“I said to myself, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure. So, enjoy yourself.” And behold, it too was futility. I said of laughter, “It is senseless,” and of pleasure, “What does this accomplish?”
Nelson Henderson said, “The true meaning of life is to plant trees; under whose shade you do not expect to sit.” That’s a nice quote but it’s misleading. Kindness and unselfishness towards others are evidence of a meaningful life, but they are only symptoms. They are byproducts of WHY we were created. This passage points out that when it comes to the meaning of life, we habitually chase appearances, instead of the actual source.
Solomon achieved everything we think makes life meaningful. Wealth, power, popularity… He accomplished it all, won it all, and realized it was all meaningless. Yet when we read Ecclesiastes, where Solomon documents this failure, it doesn’t change our aim. We continue to pursue trivial things in order to find meaning… build, buy, own, wisdom, pleasure… all just chasing the wind. And at the end of the chase, everyone finds out that nothing matters, except one thing.
In the movie City Slickers, Curly points that out… but he thought the “one thing” was different for everyone. The fact is it is the same thing for all of us. We have all been designed for the same purpose… to have a beautiful, loving, eternal relationship with our Heavenly Father. Fellowship with God is the reason you were created, and nothing will fill the void you feel except that relationship.
Concerning Henderson’s quote, any tree you plant will die and be forgotten, regardless of who sat under it. Furthermore, any trinket you purchase will rust; any accolades you receive will disappear. Those things can be enjoyable but true meaning is only found in an eternal relationship with your Heavenly Father… If you miss that, you miss it all.
God created us for Himself, and our purpose is to walk hand in hand with Him daily. That should start today, and never end. Embracing the fact that you belong to God and fully pursuing that relationship is the only thing that gives your life eternal meaning – anything else is the wrong target, and even if you hit it, will leave you disappointed.
"… I have redeemed you; I have called you by name: you are mine" - God (Isaiah 43:1)
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