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The key to finding meaning in life

Ecclesiastes: An honest look at life – Session 8i To show that the purpose of life – what gives life meaning – is relationship with God, and the knowledge that God will hold every human being accountable - from Ecclesiastes 12:9-14. The story so far…the book of Ecclesiastes is part of the “Wisdom Literature” of the Old Testament. The “Wisdom Literature” is all about understanding how we can live wisely in our world. The book of “Ecclesiastes” is all about how we make sense of life and find meaning and purpose. The book is called “Ecclesiastes” because it’s the words of the Teacher to the assembly (“Ecclesia” in Greek). The Teacher could be Solomon, King David’s son, legendary for his wisdom. That would date the book to about 1000 BC. (Alternatively the author could be another teacher writing through the eyes of Solomon.) The Teacher is a believer in God, but interested in working out things from his observations of life. There are two main themes in the book of Ecclesiastes:

1. That life is meaningless. “Meaningless” is translated from the Hebrew word “hebel” which means something that is a breath, a vapour, fleeting and temporary. The Teacher explores “under the sun” (using his skills of observation) to work out whether there is anything that isn’t “hebel”. He concludes that pleasure, achievement, success at work, money, injustice in the world, even life itself (because of death) are “hebel” because none of these things have lasting value. The “everything is meaningless” refrain actually forms two bookends – in Ecclesiastes 1:2 and 12:8.

2. Life may be meaningless but enjoy it if you can. “18 This is what I have observed to be good: that it is appropriate for a person to eat, to drink and to find satisfaction in their toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given them—for this is their lot. 19 Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept their lot and be happy in their toil—this is a gift of God.” (Ecclesiastes 5:18-19)

Ecclesiastes 12:9-14 is the epilogue to the book. It is written in the 3rd person (probably by the same person – to draw attention to what he has said) and is the key that unlocks the whole book. Ecclesiastes 12: 9-14 – 1000 years before Jesus 9 Not only was the Teacher wise, but he also imparted knowledge to the people. He pondered and searched out and set in order many proverbs. 10 The Teacher searched to find just the right words, and what he wrote was upright and true. 11 The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails—given by one shepherd. 12 Be warned, my son, of anything in addition to them. Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body.

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13 Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind. 14 For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil. Goads, nails, shepherd…A “goad” was a stick with a sharp end, used to drive oxen. God is often referred to as a shepherd in the Old Testament (for example in Psalm 23 “The Lord is my shepherd”). Q1. Goads, nails, shepherd…what point is the Teacher making in Ecclesiastes 12:11?

• The words of the wise (words of the Teacher) are to spur his readers into action (like goads), anchor them or to be remembered (like nails) because they have been given to the Teacher by God (the shepherd).

Q2. What does the Teacher think is the purpose of life? (Ecclesiastes 12:13)

• The purpose of life is to fear God and keep his commands. The purpose of life is relationship with God. We aren’t just the product of “slime plus time”. We have been created for a purpose. • To “fear” God is not so much the idea of blind terror, but rather to have a healthy respect for God. If someone lets God be God – the creator and ruler of the universe - then how God wants people to conduct themselves matters.

Q3. Why does there need to be judgement? (Ecclesiastes 12:14)

• Because God cares how human beings live, he holds us accountable. If he didn’t care, there wouldn’t be any accountability.

Q4. Is Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 good news or bad news (or both)?

• Good news: Life has meaning. Life has meaning because death is no longer the end. Judgement is the end. How we live/what we do matters. • Bad news: If we’re worried we are on the wrong side of judgement!

The words of Jesus – Luke 11:31 31 The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with the people of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon’s wisdom; and now something greater than Solomon is here. Note: The Queen of the South is the Queen of Sheba. She came 2000 miles by camel to hear the wisdom of Solomon (1 Kings 10:1). There are at least two ways in which Jesus is greater than Solomon.

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The words of the apostle Paul – written within 60 years of Jesus’ life time 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. Reason #1: Jesus is greater than Solomon because he’s the judge! The words of Jesus – Luke 10: 25-27 25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?” 27 He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” Q5. On what basis will Jesus judge and how do you feel about that judgement?

• “Love” is not so much about having warm fuzzy feelings. Loving God with all your heart, soul, strength and mind is about making God the centre of your existence. Loving your neighbour as yourself means acting in their best interests, rather than your own (people will naturally put their own interests first). • These are pretty exacting standards. If we don’t even measure up to our own standards (for example when we are rude to someone, when we didn’t want to be) then of course we are going to fail God’s standards. • Jesus as judge is good for when we have suffered injustice (someone for example was rude to us) but scary when we think about ourselves.

The words of Jesus – Mark 10:45 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Reason #2: Jesus is greater than Solomon because saves us from our greatest problem (judgement)! Q6. How does Jesus giving his life as a ransom make all the difference to the world to someone facing God’s judgement?

• Jesus dies in our place to free us (ransom us) from the negative consequences of Jesus’ judgement. Yes everyone appears before Jesus for judgement (including followers of Jesus) but for those who trust in Jesus’ sacrifice, Jesus considers them ransomed or freed from paying for the consequences of failing to love God and others.

Q7. If this is true, then it makes a difference to life now, it’s not just about eternity. What difference do you think it will make to…

a) how you treat the shop assistant at Woolies

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b) how desperate you are to climb the corporate ladder

c) how much you value the next pay rise

d) how you respond to your receding hairline or emerging wrinkles

e) whether or not you get someone back for hurting you How should we respond to Jesus? One helpful way is through prayer. Prayer is talking to God. A SToP prayer is an easy model. S = sorry (that I have failed your standards by living for my own interests) T = thanks (that Jesus died to pay my ransom) O (nothing for “O”, it’s just there to make it easy to remember) P = please (help me to trust Jesus and live with him as my master and my friend) Stopping to pray this prayer is a deliberate statement of wanting to respond the right way to Jesus. i COPYRIGHT City Bible Forum (www.citybibleforum.org) a ministry of Evangelising Commerce Inc (NSW), 2013. This material may be reproduced free-of-charge for non-profit use only as long as this copyright notice appears, and the study is not modified in any way. For any other use, or to modify the material, please contact us to arrange copyright permission, which may involve a small fee to help finance the production of such resources by the staff of City Bible Forum. Contact info@citybibleforum.org or tel: (02) 9251 1166 or GPO Box 3266, Sydney NSW 2001.