Sermon Series: Chasing Life Part 3-Living a Meaningful Life

My Bible, My Help, My Hope

Living a Meaningful Life

Ecclesiastes 3:11–14 KJV 1900

11 He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end. 12 I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life. 13 And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God. 14 I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.

Introduction

We have been in a sermon series titled Chasing Life.

We are talking about how we can live our lives with purpose.

King Solomon in the book of Ecclesiastics is trying to find the true meaning of life.

Well guess what, that is what we are going to be talking about tonight.

We are going to be talking about “The Meaningful Life.”

Let me open tonight with this statement.

“It doesn’t take much faith to trust God in the light. Real faith is found when you trust God in the dark.”

These words, though simple, hold a profound truth that will guide us today as we seek to understand the divine purpose in our lives, the role of doubt and faith in the midst of meaninglessness, and our dedication to the God who gives meaning.

Let’s read our scripture again:

Ecclesiastes 3:11–14 ESV

11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. 12 I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live; 13 also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God’s gift to man. 14 I perceived that whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it. God has done it, so that people fear before him.

Isn't it fascinating how these verses, written thousands of years ago, still resonate with our lives today?

How they echo in the chambers of our hearts, reminding us of our eternal quest for meaning, our innate desire for happiness, and our longing to understand the divine purpose of our existence?

If we want to live a meaningful life, we must be prepared to face the doubts that may arise, bolstered by our faith in the God who gives meaning?

And are we ready to dedicate ourselves anew to the God who makes everything beautiful in its time?

Let's find out together, in this shared moment of discovery and faith.

Discovering Divine Purpose in Life

The beauty of life is that it is a canvas, painted with the colors of our experiences, emotions, and actions.

Yet, this canvas is not merely a product of our own making.

It is a divine gift, a testament to the grand design of our Creator.

Within this design, each of us has a unique role to play, a purpose that is intricately woven into the fabric of existence.

This purpose is not always clear.

It may be obscured by the shadows of doubt, fear, and uncertainty.

Yet, it is always there, waiting to be discovered, waiting to be fulfilled.

In the scripture, we read that God has made everything beautiful in its time.

This is not just a poetic statement.

It is a profound truth that speaks to the divine purpose inherent in all of creation.

Each moment, each event, each person has a place and purpose in life.

Nothing is without meaning.

Nothing is without purpose.

Even in the midst of chaos and confusion, there is a divine order, a divine plan that is unfolding.

This brings us to the first aspect of our discussion.

The scripture tells us that God has set eternity in the human heart.

This is a powerful statement that speaks to our innate longing for something beyond the temporal, beyond the fleeting moments of our earthly existence.

We yearn for the eternal, for the divine, because we are part of it.

We are part of a grand design that transcends time and space.

This longing is not a curse, but a blessing.

It is a compass that guides us towards our divine purpose.

Yet, the scripture also tells us that no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.

This is a humbling reminder of our limitations as human beings.

We can strive to understand the divine purpose, but we can never fully grasp it.

We can catch glimpses of it in the beauty of a sunset, in the laughter of a child, in the kindness of a stranger.

But the full picture, the complete design, remains beyond our comprehension.

This is not a cause for despair, but a call to humility, a call to trust in the wisdom of our Creator.

The second aspect of our discussion revolves around the idea of happiness and goodness.

The scripture tells us that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live.

This is a simple yet profound truth.

Our divine purpose is not just about understanding the grand design of existence.

It is about living in a way that brings joy and goodness into the world.

It is about making a positive impact on the lives of others.

It is about finding satisfaction in our work and recognizing it as a gift from God.

The third aspect of our discussion is about the enduring nature of God's work.

The scripture tells us that everything God does will endure forever.

Nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it.

This is a powerful reminder of the permanence of our divine purpose.

Our actions, our decisions, our lives have an eternal impact.

They are part of a divine plan that will endure long after we are gone.

This is not a cause for fear, but a call to responsibility, a call to live in a way that aligns with our divine purpose.

The final aspect of our discussion is about the fear of God.

The scripture tells us that God does everything so that people will fear him.

This is not a fear born out of terror or dread.

It is a fear born out of awe and reverence.

It is a recognition of the divine power and wisdom that governs the universe.

It is a reminder of our place in the grand scheme of things. It is a call to humility, to trust, to faith.

In conclusion, discovering our divine purpose is not a one-time event.

It is a lifelong process of seeking, questioning, and growing.

It is about recognizing the beauty in each moment, the eternity in our hearts, the goodness in our actions, and the permanence of our impact.

It is about living in awe of our Creator and aligning our lives with His divine plan.

It is about finding meaning, not just in the grand scheme of things, but in the simple, everyday moments of our lives.

Doubt and Faith in the Midst of Meaninglessness

As we reflect on the words of Ecclesiastes, we are confronted with the human struggle to comprehend the divine.

The scripture acknowledges that God has set eternity in the human heart, yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.

This is a paradox that we all grapple with - the tension between our longing for eternal understanding and our human limitations.

In our quest for understanding, we may encounter moments of doubt.

These are not signs of weak faith, but rather, they are part of our human journey towards divine wisdom.

Doubt, in its essence, is a questioning, a seeking, a yearning for truth.

It is in these moments of doubt that our faith is tested and strengthened.

As we wrestle with our doubts, we are drawn deeper into our relationship with God, and our faith becomes more resilient.

Yet, in the midst of our doubts and questions, we may sometimes feel a sense of meaninglessness.

This is not uncommon.

In fact, it is a sentiment echoed in the book of Ecclesiastes itself.

