Ecclesiastes 3:1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
We have discovered in our study of Ecclesiastes thus far, that the theme is right to the point and simple: “life apart from God is empty.” In other words, if you are not living your life for the glory of God, life is meaningless, it is empty, it is unsatisfying, it is unfulfilling, it is futile and even despairing.
In Ecclesiastes one and two, Solomon tells us about how he sought to find meaning and purpose in life by seeking to become wise. He tells us that he gave his heart to the study of all the ends and beginnings of life. His conclusion? It is not the wisdom about the fallen world that gives meaning to the fallen world; it is the fact that there is a providential God above this fallen world. And when we live in fellowship with Him, we find true meaning and purpose in life. So, seeking wisdom and esoteric philosophy is not a way that can supply meaning and satisfaction.
Then we read that he sought the way of pleasure and entertainment to find meaning and satisfaction in life. Mick Jagger did get that right when he sang, “I can’t get no satisfaction”! And that is because the God who made us did not make us to be satisfied by the mere pursuit of pleasure.
In chapter 3 we learn that life is a mysterious, but ordained cycle that is governed and ruled by God. God is sovereign in everything. In a senseless world, it is only the knowledge of The Almighty and His sovereign rule that gives us hope and peace. In the end, it is God Who will have the last say, not man. Satisfaction in this life cannot come from this life. It has to come from something outside this life. To be more specific, it comes from Someone, and His Name is Jesus, Who came to give us life and that more abundantly (John 10:10b). Selah
