Finding Meaning in a Meaningless World
Notes
Transcript
Opening Prayer:
Heavenly Father, as we gather here today to welcome a new year, we pause to reflect on the journey we have taken and the path that lies ahead. We thank You for the blessings of the past year, for the lessons learned, and for Your constant presence in our lives.
Lord, help us to seek meaning and purpose as we step into this new season. May we be filled with hope and courage to pursue the changes we desire and to grow in our faith. Open our hearts and minds to receive Your Word today, and guide us in our search for fulfillment in You alone.
As we listen and reflect, may we find strength in Your promises and clarity in our purpose. We ask for Your blessing on this message, that it may inspire and encourage us in the days to come.
In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
Today’s message is entitled “Finding Meaning in a Meaningless World” the passage or book we will be glining from is Eccl. chapter 1. 1-2.
The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.
“Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher; “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.”
As we approach the new year, many of us take a moment to look back on the past and think about what’s ahead. We often set resolutions, hoping for positive changes in our lives. But as we start this new calendar year, we might also feel the heaviness of routine and wonder what gives our lives real meaning. This reminds me of a film back in 1993 comedy called Groundhog Day.
Bill Murray plays Phil Connors, a self-absorbed weatherman stuck in a time loop, repeating February 2nd—Groundhog Day—in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. Some fans believe Phil might be trapped in this loop for as long as thirty years. As he deals with this strange situation, he tries to cope with the boredom and find meaning in a day that never changes.
At first, Phil tries to find happiness through pleasure. He indulges in everything he wants: eating huge amounts of food, drinking coffee straight from the pot, smoking, and even getting into fights. He dates women and chases thrills, but none of this makes him truly happy.
Next, Phil turns to greed. He robs an armored car and spends the stolen money on fancy clothes, a flashy car, and living out his dreams. However, this also fails to satisfy him.
Eventually, Phil feels hopeless. Realizing he can’t escape the time loop, he tries to end his life, but he always wakes up to the same day in Punxsutawney.
Over time, Phil finds a better way. He starts focusing on self-improvement. He learns new skills like playing the piano, ice sculpting, and studying French poetry. Through these activities, Phil becomes a kinder and more well-rounded person, finding purpose in becoming better.
Phil finally wakes up on February 3rd when he finds happiness in his current situation. He learns to accept where he is and embrace the present. On the last day he relives February 2nd, he looks at Rita, the woman he loves, and says, “I don’t know what will happen tomorrow; all I know is I’m happy right now.” This moment of peace highlights the message of Ecclesiastes: even if life feels like a never-ending cycle where nothing lasts, we can find meaning by enjoying the gifts God has given us.
One memorable scene shows Phil trying to understand his strange situation. Early in the movie, he sits at a bar with two locals and asks, “What would you do if you were stuck in one place, and every day was the same, and nothing you did really mattered?” One man, looking into his beer, simply replies, “Yep, that about sums it up for me.”
The man’s response reflects how many of us experience daily life. The alarm goes off at 6:00 a.m., and we hit snooze for a few more minutes of sleep. We stumble into the bathroom, brush our teeth, take a shower, and get dressed. Then we sit in traffic and finally make it to work—whether it’s an office, classroom, or factory. After a few hours, it’s time for lunch, then back to work until quitting time. Maybe we go to the gym on the way home, have dinner, watch some TV, and crawl into bed. Then comes Tuesday—same routine, different day.
Introduction:
Life can often feel like an endless rut, as we go through the motions trying to make sense of it all. The daily grind has a way of turning into monotonous drudgery. Even supervisors recognize this and attempt to break the monotony with gestures like Hawaiian-shirt days or casual Fridays. People, in turn, find their own ways to cope with the sameness of life.
A college professor once shared a story to his students about a factory job he had while studying to pay for his tuition. In the factory, there were many men in their 40s and 50s who had spent years standing at the same assembly line, doing the same repetitive tasks over and over again. The professor remembered how these men spent their whole week looking forward to Friday—the day they could leave work, go to the bar, and drink heavily. Their weekends were filled with drinking, staying drunk, and then sobering up just in time for Monday morning. This was their way of escaping the monotony of their lives, living week to week for a brief moment of relief.
People cope with this monotony in various ways. Some turn to substances, using them to numb the boredom. Others seek pleasure in experiences, chasing thrills to fill the emptiness. Many throw themselves into their jobs, hoping that success or achievement will provide meaning. Some pursue romantic relationships or accumulate possessions, believing these will make life worthwhile. Others turn to religion, clinging to rituals in search of transcendence or purpose. Each approach is an attempt to find meaning in the midst of life’s endless repetition.
