desire falls — the passions and desires of life wane
E. Remembering the Creator is necessary
To understand our meaning and purpose in a broken, cruel, evil world.
The fact that God is the Creator demonstrates that our lives have innate purpose.
27 God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.
7 Then the Lord God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.
Ultimately, our physical lives will end in death, but we are eternal beings (v. 5). Each of us will spend eternity somewhere, we just have the choice of eternity with God or apart from Him.
So, before life ends as it began, remember the Creator. In other words, even if you didn’t live a life in relationship with Jesus Christ, as long as there is breath in your lungs it is never too late.
19 By the sweat of your face You will eat bread, Till you return to the ground, Because from it you were taken; For you are dust, And to dust you shall return.”
F. Vanity of vanities
In light of pain, suffering, and death, Solomon returns to his original conclusion: everything in life is futile, nothing, meaningless (Ecc. 1:2).
II. Examining and Exhorting the Truth (vv. 9-12)
II. Examining and Exhorting the Truth (vv. 9-12)
A. Because the Preacher was wise — even in the midst of Solomon’s doubts and questions, Solomon continued to teach and encourage the people.
Acceptable words … words of truth — The truth can be delightful and remain unchanged.
B. A society needs people who will examine and exhort the Truth. As Christians, this is our primary command:
18 And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
C. Not only did Jesus commission every Christian to proclaim the Truth, but it will ultimately set each of us free:
31 So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”
If the truth ‘will make you free,’ this assumes we are in bondage.
D. How does the truth set us free?
Like goads — It prods us to action
Like nails — It sticks in our mind
Given by one Shepherd — Jesus Christ
E. Studying the meaning of life is burdensome without God
There are countless books written on countless topics. Not everything is true, and without an understanding of God, it is difficult to discern.
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
III. Exercising a Biblical Worldview (vv. 13-14)
III. Exercising a Biblical Worldview (vv. 13-14)
A. If fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, it is also the end, the conclusion.
For Solomon to arrive at this conclusion is incredible:
Solomon was the wisest person to ever have lived (1 Kings 3:10-14).
Solomon was very rich, for kings and queens paid great tributes to him
14 Now the weight of gold which came in to Solomon in one year was 666 talents of gold, 15 besides that from the traders and the wares of the merchants and all the kings of the Arabs and the governors of the country.
27 The king made silver as common as stones in Jerusalem, and he made cedars as plentiful as sycamore trees that are in the lowland.
Solomon had 700 wives and 300 concubines
3 He had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines, and his wives turned his heart away.
For Solomon, learning, pleasure, labor, philosophy, life, wealth, existence, and even wisdom, were meaningless and pointless … without God.
This is man’s all — Solomon arrives at his ultimate conclusion: to live in fear of God is to truly be human.
In all we do, God calls us to live according to His word, so that we may better understand ourselves.
If I am made in the image of God, would not knowing God be essential to knowing myself?
Conclusion
Conclusion
