[:en]SCRIPTURE: ECCLESIASTES 1
“Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher. “Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless” (Ecclesiastes 1:2)
“What does man gain from all his labor at which he toils under the sun?” (Ecclesiastes 1:3)
“All things are wearisome, more than one can say. The eye never has enough of seeing, nor the ear its fill of hearing. What has been will be again., what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:8-9)
“For with much wisdom comes much sorrow; the more knowledge, the more grief” (Ecclesiastes 1:18)
INTRODUCTION:
“Ecclesiastes” comes from the Greek word “eklesia” which is translated as “church” or “assembly” in the New Testament. The “Teacher” speaks to an assembly of people discussing the meaning of life. Solomon is the author of Ecclesiastes. He looked at the contradiction and mysteries of life and wondered if the “endless toil” of existence is worth it. He concluded that life can have true lasting value only if God is at the center of man’s life. Without God, he said “everything is meaningless”.
EVERYTHING IS MEANINGLESS
Solomon was debating a question: Is life worth living? He saw nature functioning since the creation (vs4-8), history is repeating itself (vs. 9-11) and even wisdom cannot explain the mysteries of life (vs. 12-18). He was the wisest and wealthiest king. He tried to understand the meaning of life but he was baffled. He realized that everything is chasing after the winds. Thus, he concluded: “For with much wisdom comes much sorrow; the more knowledge, the more grief” (v. 18)
LESSONS I LEARNED FROM THE MESSAGE OF REV. JEREMIAH CHEUNG IN ECCLESIASTES 1:
- From Scientific point of view: Everything goes to dust and disappear. (vs. 1-7)
- From Historical point of view: There is nothing new under the sun. New things come from old ideas and in the end, it will not be remembered. (vs. 8-11)
- From Philosophical point of view: Much wisdom, much sorrow. More knowledge, more grief. (vs. 12-18)
But if we look from God’s point of view, we have a living soul that exits in eternity. We don’t have to remember our past because God will give us a new life to live. And when we fear God, that is the beginning of TRUE WISDOM.[:]