A retired couple in France moved to a rural community and then issued a formal complaint about the noise in the small town. There was a local rooster who was crowing too early and too loudly in the morning. The owner, a Corinne Fesseau defended her bird in the court of law, saying that the rooster was only doing what roosters were born to do. Ms Fesseau had grown up on an island off the west coast of France and roosters were part of her life. The French court is pending a decision soon.
Roosters were born to crow. And humans were born to serve God, to worship God. That is our purpose in life.
Not only is it a reflection of God’s wisdom to give our lives purpose, but it is also God’s wisdom to tell us that our lives have purpose. Consider some thoughts from Ecclesiastes.
The pursuit of wisdom (chapters 1-2) fits the gift given Solomon by God, recorded in 1 Kings 3. Additionally, the extended list of building pursuits recorded in Ecclesiastes 3 fit Solomon’s desires and plans as recorded in 1 Kings 5-10. It is popular among “scholars” to reject Solomon’s authorship but it is humorous to hear them admit that the author is, however, a “Solomon-like” figure.
Solomon provides the theme of the book in the second verse: “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher, “Vanity of vanities! All is vanity.” This word can mean “vain, empty, futile.” To repeat the word, as Solomon does here, is a Hebrew way of expressing the superlative: “the most empty of emptiness.” See Song of Solomon 1:1 where he does the same thing: the “song of songs.”
So, Solomon says, “All is empty. Futile. Worthless.” Seriously? Some have suggested that Ecclesiastes is too pessimistic to be a work of faith. Here is an exercise for you. Read through this book (it should take less than 20 minutes) and underline these three phrases: “under the sun (29x),” “under heaven (3x),” and “striving after wind (22x).”
If you were to take God out of the picture or if you simply look at life from the perspective of heaven, this life is not very important or significant. Allow me to elaborate a little.
If there is no God or if you live your life as if there is no God, then “eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow we die” (cf. 1 Cor. 15:32). Yes, life is a cycle and it ends nowhere (if there is no God). Live the way you desire. Pursue what you want to pursue. Do what makes you feel good. If there is no God, there are no moral laws and you are free to steal, kill, rape, pillage, extort, cheat, lie, etc. Because life is going nowhere anyway. (I’m thankful that most atheists live above their moral “foundation.”)
On the other hand, since there is a God and He has designed a new heaven and earth that puts this one to shame, this life is ultimately of little significance. It is significant in that we show God here and now that we love Him supremely and we serve our fellow man sacrificially (cf. Matt. 22:37-39). This is the time and place to prove to God that we want to be in heaven with Him. Early in the book, Solomon warns his audience that there is a judgment coming (3:17) and therefore, we need to fear God (5:7).
But, because the life to come is so much quantitatively better and qualitatively superior to this life (so much so that we will not even remember at least the bad things that will happen in this life: Rev. 7:17), this life does not hold much importance, much significance for the Christian.
Solomon has lived his life with gusto and did not withhold his hand or his heart from anything he thought would bring pleasure and significance to life. But he summarizes for us what he had found:
“The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil (Ecc. 12:13-14).
Keep in mind the purpose of life. Fear God and keep His commandments. It helps keep all of life in perspective.
Paul Holland