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Ecclesiastes – From Meaningless to Meaningful
We live in a chaotic world, but this is nothing new under the sun. Even the writer of Ecclesiastes was troubled by the meaningless he witnessed (1:2-3).
Here are three responses to witnessing so much meaningless:
1. Atheism – Aldus Huxley
“The philosopher who finds no meaning in the world is not concerned exclusively with a problem in pure metaphysics; he is also concerned to prove that there is no valid reason why he personally should not do as he wants to do.
“For myself, as, no doubt, for most of my contemporaries, the philosophy of meaninglessness was essentially an instrument of liberation … from a certain system of morality” (Aldous Huxley, Ends and Means)
This solution removes the conscience. How can we feel guilt if there is no God to define sin?
2. Calvinism/Reformed Theology
Nothing is meaningless because every action happens by the Sovereignty of God. You will hear people say, “God is in control” which I agree with in principle. They will also say, “Nothing happens without reason”. That I disagree with (Ecclesiastes 9:11-12).
Even good-hearted Christians fall into this theological trap, even quoting 1 Cor.10:13, making God responsible for their own stupid choices. God won’t put a temptation in front of us that is more than we can bear…but we will!
Their solution removes human responsibility even though humans will still be punished for their sin. But if God causes everything, this makes God the author of sin and removes human responsibility. But didn’t Paul write that even though the Corinthians were shamefully causing confusion, God is not the author of such disorder (1 Corinthians 14:33)?
This solution removes responsibility. How can we feel guilt if God caused our sin?
3. Ecclesiastes
May I suggest a biblical explanation for “meaningless”? The meaning behind meaningless is to test us as to how we will respond in this cursed world.
This solution keeps intact both conscience within and responsibility before God.
When we experience futility and meaningless:
1. Will we conclude there is no God and everyone should do what is right in their own eyes? Honesty would demand once we went that route, the chaos would get more chaotic and we would see the need for divine order.
2. Will we conclude there is no human control because everything we see as meaningless is meaningfully caused by God. Honesty would demand total freedom from our actions and everyone’s actions. Eventually we would see the need for human responsibility.
3. Will we conclude eternal life is determined by how we react in and to this chaotic life?
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 (CSB) 13) When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is this: fear God and keep his commands, because this is for all humanity. 14) For God will bring every act to judgment, including every hidden thing, whether good or evil.
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