What does it all mean? by Linda Brendle

Published in the Rains County Leader on April 25, 2024:

Pastor Jason is taking us through Ecclesiastes in a sermon series titled “Life After Eden.” Ecclesiastes was written by Solomon who succeeded his father David as King of Israel. After his coronation, Solomon took all the leaders of Israel to the tabernacle and offered a huge burnt offering. God was so pleased with him that He appeared that night and said, “Ask what I shall give you.” This young ruler, realizing the huge task that was in front of him, asked for wisdom to rule the kingdom. God not only granted his request but threw in riches, possessions, and honor.

Throughout his reign, Solomon became world famous as the wisest man who ever lived and also the richest. And yet he wasn’t satisfied. In the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon recorded his personal search for the meaning of life. In Chapter 1 he used his wisdom to keep from going off the deep end, but he tried personal pleasure, entertainment, personal achievement, attaining possessions, and women without finding the answer. In Chapter 2 he reflected on the benefits of wisdom over folly as well as his frustration about leaving everything he had worked for to someone else. He hit rock bottom and expressed a hatred for life, and then he saw a glimmer of truth. He realized that the material things of life are gifts from God meant to be enjoyed in the moment, but true meaning was found in something else.

I look forward to hearing Solomons final conclusions in the rest of the series, but in the meantime, I spent some time thinking about Solomon’s dilemma. Spoiler alert: in the end, he found an answer to his questions, but we have records of others who have continued to search for meaning and satisfaction in life.

I remember reading “The Fisherman and His Wife” when I was a kid. It’s a German fairy tale first published by the Brothers Grimm in 1812. It’s about a very poor fisherman and a very dissatisfied wife. One day he catches a fish that turns out to be an enchanted prince. The fish assures him that he wouldn’t taste very good, so the fisherman releases him. When he tells his wife what happened, she is furious and sends him back to ask for a wish. She wants a pretty little cottage in place of the shack they live in. Reluctantly, the man goes back, and the prince grants her wish. Of course, she’s not happy, so she sends her husband back to ask for more and more. When she finally asks to rule over the sun and the moon, she finds herself back in the shack where she started. She not only failed to find the satisfaction she sought, but she also lost everything she had gained. 

Another search for meaning was released in 1965 in the form of “Satisfaction,” a song written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones. Their search took them through useless information from the media, advertising promises, travel, fame, and girls. The Stones will kick off their latest tour on April 28 with their greatest hits including “Satisfaction.” I guess they’re still looking.

In what now seems like a past life, I spent some time as an insurance agent. I can’t say that I found much satisfaction there, but I had a sales manager who continually tried to encourage his sales staff with uplifting stories and words of wisdom. One of his favorites that he repeated often was about happiness. He said not to depend on a new car, a new house, a new job, or a new relationship to be happy. He said that happiness is a decision, so just make up your mind to be happy and then – be happy.

I’ve used a lot of different terms as I’ve pondered the stories of Solomon and others – meaning, satisfaction, happiness. Are they all the same thing? Not really. Happiness seems to be more of an emotion that can come and go as circumstances change. Satisfaction is more of a feeling that comes with reaching or accomplishing a goal. What we’re all looking for goes even deeper than that. What we all seem to be looking for is the settled feeling, the peace and joy that come when we finally find the answer to that age-old question: What does it all mean?

Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

Blessings,

Linda

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