In Ecclesiastes, we encounter a man grappling with the monotony of life, who seeks meaning in everything life has to offer—wealth, pleasure, wisdom, and more—only to conclude that it is all meaningless. The book is attributed to the "Teacher" or "Preacher," a term in Hebrew that refers to a leader of a congregation—a pastor.
This figure is identified as the "Son of David, king in Jerusalem" (Ecclesiastes 1:1), pointing to Solomon as the author.
He is the only one of David's sons who ruled a united Israel from Jerusalem (Ecclesiastes 1:12; 1 Chronicles 29:25), and his life experiences align perfectly with those described in the text.
Solomon's authorship should come as no surprise. When David died, he entrusted the kingdom of Israel to Solomon. In a dream, God offered Solomon anything he desired.
Recognizing his youth and inexperience, Solomon asked for wisdom to govern the nation with justice (1 Kings 3:5–15).
God granted his request, and Solomon used this wisdom to establish a prosperous and glorious kingdom.
His wisdom attracted people from around the world, and he composed thousands of proverbs and songs (1 Kings 4:29–34).
Today, much of his wisdom is preserved in Proverbs, Song of Solomon, and Ecclesiastes.
However, despite his unparalleled wisdom, Solomon’s life took a tragic turn. He succumbed to greed, lust, and idolatry, becoming a fool despite his great intellect.
He violated the kingly commands laid out in Deuteronomy 17, amassing immense wealth, numerous possessions, and an astonishing number of women—700 wives and 300 concubines (1 Kings 11:3).
Many of these wives were foreign women who led his heart astray, drawing him into the worship of false gods (1 Kings 11:1–8).
Solomon denied himself nothing, indulging in every desire. This unrestrained pursuit of personal pleasure and power ultimately destroyed his kingdom.
As a consequence of his unfaithfulness, God declared that the kingdom would be divided during the reign of his son (1 Kings 11:9–13).
Tradition suggests that Ecclesiastes represents the reflections of an older, repentant Solomon, looking back on his life, acknowledging his mistakes, and sharing the lessons he has learned.
It has been observed that Ecclesiastes resembles the kind of book a person would write toward the end of their life, reflecting on their experiences and drawing wisdom from them.
While we cannot verify this conclusively, the book undeniably carries that reflective and cautionary tone.
In its closing chapter, the father warns his son not to repeat his own missteps (Ecclesiastes 12:12).
Solomon’s message in Ecclesiastes is profoundly relevant today. Many people believe that happiness lies in achieving more—more money, more pleasure, more success. Yet Solomon, a man who had it all and tried it all, emphatically declares in Ecclesiastes, “No! All of that is meaningless.”
The central message of Ecclesiastes is captured in Ecclesiastes 1:2, where human existence is described as “hevel of hevels.”
“Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher; “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.”
This phrase uses the Hebrew superlative form to emphasize its meaning. Just as the “holy of holies” refers to the most sacred place and the “Song of Songs” signifies Solomon’s greatest composition, “hevel of hevels” conveys the ultimate degree of meaninglessness. The word hevel appears more than 30 times in the book and literally means “breath” or “vapor.” It suggests something fleeting, like the breath visible on a cold day that vanishes almost instantly.
James echoes this idea, comparing life to a mist that appears briefly and then disappears (James 4:14).
Metaphorically, hevel is used throughout Ecclesiastes to convey life’s vanity, futility, or absurdity. It reflects the frustrating, fragile, and fleeting nature of human existence. Depending on the context, it can imply that life feels meaningless, pointless, worthless, or frustrating.
In the Bible, the word hevel is often linked to idols (e.g., Jeremiah 16:19; Zechariah 10:2), and this connection helps us understand its meaning in Ecclesiastes. People frequently seek satisfaction in created things rather than in the Creator. However, pursuing fulfillment in anything or anyone other than God is idolatry. This search inevitably fails because created things cannot provide ultimate satisfaction.
It’s not that money, pleasure, possessions, sex, or success are inherently bad. The problem arises when we elevate these good things to the status of ultimate things, turning them into idols.
A good thing, when made into a god thing, becomes a bad thing.
Ecclesiastes shows that success, money, pleasure, and religious rituals are ultimately meaningless. They may promise happiness but don't deliver, like a mirage. None of these things is ever enough, and they won't last. The term "hevel" captures the ideas of being temporary and pointless.
If you build your life on anything other than Jesus, it will be completely meaningless.