The author, often referred to as the Teacher, repeatedly laments the vanity and futility of life.

But it is important to remember that these expressions of despair are not the final word.

They are part of the Teacher's journey towards understanding the divine purpose of life.

The Hebrew word for "everything" is used throughout the Old Testament to denote the totality or entirety of something.

For instance, in Genesis 1:31, it is used to describe all that God had made: "God saw (all) that he had made, and it was very good."

Similarly, in Exodus 9:25, it is used to describe the extent of the hail's destruction: "Throughout Egypt hail struck everything in the fields—both people and animals; it beat down everything growing in the fields and stripped every tree."

In both instances, the word "everything” is used to emphasize the comprehensiveness of God's creation and the hail's destruction.

In our passage from Ecclesiastes, the word "everything” is used to underscore the totality of God's work: "He has made everything beautiful in its time."

This suggests that every aspect of our lives, including our doubts and feelings of meaninglessness, are part of God's divine plan.

They are not anomalies or mistakes, but integral parts of our human experience and our journey towards understanding God.

In the face of doubt and meaninglessness, we are called to trust in God's divine plan.

This is not a passive acceptance, but an active engagement with our doubts and struggles.

It is a faith that wrestles with questions, seeks truth, and finds beauty in the midst of despair.

It is a faith that acknowledges our human limitations, yet clings to the hope of divine wisdom.

Finally, we are reminded that everything God does will endure forever.

This is a powerful affirmation of the permanence and significance of God's work.

It reassures us that our doubts and struggles are not in vain, but are part of God's enduring plan.

It encourages us to persevere in our faith, knowing that our journey towards understanding is not a futile endeavor, but a meaningful participation in God's eternal work.

Dedication to the God Who Gives Meaning

As we turn our thoughts to the dedication to the God who gives meaning, let us consider the magnitude of this commitment.

This dedication is not a fleeting vow, but a steadfast pledge to the One who infuses our lives with purpose.

It is a commitment that shapes our actions, guides our decisions, and influences our interactions.

It is a dedication that permeates every facet of our lives, from the mundane to the monumental.

God, the giver of meaning, invites us into a relationship that transcends the temporal and penetrates the eternal.

This relationship is not based on a transactional exchange, but on a transformational encounter.

It is not about what we can get from God, but about what we can become in God.

It is not about using God to fulfill our desires, but about allowing God to fulfill His desires in us.

In this relationship, doubt and faith are not opposing forces, but complementary facets. Doubt is not a sign of weak faith, but a catalyst for deep faith.

It is not a barrier to belief, but a bridge to belief.

It is not a threat to our faith, but a tool for our faith.

Doubt challenges our assumptions, questions our certainties, and provokes our complacencies.

It pushes us to seek, to search, and to scrutinize. It propels us towards a faith that is not blind, but insightful; not passive, but active; not shallow, but deep.

Faith, in turn, is not a static state, but a dynamic process. It is not a destination, but a journey.

It is not a possession, but a pursuit.

It is not about having all the answers, but about seeking the One who does.

It is about trusting in the God who gives meaning, even when we cannot see the full picture.

It is about believing in the God who is faithful, even when we are faithless.

It is about relying on the God who is reliable, even when we are unreliable.

As the respected Christian writer, C.S. Lewis, once said, "Faith is the art of holding on to things your reason has once accepted, in spite of your changing moods."

This quote encapsulates the essence of faith.

Faith is not about feelings, but about facts.

It is not about emotions, but about evidences.

It is not about perceptions, but about truths.

It is about holding on to the truths of God, even when our feelings fluctuate and our moods change.

As we dedicate ourselves to the God who gives meaning, let us remember that this dedication is not a solitary endeavor, but a communal enterprise.

It is not about individualistic piety, but about collective spirituality.

It is not about personal salvation, but about communal transformation.

It is about building a community of faith that reflects the love, grace, and mercy of God.

It is about creating a culture of faith that embodies the justice, peace, and righteousness of God.

In this dedication, let us also remember that we are not passive recipients, but active participants.

We are not mere spectators, but vital contributors.

We are not helpless victims, but empowered victors.

We are not defined by our circumstances, but by our choices.

We are not shaped by our problems, but by our potentials.

We are not limited by our past, but liberated by our future.

So, dear friends, let us rise to the challenge of this dedication.

Let us embrace the opportunity of this commitment.

Let us seize the potential of this relationship.

Let us respond to the call of the God who gives meaning.

Let us live out our faith with courage, conviction, and compassion.

Let us transform our doubts into discoveries, our fears into faith, and our uncertainties into understandings.

Let us dedicate ourselves to the God who gives meaning, and let us do so with all our heart, with all our soul, and with all our strength.

Conclusion

As we come to the end of our time together today, I hope that you're leaving with a renewed sense of purpose and a deeper understanding of the divine wisdom that guides our lives.

Remember, my friends, that even in the midst of doubt and uncertainty, we are never alone.

Our God, the God who makes everything beautiful in its time, is always with us, guiding us, comforting us, and filling our hearts with His love.

Let's take a moment to remember that our lives, with all their ups and downs, joys and sorrows, successes and failures, are part of God's beautiful tapestry.

Each thread, each color, each knot, has a purpose.

And while we may not always understand why things happen the way they do, we can trust that God is weaving a masterpiece, a story of love and redemption that is uniquely ours.

So, let's leave here today with a song in our hearts and a spring in our steps, knowing that we are loved, we are cherished, and we are part of God's grand design.

Let's strive to find happiness in our work, to do good while we live, and to find satisfaction in our toil, recognizing it as a gift from God.

Let’s pray.