05 08 07 The meaning of life? Ecclesiastes 2 Colin Finlayson
We all have a way of seeing the life that we experience that is somewhere on an optimistic … pessimistic scale. Is this glass half empty or half full? The pessimist sees it as half empty and the optimist as half full. Of course none of us is all pessimist or optimist, but where we are on that scale often colours our thinking about whether our life experience has positive meaning and makes sense for us, or not.
We each perceive the world in a slightly different way, but the vast amount of research into the way that our brain works, is conclusive that a common factor in every human brain is its search for meaning. Each time our brain assimilates a new piece of information, or a new experience, it is immediately trying to give it meaning in relation to what our brain already has stored in memory.
The meaning of our life is a topic which has puzzled some of the great thinkers down the centuries. While at university I read, with some difficulty I must admit in following the arguments, a few of the great philosophers. Jean-Paul Sartre who lived from 1905 to 1980 is the one I remember best. He was part of an Existentialist movement which claimed that individual human beings create the meanings of their own lives and that meaning cannot be found outside the meaning that we create for ourselves. That’s not the Biblical perspective!
The three Bible readings today are linked by a theme of the human search for meaning in life:
We all have a way of seeing the life that we experience that is somewhere on an optimistic … pessimistic scale. Is this glass half empty or half full? The pessimist sees it as half empty and the optimist as half full. Of course none of us is all pessimist or optimist, but where we are on that scale often colours our thinking about whether our life experience has positive meaning and makes sense for us, or not.
We each perceive the world in a slightly different way, but the vast amount of research into the way that our brain works, is conclusive that a common factor in every human brain is its search for meaning. Each time our brain assimilates a new piece of information, or a new experience, it is immediately trying to give it meaning in relation to what our brain already has stored in memory.
The meaning of our life is a topic which has puzzled some of the great thinkers down the centuries. While at university I read, with some difficulty I must admit in following the arguments, a few of the great philosophers. Jean-
The three Bible readings today are linked by a theme of the human search for meaning in life:
1. The reading from Luke describes the search for meaning in wealth and comfort as the rich man places his trust in his own ability to run his life without reference to God. We are reminded that our life does not consist in the abundance of possessions and that at the point of our death; riches and wealth provide no meaning.
2. Similarly, Psalm 49 mocks wealth-induced self-assurance and self-centredness, declaring that to build wealth without reference to God, the giver of all good things, is ultimately self-destructive. Verse 10 reminds us that “when we look at the wise, they die; fool and dolt perish together and leave their wealth to others”.
3. The Ecclesiastes reading describes the search for the key to the meaning of life using one’s intellect and wisdom, a bit like the philosophers, and draws a very pessimistic picture. The author sought knowledge more than anyone else did, but found no lasting satisfaction, for the world was still full of problems that could not be solved. His personal experience is that all earthly goals and blessings, when pursued as ends in themselves ultimately led to dissatisfaction and emptiness. He is however not a complete pessimist; he is merely pessimistic about human existence bringing satisfaction and meaning apart from God; he is a man of faith skeptical only of human wisdom and endeavor, since his human search for wisdom ultimately proves frustrating and its goal unattainable.
I want to read to you some verses from the 2nd chapter Ecclesiastes which gives a great summary of trying find meaning in life through wisdom, wealth, personal pleasure and good work. I wanted to laugh as I read some of the earlier verses in this passage, though the latter verses reinforce the message of today’s three readings:
3 “I tried cheering myself with wine, and embracing folly - my mind still guiding me with wisdom. I wanted to see what was worthwhile for men to do under heaven during the few days of their lives.
4 I undertook great projects: I built houses for myself and planted vineyards.
5 I made gardens and parks and planted all kinds of fruit trees in them.
6 I made reservoirs to water groves of flourishing trees.
7 I bought male and female slaves and had other slaves who were born in my house. I also owned more herds and flocks than anyone in Jerusalem before me.
8 I amassed silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and provinces. I acquired men and women singers and a harem as well - the delights of the heart of man.
9 I became greater by far than anyone in Jerusalem before me. In all this my wisdom stayed with me.
10 I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all my labour.
11 Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.
13 I saw that wisdom is better than folly, just as light is better than darkness.
14 The wise man has eyes in his head, while the fool walks in the darkness; but I came to realize that the same fate overtakes them both.
15 Then I thought in my heart, "The fate of the fool will overtake me also. What then do I gain by being wise?" I said in my heart, "This too is meaningless."
16 For the wise man, like the fool, will not be long remembered; in days to come both will be forgotten. Like the fool, the wise man too must die!”
The author of Ecclesiastes reflects on the meaning of life and finds the approach of accumulating wealth, wisdom and pleasure unconvincing and meaning-less : what is the point, when death is our end and we have no control of the future? His pessimism is about finding personal meaning in our wealth and intellect, and in seeking significance only in what happens in this life.
Our readings today reject the view of philosophers that we create our own meaning in life. They declare that the meaning of life is not to be found in the acquisition of knowledge, wisdom, money or sensual pleasures. Either these things prove empty or something happens in our life against which they are helpless. The Bible teaches that we are created by God, with eternity set in our heart, so that we always search for the meaning of our lives, trying to make sense of the eternal universe. St Augustine describes this when he says ‘the heart of man will not rest until it finds its rest in God’. The Bible’s teaching is that human beings cannot find meaning for life and death in their own wisdom – it can only be found by being in relationship with the eternal God.
So, I offer you today two sets of thoughts and questions for us as Christians to reflect upon, to help us consider the practical implications for our own life, as we consider our life in terms of eternal reality and not just in the context of our human existence:
Our readings today reject the view of philosophers that we create our own meaning in life. They declare that the meaning of life is not to be found in the acquisition of knowledge, wisdom, money or sensual pleasures. Either these things prove empty or something happens in our life against which they are helpless. The Bible teaches that we are created by God, with eternity set in our heart, so that we always search for the meaning of our lives, trying to make sense of the eternal universe. St Augustine describes this when he says ‘the heart of man will not rest until it finds its rest in God’. The Bible’s teaching is that human beings cannot find meaning for life and death in their own wisdom – it can only be found by being in relationship with the eternal God.
So, I offer you today two sets of thoughts and questions for us as Christians to reflect upon, to help us consider the practical implications for our own life, as we consider our life in terms of eternal reality and not just in the context of our human existence:
1. To what end is my life oriented? Have I established a personal discipline that day-by-day helps me orient my life to the eternal rather than my current ephemeral human life? Do I consciously live in the presence of God, finding my ultimate security in Him; and thanking him for what I have and keeping my trust in Him, rather than in my current wealth, wisdom or physical security and comfort?
2. What is it that I actually value and how does this serve God and God’s purposes? We all have greater of smaller amounts of wealth, and this is not wicked in itself otherwise we would not be trying to ‘Make Poverty History’: the Good Samaritan was well-off, but was able to help another human being because of this; Helen Allen also reminded us last week of the generous hospitality that we can share with others. Christians should not feel a paralyzing sense of guilt about what we have, rather we should be considering day-by-day how we use that in the context of eternity. Valuing not our wealth, intellect or wisdom, but valuing the ability it gives us to serve others. What steps have we taken to make best use of our wealth in the context of eternity, sharing generously with those poorer than ourselves?
I think it would be fair to say that Jesus enjoyed his time on earth, up till those last months before he died. He had many friends; he ate and drank good food and wine; he went to weddings and parties, he shared his life in a positive, supportive and helpful way with his friends and with those he met. God wants each of us to have a life full of meaning and purpose so