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A Meaningful Life
Aaron Erhardt

Are you in search of a meaningful life? If so, you are not alone. Solomon wrestled with that very thing in the Book of Ecclesiastes. He was determined to know “what was good for the children of man to do under heaven during the few days of their life” (2:3).

“Ecclesiastes” comes from the title used in the Septuagint (ekklesiastes).1 It is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew title Koheleth, which is translated “Preacher” in 1:1. The term appears seven times in the book and refers to one who addresses an assembly. 2

Ecclesiastes was written by Solomon, although his name does not appear in the book. We know that because he was the son of David (1:1), he was king in Jerusalem (1:1, 12), he had great wisdom (1:16), he had great wealth (2:4-9), and he did the things that the writer mentioned, like reign as king and take many concubines. Furthermore, the proverbs in the book are similar to the Book of Proverbs. 3

The Jews have generally understood “Preacher” (Koheleth) to be a nickname for Solomon, as have most Christians. Martin Luther is a notable dissenter of Solomonic authorship.

Ecclesiastes was probably written late in Solomon’s life. 4 Therefore, this book could suggest repentance on his part. After various pursuits of worldly things, he finally came to the realization that life is meaningless without God.

There are no direct quotes from Ecclesiastes in the New Testament. However, many of the so-called “Church Fathers” considered the book to be Scripture, including Justin Martyr, Clement of Alexandra, and Tertullian.

            Ecclesiastes reports the results of Solomon’s search for a meaningful life. His unique position allowed him to pursue many things in this quest, from pleasures to possessions to power. It was a painstaking proposition that left him bewildered and dismayed at times. Yet he finally found the answer he was looking for — “Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man” (12:13). 

            Ecclesiastes teaches that earthly pursuits, though not without benefit, are inadequate in satisfying man’s deepest needs. They have no lasting value. Rather, one must look past this life and see God as the true source of satisfaction.

            The reader cannot help but sense Solomon’s agonizing struggle with the complexities of life and his desire for something more meaningful. It was a perplexing predicament. Thankfully, Solomon was able to grasp what eluded him for so long. He came to the realization that life must be lived for the Creator of life. 5 In other words, God puts the “meaning” in meaningful.

            “Vanity” appears over 30 times in Ecclesiastes. It means “empty” or “futile.” The NIV renders the word “meaningless.” Solomon is adamant that life on earth is ultimately meaningless without God. Our bodies return to dust, our memories are forgotten, our possessions go to another, etc.      

            “Under the sun” appears almost 30 times in Ecclesiastes. It refers to life on earth. It is important to note that much of what Solomon said was from that vantage point. He often looked at things from a strictly earthly perspective (see 3:19-21). 6

            Solomon came to realize that life is a gift from God and should be enjoyed (2:24; 3:12-13, 22; 5:18-19; 8:15; 9:7-9; 11:8-9). However, true and lasting fulfillment can only come when one’s perspective rises above life “under the sun.” It is futile to seek satisfaction in some earthly pursuit (pleasure, possession, power, etc). God alone can fill that void and make life meaningful!    

Footnotes

(1)	The Septuagint (LXX) is a Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures.
(2)	The Greek word for “church” is ekklesia, and means “assembly.” You can see that in the word  ekklasiastes.
(3)	An example is 7:1 (“A good name is better than precious ointment”) and Proverbs 22:1 (“A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches”).
(4)	Solomon reigned from about 971-931 B.C.
(5)	Solomon always used the word Elohim for God, not Yahweh. This emphasizes the Creator/created relationship rather than the Redeemer/redeemed relationship.
(6)	3:19-21 is often taken out of context. Solomon knew man has a spirit that returns to God at death (12:7). He was considering the matter from what can be seen (“under the sun”) in this passage.