EVERYTHING IS MEANINGLESS?
June 18, 2019
Reading Time: 2-3 minutes
“Dave, what does Ecclesiastes mean in 1:1-2 when it says ‘everything is meaningless’”?
Solomon constantly says that life and all of reality is hebel, the Hebrew word for “mist, vapor, breath.” It is used figuratively to indicate something is unsubstantial (Jeremiah 10:15; 16:19; 51:18), “profitless” or “fruitless” (Psalms 78:33; Proverbs 13:11), “worthless” (2 Kings 17:15; Jeremiah 2:5; 10:3), “pointless” (Prov 21:6), “futile” (Lamentations 4:17; Ecclesiastes 1:2, 14; 2:1, 14-15), and “fleeting” or “transitory” (Proverbs 31:30; Ecclesiastes 6:12; 7:15; 9:9; 11:10; Job 7:16).
Throughout the entire book, Solomon takes us on a journey for meaning and purpose. He points out that life is short and there is futility in wisdom (great learning), pleasure, work, political power, and wealth. And at the end of the journey, he contends that we will find nothing but an existence without meaning and then we die.
“That’s the whole story,” Solomon says. “Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty. God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good or bad” (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14). In other words, all of life is worthless and without meaning in the end without God.
Attempts to fully understand the plan and pattern of all that occurs under the sun is to try to grasp wind, for what one grasps dissipates as vapor, leaving one holding a handful of air. It’s wise to submit before our awesome God, the one Shepherd, trust Him, and walk before Him obediently, even though there is plenty we do not understand.
Because God’s providence in this cursed world fills life with conundrums that consist of insubstantiality, transience, and many unfair situations, the book of Ecclesiastes encourages readers to enjoy life, which is God’s gift, because “there is nothing better” (2:24; 3:12, 22; 5:18-20; 8:15; 9:7-9; 11:9). This book also encourages us to be diligently involved in our responsibilities of life and to enjoy God’s blessings.
Solomon concludes that “everything is meaningless” outside of a life that fears God (3:14; 5:7; 7:18; 8:12–13)— being in awe of him— knowing him and living to love and please him. For at the end of this short life we will give an account before him. And those that have feared him and lived wisely will be rewarded accordingly.
Sources Used
Biblical Studies Press. The NET Bible Second Edition Notes. Biblical Studies Press, 2017.
Caneday, A. B. “‘Everything Is Vapor’: Grasping for Meaning Under the Sun.” Ed. R. Albert Mohler. Southern Baptist Journal of Theology Volume 15 15.3 (2011): 26-35.
McCabe, Robert V. “The Message of Ecclesiastes.” Detroit Baptist Seminary Journal Volume 1 1 (1996): 85-112.
McDowell, Josh; McDowell, Sean. The Bible Handbook of Difficult Verses (The McDowell Apologetics Library). Harvest House Publishers.
Wellum, Stephen J. “Editorial: Recovering the Message of Ecclesiastes for the Church Today.” Ed. R. Albert Mohler. Southern Baptist Journal of Theology Volume 15 15.3 (2011): 2-3.