Purpose for living

Good day to you, my dear friends!

 Many people ask themselves a question of why they feel inner emptiness. So many continue to walk the wrong way in their lives, and it goes on day after day. They feel their life to be aimless and they continue their walk unmotivated. Multitudes of people do not have a clue of why they live and whether the life is worth living. All of these things happen because they do not have a clear purpose for living. The lack of such a purpose often causes violence, different types of evil, disappointments, emptiness, despair, hopelessness, apathy, anger and so on. If a person does not have a clear purpose for his or her life, all these things can happen to him. But, praise God, the Bible has a lot to say about this crucial topic. So let’s turn to the Holy Scripture, particularly to the Book of Ecclesiastes. In this book the author tells us about his own search for the meaning and purpose for his life. He reveals the wrong ways that lead to disappointment and the true ways that lead to a wholesome life. I believe that every one of us is able to learn from the author’s mistakes and discover the true purpose of our lives.  

Before we begin to discuss the Book of Ecclesiastes and its lessons, I would like to look at one particular verse – Ecclesiastes (1:1) – and we will see who the author of this book was. «The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king of Jerusalem». The author of this book was Solomon, the son of David. «I, the Preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem». (Ecclesiastes, 1:12).

 

Solomon was famous for being the riches and wisest person of his time. « I communed with my heart, saying, „Look, I have attained greatness, and have gained more wisdom than all who were before me in Jerusalem. My heart has understood great wisdom and knowledge » (Ecclesiastes, 1:16).

Solomon was a wise and rich person, and the beginning of his life was wonderful: he knew the one true God and walked with Him. But later Solomon got caught up with outward splendour of this life. Praise God that in the end of his life Solomon once again discovered the true purpose for his life. His search is described in the Book of Ecclesiastes. So it is very important for us to pay attention to the things Solomon is teaching in this book.

 

Satisfaction in this life has nothing to do with pursuit of external things, mirages and illusions. «I, the Preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem. And I set my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under heaven; this burdensome task God has given to the sons of man, by which they may be exercised. I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and indeed, all is vanity and grasping for the wind» (Ecclesiastes, 1:12-14).

 

According to these verses, everything under the sun seems to be vanity and futile to the author. Praise God, it is not the only conclusion that Solomon came to in his life. Afterwards, Solomon realized that life should not be viewed from the human perspective only – from under heaven; it must be viewed from God’s perspective as well – from above heaven. Solomon understood that there is nothing remarkable in living this life without God and rely only on the earthly things that happen under heaven. Only with God we can acquire the true purpose for this life. Tomorrow we will discuss this in detail. We will also talk about what we should not do in our life.

 

Be blessed!

 

Pastor Rufus Ajiboye