The Meaning of Life:  Studies the Ecclesiastes

    In Ecclesiastes 2:24, Solomon wrote that it is from the hand of God for man to “eat and drink and tell himself that his labor is good.” In 3:1, Solomon wrote that “there is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven…”

These thoughts are uttered under the broad theme that everything that happens “under the sun” is vanity and striving after wind. If you take God “out of the picture,” life is meaningless, hopeless, pointless, ephemeral. With God “in” the picture, how we use our time can take on eternal ramifications.

From 3:2-8, Solomon uses 14 sets of contrasts to portray the various uses of time we might make in this life. “A time to give birth and a time to die; A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted….” All these sets, many of them opposites one of another, summarize all of life. There is, seriously, a time to do everything and anything.

Fishing? There’s a time for that. Golfing? There’s a time for that. War? There’s a time for that. Peace? There’s a time for that. Mourning? There’s a time for that. Laughing? There’s a time for that. Ecclesiastes was written to help the Israelite (then us) to see how to live their lives, daily, in a way that reflects fear of God (5:7).

One way, then, that we show our respect for God is realizing there is a time for every event under heaven. If your friend is mourning, it is not the time to laugh. That doesn’t mean laughter is inherently wrong. It means there’s a time to refrain. There is a time to speak; there is a time to bite your tongue. Isn’t there wisdom in that sentiment?

If you put into practice every event that is detailed in verses 3-8, you would live your life “to the fullest.” There’s no sin in that. Listen to Solomon’s words in 3:12-13: “I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and to do good in one’s lifetime; moreover, that every man who eats and drinks sees good in all his labor—it is the gift of God.” Life is a gift of God. The opportunity to mourn with those who weep is a gift of God. The chance to bring war to an end and bring about peace is a gift of God.

If you don’t enjoy the time God has given you on this earth, what good has your life been? Finally, everyone is going to die; that’s Solomon’s point in 3:16-21. How would you rather die? Having lived a life of fear, afraid to try new things, enjoy life? Or having lived in hope, benefiting from the pleasures of this life to see the beauty of God around you?

Solomon concludes chapter three, writing: “I have seen that nothing is better than that man should be happy in his activities, for that is his lot. For who will bring him to see what will occur after him?”

Enjoy your time here on earth. There’s a time for that. It contributes to the meaning of life.

Paul Holland