WHY IS EVERYTHING SO MEANINGLESS?

By pilgrim 17 December, 2023 PILGRIMAGE 1 Comment

One of the greatest detriments to a fulfilling life is the meaninglessness of it all. In Ecclesiastes, Solomon details this predicament and tries to unravel the mystery of meaninglessness and some reasons stand out.

The myth of immortality: We often live life here on earth as though it is forever. When we were young, we lived life with the cape of invincibility draped over us. As we age and begin to come to grips with the reality of death, we somehow hope that our memories will live on. However, the great are as quickly forgotten after their death as are the small.

‘No one remembers the former generations and even those yet to come will not be remembered by those who follow them.’ (Ecclesiastes 1:11)

Living life with an object of achieving immortality is futile.

The weariness of pleasure: Solomon says, ‘All things are wearisome, more than one can say. The eye never has enough of seeing, nor the ear its fill of hearing.’ (Ecclesiastes 1:8)

The intensity with which we approach pleasure belies the reality of its transience. The senses are satisfied, but always want more. And when desire has been met, rather than the intense satisfaction we expected, we are rather faced with the weariness of pleasure. When you keep on eating the tastiest food, anticipation turns to satiety and very soon, unless you stop, you want to vomit.

Change is fleeting: We undertake great projects and put our hearts and minds to changing the world. Solomon did so on the grandest scale possible. Yet, satisfaction eluded him as he reflected on the evanescence of the impact that could be made.

‘My heart began to despair over all my toilsome labor under the sun. For a person may labor with wisdom, knowledge and skill, and then they must leave all they own to another who has not toiled for it. This too is meaningless and a great misfortune.’ (Ecclesiastes 2:20,21)

Businesses crumble, houses become deserted, empires fall and movements cease. Any experience that is confined to this world ends in futility.

‘What’s the point of it all?’, asks Solomon. As he draws toward the grand conclusion at the end of the book, he begins to give us some pointers regarding the fulfilment that comes in connecting to the eternal God. Somehow, when man finds a way to connect all of his endeavors to the eternal God, satisfaction does appear possible.

A person can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in their own toil. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment? To the person who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness,…. (Ecclesiastes 2:24-26)