Purpose for living II

Today I am going to continue talking about the search for purpose. Yesterday we looked at some verses from the Book of Ecclesiastes; it contains the story of Solomon’s search for true meaning of life. This book helps us understand where we shouldn’t look for the meaning of life; it tells us how we can find the right source of genuine satisfaction.

Let’s look at the steps that Solomon took in order to find the meaning of life. We will see what conclusions Solomon came to. The first thing Solomon turned to was acquiring of wisdom and knowledge. «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.” And I set my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is grasping for the wind. For in much wisdom is much grief, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow» (Ecclesiastes, 1:16-18).

We see here that Solomon diligently sought for knowledge, searched for satisfaction in study and education. In those days Solomon was identified with wisdom. Solomon asked God to give him wisdom, and in answer to his prayer God gave him a wise and understanding heart:«Now, O LORD my God, You have made Your servant king instead of my father David, but I am a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. And Your servant is in the midst of Your people whom You have chosen, a great people, too numerous to be numbered or counted. Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?” The speech pleased the LORD, that Solomon had asked this thing. Then God said to him: „Because you have asked this thing, and have not asked long life for yourself, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have asked the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern justice, behold, I have done according to your words; see, I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has not been anyone like you before you, nor shall any like you arise after you» (1 Kings, 3:7-12).

His wisdom was so obvious to everyone that people from afar came to see him and listen to him. The following verses tell us about it:

« Now when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came to test him with hard questions. She came to Jerusalem with a very great retinue, with camels that bore spices, very much gold, and precious stones; and when she came to Solomon, she spoke with him about all that was in her heart. So Solomon answered all her questions; there was nothing so difficult for the king that he could not explain it to her. And when the queen of Sheba had seen all the wisdom of Solomon, the house that he had built, the food on his table, the seating of his servants, the service of his waiters and their apparel, his cupbearers, and his entryway by which he went up to the house of the LORD, there was no more spirit in her. Then she said to the king: „It was a true report which I heard in my own land about your words and your wisdom. However I did not believe the words until I came and saw with my own eyes; and indeed the half was not told me. Your wisdom and prosperity exceed the fame of which I heard. Happy are your men and happy are these your servants, who stand continually before you and hear your wisdom!» (1 Kings, 10:1-8).

These verses tell us that there has never been another king wiser than King Solomon. The Bible tells us that Solomon was wiser than all the sons of East and all the wisdom of Egypt. Solomon spoke 3 thousand proverbs and created 1005 songs.

« Thus Solomon’s wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the men of the East and all the wisdom of Egypt. For he was wiser than all men – than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, Chalcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol; and his fame was in all the surrounding nations. He spoke three thousand proverbs, and his songs were one thousand and five» (1 Kings, 4:30-32).

Solomon had enough knowledge to teach other people about trees, birds, animals, fish, and ants and so on. «Also he spoke of trees, from the cedar tree of Lebanon even to the hyssop that springs out of the wall; he spoke also of animals, of birds, of creeping things, and of fish. And men of all nations, from all the kings of the earth who had heard of his wisdom, came to hear the wisdom of Solomon» (1 Kings, 4:33-34).

People from different countries and nations came for one reason: they wanted to hear the wisdom of Solomon. «Now all the earth sought the presence of Solomon to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart» (1 Kings, 10:24).

Solomon was diligent in acquiring wisdom. Nevertheless, he came to conclusion that all this knowledge is nothing, if a person doesn’t know the Creator of life. There was time when Solomon knew God and walked with Him. But when he became a king, he forsook his walk with the true God and started worshipping other gods (see, 1 Kings, 11:1-13). All the knowledge Solomon had accumulated could not fill the inner void that he experienced after he forsook God. This was Solomon’s conclusion: «So I said in my heart, „As it happens to the fool, it also happens to me, and why was I then more wise?” Then I said in my heart, „This also is vanity.” For there is no more remembrance of the wise than of the fool forever, since all that now is will be forgotten in the days to come. And how does a wise man die? As the fool!» (Ecclesiastes, 2:15-16).

So Solomon is saying that the road he was walking in his search for the meaning of life was not the right one. Solomon could humble himself before God and renew his relationships with Him. Solomon understood that worldly wisdom cannot bring any true satisfaction and fill the void in our hearts. This void can be filled by God alone. For this reason the Bible says:«Thus says the LORD: „Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, let not the mighty man glory in his might, nor let the rich man glory in his riches; but let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD, exercising loving kindness, judgement, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight,” says the LORD» (Jeremiah, 9:23-24).

In reality, a wise man should not boast in his wisdom. Does it mean that it is better for us to live in ignorance? No! Solomon showed us that ignorance leads to unworthy living. „Then I saw that wisdom excels folly as light excels darkness. The wise man’s eyes are in his head, but the fool walks in darkness. Yet I myself perceived that the same event happens to them all ” (Ecclesiastes, 2:13-14).

Solomon says that ignorance and folly are similar to walking in darkness. Knowledge and education is not a hindrance if the person knows God and walks with Him. Knowledge for the sake of knowledge leaves a person empty. The more we learn, the clearer we see how much we still do not know. If we seek satisfaction in knowledge, we will be disappointed. So it is very important for us to realize that there is no true satisfaction apart from God and learning His ways.

Till tomorrow! I wish you abundant God’s blessings!

Pastor Rufus Ajiboye