This message echoes the story of the Garden of Eden. God created the garden as a “very good” (Genesis 1:31) and meaningful place for Adam and Eve to live. But their rebellion against God led to their banishment, leaving humanity to exist in a broken, futile world “east of Eden” (Genesis 3:24).
Ecclesiastes captures the futility and frustration of life in this fallen world.
Paul’s writing in the New Testament sheds further light on this theme. While Ecclesiastes is never directly quoted in the New Testament, Romans 8:20 seems to allude to it. Paul uses the word mataiotes—the Greek equivalent of hevel in the Septuagint translation of Ecclesiastes 1:2—when describing the curse placed on creation due to human sin. Romans 8:20–21
For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope
that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.
When humanity rebelled against God’s perfect design (Genesis 3), a devastating curse entered the world, leaving it broken and frustrating.
Nothing functions as it should anymore, and we now live in a world marred by the consequences of sin—disease, death, poverty, evil, and injustice define our existence. Paul describes this fallen creation as futile and in bondage, groaning for deliverance (Romans 8:20–22).
This backdrop of creation and humanity’s fall into sin frames Solomon’s reflections in Ecclesiastes. God originally created the world good, filled with intentional design and purpose. It was a perfect home for humanity, complete with good gifts such as food, drink, relationships, and sex. These gifts were meant to be enjoyed in harmony with God’s design, drawing our hearts to worship the Creator. The simple acts of eating, drinking, and experiencing intimacy were intended to lead us to gratitude and praise for the Giver of all good things.
However, humanity rejected God’s good design and misused His gifts. Instead of using them as a means to worship God, we sought to find ultimate satisfaction in the gifts themselves. This idolatry brought a curse on creation (Romans 1:18–32
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,
because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them.
For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,
because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
Professing to be wise, they became fools,
and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.
Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves,
who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature.
Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.
And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting;
being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers,
backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful;
who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.
Now, death and brokenness dominate the world. God’s gifts are abused—food becomes gluttony, drink turns into drunkenness, and sex is distorted into adultery. We reject God’s roles for marriage and relationships. Even work, which was intended to be fulfilling, is now marked by frustration and toil.
As Genesis 3 explains, labor is characterized by sweat and difficulty, and ultimately, we return to the dust from which we were made (Genesis 3:17–19).
Ecclesiastes paints a vivid picture of the meaninglessness and frustration of life in this Genesis 3 world. It reveals the futility of trying to find purpose apart from God in a world under the curse of sin.
Living east of Eden, separated from God by sin, we exist in a cursed and ultimately meaningless world. In our pursuit of lasting joy, we look to things that consistently fail to deliver. This is the sobering reality of life "under the sun" that Solomon vividly portrays in the book of Ecclesiastes.
Conclusion
The message of Ecclesiastes confronts us with the futility of life “under the sun” when lived apart from God. Solomon’s journey is a sobering reminder that no amount of wealth, pleasure, success, or human wisdom can satisfy the deep longing in our souls for meaning and fulfillment. These things are not bad in themselves; they are gifts from God, meant to draw our hearts to gratitude and worship of the Giver. But when we make them ultimate—when we seek from them what only God can give—they fail us, leaving us empty and enslaved.
This brokenness is the consequence of humanity’s rebellion against God’s design. The curse brought by sin has left creation groaning for redemption and our hearts restless apart from Him.
Yet even in this cursed existence, Ecclesiastes points us toward a better hope.
The Teacher’s final words direct us to “fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man” (Eccl. 12:13).
Our ultimate satisfaction and purpose can only be found in a right relationship with our Creator.
This reality finds its fulfillment in Jesus Christ, who came to redeem us from the curse of sin and give us abundant life. Through Him, we are restored to the joy and purpose God intended.
So, as we navigate the fleeting and frustrating realities of life under the sun, let us turn our hearts toward the Son. In Him, we find the meaning, hope, and lasting joy that nothing in this world can provide. Life apart from God is hevel—vapor, fleeting, and futile. But life with God is abundant and eternal. May we seek Him above all else and worship Him as the true Giver of every good and perfect gift in this new year to come.
Closing Prayer
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for being the Giver of all good things—our lives, relationships, and the joy of creation. We confess that we often seek satisfaction in Your gifts rather than in You, the true Source of fulfillment.
Help us to recognize the emptiness of pursuing meaning apart from You. Grant us wisdom as we face life's challenges and teach us to find our joy and purpose in You alone.
As we go forth, may we remember that true satisfaction comes from our relationship with You. Thank You for the hope we have in Jesus, who offers us abundant life.
In His name, we pray. Amen.
