Bible Reading: Ecclesiastes 2:17-26
God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy to those who please him. Ecclesiastes 2:26
IT PROBABLY happens to you every year before finals. Little by little, subject by subject and assignment by assignment, you fall behind until you almost collapse under the load. “I can’t take it anymore,” you whine. ”I’ll never be ready for finals. I can’t wait till school’s out. I’m going to sleep for a week!”
But a day or two into your vacation, the words are out of your mouth before you can choke them back. ”I’m bored. There’s nothing to do around here.”
All people need something to be part of, something to look forward to, or someone with whom to share their life. If those are missing, life loses its thrill.
You might be surprised to know that the worst known case of boredom in the history of humankind is recorded in the Bible. Solomon-the wisest guy on earth wrote the book of Ecclesiastes to chronicle what he discovered about life. His opening words tightly, pointedly overview the whole rest of the book. He says, “Everything is meaningless … utterly meaningless!” (1 :2).
Solomon then goes on to detail his own adventure in finding meaning in life. oon after he became king, he asked God for wisdom. God granted his request. Then Solomon set out to apply this wisdom to his life. He read, studied, looked around, and asked questions to find out what life was all about. His conclusion? “Everything under the sun is meaningless, like chasing the wind” (1: 14).
So the king changed his tactics. He decided to live for pleasure by surrounding himself with wealth, women, and wild living. But that was meaningless too. So he tried another route. Thinking productivity might bring meaning to life, he undertook massive building projects. But he still found that life was unfulfilling. Prosperity and success don’t guarantee happiness.
“Oh, great,” you might say. “If the wisest man who ever lived can’t find his way out of boredom, what hope do I have?”
Thankfully, Solomon learned a few things during his journey. He also wrote, “God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy to those who please him” (Ecclesiastes 2:26). Meaning, purpose, and fulfillment in life begin when you look to God-because he’s the author of meaning, purpose, and fulfillment. So it’s up to you. You can chase the wind and live in permanent boredom, or run straight to the one who holds your life and your exhilarating future in his hands.
REFLECT: Where do you expect to find meaning in life? Are you trying to stuff yourself with things that won’t satisfy?
PRAY: God, I want the best out of life. I want to find my ultimate meaning, purpose, and fulfillment in you.
